Suspect in Naples Park jogger kidnapping attempt identified, now deceased

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has identified the now-deceased suspect wanted for the attempted kidnapping of a jogger at Naples Park in 2020.

DNA evidence from the woman helped identify the suspect as 36-year-old Aaron Bradley Stein, the sheriff’s office said. He died on Aug. 9, 2021, after being caught by Tennessee authorities for a separate crime.

Stein had been on the run for a suspected carjacking in Jefferson County, Tenn. that occurred in Aug. of 2021.

He shot himself as he was being taken into custody by Tennessee law enforcement, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

The Naples Park incident happened on Nov. 10, 2020, when a woman was forced into a van after a man threatened her with a knife.

“I was running, and this man in a minivan came up to me while I was running, and he could have potentially kidnapped me,” said the woman while speaking with a 911 operator.

The woman was able to fight the man off and flee.

A composite of the suspect led to the discovery of four other incidents that also occurred in the same area.

On Dec. 3, 2021, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement notified the sheriff’s office of a possible DNA match from DNA taken from the victim. The DNA provided by the victim and the DNA from Stein were entered into CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System, where they were shown to be a match.

During the investigation, deputies received more than 200 leads, many of which were tips from the public. Two of the tips identified Stein as the suspect. He lived in North Fort Myers and worked in Collier County at the time of the attempted kidnapping, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives followed up with the tips but were “unable to lawfully and with evidence connect him to the attempted kidnapping.”

He then moved to Tennessee.

“I am grateful for the diligent work of our detectives that led to the identification of the suspect,” said Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “I also want to thank the public for providing the Collier County Sheriff’s Office with valuable information during the investigation.”

UPDATE: Aaron Bradley Stein was taken into custody early this morning in Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was transported to the UT Medical Center with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. https://t.co/zrv8WwzBEU pic.twitter.com/dScdLndwZh

— Knoxville Police TN (@Knoxville_PD) August 9, 2021

 

“The case is closed, but it’s still a tragedy,” said Ina Kacani, who lives near where the woman was abducted.

Neighbors who spent more than a year concerned for their safety were shocked to learn that not only was the suspect identified but that he died last August. “I was concerned. I didn’t know whether it was a local person,” said Kacani.

While he was being investigated, deputies say stein moved from Florida to Tennessee.

“That gives you closure. If you never hear what happened, then you never know,” said Kacani. People hope this is closure for the women who were targeted as well. “They might never feel safe walking around here again. Hopefully, they can find some peace with it all,” said Jacquelyn Tanis.

Although DNA evidence only linked Stein to one abduction, four other similar incidents were also being investigated in this area. The sheriff’s office believes he is responsible for those as well.