Man gets 25 years after elderly Houston woman kidnapped, assaulted, and dumped in bayou

A federal judge has sentenced a Houston man to 25 years in prison after an elderly woman was kidnapped from her home, assaulted and thrown into a bayou, a terrifying attack she survived by escaping the water and finding help.

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Talib Smith was sentenced to 300 months in prison for his role in the kidnapping, assault, and carjacking of an elderly woman in southwest Houston in May 2023.

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According to court records, Smith forcibly entered the victim’s home, blindfolded her, tied her hands and feet, and choked her before placing her in the trunk of her vehicle. Authorities say he then dumped her into a bayou. The victim was able to climb out of the water and seek help at a nearby apartment complex.

The FBI’s Houston office and the Houston Police Department jointly investigated the case. Smith was convicted on multiple federal charges related to the attack.