The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday announced new charges against a kidnapping suspect – and an alleged serial conman – accused of holding a woman hostage for about a year, dragging her along a cross-country trek until her eventual mad dash escape to a gas station in February.
James W. Parrillo Jr., 57, was arrested by New Jersey State Police on Feb. 7, 2023, after the woman ran from a residence in Bass River Township, where the pair had been staying for about two weeks, and fled to safety at a nearby gas station. At that time, Parrillo was charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, hindering apprehension and criminal restraint.
An 11-count indictment issued by a grand jury on May 3 added six charges against Parrillo: two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree criminal coercion and one count of second-degree theft by extortion.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on Wednesday announced the new charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault against Parrillo, and in doing so, again pleaded to the public for information about the man who sources previously told Fox News Digital is a skilled conman who is believed to have used different aliases to prey on women for decades.
NEW JERSEY KIDNAPPING SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY CON MAN WHO HELD HIKER HOSTAGE YEARS AGO, PREYED ON WOMEN FOR DECADES
The woman told police that during a previous visit to the gas station, she noticed an interior deadbolt on the door of the station’s convenience store and began planning her escape. Parrillo allegedly began beating and choking the woman during an argument inside the residence on Feb. 7, but allegedly ceased when he realized the two were not alone in the house. At that time, the woman ran from the house to the gas station wearing nothing but shorts and a shirt in the 42-degree weather, authorities said.
Once inside the gas station, the woman bolted the door and told…
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