Man accused of kidnapping Lincoln woman seen in court for first time

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The man accused of kidnapping 42-year-old Jesserae Beck appeared in court for the first time Monday.

Christopher Collins, 36, was charged with kidnapping, terroristic threats and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

He also received a conditional bond, which was set at 10% of $10,000,000.

Those conditions include no contact with Beck or her children, not possessing a weapon of any type, a ban on traveling outside the state of Nebraska and a surrender of his passport.

Along with Collins’ arraignment came the chilling details leading up to his arrest Thursday night.

SEE ALSO: LPD: Missing woman found safe in Lincoln, suspect in custody after hours-long search

Court documents revealed some of the timeline leading up to Collins’ arrest.

According to an affidavit, an investigation was launched on Aug. 21 when Collins allegedly assaulted Beck inside one of his homes.

Beck filed a protection order against Collins, alleging he beat and strangled her 15 to 20 times, according to court documents.

Collins was arrested for assault by strangulation, but was released on bond in September.

On Wednesday, Beck went to court to dismiss the protection order, saying she shared financial responsibility with Collins and needed to talk to him.

That night, Beck told one of her children she was going to Collins’ home near 95th Street and Eagleton Lane.

At around 8 a.m. the next morning, two of Beck’s children went to the home looking for their mother.  When they couldn’t find her, they called the police.

The SWAT team entered Collins’ home and found a “significant scene.”  Police Chief Michon Morrow noted that it appeared there was a struggle and Beck was “likely seriously injured.”

According to court documents, officers found a blood splatter in the living room, chunks of human hair on a side table and a large blood stain on the living room floor with apparent attempts to clean it up.

Surveillance video showed Collins’ black Mercedes leaving the home just before 6:45 a.m. Thursday.

Officers learned Collins owned multiple properties in Lincoln, including the one at 200 Santa Fe.

Through the investigative process, LPD said a singular breadcrumb led investigators to determine Collins was at the house.

A nighttime, no-knock search warrant was granted just before 10:45 p.m.

The SWAT team served the warrant just before 11 p.m. and found both Beck and Collins inside.

Beck was found in the back bedroom with injuries all over her body, including her head, neck, face, ribs and back.

She was taken to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

When the SWAT team entered, they noticed a “heavy odor of natural gas,” according to Morrow.

Authorities said the natural gas readings were 9% of the lower explosive limit in the household. The normal limit is 0%.

Beck gave a statement to LPD while in the hospital.

She said she went to Collins’ house on Eagleton Lane on Wednesday, and the last thing she remembered was being with Collins in the kitchen.

The next thing she remembered was being on the bed in the home at 200 Santa Fe.

Beck said Collins was lying next to her waving around a silver pocket knife saying that if she did not kill him, then he was going to kill them both.

Court documents say Beck could hear loud noises and smell the odor of natural gas, believing Collins was going to blow up the house.

Beck said she heard a loud explosion and the shattering of glass and thought the home exploded, but it was the SWAT team serving the warrant.

Collins is due back in court on Nov. 6 at 10 a.m.