MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — A harrowing ordeal began Monday night when Davaun Jackson and Isaiah Rogers-Keeney allegedly forced two women—witnesses to a recent shooting in Wilkes-Barre—into their Ford SUV, according to newly filed charging documents. Two other women were already inside the vehicle.

State police in Monroe County report that Jackson and Rogers-Keeney held the women in shipping containers at a former airfield near East Stroudsburg. During their captivity, Jackson allegedly raped two of the women and threatened them with death and dismemberment.

On Wednesday morning, Magisterial District Judge Phillip R. Riley arraigned Jackson, 29, and Rogers-Keeney, 19, denying them bail due to the "extremely violent" nature of the offenses. Both men face charges including kidnapping and rape, with Rogers-Keeney charged as an accomplice.

“It’s terrible that something like that could happen and that many girls getting kidnapped, it’s terrible,” said Harold Barnes, a resident of Marshalls Creek.

The Ordeal

The nightmare began when Jackson and Rogers-Keeney encountered two women who had witnessed a shooting in Wilkes-Barre. The shooter, known only as “Shake,” was involved in a violent incident that the women had seen. Jackson, who was acquainted with one of the women, met with them and ordered them into his Ford Flex SUV, driven by Rogers-Keeney. Two other women were already in the vehicle, creating a captive audience of four.

As the SUV drove off, one of the women became increasingly anxious and reached out to a friend for help via text message. When she attempted to jump from the moving vehicle, Jackson put her in a headlock and confiscated their cell phones, cutting off any further calls for help. This action ensured the women could not seek outside assistance as the vehicle continued its journey.

Their destination was an office property at the former Stroudsburg Airport, a desolate area perfect for concealment. Upon arrival, Jackson bound three of the women with rope, leaving the fourth woman untied because she had four points on Jackson’s five-point system. According to the woman, Jackson warned her that any attempt to escape would result in death.

The Threats and Assaults

Inside the makeshift prison, the victims were forced to strip naked. Jackson announced he would flip a coin to determine their fate: heads meant rape, tails meant dismemberment. He brandished a chainsaw, axe, and sledgehammer to reinforce his threats, state police said. There was even discussion about sacrificing one person to save the others.

“Do you want one person to suffer, or do you want everyone to suffer?” Jackson reportedly asked one of the victims, in a cruel psychological torment designed to instill fear and hopelessness.

In the end, Jackson allegedly raped two of the women while the others were forced to watch. After the assaults, the women were locked in nearby shipping containers overnight, further deepening their trauma and sense of isolation.

The Escape and Arrest

As Tuesday morning dawned, Jackson and Rogers-Keeney moved the women to another property in Pen Argyl. In a temporary reprieve, two of the victims were given their cell phones back but were warned under threat of death not to speak of the events that had transpired.

Despite the grave threats, one brave victim contacted another woman, leading to a 911 call and the eventual arrest of Jackson and Rogers-Keeney. State police apprehended the suspects at a Walmart in Mount Pocono after a friend of the victims spotted them and alerted authorities.

In custody, Jackson claimed the sexual encounters were consensual and that the threats were merely scare tactics. Rogers-Keeney, charged as an accomplice, maintained his innocence through his attorney.

Legal Proceedings

Preliminary hearings for Jackson and Rogers-Keeney are tentatively scheduled for July 10. According to court records, Jackson does not have an attorney. Newswatch 16 reached out to Rogers-Keeney’s attorney, Gail Marr, who stated, "The only statement I will make right now is that I have spoken with my client and that he maintains his innocence in this case."

Community Impact

Kristoff Johnson, a business owner near the property where the women were held, witnessed the police search and expressed his deep concern.

"I have two of my daughters, three of my daughters when school is out, here full time," Johnson said. "They go right to the pavilion right there, and they hang out, which is literally opposite the headquarters where it happened, so it’s trembling. It honestly is."

“I don’t even have the words to really put to it other than that is absolutely insane,” Johnson continued.

Aftermath

This case has shocked the community and highlighted ongoing issues of violence and crime. Authorities are urging anyone with further information to come forward as the investigation continues. The case has also sparked discussions about community safety, the importance of vigilance, and the need for robust support systems for victims of violence and kidnapping.

The horrifying details of this case serve as a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk beneath the surface of everyday life and the importance of community awareness and swift law enforcement response to protect vulnerable individuals.