Housekeeper overseeing Bloomberg’s $44.8M Colorado ranch was ‘kidnapped at gunpoint’
Moment Michael Bloomberg’s housekeeper was rescued after being KIDNAPPED at gunpoint from his $44.8M Colorado ranch and forced to sleep in same motel bed as her assailant: Man was looking for billionaire’s two daughters
Joseph Beecher is accused of kidnapping Amanda Edinger on WednesdayHe reportedly barreled his car through the front gate at Michael Bloomberg’s Colorado ranch and stormed the home He pointed his ‘machine gun’ at Edinger and threatened to ‘shoot [her] f*****g face off,’ before demanding she drive him towards Denver in her pick-up truck Edinger was rescued early Thursday morning from a motel in WyomingBeecher, who has no connection to Bloomberg or his family, was taken into custody without incidentHe faces multiple charges including kidnapping, felony menacing and others, in Colorado and Wyoming and is currently being held without bail
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Police surveillance video shows the moment SWAT officers burst into a Wyoming motel room to rescue the housekeeper at billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s $44.8 million Colorado ranch who was kidnapped at gunpoint on Wednesday.
Joseph Beecher, 48, is accused of storming the Rio Blanco County estate in search of the former New York City mayor’s daughters before kidnapping the supervising housekeeper, believed to be Amanda Edinger, of Meeker.
The video shows police, with guns drawn, surround the Stagecoach Motel in Cheyenne before forcing entry into Beecher’s room, where they conducted a hostage rescue.
Edinger, 46, was not harmed but claimed Beecher had kissed her on the forehead and told her she would be dead if she were a man. She has since been reunited with her family.
Beecher was arrested without incident and faces multiple charges including kidnapping, felony menacing and others, in both Colorado and Wyoming. He is currently being held without bail.
The housekeeper claimed Beecher said he came to the ranch be he wanted to ‘make an international scene’ with Bloomberg, 79, or his daughters.
While she was being held, Beecher reportedly told Edinger he had gone to the Meeker airport in July looking for the failed Democratic presidential candidate. She also said he referred to Bloomberg’s two adult daughters – Emma, 42, and Georgina, 39 – by name when he asked about their whereabouts.
Beecher had no connection to Edinger, Bloomberg or his family and his motive for going to the ranch remains under investigation. Bloomberg is reportedly cooperating with authorities.
Joseph Beecher, 48, (left) is accused of kidnapping Amanda Edinger, 46, (right) at gunpoint on Wednesday while she was working at Michael Bloomberg’s Colorado ranch
Beecher barreled his car through the front gate, entered the 19,000 square-foot home (pictured) and snuck behind Edinger while she was working
Beecher, of rural Craig, Colorado, arrived at Bloomberg’s 4,600 acre ranch at approximately 10.15 am on Wednesday and rammed his truck through the property’s security gate.
He entered the 19,000 square-foot home and snuck up behind Edinger while she working in the ranch’s service house.
He allegedly pointed his ‘machine gun’ at her and threatened to ‘shoot [her] f*****g face off.’
The accused kidnapper then forced her to leave with him, pushing his damaged truck down an embankment to hide it, before demanding she drive him 145 miles to Denver in her own pick-up truck, according to an FBI affidavit obtained by the Daily Beast.
Edinger told investigators that Beecher made many threatening statements to her but she tried to act friendly to calm him down.
When she was forced to withdraw money from an ATM, she said she mouthed the words ‘help me’ hoping it would be recorded by the machine’s surveillance camera.
Edinger claimed he asked her where Michael Bloomberg’s daughters, Emma and Georgina (pictured together on left), were and later went on rants about Bloomberg, saying he wanted to ‘make an international scene’ with him or his daughters. Beecher had no connection to Michael Bloomberg (right), his family or Edinger
Beecher forced Edinger to leave the ranch with him and demanded she drive him 145 miles to Denver in her own pick-up truck. Then then drove approximately 92 miles to the Stagecoach Motel in Cheyenne, Wyoming
The pair made several stops in the Denver metro area before driving to Wyoming in the evening, KMGH reported.
