Lily man arrested on kidnapping, rape charges

 A Lily man is facing kidnapping and rape charges after Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies reportedly found his alleged victim, a 28-year-old woman, hiding from him in a camper near his residence on Echo Valley Road Monday morning.

According to Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, 48-year-old Ricky N. North has been charged in the case.

Deputies were called to the scene off of U.S. 25 about 5 a.m. in response to a complaint that a woman was screaming for help.

When deputies arrived, Acciardo stated they found the victim, who reported that she had been kidnapped at gunpoint from a residence on U.S. 25 and driven to the Echo Valley Road location where she was sexually assaulted.

Acciardo reported the victim had cuts and abrasions, and bruises on her person.

The victim was able to escape and able to hide in the camper.

When deputies arrived, they reported finding North in the woods where he was trying to locate the victim. Deputies also recovered a shotgun at the residence.

North was taken into custody on charges of kidnapping, second-degree rape and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash bond.

The accused and the victim did not know one another.

Det. Stacy Anderkin and deputies Tyler Morris and Larry Parrott are continuing the investigation and additional arrests are expected.