AWOL soldier charged with kidnapping, rape, KCSP

Melissa McClendon

Christian Matthew Musteen, an absent without leave soldier from Fort Bragg, N.C. has been formally charged with kidnapping, attempted rape and knowingly concealing stolen property by District Attorney Gene Haines. 

Musteen was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 17, after allegedly taking a desk clerk hostage at Best Western hotel in Locust Grove. Musteen, 19, was traveling west through the area when he stopped at the local hotel located just off Highway 82 and the Cherokee Turnpike.

Locust Grove Police Chief Nathan Raith said the suspect requested a room from the desk clerk then allegedly pulled a gun and demanding the woman give him a room. The clerk was able to sound a silent alarm while getting Musteen a room key. The suspect then forced the clerk to go with him to the room.

LGPD received a call at 4:37 a.m., of a silent security alarm going off at Best Western. Raith said when officers responded they could not find anyone including the clerk in the “commons area.” Officer began to search the rooms and quickly found the suspect and victim barricaded in one of the rooms.

“She (the victim) states he was about to rape her when the knock came at the door,” Raith said.

Within an hour, LGPD, with the help of the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, Pryor Police and US Marshals, were able to negotiate with the suspect for the victim’s release. The clerk was released at 5:40 a.m. Raith said the victim was not

physically injured but was taken to the hospital as a

precaution.

Once the victim was release, Raith said Musteen then turned the gun on himself. Officers continued negotiations until Pryor’s special

tactical team made entry and took control of the suspect. The stand off ended at 7:54 a.m. 

Musteen, who is also believed to be a suspect in a Fayetteville, Ark., burglary, is scheduled for his initial court appearance Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

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