WCSO: 71-year-old woman holds family at gunpoint, charged with kidnapping and armed burglary

WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) - A 71-year-old woman is behind bars and facing numerous charges after allegedly kidnapping a family at gunpoint, according to the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Department.

Helen Litchfield is charged with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault, and one count of armed burglary, per WCSO.

Nearly two weeks ago, the sheriff’s department says Litchfield “lured a father and his two daughters, both under 13 years of age, who were fishing off a bridge back to her home, under the guise of letting them fish in her pond.”

However, once they arrived at her property, the 71-year-old “proceeded to hold the family hostage at gunpoint, claiming she didn’t believe the girls were really the daughters of the man.”

While the family insisted they were indeed related, according to authorities, Litchfield did not believe them. Law enforcement says the woman “unlawfully searched the family’s car” while she held them at gunpoint.

“The harrowing incident was only resolved after Ms. Litchfield’s roommate intervened to guide the father and girls to a fence while Ms. Litchfield was distracted,” per WCSO. “The roommate instructed the father to run which he subsequently did.”

Litchfield was arrested on Friday and taken to the Wakulla County Jail.

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