Published: February 18, 2009 08:59 am      

Authorities identify kidnapping suspects

The two people arrested in connection with the kidnapping and attempted robbery Sunday night in Fannin County have been identified.

The driver was identified as Stephanie Monique Hearn, 24, with an address listed in Commerce. Hearn was charged with evading arrest and detention with a motor vehicle. Her bond was set at $7,500.

Kevin Tyrone “KT” Lewis was charged with evading arrest and detention with prior convictions. His bond was also set at $7,500. Lewis also had a warrant for his arrest for violation of parole, and a Delta County warrant for possession or transport of a chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance. No bond was set on either of those charges.

Hearn and Lewis were arrested Sunday night after a woman bank employee and her husband were taken from their Honey Grove home at gunpoint by two masked suspects.

The man and wife were forced to drive their car to the Patriot Bank in Ladonia. The man was held hostage while the masked suspects demanded the woman enter the bank and open the vault.

The suspects then drove the couple to a remote area and left them there, taking the keys to the car.

A short time later, a vehicle matching the description of the suspects’ was spotted by a Commerce Police officer. When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, the suspects fled in their vehicle.

Two black males jumped out of the car at different locations and fled on foot. Hearn, the female driver, drove a few more blocks and then bailed out. She was caught a few feet from the vehicle.

Commerce police were aided by a DPS helicopter, which located Lewis hiding under a storage shed by means of a thermal imaging unit.

There is still one suspect at large as Commerce Police, the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers continue to investigate.