Ava, MO. – A man from Ava, Missouri was recently arrested after he kidnapped an elderly lady from her home. He was charged with one count of burglary 1st degree and one count of kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, and terrorizing 1st degree.
According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, on July 14, 2024, both the Ava Police Department and a Douglas County deputy were dispatched after receiving a call from a 73-year-old woman about a burglary at the Ava City Housing Authority Apartments. During an interview with the victim, she told officers that a man had come into her house around 6 a.m. and would not leave. The man kept demanding that she let him use her cell phone. The victim then stated that he forced her to drive him across town to his work. She immediately left him there and called the police.
According to officials, the female victim was in such a frightened and shaken state of mind, that she was transported to a hospital via ambulance. Through an investigation, officers were able to identify the man as 38-year-old Steven Basham of Ava. He was taken into custody and is being held with a bond set at $15,000 cash only.
