WEEDSPORT, CAYUGA COUNTY -- The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office tells Action News that it is investigating an alleged case of unlawful imprisonment, which may also include assault and a stolen vehicle.
Deputies say that at approximately 11:00 Monday morning police responded to the Best Western Motel on State Route 31 in Weedsport after it was reported that a young woman was found bound with duct tape in one of the motel rooms. The woman was freed by a Weedsport Police officer and transported to Auburn Memorial Hospital for treatment of a head wound.
Police say that the victim, a 21-year-old female from Fort Ann, New York, allegedly met 30-year-old Arnold C. Fox through online ads involving employment at horse farms. Fox had told the victim that he owned a horse farm in Saratoga Springs and wanted her help purchasing some horses in Pennsylvania. After travelling to Pennsylvania to look at horses, the victim contacted her family at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Saturday saying that she would be home soon. She was not heard from again until she was found in the motel in Weedsport Monday morning.
Police say that Arnold Fox and the victim’s vehicle are missing, and an investigation into his whereabouts is underway. They say that Fox was using the name “Mike Fox” when he contacted the victim. They also say that Fox has been known to live and work in the Adirondack area but they have not found the farm that he claims to own, which he called “Fox Farms”.
The victim’s vehicle, a green 2003 Jeep Liberty, with the Massachussetts license plate # 522DF8, is considered to be stolen.
Police are looking for Arnold Fox and would like to question him regarding this incident. No warrant has been issued for his arrest. Police say that he may have tried to lure at least two other young women with the same horse purchasing story. Detectives also want to interview any persons who conversed with Fox online or responded to any online add posted by him or "Fox Farms". Anyone with any information on this case is asked to call Cayuga County Sheriff's Detectives at 315-253-1610.
