Henderson Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping and Carjacking Charges
The Henderson man who kidnapped a young girl and forced a cab driver to drive him and the girl to California pleaded guilty Wednesday before a U.S. district judge.
Matthew Charles Hayward, 29 of Henderson pleaded guilty to kidnapping and carjacking in connection with the case. He also pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges.
The incident happened on March 26, 2011. Hayward was staying with his cousin and his cousin’s boyfriend. Early that morning he woke up his cousin’s boyfriend’s 7-year-old daughter and told her he was taking her to Wal-Mart. Hayward drove to a Wal-Mart parking lot and then to a DMV parking lot where he gagged the girl. He then drove around until his car broke down. At that point, he called a cab. Just before noon, Hayward and the girl got into the cab at a gas station near Whitney Ranch Drive and Russell Road. Hayward pulled out a knife and told the driver to take them to California.


































