Starkville Man Arrested for Kidnapping and Vehicle Theft
A 42-year-old Starkville man, Draper Manning, faces multiple charges following a disturbing incident involving the alleged kidnapping of an adult and two children. The event unfolded on Thursday, December 5, according to Starkville Police.
Authorities report that Manning, armed with a stolen firearm, coerced the victims—individuals he was acquainted with—into driving him to Starkville.
After arriving, Manning exited the vehicle, allowing the victims to alert the police. Responding officers apprehended Manning shortly thereafter at the intersection of Holly Street and Everglade Avenue. He was formally charged with kidnapping.
In addition to the kidnapping charge, Manning is implicated in two unrelated motor vehicle thefts. The first theft occurred on November 25 at a business on Highway 182, while the second was reported the following day at a business on Old West Point Road. Details about the businesses involved have not been disclosed by authorities.
Manning’s arrest marks a culmination of investigations into multiple criminal activities, leaving the community unsettled but grateful for the swift response from law enforcement.
