Bettendorf man charged with kidnapping and sexual abuse over 2023 incident

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – A Bettendorf man was arrested Friday in connection with an incident that occurred in Davenport in August 2023.

Ty Knox, 57, is charged with first-degree kidnapping and third-degree sexual abuse after police say he removed the victim from a public place and brought her to his apartment to commit sexual assault.

According to court documents, Knox and the victim communicated on Facebook before the victim asked Knox to pick her up to go to a local casino on the evening of August 12, 2023.

Police say the victim told Knox she was drunk when he picked her up. And the homeowner of the house where she was picked up told police that the victim was unable to stand on her own due to intoxication.

Police say the victim remembered Knox taking her to his apartment where she eventually fled, leaving her phone behind and saying she had felt scared.

Police say the victim was walking through downtown Davenport before coming into contact with an acquaintance outside a bar.

Police say the acquaintance called the victim’s phone shortly after 11 p.m. and spoke with Knox before arriving at the victim’s location and physically placing the victim in his car.

According to police, Knox admitted to the acquaintance that the victim had run away from his apartment and that she kept running away.

The acquaintance described the victim as completely unresponsive and not moving when Knox picked her up and placed her in his car, police said.

Police say Knox took the victim to his apartment, where the victim described waking up to find her naked and Knox having sex with her without consent.

The victim had a sexual assault kit collected at Trinity Hospital which police said showed the presence of seminal fluid.

Knox is being held in the Scott County Jail without bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 3 p.m