Kidnapping Survivor Recounts Torture, Genital Mutilation in New Documentary

In a harrowing recount of a kidnapping that took place in October 2012, Michael, a medical marijuana dispensary owner, and his housemate Mary Barnes were abducted from their Newport Beach home and subjected to brutal torture in the Mojave Desert. The kidnappers, led by Hossein Nayeri, believed Michael had buried a hidden cache of $1 million and tortured him to extract this information, inflicting severe physical harm including the severing of his penis. After being abandoned in the desert, Mary managed to free herself using a discarded knife and flagged down a police car, leading to their rescue. The torture was documented in the ABC News Studios' true-crime series 'Wicked Game: The Devil in the Desert.' The investigation uncovered a complex plot involving multiple assailants and extensive search efforts, culminating in a courtroom showdown. The series aims to shed light on the traumatic ordeal and the subsequent legal ramifications for the kidnappers.