Morris in custody, charged with kidnapping, assault

Monett man turns self in following alleged attack, kidnapping at Aurora Price Cutter
A Monett man remains in custody in the Lawrence County Jail after being accused of assaulting a man at the Price Cutter parking lot in Aurora and abducting a woman from the scene. Nicholas Morris, 22, is charged with first-degree assault and first-degree kidnapping, both Class D felonies in Missouri.

Victims allegedly lured to parking lot, assaulted
According to the probable cause statement in the case, the victims and another companion were allegedly lured to the parking lot in the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 14, to meet a friend of theirs. Upon their arrival, Morris, who the report said was hiding nearby, allegedly ambushed the trio. The victims also reported that several unknown people exited the friend’s vehicle and began attacking them also. Morris allegedly tackled one of the men and stomped his head several times. The man’s head and face were injured.
During the attack, Morris allegedly accused the woman, with whom he’d been in a relationship and had a child with earlier, of having a sexual relationship with the two men.
The male victims fled the scene of the attack, and then Morris allegedly pushed the woman into a pickup truck, stating that she was “going home with him.” The woman claimed she refused verbally but was too afraid to fight, and Morris took her cell phone and wallet.

Morris allegedly abducted woman, assaulted her at his residence
Morris reportedly then drove the woman to his residence in Monett, and in a fit of rage, struck her in the face and chest with her cell phone. The report also said that Morris slammed her onto his couch, got on top of her and choked her while screaming in her face. During this time, the woman said, Morris also punched her on the side of her head “several times.” She also said he violently grabbed and threatened her. The woman said she cried hysterically throughout the alleged assault and screamed she wanted to go home several times.
After that alleged assault, the woman said, Morris took her into his bedroom and indicated he intended to have sex with her, but she kept telling him no, until he finally stopped.

Woman said Morris let her go after his family confronted him
After postings were made on Facebook about the woman’s abduction, the statement said, Morris’ family members arrived at his residence and confronted him about the alleged kidnapping. Afterwards, Morris drove the woman back to her home in Aurora and gave her back her wallet and cell phone. The woman then began calling loved ones to let them know she was safe.
An officer who interviewed the woman noted she had a bruise on her right cheek, several scratches on her throat/neck area, and an abrasion on her left jaw/chin area. The officer also observed her right ear was scratched in several places, and the skin was torn on her right pinky finger.
The woman gave detailed statements to the officer about the course of events that evening, during which time the officer reported she became “emotional and embarrassed several times.” The officer also reported that the woman said Morris had a history of abusing her when they were in a prior relationship.
After the interview, the officer said, the woman agreed to seek medical attention at a local hospital and have a sexual assault evidence collection kit performed.
Morris reportedly turned himself in to authorities on Sunday, Jan. 15. According to online records, he is currently being held without bond; he is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday, Jan. 26, for a bond reduction hearing.