CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A former death row inmate pleaded guilty to kidnapping a Gaston County grandfather and his family early Tuesday.

Jerry Douglas Case entered a guilty plea on two counts of kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping where a child was involved and carjacking in federal court Tuesday in Charlotte.

Investigators said Case threatened to kill Gastonia resident William Payne, his adult daughter and two grandchildren after he took control of their vehicle during a fishing trip in Belmont in July.

In July, Payne said the incident began after his daughter, Natasha, dropped him and his granddaughter off in the afternoon at South Fork River. He was soon approached by Case and forced at gunpoint to call his daughter back to pick them up.

Payne said Case made his daughter drive aimlessly through North and South Carolina for the next 12 hours, while he pointed a gun at them, including Payne's infant grandson.

"He threatened to kill us all," he said.

They stopped at several gas stations, where Case forced Natasha to buy him alcohol and cigarettes. The family was unable to eat.

Payne said they were finally able to escape around 5 a.m. the next day at a Kangaroo Express gas station near Gaffney, S.C. That's when Case began walking toward the store and accidentally left the car keys in the ignition.

Payne used Case's cell phone to call 911 and police met them at an exit several miles away.

Police found Case near a swamp after he fled into woods near the convenience store. A shootout occurred and one deputy was shot but not seriously injured. Case was hospitalized.

On Tuesday, Payne said Case’s actions are indefensible.

“He wasn't sick in his mind. He wasn't crazy. He was stupid to do a thing like that,” he said.

He said he would not offer his forgiveness to Case.

“I'd like to say, ‘Go to hell.’ That's all. Excuse my language. That's where he belongs,” Payne said.

Case’s mother walked out of the plea hearing wiping tears from her eyes. Her grandson said she suffered a heart attack just three days ago.

She's 78 years old with congestive heart failure,” he said.

Throughout the hearing, Case's family sobbed, and mouthed, “I love you,” to him -- knowing that he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

That would be just fine with his victims.

“I hope they throw him in (prison) and forget about him. Let him rot. They shouldn't have let him out to start with,” Payne said.

Case was sentenced to death in 1986, but a court threw out the conviction. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was paroled in December 2007. He had been arrested four times since then.

Case's sentencing hearing has not been set. He faces 20 years to life in prison.