Beverly Man Facing New Kidnapping Charges In Maine

BEVERLY, MA — A Beverly man already on probation for kidnapping in Massachusetts was arrested in Maine Sunday and accused of trying to take the same victim to Canada against her will. Maine State Police used K9 Dutch to search a wooded area along a highway for Stephen Pilson, 52, of Beverly. Pilson was "highly intoxicated, violent, homicidal and possibly suicidal" when he was arrested, according to police.

Pilson was already on probation for kidnapping in Massachusetts. Maine State Police said the victim in Sunday's incident was the same victim in the Massachusetts case. Pilson, who had been ordered not to have contact with the 27-year-old woman as part of his probation, had tied her hands together with a scarf.

Pilson was charged with domestic violence assault, kidnapping, resisting arrest, operating under the influence, operating after habitual offender status and fugitive from justice. He is being held on $22,000 bail and his Massachusetts probation was revoked.

Maine State Police responded to reports around 3:40 p.m. Sunday of a black sedan operating erratically on the northbound side of the Maine Turnpike and, around 4 p.m., reports of a man chasing a woman into the woods along the highway in Augusta. Pilson ran into the woods when a passing motorist stopped to help. Police found him lying in a swamp about 3/4s of a mile into the woods.