Moberly man accused of holding woman hostage for $3,000 ransom

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly man was charged with three felonies after he was accused of holding a woman hostage in an apartment for a $3,000 ransom.

Ricky Morgan Jr., 37, was charged with first-degree kidnapping, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Morgan is being held at the Randolph County Jail on a $100,000 bond. An arraignment was held on Monday.

According to the probable cause statement, a woman called a man -- who allegedly owed Morgan money – that she was being held hostage for a $3,000 ransom and was not allowed to leave until the man dropped off the money in a vehicle.

Police learned Morgan was in the residence, along with a second person, the statement says. Moberly police arrived in the area and gave the man a “bait envelope,” the statement says. The man dropped the envelope in the vehicle and sent a text message stating the money was in the vehicle, court documents say.

Morgan allegedly stuck his head out of the front door and let the woman walk outside, court documents say. Morgan and another person were ordered out of the residence by police and Morgan was eventually detained.

Police wrote that the woman had injuries on her face. She allegedly told law enforcement that Morgan threatened her with a gun on multiple occasions and feared he was going to kill her, the statement says. Police found three guns in the residence, court documents say.