Graduate Student Kidnapped at Gunpoint After Roommate Is Bound and Drugged

Graduate student Offia Nwall was kidnapped at gunpoint earlier this week, after his roommate, S. David Resnick, had been forced to take an overdone of drugs.

Resnick stepped out of his Perkins Hall room for a few minutes Monday night; when he returned, he reportedly discovered a man waiting behind the door. The intruder was holding a revolver and carried a knife in his belt. He commanded Resnick to sit down, handed him a small bottle, and ordered him at gunpoint to swallow the pills inside.

Resnick tried to comply, but could only manage to down half the bottle. The man then gave Resnick a drink of water, tied his hands behind his back with the cord from an electric coffee pot, and forced him onto the bed in the other room. At this point, the man began to ask Resnick questions about the whereabouts of Nwall, his roommate. Resnick passed out from the effect of the drug he had swallowed, and did not regain consciousness until the next afternoon.

Captive Until Tuesday

In the meantime, Nwall returned home, only to find the man waiting in his room. Nwall told police that the man pointed a gun at him and forced him out into a parked car on Oxford St. Nwall reportedly was driven to a Back Bay apartment where he was held captive until Tuesday and then released.

When Resnick awoke, still in a stupor, he staggered next door and reported what had happened. The police were summoned and Resnick was taken to Stillman Infirmary.

Sources at the Health Center said that Resnick was admitted in the afternoon for medical observation, and that his present condition is excellent. He was given a 24-hour armed police guard by University Police while in the Infirmary. He is expected to be discharged soon.

Cambridge Police later arrested Ralph Biggs, a Back Bay man, on charges of kidnapping and assault and battery with a deadly weapon. Police speculated that Nwall's kidnapping might have something to do with a girl whom both he and Biggs knew. Nwall was unavailable for comment last night.