Police say a woman escaped after officers responded to an Olive Garden parking lot welfare check.
NEWINGTON, N.H. — A New Hampshire man is accused of forcing a woman to marry him at gunpoint, threatening her family, and holding her against her will for days before police intervened after a welfare check at an Olive Garden restaurant, authorities said.
Daniel Ouellet, 47, was arrested June 6 after Newington police responded to a request from Pennsylvania authorities who had been contacted by the woman’s mother. Investigators say the woman described a series of threats, intimidation and violence that began when Ouellet allegedly lured her to New Hampshire and compelled her to marry him. The case remains under investigation, and police have indicated that additional criminal charges may be forthcoming as detectives continue reviewing evidence and witness statements.
According to court records, the investigation began when a Pennsylvania woman reported that she had tracked her daughter’s cellphone to an Olive Garden restaurant in Newington. Concerned for her daughter’s safety, she contacted authorities, who requested a welfare check. Officers arrived at the restaurant at about 11:30 a.m. on June 6 and found the woman inside with Ouellet. Police said the situation changed immediately when the woman saw patrol vehicles outside. She ran from the restaurant crying and appeared visibly distressed. Investigators reported observing cigarette burns on her legs. Ouellet identified the woman as his wife and told officers they had married on June 1. He claimed her mother had been trying to force her into what he described as a religious cult and said that was the reason for her emotional state. Police said Ouellet also described himself as a “really safe guy” during the encounter.
Officers separated the pair and interviewed them individually. Police said Ouellet became nervous when he was told he could not speak with the woman. Investigators questioned him about why the couple had reportedly been moving among different locations after their marriage instead of staying at his trailer home. According to court documents, Ouellet provided inconsistent explanations. The woman’s account sharply differed from his version of events. She told police that Ouellet had contacted her and threatened to harm members of her family if she refused to travel to New Hampshire to meet him. Once she arrived, she said, he displayed a .45-caliber handgun and ordered her to accompany him to a town office in Lee, New Hampshire, where he insisted they get married. She told investigators that Ouellet warned she would “pay” if she refused. The woman also alleged that Ouellet took possession of her phone and restricted her ability to communicate freely with others.
Investigators said the woman described several days spent with Ouellet after the marriage ceremony. She reported staying at his trailer in a campground in Lee and later being driven to multiple locations. According to her statement, Ouellet repeatedly claimed that religious groups or cults were following them. On one trip, she told police, Ouellet pointed a handgun at her from the passenger seat while she drove through parts of New Hampshire and neighboring Maine. The woman also alleged that on the morning of June 6, Ouellet cut her hand with a box cutter during what he characterized as a satanic ritual. During the investigation, police reported locating a copy of the Satanic Bible and other items inside Ouellet’s vehicle. Authorities have not publicly detailed whether those materials are directly connected to any criminal charge, but investigators included the discovery in court filings describing the case.
Ouellet was arrested at the restaurant and initially charged with using a deadly weapon to prevent someone from reporting a crime. The woman sought an emergency protective order, which was granted, according to police. During a subsequent court appearance conducted by video, Ouellet denied the allegations. He told the judge that people who know him would not describe him as violent and disputed claims that he forced the woman into marriage. Ouellet said he believes strongly in free will and denied acting aggressively toward her in the manner alleged by investigators. Court records indicate he remains in custody at the Rockingham County Department of Corrections under preventive detention while prosecutors continue reviewing the case. Authorities have not announced a timetable for any additional charges.
The allegations drew attention because they combine claims of coercion, threats, firearms and an alleged forced marriage spanning multiple jurisdictions. The woman’s mother first contacted law enforcement in Pennsylvania, while many of the alleged crimes occurred in New Hampshire and included travel into Maine. Investigators continue working to establish a complete timeline of events and determine whether other offenses may have been committed. Police have not publicly released the woman’s name, and court filings leave several questions unresolved, including how long authorities believe she was being controlled before the June 6 intervention. The case also remains subject to judicial review, and prosecutors will be required to present evidence supporting the allegations as proceedings move forward.
For now, the case remains in its early stages. Ouellet is being held pending further court action, and investigators have said additional charges are possible as evidence is reviewed. The next major development is expected to come through future court filings or a scheduled hearing, where prosecutors may provide more details about the allegations and any expanded criminal case.