Two men were ordered held without bail Wednesday in connection with an alleged kidnapping of a 53-year-old Danvers woman who jumped out a moving vehicle on Interstate 95 in Newburyport.
James Poretta, 52, of Peabody and Joseph Poretta, 55, address unavailable, were arraigned Wednesday in Newburyport District Court on charges of kidnapping and assault, according to Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokesperson for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Boldgett. They were arrested on Interstate 95 southbound Tuesday evening by Massachusetts State Police. An investigation was sparked by a motorist who told a state trooper working a construction detail that a female had jumped out of a 2014 Ford Focus traveling southbound on I-95 in Newburyport. A state police spokesperson said patrols from the Newbury barracks were notified and, within minutes, the female was located on route 113 near the ramp from I-95. The victim, sustained minor injuries and was bleeding. Newburyport Fire Department responded to the scene but the victim refused medical treatment.
“The initial investigation by Trooper Scott Grimes indicates that the victim went to visit the suspects, who were known to her,” the state police spokesperson said. “During the course of the visit, the victim was physically restrained and forced into the Ford Focus against her will. The victim had informed the suspects she wanted to leave the vehicle and was restrained from doing so during travel in the vehicle. On route 95 the victim jumped out of the moving vehicle to escape.”
Both suspects are due back in court for a dangerousness hearing on Sept. 14, Kimball-Monahan said.