Community on Alert After Reported Bentonville Parking Lot Attack
The Unsettling Incident
The small town of Bentonville, Arkansas, has been left shaken by a recent kidnapping and rape incident that took place in broad daylight. A woman was abducted from the parking lot of the Bentonville Walmart Supercenter on Walton Boulevard and subjected to a violent attack.
The Details of the Attack
According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, the woman was approached by a man wearing a dark sweatshirt with the hood up and a ski mask. He showed her a pistol, ordered her to calm down, and told her to drive. The assailant directed her to a school on Melissa Drive, where he struck her in the head and eventually forced her into the rear cargo area of her vehicle.
The Aftermath of the Attack
After the rape, the assailant ordered the woman to drive him back to the Walmart. En route, he threw her cellphone into a grassy area and instructed her to retrieve it after he left. Upon exiting her vehicle, he vanished. The woman managed to call her boyfriend and was directed to pull into the nearby Benton County Sheriff’s Office parking lot where she was met by authorities.
The Investigation and Arrest
The police were able to obtain crucial video footage from the Walmart surveillance cameras showing the suspect and his vehicle—a blue Ford Mustang with distinctive tags resembling those from McLarty Daniel car dealership. Workers at the dealership identified Marcos Antonio Morales as the Mustang’s owner after viewing photographs of the vehicle and its occupants.
A Glimpse of Morales
- Police reviews of dealership video captured Morales picking up his vehicle wearing clothing identical to what he wore during the attack.
- A neighbor confirmed Morales lived at 14035 Hiwasse Road but was not home when police arrived.
The Community’s Reaction
The community is now on high alert and raising awareness for safety and self-defense. Locals are urging one another to remain vigilant and take precautions in public spaces. The incident has left many feeling uneasy, especially given its unexpected occurrence in a parking lot during broad daylight.
The Future of Safety Measures
As residents seek reassurance, local authorities are working diligently to enhance security measures around town. This includes reviewing existing protocols and potentially implementing new ones to prevent such attacks in the future.
