Tennessee KFC Employee Thwarts Suspected Kidnapping After Victim Passes Note Seeking Help

An employee at a Tennessee KFC fast food restaurant is being hailed as a hometown hero after he reportedly thwarted a kidnapping in progress.

Officials with the Memphis Police Department say they responded to a report of a possible kidnapping on Saturday at around 5:00 p.m., according to a police statement. The tip to authorities came after a KFC employee received a note from the alleged kidnapping victim begging for help.

The tipster, whose name has not been released, told a dispatcher that the woman who passed him the note was still with the man and remained at the Winchester Road KFC until authorities arrived, according to an arrest affidavit observed by Oxygen.com.

Officers arrived and found the couple still on the premises. The man allegedly tried to run from the police on foot, according to the statement. He was apprehended a short time later.

Police say the suspect is Diego Glay, 23, of Memphis, who was charged with kidnapping and evading arrest.

“Officers were advised that the victim came here by Greyhound bus from another state to meet Glay, her boyfriend,” said authorities. “They got into an argument, and she attempted to leave him several times and return home, but Glay held her physically against her will with physical assaults, threats and being armed with a handgun.”

Glay was also accused of punching the victim in the face and taking her phone when she attempted to leave, according to the affidavit. Glay told authorities that he and the women had been living from motel to motel around the Memphis area.

Records show Glay is being held at the Shelby County Jail on $35,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear for a virtual arraignment on May 17.

According to records with the Shelby County Criminal Court, the charges against Glay fall under the category of felony domestic violence.