Two Missouri men charged with kidnapping for ‘keeping partially-nude 33-year-old woman locked in a cage at their property’ – Cassidy Rainwater was missing for six weeks before a tipster alerted the FBI she was caged
James Phelps and Timothy Norton have been arrested for keeping partially-nude 33-year-old missing woman locked in a cage at Phelps’ Missouri property
Phelps, 58, and Norton, 56, allegedly restrained Cassidy Rainwater and locked her in a cage on a property in Lebanon, Mo.
Rainwater was taken captive on July 24 and reported missing on August 25
Investigators received an anonymous tip in mid-September alerting them of photographs that showed Rainwater, partially nude, being held captive
Phelps, the last known person to have seen Rainwater, was first questioned by police on Sept. 1, but claimed Rainwater had been staying with him ‘until she could get back on her feet’ and relocate to Colorado
Phelps was arrested Sept 16 after investigators found seven photos on his phone showing the missing woman, partially nude and being held in a cage at his Moon Valley Road residence in Lebanon
Phelps and Norton were arrested and each charged with first-degree, kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, and terrorizing
They are being held without bond
Authorities have not released any information about Rainwater’s current whereabouts

Two men have been arrested after they allegedly kept a missing woman locked in a cage on a property in Missouri. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy L. Norton, 56, have each been charged with kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, and terrorizing in connection to the July 24 disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater, 33.
Phelps was arrested on September 16 after investigators found seven photos on his phone showing the missing woman, partially nude and being held in a cage at his Moon Valley Road residence in Lebanon.
Police arrested Norton, an over-the-road trucker, four days later after it was learned that he helped Phelps restrain the victim.
Rainwater was reported missing on August 25, after no one had seen or heard from her in six weeks, according to court documents obtained by WDAF.
Phelps, who was the last known person to have seen Rainwater, was first questioned by police on September 1.
At that time, he said the Rainwater had been staying with him ‘until she could get back on her feet’ and relocate to Colorado.

However, he argued that she had left his residence about a month prior after meeting a vehicle at the end of the driveway and leaving in the middle of the night.
He noted that she hadn’t contacted him since.
Detectives also noticed the property appeared to have been ‘stripped’ and none of Rainwater’s belongings were there.
On September 16, local authorities were contacted by the FBI after the feds received an anonymous tip about photographs of Rainwater, partially naked, being held captive in a cage at Phelps’ house.
Armed with a search warrant, investigators examined Phelps’ phone and found seven pictures as the tipster described.
Phelps police said, held Rainwater at his Moon Valley Road property in Lebanon, Mo. which is located about 160 miles southeast of St. Louis.
During the investigation it was revealed that Norton helped Phelps restrain the victim on July 24.
When brought in for questioning on September 19, Norton provided police with ‘inaccurate information,’ such as the fact that he lived in his semi-truck even when he wasn’t working.
Detectives interviewed Norton again the next day, at which he reportedly confessed to knowing that Rainwater had been held captive at Phelps’ home.
Both men were taken into custody and are being held without bond. They are expected in court on October 5. Authorities have not released any information about Rainwater’s current whereabouts, but did say there is ‘no immediate danger to the public’.
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