Houston police free victim from gruesome conditions in suspected kidnapper’s garage

A shocking case unfolds in Texas as Houston-based rapper Lee Carter, known by his stage name Viper, faces charges of aggravated kidnapping after allegedly holding a woman captive for approximately five years. The 52-year-old rapper is accused of abducting the woman, around 30 years old at the time, off the street when she was pregnant.

According to court documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle, the victim claims she was kidnapped while panhandling and forced to live in Carter’s garage for four to five years. During this time, she alleges she was repeatedly sexually assaulted and coerced into consuming pills, crack cocaine, and other narcotics, rendering her physically unable to escape.

The woman reportedly attempted to break free by breaking a window and crawling out but was recaptured by Carter, who allegedly boarded up the windows to prevent a second escape. The details surrounding the fate of the victim’s pregnancy during her captivity remain unclear.

Police responded to a kidnapping in progress on April 7, 2023, at 5251 Perry Street in Houston, leading to the discovery of the victim locked in Carter’s garage. Described as weighing approximately 70 pounds with a pungent odor, wearing filthy clothes, and having crusty hair, the victim was found in deplorable conditions.

The garage, serving as her alleged prison, contained a makeshift toilet, a dripping faucet, diapers, and a bag of chips and Twinkies. A subsequent arrest warrant was filed against Carter in April, but his arrest did not occur until January 5, 2024.

In a welfare check last week prompted by a tip suggesting the woman might still be in the garage, officers found the location vacant but discovered a dog in need of rescue. Carter was apprehended at a motel and is currently held in Harris County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Authorities express uncertainty about the current whereabouts of the woman who claims to have been held captive by Carter. The investigation continues as shocking details of abuse and captivity emerge in this distressing case.