Local

Police: Lottery ticket helps link man to attempted kidnappings

WINTER PARK, Fla. — The Eatonville man accused in the abductions of two women in Winter Park was just hit with a second kidnapping charge.

Farley Curry is accused of kidnapping a woman along Lee Road in October and forcing her to withdraw cash from an ATM.

Two weeks later, and right across the street from the first attack, investigators said Curry stuck a gun in Theresa Bradley's face while she was getting out of her car.

Little did Curry know Bradley also had a gun.

"She had to be brave. Because when your life is in danger you have to do everything to make sure you are going to be OK,” said Maitland resident Natasha Harrington.

Investigators said Curry quickly snatched the gun and told Bradley, "We almost just had a shootout."

When investigators said Curry demanded Bradley take him to an ATM, she told him she didn't use ATMs, so she gave him $60 and a winning scratch-off lottery ticket worth $2. Investigators said Curry took it and left Bradley in the car.

Bradley told people about the scratch-off, so they used the serial number on the back to track it to a store near Eatonville.

"She was smart for letting them know about it. I don't know what I would have done in her situation," said Maitland resident Amanda Benitez.

Police said Curry was quick to collect. They said he cashed the $2 ticket just two hours after the attack.

"Karma! You better watch what you do to people," Harrington said.

According to reports, detectives tried asking Curry about the kidnappings, but he ignored the question and just kept saying he didn't rape anyone.