A 47-year-old New Hampshire man has been charged after police say he forced a woman to marry him at gunpoint and held her against her will for days before authorities were alerted when she was discovered at an Olive Garden restaurant in Newington, according to court documents.
Background
The case began when Pennsylvania State Police received a call from a mother who said she had tracked her daughter's phone to the Olive Garden location in Newington, New Hampshire. The woman reported that her daughter was being held against her will. Pennsylvania authorities requested a welfare check, and Newington police responded to the restaurant around 11:30 a.m.
When officers arrived at the Olive Garden parking lot, they found the woman had already run out of the restaurant crying. Police observed what appeared to be cigarette burns on her legs. The defendant, identified as Daniel Ouellet, referred to the woman as his "wife" and told investigators that "her mother was attempting to force her to join a religious cult back in Pennsylvania," according to an affidavit.
Ouellet claimed he and the woman had gotten married on June 1 at the town hall in Lee, New Hampshire. He described himself to police as a "really safe guy" and identified what he called the "cult" as the "Stars and the Free Masons." When officers informed Ouellet they needed to speak with his alleged wife separately, he became visibly nervous.
The Investigation
According to the woman's account to police, Ouellet had initially contacted her with threats to harm her family if she did not come to New Hampshire. Upon her arrival, Ouellet produced a .45-caliber handgun and told her they were going to get married at Lee Town Hall. He allegedly warned that "he will make her pay" if she refused.
The woman told investigators she was held in Ouellet's trailer at a campground in Lee until June 5. She said he took her phone to prevent communication with family. On June 5, while driving—including a trip to Maine—Ouellet allegedly pointed the handgun at her from the passenger seat and claimed "religious cults were following them."
On Saturday morning before his arrest, the woman reported that Ouellet cut her hand with a box cutter as part of what he described as a "satanic ritual." Police discovered a copy of The Satanic Bible and other items in Ouellet's vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- Daniel Ouellet, 47, has been charged with using a deadly weapon to prevent someone from reporting a crime
- Police say he allegedly forced the woman to marry him at gunpoint on June 1 before holding her captive for several days
- The woman was discovered at an Olive Garden in Newington, New Hampshire after her mother tracked her phone location through Pennsylvania State Police
- Officers observed cigarette burns on the woman's legs and she requested an emergency protective order against Ouellet
What's Next
Ouellet made his first court appearance via video on June 8. During the hearing, he told the judge: "If you talk to anybody that knows me, I'm not a physical man." He added that forcing someone into marriage was "completely against my religious belief" and claimed he had "never been aggressive with her in ways that were described."
Ouellet remains held at the Rockingham County Department of Corrections on preventive detention. Newington police indicated additional charges are likely to be filed as the investigation continues.