A woman at gas station was handed a note by a 'kidnapped' stranger. The moment she read it, she called 911

Trigger Warning: The article contains themes of abuse that readers may find disturbing.

​In a harrowing incident that showcases the profound impact of vigilance and courage, a woman successfully saved the life of another woman. At a gas station in Cedar City, a woman who had allegedly been abducted by her longtime partner managed to pass a handwritten note to a stranger in a restroom, asking for help, reported KSL-TV. The quick-thinking witness, who asked to remain anonymous, read the note and acted on it immediately. Recalling the incident, she told KSL-TV, "We were just on our way home from St. George and pulled over at that gas station. I just went in to use the restroom. When I came out, the lady just kind of flung the door open."

In broken English, the woman passed her a note with basic details: her name, a phone number, the description of a white 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, and the alarming message, "He has my phone. Give to the police." The bystander asked if she was in trouble. When the woman said yes, she calmly assured her, "OK, I’ll help you." The victim added, "Give this to the police. I have to go; he’s waiting right outside. He’s right there." She was visibly shaking. The woman said, "I could just tell from the second that she handed me the paper that said, 'Help me, call police,' I knew that she was in trouble."

Choosing not to confront the situation directly and risk further harm to the victim, she observed the couple inside the store, noting how the man casually bought a hot dog and a drink. Pretending to be on her phone, she filmed him and waited until they returned to the vehicle. After the pair left the gas station, the bystander followed them at a safe distance, providing law enforcement with the vehicle's description and license plate number. Deputies from the Iron County Sheriff's Office located and stopped the vehicle on Interstate 15. As deputies approached the passenger side, they noticed the woman appeared distressed.

She was removed from the car and interviewed. The suspect, later identified as 53-year-old Epigmenio Bustillos Marquez, initially handed over a false ID and provided incorrect personal details. The woman said she’d been in a 25-year-long relationship with Marquez. On that particular day, he allegedly accused her of infidelity, refused to let her exit the vehicle, threatened her life, confiscated her phone, and assaulted her. At one point, she said, he hit her in the mouth, causing lasting pain. He also took her phone to prevent her from contacting anyone.

The sheriff’s deputy later found Marquez’s actual identification inside his wallet. When fingerprinted, he continued to provide false birth information. Police have since charged him with multiple offenses, including aggravated kidnapping, assault, providing false personal information, and prohibited use of an ID. The witness told the outlet that she stayed nearby even after police stopped the vehicle, wanting to make sure the woman was truly safe. She said, "I was just more worried, like, 'What if she panics and says I’m fine?' I just wanted to make sure the cops don’t let her go back with him, no matter what she says."