Opinion ID: 2314693
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: armed kidnaping

Text: The elements of armed kidnaping require, among other things, a showing that appellant while armed seized or detained the victim. D.C.Code 1973, §§ 22-2101, -3202. The involuntary nature of the seizure and detention is the essence of the crime of kidnaping. Smothers v. United States, supra at 313; United States v. Wolford, 144 U.S.App.D.C. 1, 8, 444 F.2d 876, 883 (1971); see Chatwin v. United States, 326 U.S. 455, 464, 66 S.Ct. 233, 237, 90 L.Ed. 198 (1946). In Smothers, this court found there was insufficient evidence to support an inference that a woman, who was later raped and killed at St. Elizabeths Hospital, had been taken from one place to another against her will. Id. at 313. The court so held despite evidence that she was at or near Iverson Mall, that she intended to go to her sister's house, that appellant said he wanted to take his uncle's pistol to the mall to rob women there, that he admitted he shot a woman, and that he subsequently used her car and watch. Id. We stressed that there were no signs of a struggle in the car and that the victim suffered all her injuries immediately before death, according to medical evidence. Id. In the instant case the government has not introduced either direct or circumstantial evidence that the taking of Williams and Rowe from one place to another was against their will. Morton's gas station, although only partially closed for the night, was locked, the lights were turned off and there was no sign of a struggle there. Nor was there any indication of a struggle in Williams' car or any evidence that Rowe and Williams left the station other than voluntarily. Accordingly, we reverse the convictions for four counts of armed kidnaping.