18-year-old kidnaps teen sisters in Hardin County; captured after wrecking as he fled with one girl

john-gaskins-03-02
john-gaskins-03-02

Thursday morning at approximately 9:40, Kentucky State Police received a call from Meade County Dispatch reporting a stabbing at 46 Four Chaplains Lane, just outside of Vine Grove.

Upon arriving, police made contact with a 17-year-old female with a stab wound to the palm of her hand. While being interviewed the teen said she and her 16-year-old sister had been kidnapped at knife point by one of the teen’s ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old John Gaskins, of Radcliff.
Kentucky State Police spokesman Jeff Gregory said the abduction occurred in the driveway of the teens’ home on Fentress Boulevard, located halfway between Elizabethtown and Radcliff.

Police said the kidnapping began with Gaskins cutting both girls with a knife and forcing them into the trunk of the 17-year-old victim’s 2004 Honda Civic. Gaskin then drove to a cabin in Meade County where he forced the teens inside, and used a rope to bind each victim’s hands behind their backs before tying each girl to a chair.

In an attempt to save her sister, according to police, the 16-year-old agreed to leave with Gaskin and drive to Pennsylvania. Gaskin, taking the 16-year-old with him, and leaving her sister tied up, left the residence in the Honda Civic.

The 17-year-old, though, managed to free herself and ran to a neighbor’s home where she called 911.

During the investigation, police obtained Gaskin’s phone number, with a cell phone ping request made and granted.

Gaskin’s phone was located heading north on I-71, in Gallatin County. At nearly the same time, an accident was reported near the 64 mile marker of I-71 involving the victim’s vehicle.  The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police responded and located Gaskin and the 16-year-old girl.

Gaskin was detained and transported to Kentucky State Police Post 4 in Elizabethtown where he was interviewed. The 16-year-old was reunited with her parents.

Gaskin was arrested and charged with two counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault, two counts of unlawful imprisonment, theft by unlawful taking (automobile), and burglary. He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center where he’s being held on a $500,000 bond.

KSP Detective Scotty Sharp is leading the investigation.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000