A North Carolina man is in prison for allegedly raping a woman he held captive for nearly five months, according to state law enforcement.
Winston Eccleston, 26, is accused of a variety of crimes, including forcible rape, kidnapping, and firearms offenses, according to court records in Buncombe and Haywood counties.
Before speaking with law enforcement in late May, the alleged victim was last seen in January, according to a search warrant obtained by Law&Crime. On the winter day of her disappearance, the woman accepted a ride from a man she met while walking in Asheville.
However, the offer of transportation quickly turned into a waking nightmare of forced confinement and sexual assault, according to authorities.
“[The victim] described being restrained by chains while inside a camper, being placed inside a wooden box, and being placed inside a metal box by Winston Eccleston to keep her from being able to leave,” according to one warrant. “She described him assaulting her physically and verbally threatening her to keep her from leaving.”
The woman told investigators she was held captive in two separate campers at an RV park on Weeping Cherry Drive in Waynesville, a small town about 30 miles due west of Asheville.
“[The victim] described both campers having dogs confined inside in cages or wood box that were covered in fleas, feces, and were malnourished,” a police officer wrote on May 22, 2018. “She described seeing the dogs today.”
When investigators executed the search warrant at the RV park, they discovered five dogs, as well as weapons and tactical gear.
“Trash and animal feces were scattered on the floor,” another warrant states. “A wooden box to the left rear of the room held several canines that had been screwed shut. Several firearms are displayed on the wall above the bed in what would be the living room.
A second detective identified the recovered firearms as follows: (1) a Radical Firearms “AR-15 style rifle”; (2) a “Highpoint pistol with live rounds” and serial numbers “grinded off” stashed inside a tactical vest; and (3) a Smith & Wesson.22-caliber handgun.
A pair of black handcuffs with tape attached to the chain were allegedly discovered near the third gun. Detectives also discovered a door “with several locks on the exterior” to “the immediate right” of the handcuffs. According to the search warrant, investigators discovered several cameras inside that door “pointing towards the room.”
A clear description of the evidence in the room is provided:
Multiple ropes and locks were located throughout along with an additional set of handcuffs. As the search continued silver in color truck toolbox laid on the floor by the exterior wall was observed. Set on the toolbox was a black in color plastic container that contained several zip ties, rope, gloves, face mask, and a whip.
As the investigation continued, the toolbox was opened and immediately noticed the odor from inside the toolbox was similar to the smell of human [defecation]. Laid inside was several blankets, socks and a chain. The floor of the toolbox was lined with carpet.
All of this evidence, authorities say, supports the woman’s claim that she is being held against her will, according to search warrants.
However, some of the allegations are bizarre.
Some of the warrants allege that the victim was taken to meet and dine with the defendant’s father at times during the ordeal.
According to one warrant, during a subsequent interview with law enforcement, the alleged victim described the defendant taking her to Applebee’s for dinner once. Eccleston’s father is said to have attended that meal.
One warrant describes the situation in great detail:
[The woman] said she had been over to his dads house and believes his name is Stephen Eccleston. [The woman] said his dad lived off Pollywood Park and they had been over few times to cook food and take showers. Later in the interview [The woman] talks about them moving locations. [The woman] said she was in a trash can on the back of work buggy. [The woman] said at some point his dad was helping make the move, and his dad called him and said “hold up and wait, there’s law out here.” Lt. Greene asked [The woman] why his dad would say that about the law, and warn Winston that the law was out. [The woman] said because his dad knew about me[.]”
The warrant also claims to include a snippet of an emailed jail conversation between the son and his father in which the defendant allegedly asks, “Do you still have the photo of her available?” The elder Eccleston allegedly responds, “Yes, do.” I’m also requesting my phone records to determine the exact date we went to Applebee’s.
In late June, law enforcement searched the defendant’s father’s properties. In response to one question, the elder Eccleston described a second property “where ‘they’ spent most of their time and took showers,” according to one warrant.
Stephen Eccleston has not been charged with any crimes as of this writing.
Despite the defendant’s occasional appearance in public, authorities allege that he constantly threatened the victim with violence.
Winston Eccleston was arrested in late May and indicted earlier this month. The defendant is currently detained in the Haywood County Detention Center without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 15.
