Authorities: 3 Mo. men accused of kidnapping NJ pet store owner apparently abducted wrong guy
By APMonday, January 11, 2010
3 Missouri men apparently abducted wrong NJ man
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Authorities say three western Missouri men charged with kidnapping a man in New Jersey apparently abducted the wrong guy.
Forty-six-year-old Douglas Stangeland of Nevada, Mo., appeared in court Monday along with 44-year-old Lonnie Swarnes and 21-year-old Andrew Wadel, both of Rich Hill, Mo.
All three are charged with first-degree kidnapping. Authorities say none have attorneys and all are being held without bond.
Authorities say they believe the alleged kidnapping resulted from mistaken identity.
The suspects allegedly approached 59-year-old pet store owner Jeff Muller of Newton, N.J., outside his business Friday and asked if he was Jeff Muller. When Muller said “yes,” they allegedly shot him with a stun gun, bound his hands and feet and drove him to Missouri.
Authorities aren’t saying why the men were looking for a Jeff Muller, only that they believe the men had the wrong guy.
