HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Tuesday marked the one week anniversary since two young women were kidnapped from a Hamtramck home after a gunfight.
Roughly two dozen officers from the Michigan State Police, Hamtramck police, Detroit police and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office converged on Eliza Howell park on Detroit's west side to continue the search for 21-year-old Ashley Conaway and 18-year-old Abreeya Brown.
Family members say they were taken at gunpoint after a shootout between Brown's stepfather and the kidnappers at a home in the 22000 block of Andrus Street. The women were forced at gunpoint into the trunk of a car and driven away. Nobody was hit in the shooting.
"My daughter, Abreeya, has been taken and put into the trunk of a car. It's like putting someone in a coffin and closing the lid," said mother Lois Brown. "It's the worst feeling a person could ever have."
Search crews have been scouring the area near Fenkell and Telegraph after police sources say a burned-out, bullet-ridden Chrysler was found last week. Sources say the car was used in the kidnapping. It had it's VIN and license plate removed. Sources also said the wallet of one of the women was found inside the car's remains.
Although the women have not been found, three men are in custody in connection with the case.
Brandon Cain, 25, was charged Thursday with two counts of assault with intent to murder and other charges for allegedly shooting at Conaway and Brown on Feb. 8.
That shooting last month was allegedly over Conaway breaking up with Cain.
Police confirm that Conaway and Brown both went to police earlier this month accusing Cain of shooting at Conaway as she tried to get away from him, a bullet grazing her head.
Family members said Cain tried to keep the women quiet about the incident by offering them $5,000. The women said no.
Two other men are held as persons of interest in the case. Andre Michael Todd-Douglass, 34, turned himself in Wednesday morning. Police arrested 24-year-old Bryant Christopher Lee in Pontiac on Wednesday night. They have not been charged.
Anyone with information on the women is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAKUP.
The women's families say they are offering a reward of $31,000.