Sleuthing by two Malibu residents resulted in the capture of an alleged kidnapper at a local RV park.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
Good instincts by a couple working at the Malibu Beach RV Park last Friday night led to the capture of an alleged kidnapper, who had traveled from Minnesota with his biological children of whom he did not have legal custody.
Orlin Lilleodden was arrested by Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s officials in the early hours of Saturday morning at the Malibu Beach RV Park after being alerted of his whereabouts by officials from the Becker County, Minn. Sheriff’s Department. They received this information because of some sleuthing by Jewell and Jesse Johnson, the night hosts at the RV park.
Jewell Johnson said this week that Lilleodden arrived at the park with his son and daughter, and asked to rent a tent site. He claimed his name was Carl Wall. Johnson said she was suspicious because it looked like he and the children had been living in the car, and she found it odd that he would be driving from Minnesota and not have a place to stay.
Johnson then did an Internet search on the phone number, and discovered it was listed under a different name.
“That made me anxious for those children,” Johnson said. “So I called the number and a woman picked up. She had never heard of a Carl Wall and was about to hang up. Then I read her the license plate number, and she told me that she was [Lilleodden’s] sister. She told me that he had kidnapped the children.”
The sister then called Becker County Sheriff’s officials, who in turn contacted the Malibu/Lost Hills Station. Deputies were later sent to a nearby gas station, where they met with Jesse Johnson to discuss the situation. Two deputies and a detective soon came to the park and asked on a megaphone for Lilleodden to step out of the tent. He surrendered without incident, said the Johnsons and Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s officials. The children, 5-year-old Hunter and 7-year-old Owen, were immediately flown back to Minnesota to be reunited with their mother. Lilleodden is in custody in this county, awaiting extradition.
According to Becker County Sheriff’s officials, Lilleodden did not return his children after his visitation hours with them concluded on Dec. 2. Notices were sent out nationwide, and felony charges were filed against Lilleodden for kidnapping.
Jewell Johnson said throughout the ordeal Friday night, she was never frightened because of her experiences working at a high school. “I got involved in breaking up a couple of gang fights. It seemed pretty calm compared to those. The gentleman didn’t seem violent.”
Cheryl Landry, the manager at the park, was not as calm during the situation as Johnson, especially since they had to wait a couple hours while Malibu/Lost Hills officials planned the arrest. Landry said she was concerned Lilleodden could get violent.
“I was a little nervous, but at the same time I had to remain calm and not show it to anyone,” Landry said. “You have absolutely no idea with a situation like that what he could do.”
Landry said she was pleased with the Johnsons’ performance.
“They’re just the best, most honest employees that I have here,” Landry said.
Jewell Johnson said she received phone calls of praise from the aunt of the children, and officials involved in the search from Minnesota. A friend of the children’s family, Brenda Reichling, also wrote an e-mail to Johnson: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being instrumental in reuniting this family. It has been the best New Year’s gift for everyone here.”