August 30th 2024.
A Colorado man named Joseph Beecher has been found guilty by a jury of federal jurors in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The charges against him include kidnapping, carjacking, and firearm possession. Beecher's actions were described by prosecutors as an attempt to kill Michael Bloomberg, a well-known media mogul who owns a ranch in western Colorado.
The trial lasted two days and the jury deliberated for an hour and a half before reaching their verdict. The kidnapped woman, who worked as a housekeeper at Bloomberg's ranch, was rescued unharmed the morning after the incident. She and Beecher were found in a motel room in Cheyenne, about 200 miles away from the ranch.
This kidnapping took place in February of 2022, after Beecher had been dismissed from his job as a hotel handyman in Craig, Colorado. According to court documents, Beecher had been living at the hotel in exchange for his work, but was told to leave. This dismissal seemed to be the catalyst for his actions.
Beecher drove to Bloomberg's ranch, about 70 miles away from Craig, and rammed his pickup truck through the gate. Bloomberg had purchased the ranch in 2020 for a staggering $44.8 million, but he and his family were not present at the time of the kidnapping. The woman who was abducted did not know Beecher, and his motives for seeking out Bloomberg were unclear. However, prosecutors believe that Beecher was determined to kill the media mogul.
The woman, who remains unnamed in court documents, was the ranch's supervising housekeeper. She recalled being in an upstairs bedroom when she heard a man enter and ask who she was. When she turned to see who it was, she saw Beecher pointing a "machine gun" at her. This was the beginning of her terrifying ordeal.
In addition to the kidnapping, Beecher was also a suspect in a burglary that occurred earlier that day. He had stolen two rifles, including an AR-15, and ammunition from his employer's living quarters at the hotel. After leaving his truck at Bloomberg's ranch, he forced the woman to drive them in her husband's pickup truck to the Denver area and then to Cheyenne, where they eventually stopped at a motel.
Fortunately, investigators were able to trace the woman's iPad to the motel and located the pickup truck in the parking lot. With the help of surveillance video and information from motel staff, they were able to identify the room where Beecher and the woman were staying. A SWAT team then raided the room, freeing the woman and apprehending Beecher.
In the end, Beecher faces a sentence of seven years to life in prison for his crimes. This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers that can arise from unknown individuals seeking out and targeting public figures. It also highlights the bravery and dedication of law enforcement in ensuring the safety of the community. Stay informed on the latest news in Colorado by signing up for our daily newsletter.
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