Elmira mother speaks out about alleged torture & kidnapping by ex-boyfriend
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – A mother in Elmira is speaking out after police say she was attacked, tortured and kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend. She says it all happened in front of her 13-year-old son.
Amber did not tell us her last name. She says she is sharing her story because she feels New York State bail reform failed her, and to bring awareness to domestic violence.
“So, this is where he grabbed me and repeatedly punched me, tied my hands up here and here. He ripped my fingernail off with a pair of pliers, part of the torture for the 8 hours. And of course, it’s real bad through here,” Amber said, while pointing to her neck and left side of her face.
“It was my ex, Damien Gooden. We were in an on, off again relationship, but then things got violent,” Amber said.
18 News obtained a Criminal Complaint in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. It says 47-year-old Damien Gooden broke into Amber’s home in Elmira, where he previously lived. The complaint says it happened around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 21st. Nine days before the assault, a Chemung County Judge had issued a restraining order on Gooden. Amber says that didn’t stop him from ambushing her in own bed.
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“My son and I were sleeping, and I heard the backdoor kick in, you know, crash in,” Amber said. “Before I realized that, he was already on top of me, punching me numerous times in the face and I lost consciousness. I didn’t know. Then he dragged me into my son’s room, continued to stomp on my hips, over my ribs, and then told my son to watch what he was going to do to his mom and he’s only 13 and he’s autistic, so, you know.”
The complaint says Gooden then dragged Amber by her hair to the living room. It says he then tied her up in a chair using a shoelace and phone charger.
“He grabbed a big giant kitchen knife,” Amber said. “I asked him why, and he was like, well, the knife is faster to kill you than my fists. And I’m like, well just don’t hurt my son. My son was terrified. He didn’t dare move out of his bed or anything. We had no cell phones, no nothing, he took all those.”
Amber says around 5 a.m., Gooden told her and her son to get into the backseat of their car. He told them they were heading to Philadelphia.
“On the way out, I grabbed a piece of paper and pen and stuffed it in my shirt, so I could at least make a sign to tell people, hey, we’ve been kidnapped, and where we were headed to,” Amber said.
About 20 minutes later, Gooden stopped for gas and cigarettes in Sayre. When he went inside the convenience store, Amber saw an opportunity to call for help.
“This gentleman pulls up in a truck. I tap on the window, and I show him the sign. He kind of acknowledges. He goes around my car, the license plate, goes in tells the clerk.”
Amber says Gooden then came back out and started to fill up, but the gas pump suddenly stopped. “So, he opened the car door he sat for a minute to try to contemplate. Then when he got back out, the cellphone just so happened to fall between the door in the seat of the car. So when he got out, I was able to grab the cell phone immediately called 911.”
“You saw a window of opportunity there and you took it” said reporter Nick Dubina.
“Right, I did. It was like my motherly instincts kicked in to protect myself and my son, at least my son.”
Amber says she didn’t know exactly where she was. She says the 911 dispatcher was able to pinpoint her cell phone signal. Amber hid the phone before Gooden got back. She says he didn’t see her use it. Amber says since the moment she placed the call, it took about 3 minutes before Athens Township Police Officer Tyler Young pulled into the gas station.
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“We were pulling out, and he turns the lights on to stop him,” Amber said. “He wasn’t stopping at this point, so I put my seatbelt on and said oh no, a high-speed chase. I said to Damien, please just stop the car, you didn’t want to hurt us, let me and my son out.”
The complaint says Gooden drove about a mile before pulling over. Police say he put the knife on the passenger seat and got out with his hands in the air. The complaint says Gooden told Officer Young he had “messed up” and wanted one last cigarette.
“Then the cop came to the passenger side of the door in the front, and looked in the car. I said to him, please help us,” Amber said.
The complaint says Officer Young saw Amber had “fresh bruising” and “significant swelling,” and placed Gooden under arrest.
“After everything you’ve been through, why do you want to speak publicly about what happened?” Dubina asked.
“Well, with domestic violence, a lot of times its swept under the carpet, because women are so afraid of prosecution or lack thereof. Then with the bail reform, he got out and was able to assault us and kidnap us, because bail reform in New York State allowed him to just freely walk out. Soi it’s basically awareness.”
Police say Amber’s son was not physically injured. Amber says she is no longer staying at that home.
Gooden is being held in Pennsylvania on multiple felony charges. They include kidnapping in order to hurt someone and kidnapping of a minor. Gooden is also expected to face charges in New York where the assault started.
You can watch Amber’s full interview below:
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