Kidnapping Suspect Who Held Woman For Year Caught In Burlington County

BASS RIVER TWP., NJ — A woman held hostage for almost a year escaped, and led officials to arrest the man whom she said took her across the country from California to Burlington County.

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office announced charges against a man who has several aliases on Friday, 10 days after he was arrested.

Officials say James W. Parrillo Jr., also known as Brett Parker, faces charges of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree aggravated assault and strangulation, and third-degree criminal restraint. The 57-year-old is accused of kidnapping the woman, whom he met in New Mexico last year, traveling to New Jersey with her, and assaulting her in the Bass River Township residence where they rented a room.

Parrillo Jr. may have other names and has been linked to similar predatory activity in other states, said officials, citing the victim's statements and social media posts.

Anyone who has information on him is asked to contact New Jersey State Police at 855-363-6548.

User posts in some hiking groups on Facebook detail disturbing confrontations with Parrillo, who also went by "Medic," including an alleged kidnapping and rape on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Parrillo began beating and choking the woman during an argument in the residence on Feb. 7, according to court records. Other people lived in the home, and officials say Parrillo stopped assaulting her when he realized they were not alone.

Court records show the woman escaped, wearing just shorts and a t-shirt, and ran to a nearby gas station. She had noticed there was a deadbolt on the door at a previous visit, records show. The woman locked the door once inside and told an attendant she had been kidnapped almost a year ago. Parrillo followed her to the gas station and tried to get inside, officials said, but walked away when he realized it was locked.

The gas station attendant called state police, who caught Parrillo a short time later as he was walking down C.R. 542.

He also faces charges of third-degree hindering apprehension, and fourth-degree obstruction and refusing to provide a DNA sample.

The woman told police she met Parrillo, whom she knew as "Brett Parker," at a gas station in New Mexico, sometime Feb. 2022. He asked her for a ride to Arizona and she said she agreed.

They started a relationship, and he assaulted her about a month later when they were in California, the woman claimed. She felt she was unable to leave the relationship, and said Parrillo took her phone away and took her debit cards for his own use. They arrived in New Jersey at some time in December, officials said.

Parrillo will remain detained at the Burlington County Jail after a hearing before Superior Court Judge Christopher J. Garringer on Feb. 15, the NJ Attorney General's Office said.

This is a developing story. Patch will update it as more information becomes available.