Farwell kidnapping, rape case still pending

The kidnapping and rape charges against Justin Gaskill of Farwell are still pending, Clare County Prosecutor Michelle Ambrozaitis said Tuesday.

Gaskill, 28, is facing multiple charges, which if he is convicted, could put him in prison for the rest of his life.

He is accused of the October 25, 2008 knifepoint kidnapping and rape of an 11 year-old Farwell girl who was reportedly abducted from her home between 3 and 5 a.m. and taken to Gaskill’s home about two miles away in Surrey Township. She was reported missing by her mother around 7:45 a.m. that morning and an Amber Alert was issued. About two hours later, the youngster managed to escape from her captor and ran home around 9:30 a.m. according to information from Mt. Pleasant State Police Post Commander Chris Stolicker.

Ambrozaitis said the case was still pending because, “We were waiting on DNA results. We received those DNA results back recently. Defense counsel was granted money by the Court to hire a DNA expert to consult with…The matter is currently set for Jury Trial in January.”

She said the defendant is still incarcerated pending trial.