Scott Nagle was working the morning shift at Andy's Auto Repair on Torresdale Avenue in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia when a man walked in asking for help.
"Came walking, sorta stumbling in…rope tied still to his ankle…asked to use the phone, wasn't really talkative," Nagle said. "He said he was kidnapped and beat up by a couple men."
The unidentified victim, the owner of a grocery store in Kensington, was jumped outside his home on Dorcas Street in Lawncrest early Friday morning. He was forced into his own SUV and taken to a vacant house where he was tortured, police say.
"He had a black eye and they must have been burning him with a torch," Nagle said. "He had a very large burn on his abdominal area and on his arms."
Police say the kidnappers called the victim's family demanding $20,000 before dousing him with gasoline and threatening to set him on fire if they didn't pay.
"It's sickening is what it is," Nagle said. "What is this world coming to?"
The victim was able to free himself and ran for help. Police are still trying to figure out who the kidnappers are and why they targeted him in the first place.
The man is recovering from the ordeal at a local hospital. He is said to be in stable condition.
"Well you still have your life so that's something to be thankful for," Nagle said.
Police have a very vague description of the two alleged kidnappers, however, they are focusing on a car that was left near the victim's home. Investigators believe that car may somehow be involved in this case.
