Cops: Kidnapping suspect torched car to hide evidence

New details emerged Friday about the arrest of a Crystal Lake man early Thursday morning following the violent kidnapping of his former girlfriend, halted in part thanks to the actions of a Good Samaritan.

Woodstock Police Chief Robert Lowen said his officers arrested suspect Steven W. Hess after he torched the car believed used in the kidnapping in an open field south of the city at about 5:21 a.m. Thursday.

Patrol officers spotted the fire, which gutted a 1996 Ford Taurus, and arrested Hess, 56, nearby a short time later, Lowen said.

"He was pretty cold," the chief added. "He was happy to see the police officers. It's kind of a desolate area he was out there in."

Because of the fire, Hess now faces charges of arson and obstructing justice on top of the seven felony charges filed in connection with the kidnapping Wednesday night. The obstructing justice charge alleges Hess set the fire to cover up physical evidence of the kidnapping.

Hess, of the 400 block of West Virginia Street, appeared in court Friday for the first time since his arrest. A judge set his bond at $155,000 and appointed the public defender to represent him.

In his application for the public defender, Hess says he is unemployed, has no assets and lives off $1,356 in government assistance each month.

He is scheduled to return to court Dec. 16 on charges that include aggravated kidnapping, attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery. If convicted, Hess could face up to 30 years in prison.

Police say Hess kidnapped and intended to rape his 52-year-old ex-girlfriend beginning about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday as she left her workplace along Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

In court documents filed Thursday seeking an order of protection against Hess, the woman wrote she came out of her work and found Hess waiting for her in a friend's car.

"I got in the car because I trusted him," the woman wrote. "His demeanor changed and he forced tie wraps around my hands. He tied a rope around my neck and tied it to the car seat. He told me if I did what he said I should survive the night."

From there, police said, Hess drove to his residence, at some point attempting to sexually assault the woman, according to court documents.

When they arrived outside Hess' home, the woman said, Hess tried to pull her out of the car using the rope tied around her neck. When she resisted, Hess began punching her in the face, head and arm, she said. Court records say the assault left the woman with a deep laceration on her forehead.

During the struggle, police said, a man driving by saw what was happening, pulled over and got out of his vehicle to confront Hess.

The distraction, police said, allowed the victim to break free and run to a nearby beauty salon for help. Hess also fled the scene.

Hess, police said, had dated the 52-year-old Crystal Lake woman for about two years before their relationship ended several months ago. There were no previous reports of violence between the former couple, police said.

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