Ypsilanti man sought in sex assault of teen

11/11/2002

HILLSDALE — A Washtenaw County man is being sought in the kidnapping of a Hillsdale teenager, who was held in a Ypsilanti home and sexually assaulted for two days earlier this month.

The Hillsdale County prosecutor's office has issued an arrest warrant for Tony Tyson Thornberry of Ypsilanti, charging him with kidnapping and third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

According to Hillsdale County Sheriff Stan Burchardt, on Nov. 2 an acquaintance offered the 15-year-old girl a ride home but instead took her outside the city and sexually assaulted her.

The girl tried to escape from the car but was forced back inside and taken to the Ypsilanti residence. There, she was sexually and physically assaulted until Nov. 4, when she was dropped off at a Ypsilanti gas station.