CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – A Columbus man accused of the brutal kidnapping of a woman has pleaded guilty.
Anthony Jernee, a 45-year-old truck driver and mechanic, along with his accomplice Terri Diaz, a 48-year-old resident of Lucasville, face serious charges in connection with the disturbing incident.
According to the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, the chilling case unfolded on the morning of August 4, 2022, when Jernee and Diaz reportedly approached the victim and offered to take her to Lucasville to pick up a camper. The police report indicated that the victim willingly agreed to accompany the duo, as she was familiar with Jernee and had spent time with him previously.
As per the victim’s statements to authorities, Jernee and Diaz allegedly made plans for a camping trip at Paint Creek State Park. However, the situation took a horrifying turn when Jernee, per statements, demanded the victim to perform oral sex on him. When she declined his advances, Jernee handcuffed her. Diaz reportedly held the victim at knifepoint while Jernee took her into the camper, where she was then zip-tied to a couch.
According to the victim, Jernee callously remarked that if she had complied with his demand, none of this would have happened, and she wouldn’t “end up like the others.” Terrified and desperate, the woman managed to free one of her hands from the zip ties and discovered a box cutter. She used it to cut herself free from the restraints and bravely jumped from the moving camper near Nipgen, a small community in Ross County.
Seeking help, the victim found herself on a stranger’s lawn, still shackled at the ankles and wrists, in a state of distress. The homeowner immediately dialed emergency services, reporting that a woman who claimed to have been abducted had sought refuge on his property.
Responding swiftly to the call, deputies arrived at the scene to find the woman in a state of shock. She detailed the horrifying ordeal she had just escaped, recounting her captivity and how she had been held against her will.
Law enforcement officials collaborated with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Chillicothe Police Department, and Ross County Sheriff’s Office to track down the truck towing the camper, matching the victim’s description. Eventually, they located Jernee on his way to Chillicothe. Deputies attempted to pull him over, but he initiated a slow-speed pursuit, even resorting to ramming law enforcement vehicles. The chase ultimately concluded in an alley behind Paint Street near Fourth Street in Chillicothe, where the pickup truck and camper became entangled. Jernee was apprehended by law enforcement, while the victim was transported to a Adena Regional Medical Center for evaluation. Diaz was also taken into custody following the pursuit. Diaz originally claimed to be a victim in the case, and that it was she, who was being held against her will.
Following the shocking revelation that Jernee had reportedly declared to the victim that she would “be like the others,” the Guardian contacted investigators to inquire about the significance of his statement and whether he was being investigated as a suspect in other cases involving sexual assaults, abductions, or even murders. Law enforcement officials stated that the case remains under active investigation, with no conclusive information available at this time.
Court records reveal a prior indictment against Anthony Jernee for rape and kidnapping in 2018. However, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas dismissed the indictment in 2019 after the victim could not be located.
In December 2022, The Guardian interviewed an anonymous source close to Jernee who revealed disturbing details about his past. The source disclosed that they were unsurprised by the charges against Jernee, as he had an alleged history of violence and aggressive behavior. The source further alleged that Jernee had previously kidnapped a woman, and kept her chained inside an apartment while working for a trucking company in Columbus. However, the Guardian was unable to independently verify these accusations or confirm if they are related to the 2018 case against him.
Tragically, the victim in this case has since passed away, as confirmed by her family. The details surrounding her death were not disclosed.
Currently, Anthony Jernee is serving a prison sentence of 5 to 7 ½ years for felony drug possession.
As for Terri Diaz, she pled guilty earlier this year to an amended indictment of complicity to commit felonious assault. She faces a prison term ranging from 8 to 12 years, with the possibility of judicial release after serving a minimum of two years.
The community has been shaken by the shocking events surrounding this case. The investigation into Anthony Jernee’s potential involvement in other crimes is ongoing, as law enforcement officials continue to gather evidence and follow leads.
Currently, there are several unresolved missing women’s cases along the Route 23 corridor from Columbus to Portsmouth. Investigators say they are working to see if Anthony Jernee is connected to any of them.
UPDATE: Per the Ross County Clerk of Courts, Anthony Jernee pled guilty on Monday. According to court records, Jernee will now face up to 7.5 years in prison as part of a plea deal. A sentencing date has yet to be set in this case.