A Havana, North Dakota man, Ryan Bergh, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for kidnapping, reckless endangerment, and assault after holding a bartender hostage at gunpoint in Forman last fall. The victim, Melissa Wolter Birnbaum, had just finished her second day working at Deuces bar on October 19, 2023, when Bergh kidnapped her as she was leaving. He held her for several hours before they drove to Sargent County Sheriff Travis Paeper’s home the following day.
During the ordeal, Bergh handed Birnbaum a loaded gun, asking her to shoot him. Instead, she took the opportunity to flee, running to the sheriff’s door for help. She managed to get away uninjured, though shaken, and Bergh was arrested in the front yard.
Bergh has been sentenced to 10 years for kidnapping, with an additional two years for reckless endangerment. He received credit for nearly a year already served and may be released early for good behavior. In addition to his prison sentence, Bergh has been ordered to pay $83,000 in restitution to Birnbaum.
According to Birnbaum, the trauma of the incident continues to affect Birnbaum, saying she struggles with night terrors and isolation.. While the physical ordeal is over, Birnbaum says the emotional toll persists in her daily life.
