Moberly man allegedly took woman hostage and demanded $3,000 ransom

MOBERLY, Missouri (KMIZ)

A Moberly man has been charged with three felonies after being accused of holding a woman hostage in an apartment for a $3,000 ransom.

Ricky Morgan Jr., 37, was charged with first-degree kidnapping, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Morgan is being held in the Randolph County Jail on $100,000 bail. His arraignment was held Monday.

According to the probable cause affidavit, a woman called a man – who allegedly owed Morgan money – and told him she was being held hostage and demanded a ransom of $3,000, and that she could not leave until the man delivered the money in a vehicle.

Police learned Morgan was in the apartment with a second person, the statement said. Moberly police arrived and handed the man a “bait envelope,” the statement said. The man threw the envelope into the vehicle and sent a text message stating the money was in the vehicle, court documents said.

Morgan allegedly stuck his head out the front door and let the woman walk out, court documents say. Morgan and another person were asked to leave the house by police, and Morgan was eventually arrested.

Police wrote that the woman suffered injuries to her face. She allegedly told officers that Morgan threatened her with a gun several times and feared he would kill her, the statement said. According to court documents, police found three weapons in the apartment.