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Rainsville man kidnaps estranged wife not once, but twice

By Barbara Czura - bio | email

SCOTTSBORO, AL. (WAFF) - A Rainsville man is accused of kidnapping his estranged wife. It's the second time he's been charged this month.

Jackson County investigators said James Aubrey Brown and his wife are separated and in the process of filing for divorce. They said the proceedings have been contentious.

Brown, 61, is no stranger to the law. Police said that during the past month, he tried to kidnap his estranged wife twice.

The first time was on Oct. 7, when investigators said Brown broke into his wife's home and held a knife to her throat. Brown was arrested, taken to jail, and subsequently bonded out. 

Jackson County Sheriff's investigators said last Friday Brown kidnapped his wife a second time, at her home off County Road 81 in Flat Rock. He was arrested hours later outside of Nashville.

Investigators are trying to revoke Brown's bond, to make sure he doesn't do this again. As for the victim, what protection does she have? 

"We can help victims, we make sure they're safe." said victim's advocate Janet Sage, who has worked for Crisis Services of North Alabama for 12 years.

Sage said on the legal side, the victim can file a protection from abuse order, but at Crisis Services they offer support.

"Perpetrators still have the need for control, and that's what domestic violence is about. It's about people wanting to control the lives of other people," Sage said. 

Sage said Brown's wife never visited Crisis Services, but she hopes others will learn from her ordeal.

"We can be there for victims, but we can't stop domestic violence," she said. "And no one can until a community effort is made to do it."

Sage has had 56 clients during October, which she said is about average. Last year in Alabama, 34 people lost their life because of domestic violence.

Anyone who is a victim of domestic violence and needs help is asked to call the Crisis Service Hotline at 1-800-691-8426.

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