KROTZ SPRINGS, La. (KLFY)- A man and a woman have been arrested by St. Landry Parish deputies after a series of bizarre events including a false kidnapping.

On Aug. 1, deputies were called by Candice Collier, 37, who reported that she and David Atkins, 36 were living in Alabama when Atkins stole a truck and used a gun to forcibly kidnap her.

“Collier told deputies that she was held hostage for weeks in the woods throughout Louisiana ending up near Krotz Springs and she had been sexually assaulted by Atkins who was still in the woods,” the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office said today. She was take to a local hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile a second call came in stating that a caller located an unknown male armed with a gun on his mother’s property.

“The caller said the trespasser raised a gun towards him and fired at him,” the department said. “The caller returned fire grazing the suspect in the head. Detectives arrived and began their investigation and quickly connected the two complaints together.”

Atkins was also taken to an area hospital where detectives interviewed him.

Both Atkins and Collier gave conflicting stories to the detectives, authorities said.

During the investigation, detectives determined Atkins and Collier allegedly broke into camps from Butte La Rose to Krotz Springs. The truck they were traveling in then ran out of gas and they jumped on a freight train heading toward Livonia. Union Pacific Railroad Police along with deputies with the Iberville Sheriff’s Office located Atkins and Collier and interviewed them separately.

“At no time did Collier tell the officers that she was kidnapped, instead told the officers that they were a couple,” authorities said.

The two were released then later arrived in St. Landry Parish where they stayed in the woods near Krotz Springs which eventually led to the false complaint and their arrest.

Collier when confronted with the evidence admitted to falsifying the entire story stating she “made up the stories because Atkins broke into numerous camps and she did not want to go to jail for burglary.”

Collier was arrested then booked at the parish jail.

After Atkins was released from the hospital late Friday night he was booked for attempted 2nd degree murder.

Detectives expect additional charges on the two after more evidence from the burglaries is found.

Guidroz said, “Our detectives used good old fashioned boots on the ground investigation techniques and with the assistance of the citizen protecting his property the case was solved quickly. The camp and home burglaries are still under investigation.

Everyone needs to look on their property to see if they were broken into and call St. Landry Crime Stoppers at 948-TIPS (8477) with any information you have.”