Shane McSwane, 29, will spend 26 years behind bars after pleading guilty to kidnapping and attempted aggravated robbery for abducting a woman who witnessed his involvement in what authorities described as a "bad traffic crash" near Aurora, Colorado.
Background
The incident unfolded on May 25, 2025, when Grace Dotson stopped near the Interstate 70 and Interstate 225 interchange after witnessing a car crash, according to the Pueblo County District Attorney's Office. As she attempted to call 911, McSwane forced his way into her vehicle, carjacking and kidnapping her in the process.
The Investigation
Authorities say McSwane held Dotson captive for four hours while driving erratically across multiple highways. At various points during the ordeal, he permitted Dotson to answer phone calls from her frantic family members, prosecutors stated. She managed to report the incident to 911 dispatchers and send a "help me" text message to her mother. Her boyfriend quickly recognized she was in distress after speaking with her on the phone.
Deputies connected McSwane to an attempted robbery at a Circle K convenience store in Colorado City after the vehicle description matched that of the carjacked vehicle, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. They located the vehicle traveling northbound on Interstate 25 toward Pueblo and initiated a traffic stop, but McSwane refused to stop, instead turning around and heading southbound.
The pursuit ended in Huerfano County after deputies deployed stop sticks to deflate the tires and utilized a Precision Immobilization Technique—commonly known as the PIT maneuver—to bring the vehicle to a halt. Dotson was rescued at that time.
Key Takeaways
- McSwane pleaded guilty to one count each of kidnapping and attempted aggravated robbery
- He was sentenced to 13 years on each count, ordered to run consecutively for a total of 26 years in prison
- The kidnapping lasted four hours as McSwane drove erratically across multiple highways before entering Pueblo County
- Authorities ended the chase using stop sticks and a PIT maneuver in Huerfano County
- Dotson was able to contact emergency services during her captivity, alerting family members who tracked her phone location heading south on I-25
What's Next
McSwane will serve his sentence in Colorado state prison. Victim impact statements described the kidnapping as "the worst four hours of their lives" and a "nightmare." Dotson and her family expressed hope that McSwane would work to become a better person upon release, while Pueblo County District Attorney Kala Beauvais praised Dotson's remarkable courage during court proceedings.