Houston Rapper, Viper, Faces Aggravated Kidnapping Charges for Alleged Years-long Captivity of Woman

Lee Carter, a 52-year-old rapper from Houston who goes by the stage name Viper, has recently been arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping following a disturbing case where he is accused of holding a pregnant woman captive in his squalid garage for over four years. The charges were filed based on an incident that occurred last April, when the Houston Police responded to a 911 text from the woman, claiming she was being held against her will.

Upon arriving at Carter’s residence, authorities discovered a garage with unsanitary conditions, containing a makeshift toilet, a mattress covered in fresh vomit, and various supplies like diapers, snack chips, and Twinkies. The garage reportedly had a lock on the inside that required a key for opening. The woman found inside was malnourished, weighing approximately 70 pounds, wearing filthy clothes, and living in deplorable conditions. She revealed to the police that she had not showered in two months and survived on a diet of chips and snacks.

The victim explained that her ordeal began about four or five years ago when Carter saw her panhandling while she was pregnant. Allegedly offering her assistance, he took her to his house and locked her in the garage, marking the beginning of years of abuse. The woman claimed that Carter forced her to take illegal drugs and engage in sexual activities against her will.

Carter’s attorney, George Powell, countered these accusations, asserting that the relationship was consensual, and the couple even has a 3-year-old child together. Powell plans to plead not guilty on Carter’s behalf during the upcoming court hearing in February.

Viper, known for his contributions to cloud rap with albums and mixtapes, was released on a $100,000 bond and promptly declared his innocence on social media. He insisted that he would be fully exonerated from the charges.

The Houston Police Department spokesperson, Jodi Silva, explained that it took nearly nine months to arrest Carter because he was not at home when the initial 911 text was received. Investigators had issued a warrant for his arrest, but it took time to locate him.

The circumstances surrounding the woman’s alleged pregnancy at the time of her meeting with Carter remain unclear, as Powell mentioned having no information on this aspect. The police are currently working to piece together details about this matter.

Before the incident in April, the woman had reportedly texted 911 multiple times and had been taken to the hospital without reporting abduction or abuse. She would be released into Carter’s care after treatment, raising concerns about her situation.

The Houston Police Department is maintaining contact with the woman, who is presently residing in an apartment outside the city. She shared harrowing details of her time in captivity, including unsuccessful attempts to escape, threats of violence from Carter, and a broken garage window that failed to secure her release. Carter allegedly boarded up the windows afterward, preventing further escape attempts.

As this disturbing case unfolds, it brings attention to the serious charges faced by Lee Carter, known in the music world as Viper, and the ongoing investigation into the woman’s extended period of alleged captivity.