Missing Scottdale woman, alleged kidnapper found in Kentucky

A Westmoreland County woman is returning home after she and her husband were found in Kentucky, Scottdale police announced Saturday.

Lydia Prince, 48, who was reported missing Thursday, was found after authorities took Shawn Michael Prince into custody early Saturday, police said. He is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.

Authorities had issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Shawn Prince after an incident earlier in the week. They filed six charges, including one felony count of kidnapping, and misdemeanor counts of simple assault, making terroristic threats and harassment.

Police offered few details Saturday about how they tracked down the missing woman.

Authorities said a roadside camera in Kentucky spotted the vehicle in which the couple was last seen.

Scottdale officers then tracked the vehicle to a hotel parking lot in Maysville, Ky. That Kentucky town, whose population is roughly the size of Jeannette’s, sits about 60 miles down the Ohio River from Cincinnati — and more than 300 miles from Scottdale.

Municipal and state police in Kentucky worked with local police to find Shawn Prince, 29, after obtaining a search warrant for the hotel, the police force said in an announcement posted online.

They did not specify where, or how, they found Lydia Prince.

Lydia Prince’s relatives reported her missing after not hearing from her since Thursday afternoon, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Borough police believed she might be traveling in a red Subaru Impreza.

Wednesday incident

Borough police checked the Prince’s Jennings Avenue home Wednesday afternoon after learning Lydia Prince hadn’t been seen after a reported domestic dispute.

While they were there, Lydia Prince called 911 from the parking lot of the police station.

Lydia Prince told police that Shawn Prince kidnapped her Monday, drove her to a rural, wooded area she didn’t recognize and put a gun to her head, according to court papers.

They stayed there until Wednesday morning. When Shawn Prince allowed her to drive after using illicit drugs and falling asleep, she recognized an area in Fayette County and headed toward the Scottdale police station, authorities said.

Shawn Prince awoke when she got out of the car and he drove away, threatening to set her house on fire, according to court papers.

The couple were married on Jan. 17, 2023 at a Jennings Avenue home, Westmoreland County records show.

Renatta Signorini and Justin Vellucci are TribLive staff writers. They can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com and jvellucci@triblive.com.