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Kidnapped woman held in man's apartment for a month

Posted at 10:29 AM, Feb 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-14 23:20:15-05
The man accused of keeping an Olean woman in his apartment for a month was arraigned on kidnapping charges Tuesday morning.
 
61-year-old Francis O'Donnell is charged with second degree kidnapping, a class B felony, and Olean Police say more charges are pending.
"It's unnerving, it really is," said Karen Guenther, who lives in the apartment building. "To think that something like that would happen and nobody knew."
 
 
Olean police say O'Donnell held a 35-year-old woman in his North Union Street apartment against her will for several weeks before dropping her off at Olean General Hospital Monday at 8:30 a.m.
 
"I can't belive it," Guenther said. "Someone had to have heard something."
 
The hospital called police, who started an investigation based on the victim's testimony.
 
The woman was reported missing last week.
 
According to police statements, O'Donnell picked up the woman from outside a library on January 12. The victim says O'Donnell asked her if she wanted a ride in his car, and she agreed because it was cold outside. O'Donnell then took her to his apartment.
 
O'Donnell said in his statement that the woman reported missing asked him if she could stay with him for a few days.
 
Police say the victim is still recovering in the hospital.
 
O'Donnell is being held on $15,000 cash bail/$30,000 bond.