Kidnapping victim is safe, search continues for suspect

UPDATE:

55-year-old Virginia Paris of Lompoc is now safe with family and law enforcement in Nevada.

Just before 9:00 p.m. Monday night Paris placed two calls to a family member. The first call Paris said she was coming home and in the second call she asked for help and said she was in Henderson, Nevada.

The family member called to the Santa Barbara County Public Safety Dispatch Center and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies began coordinating search efforts.

At around 11:00 p.m. Monday night, kidnapping suspect, 52-year-old Joseph Hetzel of Lompoc, dropped Paris off in front of the Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino in Henderson, Nevada and drove away.

Paris called for help and casino staff contacted the Henderson Police Department. When officers arrived, Paris told them that Hetzel may be on his way to Utah. Henderson Police Officers took Paris to a local hospital where she was treated, medically cleared and reunited with family in Nevada.

The Sheriff’s Office worked closely with local authorities and at approximately 2:30 a.m. this morning, Mesquite Police Officers located Paris’ vehicle, a 2015 black Chrysler 200 abandoned in the 300 block of Emmarene Street in Mesquite, Nevada. Hetzel is still at large and there is a warrant out for his arrest.

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ORIGINAL:

Authorities are asking for the public’s help in finding a woman who was kidnapped out of Solvang on Friday. The FBI is now assisting with the investigation.

On September 1, Sheriff’s deputies learned that 55-year-old Virginia Paris had been kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, 52-year-old Joseph Hetzel shortly after she left work in the City of Solvang. She had recently sought a restraining order against Hetzel who has served time for crimes related to a domestic incident.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office learned Monday that Hetzel and Paris were possibly headed to the Las Vegas area.

The two were seen at a Starbucks in Goodyear, Arizona Monday morning. Police say Paris ordered a drink, went to the bathroom and then told a customer she needed help. Authorities say her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Hetzel, then dragged her outside and kicked her back into his car. Hetzel drove away, but Paris managed to throw the car registration out the door. The vehicle being used is still Paris’ black 2015 Chrysler 200 with a CA License number of 7NGE514.

The vehicle was last seen entering the I-10 Freeway eastbound towards Phoenix.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Virginia Paris or Joseph Hetzel should call 911. To leave an anonymous tip, please call the Sheriff’s Anonymous Tip-Line at 805-681-4171 or go to http://www.sbsheriff.org/anonymoustips.html

If you see Hetzel, do not approach him but call 911 immediately.

Paris is described as a white female adult, 55-years-old, approximately 5’06/150lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a light colored shirt. Associates of Paris report that she recently sought a restraining order against Hetzel which was granted, but has yet to be served.

Hetzel is described as a white male adult, 52-years-old, approximately 6’02/195lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a light blue colored shirt. Hetzel has previously served time in prison for possession of items used to make explosive devices, using explosive devices with the intent to terrorize, felony vandalism and criminal threats. Hetzel is believed to have access to firearms and should be considered armed and dangerous.