Man found guilty in 2013 kidnappings

Published 9:24 am Saturday, December 10, 2016

A Dallas County jury found a Selma man guilty Wednesday for kidnapping multiple women in 2013.

Daniel Emerson, 54, was convicted of two counts of first-degree kidnapping and one count of unlawful imprisonment for kidnapping three women in 2013 between June and August.

According to Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson, the jury deliberated for nearly two hours before a guilty verdict was announced in Circuit Judge Don McMillan’s courtroom.

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“We are going to ship this predator off for a long time,” Jackson said. “I hope he has his suitcase packed.”

The first kidnapping happened in July. According to court documents, the first female victim was walking down the 2000 block of Alabama Avenue. She told investigators that Emerson was circling the block, and the fourth time he passed by her he stopped. She said he asked her to “chill,” but she told him no, and he pulled a handgun on her.

According to the victim’s statement, Emerson put the gun to her face and pulled her into his vehicle.  She told officers she tried to call 9-1-1 on her cell phone, but Emerson caught her, shoved her out of the car and fired shots at her.

The victim stated Emerson stopped the white Ford Explorer he was driving and stood over her. She said she pretended to be dead and ran to her friend’s house, who took her to the hospital.

The second kidnapping happened a month later in August. The female victim told officers she was walking down L.L. Anderson Avenue when she noticed a white truck circling the area. She said Emerson pulled up beside her and asked if she needed a ride. She obliged and got into his truck with him.

After Emerson passed where she wanted to go, she asked where he was taking her. She said he grabbed a knife and put it to her neck. When she tried to get out of the truck, Emerson starter stabbing at her with the knife. The victim was able to get out of the car and go to a friend’s house for help.

The third kidnapping happened Aug. 29, 2013. The victim stated she was walking toward West Selma when Emerson pulled up to her in a white Ford Explorer. He stopped and asked her if she needed a ride, and she said yes. After she got into the vehicle, she said he pulled a knife on her and put it to her throat. The victim grabbed the knife and stabbed Emerson with it. She then jumped out of the Explorer with the knife and ran to the police department, where she made contact with officers.

Emerson was linked to all three kidnappings because he was treated at Vaughan Regional Medical Center the day of the third kidnapping for the stab wound. According to a previous Times-Journal report, Emerson told officers that he slipped and fell on his knife. One of the victims was able to identify Emerson as the man that kidnapped them.

Jackson said McMillan ordered a pre-sentence investigation and report and set a sentencing date for Feb. 1, 2017.

Jackson said Emerson could face a life sentence in prison. Emerson’s bond was also revoked to keep him in custody before the sentence hearing.