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Abducted Lompoc woman spotted in Arizona with ex-boyfriend

September 4, 2017

The Lompoc man accused of abducting his ex-girlfriend in Solvang was spotted with her Sunday morning at a Starbucks in Arizona, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

After the Lompoc woman sought help from a customer in the coffee shop, the suspect pulled her out of the Starbucks and back into a vehicle in which he sped off. Authorities did not manage to track down the vehicle, and the manhunt is ongoing.

On Friday afternoon, officials received information that Joseph Hetzel, 52, allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, Virginia Paris, 55. Detectives believe Hetzel and Paris drove south from Solvang on Highway 101. They were last seen in Ventura County prior to popping up in Arizona.

Hetzel has a violent history that includes using explosive devices with the intent to terrorize, felony vandalism and criminal threats. Hetzel has access to firearms and is considered dangerous.

Around 7:15 a.m., Paris and Hetzel were spotted at a Starbucks in Goodyear, Arizona. When Paris ordered coffee, she gave the name Virginia to the Starbucks worker taking her order.

Paris then went to the bathroom, and when she came out she told a female customer that she needed help. Hetzel saw the interaction, grabbed Paris, and dragged her out of the coffee shop.

Hetzel then kicked Paris into a vehicle and drove off at a high rate of speed. While Hetzel was driving away, Paris threw her car registration out the door.

Goodyear police officers recovered the registration. The paperwork shows the vehicle being used in the abduction is Paris’ black 2015 Chrysler 200 with California license plate number 7NGE514.

Witnesses last saw the vehicle entering the I-10 freeway heading eastbound toward Phoenix.

Santa Barbara sheriff’s officials are working with Goodyear police and other Arizona authorities to locate Paris and Hetzel. Arizona law enforcement and media have received a description of the vehicle and photos of Paris and Hetzel.

The sheriff’s office is also working with the FBI.

Sheriff’s officials say they are deeply concerned for Paris’s safety, and they are dedicating a large amount of resources to the case.

Anyone who has information about Paris or Hetzel’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the sheriff’s anonymous tip line at 681-4171. Authorities instruct anyone who sees Hetzel not to approach him and to call 911 immediately.


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Where’s Paul Harvey Jr with “the rest of the story”?


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I am not usually for new laws but how about; Use a bomb, and you get life without parole, and the Death Penalty if anyone is killed.


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You’ve never been terrorized. Wtf is wrong with you? Do you think you can rely on anyone to risk their lives for a stranger? 2 men were killed a cpl of months ago stepping up.


A few years ago my wife had a nervous breakdown and I asked for help at a hospital and the nurse said “your husband said you were having some mental health issues” she went crazy. Tipping over things and digging through drawers looking for weapons.

You never know if the situation could get worse. A few years ago a guy killed many people in a salon in Seal Beach because he was angry with his wife.

People who get involved often pay a price


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You’ve never been terrorized. Wtf is wrong with you? Do you think you can rely on anyone to risk their lives for a stranger? 2 men were killed a cpl of months ago stepping up.

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Ben, calm down. You’re not making much sense.


Even someone like you should know how to lock a bathroom door and refuse to come out. Even a child can do that.


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Cowards stand at parade rest and let evil happen without lifting a finger.


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“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)


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We aren’t getting the full story and he’s probably blackmailing her.


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I hope and pray for a positive outcome…this sort of thing should never have to happen.


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It is a wonder why she did not stay in the bathroom. However, he may have said he’d kill the people in Starbucks if she made a scene. I’d imagine his guy is armed. And, he has a history with explosive devices. He could have told her he’d blow up the place. Hell, she could have an explosive device attached to her as well.


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You may have seen a few too many movies.


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So anytime someone threatens you, you just cave and capitulate?


Unreal. Just alien to my world.


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Come on-be real. No one knows what they would do in similar situation. Everyone assumes they know exactly how they would react. Having been in combat in Vietnam I can only tell you that you know exactly how you would react in every situation, two minutes after the situation is passed. Until it happens, you have no idea.


That is why the military trains over and over, so muscle memory kicks in and you do not have to spend time thinking.


One if the door had multiple toilets so no lock on the exterior door?

What if there were 3 female employees and no customers?

What if he has a gun?


I thought she showed great presence by throwing out the car registration so that the police know exactly what they are looking for.


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One if the door had multiple toilets so no lock on the exterior door?

What if there were 3 female employees and no customers?

What if he has a gun?

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What if you actually went to a Starbucks so you know what you’re talking about before you talk about it?


They have single bathrooms.


And if he’s hulk and breaks down the bathroom door and grabs you know where you are? Just where you would have been anyway.


It ain’t rocket science.


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Paris then went to the bathroom

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And she, a kidnap victim, went into a Starbucks bathroom and came out? Why in the world would she come out? It has a lock on it. Those things are solid core. No way he’s getting through that. Why not just sit tight and when people start knocking tell them to call the police?


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Paris then went to the bathroom, and when she came out she told a female customer that she needed help. Hetzel saw the interaction, grabbed Paris, and dragged her out of the coffee shop.

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Something’s not right. All she had to do was lay down on the floor and scream that he was kidnapping her.


No way a 52 year old man is overpowering everyone at starbucks and dragging her to the car and putting her in the car.

Just dragging a dead weight body and lifting it into a car would be super difficult. Customers would be all over the guy.


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I think you overestimate the Starbucks crowd. They aren’t marines. Half of them probably never looked up from their laptops, iPhones and caramel mackalockas or whatever they call those silly overpriced drinks.


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