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Woman Allegedly Held Captive, Beaten For Weeks In Bethlehem Home

By Andrew Kramer

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (CBS) - Authorities say a woman escaped a rooming house in Bethlehem, Pa. where she was being held captive in a locked bedroom for three weeks.

Authorities say the 21-year-old woman was also beaten and sexually assaulted by her captor, who police identify as 34-year-old Steven Kitchell.

This happened inside the third-floor bedroom of the house, located at 826 Montclair Avenue.

Kitchell reportedly raped the victim, shot her with a BB gun and beat her while she was captive. He was also said to have taken her wallet and phone and gave her heroin.

The woman told police Kitchell left a key ring behind, which she took and was able to escape after he left the house.

Police caught up with Kitchell Wednesday night in New Jersey, where he was arrested by Newark Police. He is charged with kidnapping, rape, false imprisonment, sexual assault, indecent assault and simple assault. He is being held at the prison in Essex County. Police say additional charges are pending.

Bethlehem officials say they are continuing to investigate the incident and it is possible there might be a second victim.

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