Man Convicted in Lafayette Home Invasion, Hostage Case

After a horrifying five-hour home invasion in Lafayette, California, 34-year-old Kenneth McIsaac has been convicted of kidnapping a family of four at gunpoint and binding them with duct tape before the father escaped and subdued him.

Quick Takes

Kenneth McIsaac was convicted of multiple felonies including kidnapping, robbery, false imprisonment, and child abuse following a September 2022 home invasion.
He held a family of four hostage for over five hours using a replica gun and kitchen knives.
The father managed to free himself and subdue McIsaac, enabling the family’s escape.
Despite being referred to a mental health program in 2023, McIsaac fled treatment before being recaptured.
Sentencing is set for June 6, with McIsaac facing a potential life sentence.

Terrifying Home Invasion in Lafayette

On September 24, 2022, Kenneth McIsaac turned a quiet Lafayette apartment complex into a scene of terror when he followed a mother and her children into their home. Armed with what appeared to be a firearm but was later identified as a replica, McIsaac announced a robbery and forced the family to sit on the floor. The situation escalated when he retrieved kitchen knives from their own kitchen and made the mother bind her family members with duct tape. Court records show that McIsaac was actually a resident of the same apartment complex as his victims, making this crime even more disturbing for the local community.

Over a grueling five-hour period, McIsaac held the family captive while threatening to kill the parents in front of their children. The situation remained tense until the husband managed to free himself and physically confronted the intruder. In the ensuing struggle, the husband successfully subdued McIsaac, allowing the family to escape and contact authorities. This act may have prevented an even more tragic outcome and ultimately led to McIsaac’s arrest and subsequent conviction on multiple serious charges.

Man faces life in prison for holding family hostage during Bay Area home invasion https://t.co/RJ7gvutWfe

— SFGATE (@SFGate) March 30, 2025

Mental Health Treatment and Escape

Following his arrest, McIsaac’s case took a complicated turn when he was referred to Mental Health Court for possible diversion in August 2023. This decision provided McIsaac with an opportunity to receive treatment rather than face immediate prosecution. However, McIsaac fled from his treatment facility in October 2023, remaining at large for nearly a month before authorities finally apprehended him on November 14. After this escape, he was held in custody through his trial.

Justice Served: Conviction and Upcoming Sentencing

The jury delivered a strong message by convicting McIsaac on multiple serious felony charges. These include two counts of kidnapping to commit robbery, two counts of kidnapping for ransom, multiple counts of first-degree residential robbery, felony child abuse, false imprisonment, and criminal threats. In 12 of the 13 charges, the jury upheld sentence enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon, ensuring McIsaac will face appropriately severe consequences for his actions.

“His conviction sends a strong message that violent crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in Contra Costa County,” District Attorney Diana Becton stated.

McIsaac is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6 by Judge Mary Ann O’Malley in Martinez. With the severity of his crimes and the multiple conviction counts, he now faces a potential life sentence. District Attorney Diana Becton emphasized that this conviction demonstrates Contra Costa County’s commitment to holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable. For the family who endured this traumatic home invasion, the conviction may represent a crucial step toward closure.