An Oregon man accused of kidnapping and beating a woman in January has died after a standoff with police, authorities say.
Benjamin Obadiah Foster, 36, died after authorities zeroed in on his whereabouts following a week-long manhunt, KTVL reported. Foster was accused of kidnapping and beating a woman to the point of unconsciousness before fleeing the scene. Police believed that the suspect was continuing to evade capture while seeking out more victims by “actively” using online dating apps. Authorities enlisted public help in their search for Foster on Monday, calling him “extremely dangerous.” (RELATED: Oregon Man Released From Prison After Just Two Years For Torture And Kidnapping Charged With Attempted Murder)
Police received a lead Tuesday when someone reportedly spied Foster walking a dog in Grants Pass, according to KOBI 5. Later that day, police narrowed their search to a residence which authorities state was the same home Foster allegedly kept the woman they believe he had beaten, KTVL reported.
MANHUNT ENDS: A man accused of kidnapping and torturing a woman in Oregon is dead. That man served time in Las Vegas for holding a woman against her will for two weeks. He was released in 2021. #8NNhttps://t.co/TqgVxFdLJi
— 8 News Now (@8NewsNow) February 1, 2023
Grants Pass Police Spokesman Jeff Hattersley confirmed to the outlet that Foster was underneath the home. Authorities from the SWAT team were attempting to negotiate a surrender. Hattersley added that he believed Foster had “no intention of returning to prison.”
After several hours, Hattersley confirmed to the outlets that the standoff had been resolved. Though he did not immediately confirm whether the situation had been resolved because of an arrest or a loss of life, Grants Pass Police reported later that Foster had died after being taken to a local hospital, according to KEZI.
A press conference scheduled for Wednesday afternoon will provide more details.