A man from Chicago Heights has been charged with several felonies following an investigation by the Sheriff's Police, which concluded he kidnapped two people and demanded ransom for one of them. This information was announced by Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.

The incident began on December 18 when Sheriff's Police were alerted by a person claiming their family member had been kidnapped and that they received ransom demands from the suspect, identified as Donnail Hannah, aged 37, residing in the 19400 block of Glenwood Dyer Road. It was reported that Hannah threatened to kill the male victim if his family did not meet his demands for money.

Further details emerged showing that Hannah initially asked the male victim for a ride. Once inside the vehicle, Hannah allegedly brandished a gun and instructed the victim to reactivate a ride-sharing application. The male victim was then coerced into picking up a woman who had requested a ride. Upon entering the car, she noticed Hannah with a firearm. Hannah subsequently ordered the male victim to drive to a gas station in Ford Heights to collect ransom money, instructing the female passenger to retrieve it. She managed to escape and contacted police after leaving the vehicle.

Later that day, authorities located both Hannah and the male victim at an East Hazel Crest casino parking lot. Hannah was apprehended on site by Sheriff's Police and subsequently charged on December 19 with multiple offenses: two counts of Aggravated Kidnapping with a Firearm, one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon/Felon, and one count of Vehicular Hijacking with a Firearm.

Hannah made his initial court appearance on Friday at Markham Courthouse where he was ordered to be held at Cook County Jail. His next court date is set for January 9, 2025.

Authorities remind the public that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.