The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with the FBI and law enforcement in Nevada and Arizona to locate kidnapping suspect Joseph Hetzel and kidnapping victim Virginia Paris. The pair is are possibly headed to the Las Vegas area.
At approximately 7:30 a.m. this morning, September 4, 2017, the two checked out of the Grand Canyon Inn in Valle, Arizona where they had spent the night. Surveillance photos from the hotel show Hetzel and Paris during the checkout process. Information gathered at that time, indicates that Paris continues to be held against her will and that the two were possibly on their way to Las Vegas.
They are still believed to be driving in Paris’ black 2015 Chrysler 200 with a CA License number of 7NGE514.
The investigation began at approximately 7:30 p.m. on September 1, 2017 when 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 Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to be on the lookout and call 911 immediately if you see Hetzel, Paris or her vehicle. For anonymous tips, call the Sheriff’s Anonymous Tip-Line at 805-681-4171 or go to http://www.sbsheriff.org/anonymoustips.html. Hetzel is considered dangerous and may be armed. If you see Hetzel, do not approach him, but call 911.