Missing woman, children found after neighbor reports seeing them

Spokane police have located a missing woman and her two children after a witness spotted the woman’s boyfriend carrying her out of her South Hill home Thursday evening.

Police had been at the home several times this week attempting to check on her after her family called police to report that they hadn’t heard from her since March 8, said police spokeswoman Monique Cotton.

Each time, officers got no answer at the door even though the couple’s car was parked in the backyard.

The woman was described as unresponsive by a witness, who saw her boyfriend, 24-year-old James Bench, carrying her to a car near 18th Avenue and Fiske Street about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Bench then loaded the couple’s two children, ages 2 and 4, into the car and drove away.

Police located the family Friday morning at a location police have not disclosed. The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment, where she remained Friday evening, Cotton said. Her children were unharmed.

“We’ve had prior contacts with him regarding domestic violence,” Cotton said.

Bench, who was arrested on warrants for driving with a suspended license, has convictions for burglary, trafficking in stolen property, attempted burglary, theft and malicious mischief.

Officers on Wednesday spoke to neighbors and asked that they call police if they saw anything suspicious. It was one of those neighbors who called police Thursday night, Cotton said.