A 29-year-old man from Westland faces allegations of abducting his pregnant former girlfriend and keeping her in a vehicle for over 48 hours.
Dakota Joseph Varana faces charges of unlawful imprisonment, tampering with an electronic device, and domestic violence. Varana faces charges as a repeat offender.
According to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, Varana abducted his former girlfriend after she collected him from the Upper Peninsula on September 6. He is accused of attacking his former girlfriend, seizing her car keys and cell phone, and keeping her confined in her vehicle for two and a half days.
A mother reported her daughter missing from their home in Warren on September 8. On that day, the victim handed a note to a store clerk indicating that she had been abducted. Authorities found the car and tried to pull it over, but Varana fled from the scene. Authorities report that Varana collided with another car and fled on foot before being apprehended by Westland police.
“The actions of this individual were not only criminal but profoundly cruel. By allegedly kidnapping and holding his pregnant ex-girlfriend against her will, he inflicted unimaginable trauma on both the victim and her unborn child. No one should ever have to endure such fear and helplessness,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.
Varana faced arraignment and received a bond set at $60,000.
He is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause conference on September 24.
