A Lawrence woman claims she was held for 15 hours and her fingers were struck with a meat-tenderizing hammer after she stole money from her boyfriend to buy drugs.

Ashley Houk, 22, testified in Douglas County District Court on Thursday against her boyfriend and two women in an alleged kidnapping incident at an apartment in the 2500 block of Redbud Lane.

Houk said she stole $1,700 from her boyfriend early on Nov. 10 so she could buy crack cocaine. Her boyfriend, Berlon Muse, 27, and two women, Runita J. Bell, 32, and Annetta D. Moten, 40, face multiple kidnapping charges for allegedly holding Houk, two other women and two young children in the apartment.

Testifying during a preliminary hearing before Judge Jack Murphy, Houk said she smoked $500 worth of crack cocaine, took ecstasy pills and smoked marijuana after she took the money and went to a room at the Westminster Inn, 2525 W. Sixth St. At the hotel, she said, a man Houk identified as “Mo” then stole the remainder of the money from her.

Houk said she was tricked later that evening into going to an apartment she sometimes shared with two women, Norma V. Carver and Pamela Arnold, and the two children.

When she arrived at the apartment, Muse also was there, hiding in the bathroom.

“He came out and grabbed me by the throat,” Houk said.

Bell and Moten also arrived at the apartment, and Houk said she was forced into the bathroom and strip-searched in an effort to find the money. Houk said she eventually was allowed to dress. Houk also claimed Muse struck her and pointed a gun at her head, demanding to know where the money was.

“I tried to make a break from the apartment, and Runita stopped me,” Houk said. “She just grabbed me to make sure I didn’t go anywhere.”

At one point, Houk said, Bell, who was holding the meat tenderizer, told her to put her hand on the table. Bell then told Muse to “pick a finger.” Three fingers were struck on different blows, Houk said.

Houk said she called “Mo” on a cell phone and then told Muse and Bell to go look for him at a Lawrence hotel. Muse and Bell left. A few hours later Houk fled the apartment and called police.

Carver and Arnold also are listed as victims in the kidnapping, but according to Houk’s testimony, they sometimes appeared to be assisting with her captors. She said she neither saw nor heard the two children – ages 2 and 3 – who were allegedly kept in a bedroom. After Bell and Muse left the apartment to search for Mo, Arnold sat by the door with the meat tenderizer and kept her from leaving, claiming to be afraid of Muse, Houk said. Arnold eventually left and Houk escaped.

Houk was brought from the Douglas County Jail to testify. She is being held pending sentencing in a burglary and theft case.

More witnesses are expected to testify this morningas the hearing continues. Murphy must determine if enough evidence exists to bring the suspects to trial.

A fourth suspect, Aaron Streitberger, waived his right to a preliminary hearing. His arraignment is set for this morning.