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Charges Dropped Against Alleged Marin Homeless Kidnapper

NOVATO (CBS/AP) - Marin County prosecutors have dropped charges against a woman accused of holding captive several homeless men inside a moving truck.

Prosecutors said they had to dismiss the case against 36-year-old Lark Ann Freeman because the alleged victims either couldn't be located or refused to cooperate.

Freeman was arrested on New Year's Eve after she was caught driving a U-Haul truck into a one-way tunnel against a red light. Four men found inside the truck said Freeman had lured them in, offering to give them cigarettes or work as movers.

Freeman told officers that she was preparing for the end of the world. She had pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping and false imprisonment.

Freeman's public defender, Beth Wissing-Healy, said the dismissal was reasonable because her client is mentally ill.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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