Calif. man who held woman in makeshift casket is convicted of kidnapping, faces life in prison

Calif. man who held woman in casket convicted

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A California man accused of kidnapping a woman, holding her in a makeshift casket and demanding $140,000 ransom has been convicted and faces up to life in prison.

Mark Herbert Warren, of Victorville, was convicted Friday of kidnapping for ransom, burglary and assault with a deadly weapon in the 2007 attack.

Prosecutors say the 50-year-old contractor attacked the woman with a stun gun at her Riverside home, handcuffed her, covered her head with a hood, and placed her in a casket-like box inside his van.

The victim’s husband returned home to find a ransom letter and photographs of her being restrained.

Warren was arrested and the woman was rescued about seven hours later after a resident spotted a suspicious van.

Warren returns to court for sentencing Nov. 12.