Two women charged with kidnap in Uniontown
Two women are facing kidnapping and related charges for allegedly beating another woman in their Uniontown home over a three-day period and preventing her from leaving.
Betty Ann Underwood, 39, and Ariel Elizabeth Harker, no age given, were arraigned Friday night and lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bonds.
The alleged victim, Nicole Caldwell, told Uniontown police Friday afternoon Underwood keeps her government assistance card in her wallet and denies her access. Caldwell told police she is afraid to go back to her 26 Prospect St. home. Police met with her at Sprowls Insurance Agency, where they reportedly found her with severe bruising, appearing visibly shaken, according to court documents.
She told police the abuse began Wednesday when Harker yanked her hair and pushed her to the floor, then punched her for about 10 minutes while sitting on top of her. She claimed Underwood told her not to report the incident. Later that day, she said Underwood punched her two or three times, knocking her to the floor, court paperwork said.
The next day, Underwood began an argument with Caldwell at about noon, and Harker and a man “beat her up,” police wrote in court paperwork. The man had not been charged as of Monday afternoon. Later that evening, Harker and Underwood allegedly hit her in the face. Caldwell reported she was hit in the head with a broom handle.
An EMT examined Caldwell on scene and determined she had bruises and scrapes on her back, buttocks, left thigh, upper chest and behind her ears. She was taken to Uniontown Hospital for further treatment.
Harker and Underwood are charged with aggravated assault, kidnap, false imprisonment and two counts of simple assault. Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. March 13.