Woman’s Quick Thinking at Gas Station Leads to Suspect’s Arrest
A 53-year-old man is behind bars after an alleged kidnapping attempt was thwarted by a quick-thinking bystander at a southern Utah gas station. The dramatic rescue unfolded when the victim managed to slip a handwritten note to a stranger in a restroom, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to her freedom.
Epigmenio Bustillos Marquez was arrested Saturday and now faces serious charges including aggravated kidnapping, assault, providing false information to law enforcement, and interrupting communications.
The desperate plea for help
According to court documents obtained by investigators, Iron County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call from the Cedar Band Travel Plaza, located approximately seven miles southwest of Cedar City, at around 1:20 p.m.
The caller reported that while in the women’s restroom, a distressed woman had handed her a note with a simple but urgent message: “Help me, call police.”
“I could just tell from the second that she handed me the paper that said, ‘Help me, call police,’ I knew that she was in trouble,” the Good Samaritan told FOX 13 News on Monday, speaking anonymously to protect her family. “I think she was really terrified that he was going to peek in and he would have seen us.”
Citizen turns detective
What happened next demonstrated remarkable courage. Rather than simply calling authorities and continuing her journey home from a softball tournament, the witness took decisive action. She observed the victim enter a white Chevrolet Equinox with Nevada license plates and proceeded to document the situation, capturing photos and videos of both the victim and suspect.
The bystander then followed the vehicle as it entered Interstate 15 heading northbound.
“I wasn’t panicked or anything. I was just like, ‘I’m not gonna let this lady not be helped,'” she recalled.
The arrest and revelation
Acting on the information provided, deputies intercepted the vehicle approximately eight miles north of the gas station. Upon approaching from the passenger side, officers noted the female victim’s unusual behavior and asked her to exit the vehicle.
The driver, later identified as Marquez, presented identification from Durango, Mexico with false information. Despite authorities later discovering his actual ID card in his wallet, Marquez continued to deny his true identity.
A history of abuse uncovered
According to the victim’s statement to police, she and Marquez had been in a relationship for 25 years, but his behavior had recently become erratic. What began as a request for a ride to her workplace at a Las Vegas hotel and casino that morning quickly escalated into a dangerous situation.
Instead of driving her to work, Marquez allegedly began accusing her of infidelity and threatened to take her to Salt Lake City or Denver against her will. When the victim expressed her desire to exit the vehicle, Marquez reportedly warned her that attempting to leave would be fatal due to their traveling speed.
The victim further alleged that Marquez confiscated her phone to prevent her from calling for help and physically struck her in the mouth.
Kimmi Wolf with the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition emphasized the significance of the bystander’s actions in this case.
“I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that this woman could have saved this woman’s life,” Wolf stated.
She stressed the importance of careful bystander intervention while assessing situations to prevent escalation or additional harm.
“Something as severe as domestic violence, false credentials, kidnapping — all those indicators point to a high probability of lethality, and had this person been confronted in a different type of scenario, that could have ended very badly,” Wolf explained.
A fortunate outcome
The situation concluded with the suspect in custody at the Iron County Jail, where he is being held without bail. Meanwhile, the victim has returned to her family and work.
Wolf noted that this case, while dramatic, is not uncommon. “This is a situation that happens often to many people. It’s something we need to draw attention to; it’s not some weird one-off situation,” she concluded.
The case highlights how ordinary citizens can make extraordinary differences in dangerous situations and serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by victims of domestic violence.
