A woman being held against her will broke free from her captor and found help at a New Jersey gas station after being kidnapped nearly a year ago, Penn Live reported.

In February of 2022, the victim befriended James Parrillo at a gas station in New Mexico. Introducing himself as “Brett Parker,” he asked the woman for a ride to Arizona. After traveling together to California, past their initial destination, Parrillo became violent. According to police, the suspect placed his hands around the woman’s neck, threatened her, and made her “feel that she was unable to leave the relationship.” He then took her phone and credit cards, and refused to let her speak with friends or family.

I’m December of 2022, the two began living in Burlington County. Still using the name “Brett Parker,” Parrillo rented a room on the second floor of a home in Bass River Township, New Jersey. After choking the victim in an argument, she found a way to escape and ran to a gas station, two miles away.

“She ran away once she had an opportunity,” police wrote in the affidavit.

When New Jersey State Police troopers questioned Parrillo, he initially refused to cooperate, and provided the fake name. After he was taken to state police barracks for further interrogation, he revealed his true name admites to his victim’s claims.

Parrillo was then charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, criminal restraint, hindering, and obstruction. According to police documents, he was later charged with refusing to give a DNA sample while in police custody. Parrillo is currently being held in the Burlington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.