Armed woman kidnaps family, accuses dad of being an imposter, Florida cops say

A man and his two daughters found themselves kidnapped when a passerby came to the bizarre conclusion he was an imposter and the girls needed rescue, according to investigators in the Florida Panhandle.

It happened Aug. 4 in the Crawfordville area of Wakulla County as the man and his two daughters were fishing off a bridge on Bostic Pelt Road, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The suspect, 71-year-old Helen Litchfield, was found and arrested Aug. 15, officials said.

“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,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Litchfield then proceeded to hold the family hostage at gunpoint, claiming she didn’t believe the girls were really the daughters of the man. Both children and the man insisted they were in fact related but their pleas fell on deaf ears. While being held at gunpoint, Ms. Litchfield unlawfully searched the family’s car.”

The “harrowing incident” was resolved when Litchfield was distracted, allowing her roommate to lead the family to a nearby fence. “The roommate instructed the father to run which he subsequently did,” officials said.

Litchfield was arrested at her home and charged with “three counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault, and one count of armed burglary,” officials said.

This story was originally published August 18, 2025 at 6:46 AM with the headline "Armed woman kidnaps family, accuses dad of being an imposter, Florida cops say."