Tucson woman, mother kidnapped; estranged husband facing charges

A Tucson man faces several felony charges after authorities said he kidnapped his estranged wife and her mother on Tuesday and drove them to a small town in central Arizona where his spouse was found with injuries.

The wife’s mother is still missing and “foul play is suspected,” Pima County sheriff’s Deputy Marissa Hernandez said at a news conference Thursday.

Norman Schrank III, 43, is in custody in Gila County, charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and burglary.

“Detectives have been working diligently around the clock on this case,” Hernandez said.

Deputies from Pima and Gila counties tracked the suspect to a location in Pine, northwest of Payson, a day after relatives said Jeni McClurg, 41, and her mother Sachiko McClurg, 65, went missing from a home in the 3900 block of South Amber Rock Avenue, which is near South Kinney and West Bopp roads.

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Jeni McClurg had injuries when deputies located her, and her mother’s fate remains unknown, Hernandez said. She would not say how McClurg was injured.

A white Nissan Altima, missing from the Tucson residence, was found in the area where the suspect was arrested, authorities said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the missing woman’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.