James Leon Works, Jr.
An Ooltewah man was arrested after police say he attacked a woman at a hotel, raped her, and forced her to take drugs while he held a knife to her throat.
James Leon Works, Jr., 41, was said to have a platonic friendship with the victim. According to police, they had been staying together at a hotel for several days without any problems.
The victim said everything changed on May 29 when he began physically assaulting her. She said he started telling her about how he had kidnapped and raped other women in the past, and that he planned to do the same to her.
She told police he started beating her sometime during the night. She said he continued to hit her off and on until she managed to escape at 5 a.m. Several times, she said she was knocked unconscious.
She also said he forced her to ingest methamphetamine before he raped her. She told police he even barricaded the door to keep her in the room. According to her statement, Works told her "the only way she was leaving was dead."
She told police that she waited until Works fell asleep to search for his phone. She then used it to call her mother, who drove to get her. Without waking Works, she quietly unblocked the door and slipped outside.
After her mother took her to the hospital, the hotel manager called the police. Works was arrested on drug charges.
In this case, he has been charged with aggravated kidnapping, rape, and assault. Bond was set at $100,000.
Works is scheduled to appear before General Sessions Court Judge Gary Starnes next Tuesday.