Woman Kidnapped by Cranston Couple, Forced into Prostitution, Types "GET ME OUT OF THE CAR" to Alert Troopers During Traffic Stop

A shaking 24-year-old riding in the back seat of a car stopped by the state police on Wednesday typed a message on her cell phone that said “GET ME OUT OF THE CAR” and turned the phone towards a trooper to see.

Soon after, a Cranston couple was arrested for allegedly kidnapping the woman, of East Providence, and forcing her into prostitution.

Neisha L. Bessell, 29, and Michael Gomes, 28, both of 151 Narragansett St., Cranston, are now facing charges of kidnapping and trafficking of persons for forced labor or commercial sexual activity, the state police announced.

Troopers stopped the car at around 12:10 a.m. on Potter St. in Providence.

The car was missing a front license plate, police said.

As troopers Sean Crowley and James Gaffney from the Lincoln Woods Barracks conducted the traffic stop, the rear passenger “appeared to be shaking and would not make eye contact with troopers,” the state police said in a release.

The troopers then saw the woman type the message on her phone and she was promptly removed from the vehicle “at which point she began shaking uncontrollably and crying. She disclosed that she had been kidnapped by force and had previously been forced into prostitution by Bessell and Gomes.”

Everyone was brought back to the Lincoln Woods Barracks where detectives went to work, including members of the Rhode Island State Police Major Crimes Unit.

They learned that on Feb. 11, the victim was lured into meeting Bessell and Gomes in East Providence where she was forcibly abducted. During the abduction, she reportedly was able to briefly call 911 with her cell phone but was unable say anything.

The traffic stop occurred about 20 minutes later.

Detectives soon learned that the victim had escaped “over a year ago” from Bessell and Gomes and “was currently living in seclusion after having been forced to commit acts of prostitution,” the state police said.

Bessell and Gomes will be arraigned at 9:15 PM this evening at the Lincoln barracks on the charges of Kidnapping, Trafficking of Persons for Force Labor or Commercial Sexual Activity, Simple Assault, and (2) two counts of Possession of a Weapon other than a Firearm (a knife over 3”).