Mom Survives Throat Slashed, Run Over in Kidnap Ordeal

Luna Cox, a mother of one, survived a brutal 17-hour kidnapping and attempted murder after being abducted from her Des Moines, Iowa, home on December 2, 2023. Her ex-partner, Jordan Mangum, and his girlfriend, Jessica Wheeler, were responsible for the attack. The couple abducted Cox to compel her to withdraw a domestic abuse case against Mangum, who had been indicted two weeks prior.

During the ordeal, Cox was blindfolded, assaulted, had her throat cut, and was repeatedly struck by a vehicle. She described the trauma in an exclusive interview, noting that she is now focused on rebuilding her life for her son. The abuse from Mangum began shortly after they met in 2010 and escalated over their 11-year relationship, progressing from verbal and psychological abuse to physical violence.

Cox began documenting the abuse in 2023, which led to Mangum's arrest for domestic assault in November 2023. Despite a no-contact order, the attack occurred two weeks later. Cox was taken to an undisclosed location, duct-taped, and assaulted before being abandoned near a hospital.

In June 2024, Mangum and Wheeler were convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping. Mangum received a 45-year sentence, with a mandatory minimum of 22-and-a-half years. Wheeler was sentenced to 35 years, with a mandatory minimum of 17-and-a-half years.