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Documents: Suspected kidnapper had bondage gear, child porn

Posted at 11:57 AM, May 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-20 17:11:52-04

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Court documents show an even more disturbing picture of a Muskegon County man accused of trying to abduct a 16-year-old girl.

Jeffrey Willis was arrested Tuesday and charged Wednesday with one count of kidnapping, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of felony firearms. Willis was charged in connection with an attempted abduction on April 16 of a girl on North Green Creek Road.

In a probable cause statement filed in 60th District Court, a detective testified that upon searching Willis's van at his home on South Sheridan Road, they found several items locked in boxes.  In one locked box, they say they found handcuffs, chains, rope, five syringes, one of which had a liquid in it, photographs of women in bondage, a mask, rubber gloves, batting gloves, a bar with wrist restraints and a ball gag.  In another box, they say they found a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol with serial numbers removed and .22 ammunition.  At Willis' home, detectives say they found a thumb drive with images of child pornography and women in bondage.

Investigators say that on April 16, the girl was approached by a man in a silver minivan, who agreed to let her use his cell phone.  She got into the van and the man started driving away and told her the phone isn't working.  He allegedly locked the doors and windows and when she asked to get out, he pulled a handgun out.  She then jumped from the van and began running away.  The man apparently got out of the van and pointed the gun at her.  The girl picked Willis out of a police line up.

Along with Willis' home and vehicle, investigators have also searched a home on Bailey Street in Norton Shores that was owned by Willis' grandfather before his death.  Neighbors say that Willis has been seen at the home.

Willis was previously employed by Fruitport Community Schools in 1998 and 1999 and was fired for accessing pornographic web sites on a school computer.

We'll have more from Muskegon on later editions of FOX 17 News.