The Chronicle

A Centralia woman charged with attempting to kidnap a woman she believed was her sister, but who was in fact a stranger, was charged in Lewis County Superior Court Thursday and is being held pending a mental health hearing.

Guadalupe Leticia Gomez Mendez, 47, was charged Thursday with attempted second-degree kidnapping and five counts of fourth-degree assault.

Her preliminary hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, but was not held. Gomez Mendez instead is scheduled to have a Western State Hospital evaluation. A review hearing is scheduled in Lewis County Superior Court for Nov. 5.

According to court documents, on Wednesday, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded on Wednesday to a reported dispute on Ives Road in Centralia.

Gomez Mendez was seen by witnesses attempting to drag a woman with her into her vehicle. Gomez Mendez was reportedly calling the alleged victim “her sister and saying that (the woman) had been kidnapped and held hostage for years.”

Lopez and other witnesses told deputies they didn’t know who Gomez Mendez was. Gomez Mendez allegedly assaulted several people who attempted to come to the victim’s aid, some of whom were her relatives.