EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- An Evansville woman confined a man and beat him repeatedly with a metal pipe to force him to make a false confession in the disappearance of a severely handicapped woman, police say.
Police say 51-year-old Debra Wollner held James Martin, 41, against his will for several hours on July 21. During that time, Martin says Wollner hit him repeatedly with a metal pipe and another woman assaulted him with her hands and feet.
Martin claims Wollner told him to "tell the truth" about the disappearance of 19-year-old Aleah Beckerle.
Beckerle was reported missing July 17 after unknown individuals apparently removed her from her home. Police said Beckerle is severely handicapped and unable to walk or communicate effectively.
As of August 4, Beckerle remains missing.
Click Aleah Beckerle's picture below to read more about her disappearance:
At some point during his confinement, police say Martin agree to lie about his involvement in order to make the beatings stop.
During an interview with police, Martin said he was involved in Beckerle's disappearance, but "investigators quickly believed he was not giving the statement of his own free will."
"Police then learned of the beating and observed several injuries constant with his version of events," according to a statement by Evansville police. "Investigators do not believed Martin had any involvement in the disappearance of Aleah Beckerle and that his statements were being made out of fear of further violence against him."
Police eventually obtained a video showing Martin bleeding from the head and a female voice demanding information about Beckerle.
Wollner, who is reportedly in a relationship with a relative of Beckerle, was identified as the woman involved in the confinement and beating. She was arrested Thursday on preliminary charges of battery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit battery and criminal confinement.
Evansville police continue investigating Beckerle's disappearance. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Evansville Police Department at 812-436-7979 or WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME.
