“28-Year-Old Nathaniel Foutch-Pratt Arrested After Woman Mouths ‘Help Me’ from Car”

Content warning: graphic account of domestic violence

A woman managed to avert a potentially tragic situation by discreetly seeking help, leading to the apprehension of a man who was seen driving her away. The incident has resulted in charges of attempted murder and kidnapping, among others.

28-year-old Nathaniel Foutch-Pratt was reportedly arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA after police allegedly observed him driving a car with a woman in the passenger seat who mouthed “help me.”

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police (LVMPD) arrested Foutch-Pratt on Tuesday (February 20) and he was subsequently charged with seven counts, including first-degree kidnapping and attempted murder, according to court records.

In an arrest report, LVMPD stated that two officers were conducting a traffic stop near Washington Avenue and Pecos Road when they saw an SUV pass by with a white female adult passenger sticking her head out the window and mouthing “HELP ME” as the vehicle drove away.

A woman’s silent plea for help leads to the capture of her alleged abductor

According to the report, the officers abandoned the initial traffic stop and activated lights and sirens to halt the SUV. Foutch-Pratt, the driver, reportedly ignored the police and engaged in a high-speed chase, driving against traffic before crashing into another vehicle.

Despite officers’ commands to exit the vehicle, Foutch-Pratt resisted arrest and was seen attempting to strangle the woman with a car strap, uttering threatening statements such as “She has to die tonight,” as captured on body camera footage.

Officers eventually managed to remove Foutch-Pratt from the car, subdue him, and take him into custody. The victim was rescued from further harm.

The man identified as Nathaniel Foutch-Pratt and the victim were in a prior domestic incident

Following the arrest, it was revealed that Foutch-Pratt and the woman were involved in an earlier domestic altercation at a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The couple, who were on a road trip from Illinois to California, had caught the attention of security due to Foutch-Pratt’s erratic behavior.

During the road trip, Foutch-Pratt allegedly made threatening remarks to the woman, seized her phone, and prevented her from seeking help. The woman resorted to mouthing for help to other drivers in a bid to escape the perilous situation.

Foutch-Pratt is currently held in Clark County jail on a $50,000 bond, facing charges of coercion constituting domestic violence, domestic battery by strangulation, felony battery by a prisoner, misdemeanor domestic battery, driver disobeying a peace officer, and several other misdemeanors.

While Foutch-Pratt’s plea status remains undisclosed, he is scheduled to appear in court on March 12 with legal representation from a public defender.

Previous instances of victims mouthing “help me” to seek intervention

Instances of individuals silently communicating for help have been reported in different parts of the world. In a recent case in Atlanta, USA, a woman managed to convey her distress through mouthing “help me” during a hostage situation, leading to her rescue.

Similarly, in Hamilton, UK, a victim signaled for help through CCTV by mouthing “help” when faced with a potential assault, resulting in the perpetrator’s conviction.

Such subtle cries for assistance underscore the importance of bystander intervention and prompt action in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from harm.

Reader comments on the miraculous rescue

Readers have expressed relief and admiration for the swift response of law enforcement in rescuing victims in distress. The incidents serve as poignant reminders of the significance of recognizing and responding to subtle calls for help.