Woman allegedly held father and his daughters at gunpoint, not believing they were related

WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV/Gray News) - A 71-year-old Florida woman is behind bars and facing numerous charges after she allegedly kidnapped a family and held them at gunpoint.

Helen Litchfield, 71, is charged with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault and one count of armed burglary, according to the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities say a father and his two daughters, both under age 13, were fishing off a bridge Aug. 4 when Litchfield allegedly “lured” them back to her home by telling them they could fish in her pond. However, once they arrived, investigators say she held the family at gunpoint, claiming she didn’t believe the girls were really the man’s daughters.

While the family insisted they were indeed related, Litchfield did not believe them, according to authorities. She allegedly searched their car while still holding them at gunpoint.

Investigators say the incident ended after Litchfield’s roommate helped guide the family to a fence while the suspect was distracted. The father and daughters then ran away.

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