Suspect to kidnap daughter of billionaire Bloomberg: Police

Joseph Beecher, 48, was arrested this week on kidnapping charges after he allegedly broke into the grounds of a Colorado ranch owned by the former Mayor of New York City and is a candidate. presidential officer. Michael Bloomberg and kidnap a housekeeper from the property.

Beecher allegedly drove his truck through the gate of the property on Wednesday morning and entered the mansion before confronting the housekeeper, who asked if he BloombergTheir daughters were on the property, according to the Associated Press. Bloomberg has two daughters, Georgina and Emma, ​​aged 39 and 42, respectively.

The supervising housekeeper, who was listed on emergency notices from state authorities as missing but referred to by his initials AE, in court documents, said that Beecher allegedly entered the room. while turning her back and asking who she was, told her she was going with him and threatened to “shoot her in the face,” according to court records.

She told police that Beecher made her drive his truck off the farm. The pair drove toward Denver, stopping at a gas station and ATM before Beecher allegedly told her to drive north to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he made her rent a motel room, court filings state clear.

She also said that while they were driving, Beecher talked about Bloomberg and said he wanted to create an “international scene” with the billionaire or his daughters, the AP reported. He also allegedly said he went to the airport near the Meeker, Colorado ranch to find Bloomberg last summer.

Court records state that Beecher lived in Craig, Colorado, where he worked at a hotel in exchange for residency. Beecher and his owner/landlord allegedly had a recent argument and he was later identified as a suspect in the theft of multiple firearms and ammunition from the homeowner’s home, according to court records .

The filing also states that the woman told police that during their drive, Beecher described a burglary he had committed that left him with a cut on his left hand.

Police tracked Beecher and ranch staff to the motel in Wyoming after a scene search at the ranch, where they found his truck abandoned on the property and the woman’s cell phone. female.

Court records show that around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, a SWAT team entered the motel room rented by the housekeeper and found her unharmed, along with Beecher, who had been arrested.

Beecher faces federal kidnapping charges, and the AP reports that he will likely face additional charges by the states of Colorado and Wyoming over the incident. Police It is not clear whether the connection between Beecher or the Bloomberg family was the reason he was looking for them, or whether he broke into the ranch.

“We are extremely grateful to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Wyoming law enforcement, the FBI, and other individuals for their swift and heroic action in this case. in ensuring that no lives were lost and victims were reported by Bloomberg Spokesperson Ty Trippet in a statement to the AP.