Mom, Kids Escape 2 Years Of Captivity In Fredericksburg: Police

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A man suspected of possibly holding his girlfriend and two children captive in their home for two years was arrested Saturday in the 3600 block of Mine Road, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office. Kariem Ali Muhammad, 43, was charged with three felony counts of abduction a felony assault and battery. He's being held without bond.

Around 5 p.m., police responded to the home for a welfare check. Muhammad answered the door was reluctant to let officers enter the house. That's when a woman, 32, and two children, 8 and 11, ran out of the house through a side door. They told officers they hadn't been allowed to leave the home for two years.

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Police spokesman Charles Carey told the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star he was told Moore is the children's father. He and his girlfriend are not married. Police responded to the home following a call from someone expressing concern for not having seen the family for quite a while.

Neighbors interviewed by WTOP were somewhat perplexed by the news: “It’s peaceful around here,” Christina Lovos said while walking the family dog in one of those nearby neighborhoods. “Especially down here on Mine Road like when we have friendly neighbors around here, I didn’t think something like this could happen.”

Added Amy Fitzpatrick: “Everybody’s great here. Everything is great here. It’s a surprise, a big surprise.”

The woman is being checked out at a hospital and the children were released to family members.

Photo: Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office