A man accused of kidnapping a woman and demanding ransom from her family was arrested by the FBI in Grayson County Wednesday after he allegedly picked up the money and jewelry in Oak Grove.
A release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Kentucky says a criminal complaint filed in District Court Thursday reported the Brentwood, Tennessee Police Department received a phone call indicating a woman had been kidnapped and the suspect, identified as Bryan Conley, had demanded a ransom from her family of $20,000 for her release. Investigators say Conley told the woman’s mother to begin driving to Toledo, Ohio where she would receive another phone call. Conley allegedly threatened, sell, rape and kill the victim if the mother did not comply.
Investigators report Conley sent a “proof of life” photograph of the woman to her family showing her inside a vehicle with binding around her mouth. Authorities were able to identify the vehicle. Authorities say the ransom was reportedly negotiated down to a few hundred dollars and some jewelry and the father agreed he would begin traveling toward Toledo, Ohio. to drop off the money
According to the release, an unidentified user tried to access the kidnapped woman’s bank account, but was the individual was unable to correctly answer the security questions. Later that morning, authorities say there was a successful login to her bank account via her telephone. The bank provided the telephone number associated with the first attempt which was registered to Bryan Conley’s wife in Clarksville. Investigators learned that Conley’s wife has a gray 2014 Ford Taurus registered in her name. Further investigation revealed the two telephones were in close proximity.
Investigators say Conley texted the woman’s family “one more lie she’s dead” around 2:25 Wednesday afternoon, while FBI Special Agents were located with the woman’s father in Tennessee. Location information from the cellular carrier placed the victim’s phone in the vicinity of Hopkinsville. Around 3:30 that afternoon, investigators say the ransom was delivered behind a dumpster at the Flying J Travel Center in Oak Grove. Conley reportedly picked up the ransom around 5:00. FBI agents saw him leave the gas station in a Ford Taurus and followed him to a gas station in Leitchfield where he was arrested. Following the arrest, the kidnapped woman was found in Conley’s vehicle.
Conley is currently in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and is being held in the Grayson County Detention Center.
