Woman kidnapped, held and assaulted for days in Antioch home

TL;DR

A woman was abducted by John Peterson in Richmond and held captive in his Antioch home for three days with repeated assaults.
She escaped on February 17, passed a bicyclist a note saying "Help me, call police," leading to Peterson's arrest.
Peterson faces 26 felony counts including kidnapping and rape, with bail at $19.9 million ahead of a preliminary hearing.

The story at a glance

Police say John Peterson, 47, of Antioch abducted a woman he knew on February 14, 2026, forced her into his car's trunk, and imprisoned her in a padlocked detached room at his home on the 200 block of West 6th Street. He allegedly sexually assaulted and beat her over three days until she escaped and got help from a bicyclist. The article details the incident now due to Peterson's recent not guilty plea and upcoming court date.[[1]](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/04/11/help-me-call-police-a-woman-was-kidnapped-and-imprisoned-for-days-at-antioch-home-police-say/)[[2]](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/04/11/help-me-call-police-a-woman-was-kidnapped-and-imprisoned-for-days-at-antioch-home-police-say)

Key points

Abduction started in Richmond, where a witness saw Peterson force the woman into his trunk and called police, but described it as a fight between two people.
Peterson drove her to Antioch, locked her in a detached room with a padlock, and over three days sexually assaulted her repeatedly, beat her causing facial bruises and bleeding, and gave her limited food and water.
He took her inside his home daily for bathroom use or showers, but she broke free from the room on February 17.
Peterson chased her, dragged her into his van, but she escaped again and handed the note to a bicyclist on West 6th Street, who called police; Peterson fled just before officers arrived.
A February search of Peterson's home found guns and a high-capacity magazine, which he was barred from owning due to prior police contacts.
Peterson was arrested after the escape, charges filed in March 2026; he pleaded not guilty on April 1 and has a preliminary hearing set for April 18.[[1]](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/04/11/help-me-call-police-a-woman-was-kidnapped-and-imprisoned-for-days-at-antioch-home-police-say/)

Details and context

The woman knew Peterson but was not in regular contact; he lured her to meet before the abduction. Eyewitness accounts from the Richmond witness and bicyclist back up her story, and she was interviewed by police.

Peterson faces 26 felony counts: kidnapping, sexual battery, false imprisonment, assault, illegal gun possession, and multiple forcible rapes. Bail is set at $19.9 million, and he remains in custody.

This case echoes Antioch's history with high-profile kidnappings, like the long-term captivity of Jaycee Dugard decades earlier, though this incident was resolved quickly due to the victim's escape and bystander help.[[1]](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/04/11/help-me-call-police-a-woman-was-kidnapped-and-imprisoned-for-days-at-antioch-home-police-say/)[[2]](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/04/11/help-me-call-police-a-woman-was-kidnapped-and-imprisoned-for-days-at-antioch-home-police-say)

Key quotes

None from named sources in available details.

Why it matters

Kidnappings with sexual assault highlight vulnerabilities even among acquaintances and the role bystanders play in rescues. Residents in Richmond and Antioch face reminders of local crime risks, while police emphasize witness reports in building cases. Watch the April 18 preliminary hearing for evidence presentation and potential trial developments.