ONTARIO, OR : Kidnapping report leads to fatal crash in Ontario on Monday, January 9th 2017

Charges are pending against a Nampa man suspected of stabbing and kidnapping a woman prior to a deadly car chase in Ontario.

A woman called police about 6:50 a.m. Monday from the JNJ convenience store at 330 E. Idaho Ave. to report an assault in progress, according to a press conference posted on KBOI-TV’s website.

“The caller described there was a female being stabbed right in front of her, she was very hysterical,” said David Goldthorpe, Malheur County district attorney.

Ontario Police said that when they arrived, the suspect fled with the woman in a black 2014 Dodge Ram pickup, and police pursued the vehicle in the city and then south onto Highway 201.

The pickup crossed the center line and collided with a 2001 Ford Excursion on Highway 201 near the intersection with Southwest 18th Avenue, Goldthorpe said.

The driver of the Ford, David Bates, died at the scene of the crash. His wife, Jessica Bates, was a passenger in the Ford and was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. The couple were from Vale, Oregon, according to social media posts.

An adult female was found dead in the pickup truck. Her name was not released as of Monday evening. Ontario Police believe the kidnapping was not random.

The victim’s vehicle was found abandoned in Weiser in the middle of the road. Several vehicles have been seized and are being searched, Ontario Police Chief Cal Kunz said.

Anthony Montwheeler, 49, of Nampa, the suspect and driver of the pickup, was also seriously injured in the crash and taken to a local hospital.

Montwheeler was convicted of first-degree aggravated theft in March 2012 in Grant County, Oregon. He was sentenced to serve 24 months, with credit for time served. His wife, Annita Montwheeler, was convicted of the same charge. The Montwheelers appealed in 2016, and their sentences were vacated and charges dismissed.

The investigation will have two parts: homicide and the fatal crash. The Ontario Police Department will handle the homicide investigation with assistance from the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police, Kunz said.

State police will conduct the investigation of the crash. Highway 201 was closed for about six hours Monday.

Conditions at the time of crash were extremely icy, though it was too early Monday to say whether they were a factor, said Oregon State Police Lt. Mark Duncan.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started to collect funds for David Bates’ funeral and Jessica Bates’ medical bills. The couple has five children. About $19,000 was raised in the first six hours of the page going live.

Source :
Kidnapping report leads to fatal crash in Ontario