COOKEVILLE POLICE SEEKING SUSPECT INVOLVED IN ALLEGED KIDNAPPING
Cookeville Police have released more information on an alleged abduction that took place Wednesday night. According to a press release, a woman told authorities she had been approached by a car that was driven by a man, identified as 24-year-old Russell Vaughn, with a female passenger inside. The woman says while speaking to Vaughn, the female in the car mouthed the words “help me.” The woman says after speaking to Vaughn, he drove off toward I-40. Police were able to get the license plate number of the vehicle, and went to the home address it was registered under. When officers arrived at the scene, they found that the rear door to the home had been forced open. An hour before officers responded to the home, a burglary call went out in the same vicinity. Cookeville Police believe the woman was taken during a second burglary that occurred there around the same time. Authorities searched for the vehicle and Vaughn and it wasn’t until early Thursday morning before they found the alleged female victim at the Key West Inn. She was unharmed, and told police she did not know Vaughn, but that she did not want to prefer charges against him. Police are still seeking Vaughn. He is described as a white male, six feet tall, and weighing 200 pounds, with short, light brown hair, a receding hairline, and multiple tattoos. Vaughn should be considered dangerous and is not to be approached by citizens. If you see him, you are advised to contact 911 immediately.