Arrested are 30-year-old Cheryl Baynard and her boyfriend, 41-year-old Cory Hitchens, who reside in the unit block of Tulip Lane in the William Penn Village Apartment complex in New Castle.
According to police, on at 8:18 Saturday morning, Baynard called police to report that her boyfriend had just been kidnapped. Upon their arrival, Baynard told officers that she was assaulted by three subjects who forced their way into the apartment and then kidnapped Hitchens.
Baynard told police that the kidnappers were demanding money and indicated that if they did not receive the money, Hitchens would be injured. They also said they would kill Hitchens if the police were contacted.
Several officers then conducted a search of the residence, and instead of finding suspects, police discovered Hitchens hiding in a bedroom closet.
Baynard and Hitchens were then taken to County Headquarters for further questioning where it was revealed that the kidnapping never occurred. The couple told police that they reported the incident so they could get a 73-year-old relative to pay some of the debt that Hitchens owes as a result of his drug addiction.
Baynard and Hitchens were arrested and charged with attempted extortion, conspiracy in the second degree, falsely reporting an incident and criminal nuisance. They were arraigned and both committed after failing to post $750 secured bail. They were also ordered to have no contact with the victim.
Baynard was committed to the Women's Correctional Institute and Hitchens was committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institute.
