FERGUS FALLS, Minn. 鈥� A sex offender is in custody after police say he abducted a Fergus Falls woman at gunpoint on Sunday, July 22.
Fergus Falls police said the woman was found safe and the suspect, Anthony Randklev, 39, is being held in the Otter Tail County Jail. Formal charges have yet to be filed.
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Authorities confirmed that the woman was abducted at gunpoint from her rural Fergus Falls home.
Officials wouldn鈥檛 provide any further details, but court records show that Randklev has kidnapped at least one other woman.
In 2008, he was found guilty of abducting and raping a Fergus Falls woman. He took the victim鈥檚 phone and forced her to put on a ski mask as Randklev drove to a wooded area, according to The victim was raped and Randklev told her 鈥渧oices in his head told him to kill her.鈥� She eventually convinced him to let her go and Randklev was arrested two days later after a high-speed chase where he nearly struck an officer.
Randklev has a history of 鈥渆ngaging in sexual contact with an adult woman and holding her against her will,鈥� according to the Department of Corrections.
Randklev is a high-risk sex offender who last registered in Pelican Rapids, Minn. His criminal history includes domestic assault, disorderly conduct and drug-related convictions. He also has assault convictions in Mohave County, Ariz., dating back to 2004.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, law enforcement initiated a search and investigation after reports of the woman being abducted.
Family members said the man got into the house through an unlocked basement door. He then walked past two children and asked where their mom was. The woman was in another room with her other two children. During the abduction he wore a mask over his face.
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The children told police that they think it was the same man who came to their house Saturday night asking for gas. They also believe they saw him at church that Sunday morning.
