Everett Simpson: Vermont man accused of abducting woman and her 4-yr-old son confesses to car thefts
BURLINGTON, VERMONT: Everett Simpson of Vermont, accused of kidnapping a New Hampshire woman and her 4-year-old son more than four years ago, appeared in court Monday, April 17. Simpson testified in court that he drove the two cars he is accused of stealing across state lines, but denied kidnapping the mother and her son.
Simpson met the mother and her son after he left the drug treatment facility in Vermont where he had been committed for another case, reports Fox News. He stated that he left the treatment facility to visit his estranged wife, who he believed was seeing another man. Simpson, who appeared as his own attorney at trial, drafted the questions that his public defender presented. US District Court Judge William Sessions told the jury that Simpson had submitted the questions he was asked. Sessions told the court that closing arguments will be held Tuesday, April 18, before the case goes to the jury.
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'I am guilty of a lot of things, but not kidnapping'
The questions posed by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Lasher to Simpson included whether he had driven the alleged victim and her son from New Hampshire to Vermont. Another question was whether he had taken her car and driven it to Pennsylvania, where he was arrested. Simpson repeatedly responded, "I do," to all of the questions, according to Fox News.
Simpson added, "I am guilty of a lot of things, but not kidnapping." He acknowledged in front of the jury that on the evening of January 4, 2019, he fled the Vermont drug rehab facility shortly after being dropped off there for court-ordered drug misuse treatment related to another case.
Simpson admitted that he later stole a van that was parked in a nearby driveway and drove it to New Hampshire. He further stated that he and the claimed victim and her son had driven back to Vermont, but he insisted that it was voluntary and that she had the chance to go if she so desired.
Prosecutors stated that the victim did call for assistance, but it was not provided. When they arrived at their motel in Vermont, Simpson escaped in her car and went to Pennsylvania, where he was subsequently arrested. Court filings state that the victim was sexually assaulted while staying at the motel, although sexual assault is not a complaint in the federal lawsuit.
What charges is Everett Simpson facing?
Simpson is charged with kidnapping a woman and her 4-year-old boy in addition to stealing two cars. If Simpson is found guilty of the kidnapping allegations, he could receive a life sentence in jail. He is further being charged with separate state sex assault offenses.
The woman received $400,000 as part of the settlement of a lawsuit filed in 2020 claiming the state of Vermont of failing to do enough to track down Simpson after he left a treatment facility for substance abuse, according to Fox News. The woman testified in court last week that she had received a sizeable payment from the treatment institution, though the precise sum is unknown.