Nebraska State Patrol Finds Merrillville Kidnapping Victim
On Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 5:50 a.m. the Merrillville Police Department received a report of a battery occurring in the parking lot of Meijer located at 611 W Lincoln Highway, according to Assistant Chief of Police Kosta Nuses.
Upon arrival officers made contact with the reporting party who advised he was battered by a known party he identified as, William Brittingham. The reporting party advised the battery occurred over Brittingham’s girlfriend. Brittingham had fled the area prior to officers’ arrival, Nuses stated.
At approximately 1:57 p.m. the Merrillville Police Department received information of a kidnapping that occurred in the parking lot of Dollar Tree located at 295 West Lincoln Highway. This kidnapping stemmed from the previous reported battery. A witness reported he received information from a subject known to him as William Brittingham. Brittingham told the witness he was involved in an altercation with a male subject who he believed was sleeping with his girlfriend. Brittingham told the witness in addition to battering the male subject he placed the female victim in handcuffs at gunpoint forcing her to get in his vehicle. Brittingham told the witness that his life was over and he was going to drive south to kill himself and the female victim.
Merrillville Police investigators were able to determine Brittingham was traveling on I-80 through Nebraska. Investigators were able to contact the Nebraska State Patrol and provide information related to this incident. Nebraska State Patrol was able to locate Brittingham’s vehicle traveling west on I-80 approaching Grand Island, Nebraska. Nebraska State Patrol was able to stop the vehicle where Brittingham was taken into custody and the female victim was recovered safe.
On 01/14/2022 William R. Brittingham III was charged through the Superior Court of Lake County with Kidnapping, Criminal Confinement, Intimidation, Pointing a Firearm, and Battery. Brittingham is currently in custody at the Hall County Jail in Nebraska.
The Merrillville Police Department was assisted by Nebraska State Patrol, FBI GRIT Task Force, and FBI Omaha.
If anyone has information related to this incident, please contact Detective Joshua Gonzales at 219-769-3531 ext. 360 or jpgonzales@merrillville.in.gov.
