Six Charged in Vermont Kidnapping and Torture Case

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Six individuals are in custody in connection with the kidnapping and torture of a 35-year-old woman from Claremont, Latest Hampshire, who police say was held for ransom for weeks. The victim was rescued in January after authorities traced a phone used by the captors to contact the victim’s ex-boyfriend and son to a residence on Randall Hill Road in Springfield, Vermont, according to court documents.

Details of the Kidnapping

The ordeal began on January 1st when the woman arranged to purchase cocaine from Nicole Palardy, 36, of Claremont, at a friend’s house, according to a police affidavit. Upon meeting Palardy, the victim was allegedly forced into a black truck operated by Jesse Emerson, 46, of Bellows Falls, Vermont, by Damarcus Bonner, 30 and Tyron Harris, 26.

The victim was then transported to a residence at 950 Randall Hill Road in Springfield, where Jessenialyz Jones, 18, allegedly restrained her with duct tape and physically assaulted her. During her captivity, the victim was subjected to horrific abuse, including burns from a heated knife, waterboarding with hydrogen peroxide, and threats with handguns, as detailed in the affidavit.

Ransom and Investigation

Bonner and Harris allegedly used the victim’s phone to contact her ex-boyfriend and son via Facebook Messenger, demanding ransom money. The ex-boyfriend contacted police in Greenfield, Massachusetts, on January 24th after receiving images of the victim bound and injured, along with ransom demands of $4,000. He was able to identify the victim based on a birthmark, tattoo, and piercing, and reported seeing a silver handgun during a video call with the suspects.

Greenfield police were able to trace the phone number used to contact the ex-boyfriend and son, leading Springfield police to the Randall Hill Road residence. Upon arriving at the scene, police ordered all occupants to exit the building. Vermont State Police were subsequently called in to assist.

Arrests and Charges

All six individuals were taken into custody at the residence, and the victim was freed. The following individuals face multiple felony charges:

• Damarcus Bonner, 30, of Connecticut: Eight felony charges, including four kidnapping charges, two extortion charges, one aggravated assault charge, and one heroin trafficking charge, as well as a misdemeanor charge of possessing a firearm despite being prohibited.
• Tyron Harris, 26, of Massachusetts: Seven felony charges, including four kidnapping charges, two extortion charges, and one aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
• Jessenialyz Jones, 18, of Massachusetts: Six charges, including four kidnapping charges and two aggravated assault charges. Jones is represented by public defender Kelly Green.
• Nicole Palardy, 36, of Claremont, New Hampshire: Two felony kidnapping charges.
• Jesse Emerson, 46, of Bellows Falls, Vermont: Charged with accessory to kidnapping.
• Sheldon Stocker, 37: Two felony kidnapping charges.

All six remain in custody in various Vermont jails, according to Springfield Police Chief Jeff Burnham.

Second Victim and Motive

During the investigation, police interviewed a second woman who resided at the Randall Hill Road home. She told police the primary victim frequently visited the residence, where Bonner and Harris allegedly sold narcotics. The second woman stated that $8,000 worth of narcotics went missing, and the primary victim was suspected of theft. A plan was then allegedly made to kidnap the primary victim until the drugs or payment were recovered. At one point, the primary victim suggested the second woman might be responsible, leading to her temporary restraint before being released.