Adair man kidnapped for $350

Sommer Woodward

What’s a life worth?

$350 apparently. That was all Leroy Hancock asked in exchange for the release of a 26-year-old Adair man Wednesday night.

Hancock, who was armed with a knife, intended to get hold of Tom Harris one way or another, even if it meant kidnapping.

Sheriff Frank Cantey said Hancock arrived at a residence in Langley at 9:30 p.m., Wednesday to find Thomas Borgstrom, 26, Adair.

Borgstrom was visiting friends in Langley. Hancock brought along two other men, one who was armed with a sawed off shotgun.

When the men arrived, Hancock told Borgstrom to get in touch with Harris. Borgstrom told Hancock he didn’t know where to find Harris.

Since Borgstrom was the only person Hancock knows who knows Harris, he took Borgstrom with him until he could find Harris.

Cantey said Hancock forced Borgstrom into the vehicle at knife point and drove away.

While in the car, Borgstrom gave Hancock the phone number for Harris.

Cantey said Hancock dialed the number and spoke with Harris, saying something like, “I got Thomas Borgstrom. He looks healthy now. If you don’t pay me the money you owe, he won’t be that way long.”

Hancock demanded Harris pay $350 for Borgstrom’s release.

“We believe this was some type of drug deal Harris failed to pay,” said Cantey.

In the meantime, Cantey said Hancock headed toward Adair, where Harris lives. Arrangements are made by phone to exchange Borgstrom for money at a convenience store.

After the vehicle left Borgstrom’s friend’s house in Langley, the occupants called the sheriff’s office. Cantey said the office received two or three calls from people saying Borgstrom was forced into a car at knife point and was headed toward Adair.

Deputies Allen Ingle and Marty Early headed in the direction of the vehicle along with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

A Highway Patrol officer spoted the vehicle at a convenience store in Adair.

A witness at the convenience store saw the transaction.

Cantey said a witness saw Harris give the money to Borgstrom, who passed it along to Hancock. Borgstrom was then let out of the car.

The exchange had already taken place before deputies and the highway patrol arrived.

Officers arrived and made contact with Harris, Borgstrom and Hancock.

In the meantime, Cantey said the two men in the back of Hancock’s vehicle slipped away while officers were busy with Harris, Borgstrom and Hancock. The men left the shotgun and fled on foot. Their identities are unknown.

Harris and Borgstrom told officers what happened and Hancock was arrested.

Hancock is being held in the Mayes County jail on a $500,000 bond.

He was charged Thursday with assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping for extortion, possession of a firearm after former felony conviction and possession of paraphernalia.

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