Man Charged With Kidnapping, Protective Order Violation

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — A Hamptonville man is facing a list of charges including kidnapping and violating a domestic violence protective order after a bruised and battered woman clutching an infant confirmed to deputies she and her baby had been held captive for three days at a north Iredell County home.

According to the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, the chain of events leading to the arrest of Dexter Lynn Whitaker, 29, began when deputies received a call from Yadkin County probation officers Aug. 12, requesting a check of Whitaker's residence on Anthony Road in the Hamptonville community.

Iredell deputies also received a tip that Whitaker, who was recently placed on probation for a previous kidnapping incident involving the same victim, was holding the woman and her three-month-old baby against her will at the home.

The victim had an active domestic violence protective order in place against Whitaker, ICSO said.

When Iredell deputies and Yadkin County probation officers went to the home, Whitaker told them the victim was not there and had not been seen in about two weeks.

"While the deputies and probation officers were searching the residence, items belonging to the
female were located which led officers to further believe she and the child were somewhere on
the property," ICSO said in a statement.

Officers later located the woman, who had "apparent signs of an assault and was bruised," in woods near the home, holding the baby.

"The victim was interviewed on scene by the deputies, had learned she and the child been held captive at the residence for approximately three days after the assault had occurred," ICSO said.

The child was unharmed, authorities said.

Whitaker was arrested, and taken to the Iredell County Detention Center. He was charged with felony first degree kidnapping; felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury; felony domestic violence protective order violation; misdemeanor interfering with emergency communications; misdemeanor assault on a female; misdemeanor child abuse; and misdemeanor resisting a public officer.

Whitaker's secured bond was set at $605,000.