COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Holden-Kay formally charged four teenagers after a 19-year-old victim was kidnapped, beaten, and left in a barn earlier this month. Authorities are also looking for the whereabouts of one of those charged- Zablin Jai Woodruff.
Woodruff, Charles Abram Breedlove, Ashton Fields, and Emily Franklin were charged with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 2 felony, kidnapping, a level 3 felony, criminal confinement, a level 3 felony, and aggravated battery, a level 3 felony. The alleged kidnapping and battery took place June 2 into the early morning hours of June 3.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Franklin picked the victim up under the pretext of going to get some food. Rather than stopping to do so, she drove and parked her car in front of a barn at 3460 Bonnell Rd. The victim told law enforcement that once they arrived, Woodruff grabbed his neck and dragged him from the car. He said Breedlove then punched him in the face, disorienting him. The 19-year-old stated there were more people in the barn that were masked, according to court documents. Woodruff supposedly cut the 19-year-old on the face with a knife, and both he and Breedlove took turns trying to cut him with it.
The victim told Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office deputy that Breedlove brandished a pistol and whipped him. He also claimed that Breedlove pointed the gun at his head, and stated “I’m going to blow your head off,” and “These are your last minutes on earth,” according to the affidavit.
The victim told law enforcement he was beaten with a stick and then Woodruff held him down while Breedlove began to cut off his hair with a pair of scissors and cut his throat. The affidavit states that Woodruff asked the victim, “Are you thirsty?” before a liquid was thrown on his face that burned his eyes and the cuts on his face.
After the beating, Woodruff reportedly told him to wait 30 minutes before exiting the barn. The victim waited an hour before eventually making his way to a nearby neighborhood to summon help. Woodruff and Breedlove allegedly caused the majority of his injuries, however, the victim said that he believed Franklin’s boyfriend, Ashton Fields, was involved as well, but was wearing a mask. Franklin later supposedly told authorities that she was asked by Breedlove and Woodruff to set up the victim.
If you have information as to the whereabouts of Zablin Jai Woodruff, contact Bartholomew County dispatch at 812-379-1689.
Breedlove. Courtesy – BCJ.
Fields. Courtesy – BCJ.
Franklin. Courtesy – BCJ.
Woodruff. Courtesy – BCSO.