Tuscaloosa Man Charged With Christmas Eve Kidnapping, Sexual Assault

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa man has been charged with kidnapping and sodomy after abducting a woman at a convenience store on Christmas Eve.

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Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, told local media Monday morning that the incident occurred about 3:04 a.m. Dec. 24 at the Quick Stop located at 1000 Hargrove Road East.

Kennedy said investigators learned that a woman was confronted by an unknown man in the parking lot after completing a purchase and attempting to return to her vehicle.

He then said the suspect threatened the woman with a weapon and forced her into her own vehicle, then drove her to another location.

"During the initial confrontation, the victim was on the phone with a family member, who felt that something was wrong," Kennedy said. "The family member also had access to the victim’s phone location and contacted the Tuscaloosa Police Department and asked that they try to locate her."

TPD patrol officers were dispatched and located the vehicle while it was still occupied by both the victim and the suspect.

Kennedy said the quick action by the family member and responding officers interrupted a sexual assault in progress.

The victim was transported to the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center, a 24-hour crisis center that provides medical, counseling and forensic services for victims of sexual assault.

The suspect — Randall Latroy Richardson, 42, of Tuscaloosa — and scene were turned over to investigators with the Violent Crimes Unit Sexual Assault Section.

Kennedy said after interviewing the victim and suspect, recovering the weapon and reviewing video footage, investigators charged the Richardson with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sodomy.

Richardson was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond under Alabama’s Anyiah’s Law.

Kennedy said anyone who believes they may have had a similar encounter with Richardson or may have been a victim of an assault by him is encouraged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (205) 464-8690.

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