Reno Man Wanted For Kidnapping Arrested After Standoff Near Long Beach, California

A man wanted in Reno for kidnapping his mentally disabled mother barricaded himself in Bellflower, California, near Long Beach, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
Roger Hillygus is alleged to have kidnapped his mother, 80-year-old Susan Hillygus, from a care facility on Aug. 8. The Reno Police Department has been trying to find her, saying she was endangered. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office initially responded to the call that Roger Hillygus was at a Bellflower home shortly after 7:00 p.m. and it turned into a barricade situation at around 9:00. The standoff ended just after 2:00 a.m. when Hillygus surrendered. Neither the suspect nor the victim, 80-year-old Susan Hillygus, were injured.

Authorities said the suspect abducted his mother with the help of 59-year-old Stewart Handte, a former sheriff of Mineral County in Nevada. Handte is accused of going into the care facility with Hillygus and providing them with false information. Handte was arrested Wednesday. The motive for the abduction is still unclear.