Convicted Nowata Rapist Arrested In Joplin Abduction, Assault

A convicted rapist from Nowata who got out of an Oklahoma prison in July 2010 is sitting in a southwest Missouri jail following his arrest Monday, December 26, 2011 in Joplin.

Johnny Ray Davis, 32, was arrested by Newton County Sheriff's deputies outside a Joplin hospital for abducting and assaulting two Joplin women earlier in the day.

The women's pickup truck was last seen near a Joplin truck stop early Monday and Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said deputies began a search for the pair.

The two women told sheriff's deputies, Davis abducted and beat them and took them across the state line into Oklahoma.

After convincing their abductor they needed medical care, the women were taken back to a Joplin hospital.

Newton County Sheriff's deputies say one woman had a broken nose and collar bone.

Davis was convicted in a 1998 rape case out of Craig County. He was sentenced to 30 years, with 6 years suspended. He had served 11 years before being released last year.