They also stopped at two gas stations before paying for a room at the Stagecoach Motel with cash. 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’.
Cheyenne police were made aware of the kidnapping around 11.15pm and traced Edinger’s iPad to the motel.
Edinger claims Beecher pointed his ‘machine gun’ at Edinger and threatened to ‘shoot [her] f*****g face off,’ before demanding she drive him towards Denver in her pick-up truck (pictured
Officers established a perimeter around the facility before locating Edinger’s truck in the parking lot.
The SWAT team was notified of the hostage situation and called to the scene around 2.30am.
Just prior to their arrival a fire broke out in a neighboring motel room unrelated to the incident.
Cheyenne Police Sergeant Reiber and Officer Lewis, who were both on the perimeter, heard a call for help, proceeded toward the fire, and pulled a man from the burning room.
Due to the ‘exigent circumstance’ of the fire, the SWAT team was able to forcibly enter the room Beecher and Edinger were in.
Police said he was taken into custody without incident. He was also found in possession of an AR-15 rifle, handgun and multiple magazines.
Beecher is being held in jail in Cheyenne. No charges have been filed against him yet in Wyoming, according to court records, and it is not immediately known if he has a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.
The pair reportedly spent the day driving throughout the Denver metro area before traveling to the Stagecoach Motel in Cheyenne, Wyoming (pictured)
Edinger told the FBI Beecher demanded she sleep next to him in bed ‘with her head on his chest, her arm around his middle, and her leg over his’ (Pictured: A room at the Stagecoach Motel)
‘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.’
Bloomberg’s spokesperson, Ty Trippet, issued a statement to KUSA, expressing gratitude to law enforcement for their ‘swift and heroic action’ in the case and returning the victim to her family safely.
‘We’re deeply 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 that the victim has been rescued and safely returned to her family,’ Trippet wrote.
Police also believe Beecher committed multiple crimes on Wednesday.
The accused kidnapper lives in Craig, Colorado, about 70 miles from the Bloomberg ranch, and had worked as a handyman at an apartment complex, according the affidavit.
He received housing in exchange for his work but was told he was being terminated on Tuesday and would have to leave.
Beecher has been accused of burglarizing his employer/landlord’s residence after the two got into an argument earlier Wednesday morning. He reportedly stole two guns and ammunition, likely the same weapons that police recovered at the Stagecoach Motel.
Additionally, Edinger told the FBI that Beecher confessed to her about the burglary.
Bloomberg bought the Westlands ranch in 2020 from billionaire Henry Kravis. He purchased the property for $44.8 million, which was below the $46 million asking price.
Bloomberg bought the Westlands ranch in 2020 from billionaire Henry Kravis
The 19,000 square-foot main house features five bedrooms, one of which is pictured above
It also has a wine cellar, theater and indoor hot tub (pictured)
A picture of a living room inside Bloomberg’s Westlands ranch
The ranch also features a billiard’s room
The ranch has two large guest cabins (pictured), a carriage house, swimming pool, a four-hole golf course, tennis court, helipad, helicopter hangar and a carriage house. It also has outbuildings for staff, horses and other ranch support facilities
The former mayor closed on the deal about six weeks after he dropped out of the presidential race, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bloomberg owns several properties worldwide, including a mansion in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a home in Bermuda and a London townhome.
Kravis bought the Westlands for $5.5 million in 1991 and built the 19,000 square-foot main house featuring five bedrooms, a wine cellar, theater and indoor hot tub.
The ranch has two large guest cabins, a carriage house, swimming pool, a four-hole golf course, tennis court, helipad, helicopter hangar and a carriage house. It also has outbuildings for staff, horses and other ranch support facilities.
The property is located a few miles from a ranch owned by professional golfer Greg Norman, who actually designed the golf course on Bloomberg’s property.
It is unclear how often the billionaire frequents the Westlands.
