Woman says she was snatched in parking lot

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004 | 11:19 a.m.

A deaf woman told Metro Police that a man kidnapped her Sunday from the parking lot of the day-care center where she works on Bonanza Road near Nellis Boulevard.

Officer Enrique Hernandez said a man apparently was hiding inside the woman's van parked outside Creative Beginnings day care at 5245 W. Bonanza Road.

When she got into her vehicle, the man allegedly hit the woman on the back of her head and knocked her unconscious, Hernandez said. The suspect apparently then drove her to a desert area off Lake Mead Boulevard near Sunrise Mountain.

The suspect got out of the van and left the woman there, Hernandez said. She was found by Bureau of Land Management officers.

Police are still trying to get information from the woman through a sign language translator. Police weren't sure this morning whether she was sexually assaulted.

The victim wasn't able to give police a good description of the suspect, Hernandez said. She did convey to police that the man wore gloves and smelled of tobacco.

The owner of Creative Beginnings was not available for comment this morning.

Earlier this month, an employee of Creative Beginnings was arrested for allegedly molesting two children in his former neighborhood. Kimya Winbush, 29, was taken into custody Jan. 3 on 11 charges of sexual assault of a victim under 14 and several related charges.