CHP: Kidnappers caught; victim recovering

A Corning man is recovering from stab wounds he suffered when he was reportedly kidnapped from his home on Fig Lane early Friday, and the man and woman suspected of the crime have been arrested.

The California Highway Patrol reported William Adamson, 59, was “abducted by force by use of a knife,” from his residence at 4:30 a.m.

Ricky Gene Nolen Jr., 32, of Oroville, and Rebecca Diane Bochantin, 40, of Chico, were arrested at 6:20 p.m. Friday and booked into Tehama County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, second-degree burglary, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, carjacking, and kidnapping with the intent to commit robbery.

Bail was set at $925,000 for Nolen and $825,000 for Bochantin.

The CHP reported Adamson was forced to drive his vehicle to his bank with instructions to withdraw funds from his account.

Adamson said he told is captors there was only $25 in the account, so they reportedly made him drive northbound on Interstate 5, where he pulled into the rest area north of Corning and tried to escape, the CHP reported.

That is when Adamson was stabbed in the back, right shoulder and right hand, the CHP reported. After Adamson got away, the kidnappers drove way in his vehicle.

Adamson was transported to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and then released, the CHP reported.

“The vehicle was later recovered in Chico,” said CHP Officer Philip Mackintosh.

At 5:30 p.m., law enforcement received information about Nolen and Bochantin’s possible plans. CHP officers from the Oroville area coordinated an arrest team, and Nolen and Bochantin were taken into custody at the Rite Aid store on Oro Dam Boulevard in Oroville.