Two people have been arrested and charged in a week-old assault case that started in McDowell County and ended in Surry County.

James Roy Hinson, 37, of State Road, and Amanda Katherine Matt, 27 of Galax, Va., were both arrested and charged with attempted murder in the incident. Hinson was arrested late Wednesday and Matt on Thursday, although the sheriff’s office did not release any information regarding the incident, charges, or arrests until Friday evening.

According to a written statement from Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson, the two had gone to McDowell County Aug. 5 hoping an acquaintance of Hinson’s would be able to buy drugs for them. Hinson had met Shannon Lowell, 37, during a visit to McDowell County about a week ago.

Atkinson said Lowell allegedly took the couple’s money and gave it to a man who was supposed to meet them later that night with the pain medication they wanted. When he didn’t come to the arranged meeting, Matt allegedly assaulted the victim and Hinson allegedly told her that he would have his drugs or his money, or he would kill her.

They allegedly forced Lowell to lie in the floorboard of the vehicle and drove her back to State Road. On a dirt trail off Noah Hayes Road they allegedly assaulted her again, allegedly doused her with gas and threatened to set her on fire before she managed to escape.

She hid in the woods until the couple left, then went to a residence and called for help. Hinson was arrested at a motel in Yadkin County about midnight Wednesday night with the assistance of Yadkin County deputies and the SBI. He did not know Matt’s full name but had an idea where she lived. Detectives were able to identify and locate her Thursday, the sheriff said, and she was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant by Grayson County, Va., authorities. She is being held in the New River Regional Jail in Dublin, Va., pending extradition. Hinson is in Surry County jail.