(Spirit Lake)– A woman who told authorities last August she had been held against her will for 11 days by a Spirit Lake man is recanting atleast a portion of her story.
Wade Gardner was charged with kidnapping and willful injury. Deb McDonald told authorities she had been held by Gardner in his basement for 11 days. She finally managed to get out and went to police. Authorities never said how she managed to suddenly get free.
In depositions last month, McDonald said even though she had been injured in an altercation with Gardner, that he did not kidnap her or hold her against her will.
Dickinson County Attorney Ned Bjornstad says the sudden change in story is consistent with battered women’s syndrome. He doesn’t plan to file charges in light of McDonald changing her story…but she could face jail time for giving a false report to police.
Gardner is being represented by attorney Michael Johnson. Johnson maintains Gardner is completely innocent and said he looks forward to proving it.
Gardner remains in the Dickinson county jail.
A judge is considering motions to reduce his bond and to push the trial back to January.
