American woman kidnapped inside Ugandan national park, held for $500K ransom

An American woman and her driver were kidnapped at a national park in Uganda on Tuesday and are being held for a $500,000 ransom.

Kimberley Sue Endecott, 35, and Ugandan driver Jean Paul were kidnapped, according to a Wednesday police statement. Authorities believe the ransom is the motive for the kidnapping. 

{mosads}Four unknown gunmen approached a group of tourists that included Endecott and grabbed her and Paul while they were on a game drive, the statement said. Two other tourists at the scene, an elderly couple, were not taken.

Police said that the group could still be in the park and that they have “cut off all exit areas on the border between Uganda and the [Democratic Republic of Congo] in search of the victims,” since the park is at the border.

Press Release on the kidnapped tourist pic.twitter.com/2zwwIpcQhD

— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) April 3, 2019

Endecott, who is from California, as well as the couple, entered the country Friday, Reuters reported, citing a government spokesman.