Over the years, headlines have been flooded with stories of kidnappings. Some famous kidnapping victims return home, but others were sadly killed by their captors. Several of the most famous kidnapping victims were abducted because their families were rich, and the kidnappers wanted a hefty ransom.
Who is the most famous kidnapping victim? Chiang Kai-shek tops our list. Chinese general Chiang Kai-shek was kidnapped to try and make Nationalists talk about Communism. Chiang was eventually returned, and his captors were charged with treason. In 1963, Frank Sinatra, Jr. was kidnapped by Barry Keenan and Joe Amsler. They demanded $240,000 in ransom from his father. The ransom was paid, Sinatra Jr. was released, and his captors were quickly arrested. Most of the ransom money was recovered.
One of the most well-known kidnapping stories is that of Adam Walsh. The child was kidnapped at a department store in 1981. Two weeks later, his head was found by a fisherman, but his body was never recovered. The murder was unsolved for many years, but Ottis Toole was later declared responsible for the crime. Walsh's father, John Walsh, went on to host the show, "America's Most Wanted."
Do you think that there is a better way to prevent kidnappings? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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Adam Walsh
Adam Walsh was kidnapped at a department store in 1981. Two weeks later, his head was found by a fisherman, but his body was never recovered. The murder was unsolved for many years, but Ottis Toole was later declared responsible for the crime. Walsh's father, John Walsh, went on to host the show, America's Most Wanted.
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Amber Hagerman
In 1996, Amber Hagerman was kidnapped as she rode her bike in a parking lot. She was later killed by her captor, who has never been identified. Her case was the inspiration for the Amber Alert notification system.
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Elizabeth Smart
Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped at knife point back in 2002. She was held by Brian David Mitchell, and his wife, Wanda Barzee, for nine months before she was recovered.
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Michael Anthony Hughes
Michael Anthony Hughes has been missing since 1994. He was abducted by Franklin Delano Floyd while he was attending school. Hughes has never been seen since, but Floyd was arrested for his kidnapping and sentenced to 55 years in prison.
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Patty Hearst
Patty Hearst was kidnapped for 19 months by the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. Later claiming a case of "Stockholm Syndrom," she joined the SLA in criminal behavior before the FBI recovered her. Hearst was convicted of bank robbery, but she served a shortened sentence and was released in 1979.
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Sabine Dardenne
In 1996, Sabine Dardenne was kidnapped by Marc Dutroux and held captive for 80 days in a cellar.
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Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr
Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., son of famed pilot Charles Lindbergh, was kidnapped from his bed in 1932. A ransom note was left at the scene requesting $50,000. After a 72-day search, the baby's body was found in the woods. In 1934, police arrested Bruno Richard Hauptmann for the kidnapping and murder of the child.
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Graeme Thorne
The 1960 kidnapping and murder of Graeme Thorne was the first of its kind in Australian history. The culprits were trying to blackmail the child's father for a recent lottery win.
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Jaycee Lee Dugard
Jaycee Lee Dugard was abducted in 1991 and held in captivity by Phillip Garrido for over 18 years. She gave birth to children by Garrido in that time.
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Jessica Lunsford
Jessica Lunsford was abducted from her home in 2005. Her body was found one month later behind a house where John Evander Couey was staying. Couey was later for guilty of kidnapping, murder, burglary, and sexual assault.
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