An Alabama man accused of kidnapping and assaulting an elderly woman has been arrested in Kentucky after a state and federal manhunt.
Tony L. White, 47, of Anniston, Alabama, was arrested on I-75 near Richmond Tuesday night after a BOLO was issued for his vehicle, according to WBRC.com. He was arrested without incident by Kentucky State Police.
He is accused of kidnapping and assaulting Betty Cobb, 75, of Anniston, after following the woman home from a grocery store on Monday.
Cobb was found bound by tape and stuffed in a closet in a home Monday night at approximately 7:15 by Calhoun County (AL) deputies.
After following the victim home, police said White put the woman in his trunk and stabbed her before tying her up and taking her to another residence, WBRC.com reports.
White was identified as a suspect by security footage.
According to Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade, Cobb is a volunteer firefighter and also drives an ambulance.
Police believe White targeted Cobb because of her advanced age.
White is being held in the Madison County Detention Center as he awaits extradition to Alabama.
An excerpt from WBRC.com describing Cobb’s impact on her community:
Others may have retired, but Betty Cobb keeps going. After more than 30 years, she is still volunteering with the Quad Cities Fire Department. Assistant Fire Chief Jason Austin said she is a founding member of the department and also acts as secretary.
“For any wreck call, any medical call, any fire call, even at 75, Ms. Betty is still there,” Lt. Tim Hicks with the Quad Cities Fire Department said. “If she’s not there, you can bet someone is going to ask ‘where is Ms. Betty’.”
“She is actually the mom of the department,” Austin said. “When we are on a scene, there is a lot going on. It’s a lot of chaos, but Ms. Betty is like the calm in the storm.”
Not only is she beloved by local first responders, her fire family said everyone in the county knows “Ms. Betty.”
“She is very well known by everybody,” Hicks said.
(Photo l-r: Betty Cobb, Tony L. White)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
