RCMP say a woman and her child were rescued after being held captive at a Penticton second-hand store for approximately 15 hours in an apparent violent sexual assault.

Family tell Castanet she was attacked with a hammer. The mother is recovering in hospital and the child was not hurt. They say she was going to the store to buy a mattress for her son. When she did not return they went looking for her and found her car near the store.

They broke in around 3 a.m. and report the woman was tied to a bed and she said her assailant told her said would not see the morning. The man ran away when they broke down the door.

Photo: Contributed - RCMP

David Bobbitt, 35, is wanted for attempted murder after a woman and child were taken captive in his store.

Corporal Dan Moskaluk says the matter began with the Penticton RCMP receiving a report of a missing 22-year-old on Saturday July 30 at around 10:30 pm.

"Family reported the woman and her 22-month-old son as missing after she failed to drop the child off prior to her attending work," says Moskaluk.

Later in the night, between 2:15 and 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning, family members contacted police advising that they had located her vehicle parked on Ellis Street in downtown Penticton.

"Both the mother and child were immediately transported to hospital."

Police combed the area with a police service dog and several officers throughout the night in efforts to locate David Wesley Bobbitt, the owner and operator of Dave’s Second Hand store located at 146 Ellis Street. 

“Investigators are treating the matter as a violent aggravated sexual assault, and due to the fact that the victim was unknown to Bobbitt, he is considered as a threat to public safety.  We need to locate this man."

Photo: Contributed - CTV - Curtis Allen

Dave's Second Hand

Due to the nature of the incident, Bobbitt is facing a charge of attempted murder.

David Wesley Bobbitt of Penticton is described as a white male, 35 yrs old, 5'7" tall, weighing 180 lbs, brown eyes, balding brown hair, medium build and clean shaven.

The Penticton RCMP asks that should anyone see David Wesley Bobbitt or know his current whereabouts, to immediately call 911, and for those with any information regarding this matter contact the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300 or via Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.    

As of Sunday, the young woman remains in hospital care, receiving treatment for serious but non-life-threatening injuries from which it is believed she will recover at this time.

Investigators would like to speak to anyone who may have frequented Dave’s Second Hand Store on Saturday July 30.