Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 30, 1990 TAG: 9006300140
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: QUITO, ECUADOR LENGTH: Medium
Heimdal, who had been held in the Colombian jungle across the border from Ecuador, was turned over to Ecuadoran authorities on the San Miguel River, government vice minister Luis Felix said. The river, 110 miles northwest of Quito, runs along the border between the two countries.
Heimdal, 27, of Peoria, Ill., appeared to be in good condition, Felix said.
The prospector arrived in Quito on a government airplane at 5:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. EDT) and is now being examined by doctors, Felix said.
In Peoria, Heimdal's sister, Linda, said she was overjoyed by the news.
"I can't believe it, I just can't believe it," she said, unable to hold back tears and laughter.
She said she learned of her brother's release after the State Department telephoned her aunt in Rochelle, Ill., with the news.
Heimdal's parents, Roy and Marge, flew to Quito last week from Illinois to take charge of negotiations for their son's release, vowing not to leave Ecuador until he was freed.
Heimdal's parents had raised about $60,000, mostly in community donations, to ransom their son.
Felix said the kidnappers, who had been demanding $612,000 for Heimdal's release, settled for $60,000 in Colombian pesos.
Heimdal was in charge of starting up dredging operations for IMINCO, a gold mining company, and was leaving the company's camp to return to Quito when he was abducted on April 27 as he rode in a dugout canoe 100 miles northeast of Quito.
In the attack the guerrillas shot and killed the captain of the boat and wounded one passenger. A second passenger was kidnapped along with Heimdal and was later released with the ransom demand.
by CNB