Michael Bloomberg’s housekeeper is rescued after being ‘kidnapped by gunman who wanted to take billionaire’s daughters’
MICHAEL Bloomberg's housekeeper was rescued in a raid by a SWAT team after a gunman is said to have kidnapped her who had "wanted to take the billionaire's daughters".
Joseph Beecher, 48, was arrested at the Stagecoach Motel in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after armed cops forced their way into his room and conducted a hostage rescue.
Beecher is accused of storming Bloomberg’s $44.8million Colorado ranch in Rio Blanco County and searching for the former New York City mayor’s daughters before allegedly kidnapping the housekeeper Amanda Edinger.
Edinger claimed Beecher had gone to the ranch so he could “make an international scene” with Bloomberg, 79, or his daughters, according to an arrest affidavit.
Footage shows cops surrounding the motel before storming it and arresting Beecher.
Edinger, 46, was not harmed but claimed Beecher had kissed her on the forehead and said she would be dead if she had been a man.
She has now been reunited with her family.
Beecher faces multiple charges including kidnapping, felony menacing and others, in both Colorado and Wyoming.
He is currently being held without bail.
While Edinger was being held, Beecher is reportedly said to have told her he had gone to Meeker airport in July looking for Bloomberg.
Edinger told the FBI Beecher demanded she sleep next to him “with her head on his chest, her arm around his middle, and her leg over his”.
TRACED HOUSEKEEPER THROUGH HER IPAD
Cheyenne police were made aware of the kidnapping at around 11.15pm and were able to trace Edinger’s iPad to the motel.
They discovered Edinger’s truck in the parking lot.
Beecher was arrested Thursday with an AR-15 and a handgun, cops said.
“I am so proud of my staff and the ability they have in working together and with State and Federal agencies,” Rio Blanco County Sheriff Anthony Mazzola said.
“This team approach, quick action, experienced deputies and officers, led to [the victim's] safe recovery. It was a great day.”
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Bloomberg’s spokesperson, Ty Trippet, expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their work.
“We’re deeply grateful to the Rio Blanco County Sheriffs 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 that the victim has been rescued and safely returned to her family,” he said in a statement.
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