Kidnapped (Astonishing Headlines)

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ASTONISHING HEADLINES

ASTONISHING HEADLINES

KIDNAPPED

AT TA C K E D CAPTURED CONDEMNED KIDNAPPED LOST AND FOUND MISSING SHOT DOWN S T O W E D AWAY S T R A N D E D AT S E A

Taken from their homes or seized from their cars, kidnapping victims and their families face a terrifying ordeal. Some kidnappers want money; others do it for political reasons. Learn the frightening details of the Lindbergh, Hill, Anderson, and Smart abductions.

ASTONISHING HEADLINES

TRAPPED

• KIDNAPPED CARPENTIERE

Saddleback eBook

ELIZABETH CARPENTIERE

KIDNAPPED

ELIZABETH CARPENTIERE

ASTONISHING HEADLINES

Attacked Captured Condemned Kidnapped Lost and Found

Missing Shot Down Stowed Away Stranded at Sea Trapped

Development: Kent Publishing Services, Inc. Design and Production: Signature Design Group, Inc. SADDLEBACK EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING Three Watson Irvine, CA 92618-2767 Website: www.sdlback.com Photo Credits: cover, Scott McKiernan, Zuma Press; page 17, NewsCom; page 27, NewsCom; page 37, Tim Chapman, Getty; page 57, Chris Kleponis, Zuma Press; page 59, Andrew Stawicki, Toronto Star Copyright © 2005 by Saddleback Educational Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher. ISBN 1-56254-820-4 Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 08 07 06 05 04

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 Charles Lindbergh, Jr. Kidnapped

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2 Abducted by Aliens! . . . . . . . . . .18 3 Students Storm U.S. Embassy . . .28 4 Terry Anderson Held Hostage . . 38 5 Elizabeth Smart Taken at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Introduction Kidnapping is not a new crime. People have “stolen” others for hundreds of years. Often the victims were enslaved. Today, kidnapping means something else. When most people think of kidnapping, they think of strangers taking children. But sometimes people kidnap to make money. In 1932, Charles Lindbergh, Jr. was kidnapped for money. The kidnapper left a ransom note. It demanded $50,000 in exchange for the child. Betty and Barney Hill of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, said they were kidnapped for a very different reason. The Hills say aliens abducted them in 4

1961. They say the aliens ran tests on them. Kidnappings also happen for political reasons. In 1979, a mob of students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. They took more than 60 hostages. Terry Anderson’s kidnapping in 1985 was also political. Anderson was a reporter. He was working on a story about the Lebanese civil war when he was taken hostage. The kidnappers held Anderson for nearly seven years. In child kidnapping cases, most often the child knows the kidnapper. In 2002, Elizabeth Smart was taken from her bedroom. Eventually, Elizabeth’s sister helped solved the case. No matter what the reason, kidnapping is terrifying. Lives are changed forever. Those who survive a kidnapping cherish their freedom. 5

CHAPTER

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Charles Lindbergh, Jr. Kidnapped

D ATA F I L E T I M E L I N E May 1927 Lindbergh flies nonstop from New York to Paris. March 1932 Charles Lindbergh, Jr. is taken from his crib. February 1935 Bruno Richard Hauptmann is found guilty of Charlie’s murder. Where is Hopewell, New Jersey?

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shield - to protect alias - a code name gold notes - U.S. paper currency used from 1865 to 1933; each bill was worth a certain amount of gold autopsy - a study done on a dead body to determine the cause of death verdict - a decision made by a jury in a court of law

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The New Jersey State Police chief at the time of Lindbergh’s kidnapping was H. Norman Schwarzkopf. His son of the same name led the U.S. forces during Desert Storm in 1991.

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Chapter One: Charles Lindbergh, Jr. Kidnapped Little Charlie was like many 20month-old children. He was a happy boy with blond hair. He had a dimple in his chin. His parents loved him. But baby Charlie was also different. He had famous parents. His father, Charles Lindbergh, was the first to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. That feat put Lindbergh in the record books. Baby Charlie was famous at birth. His parents tried to shield him from the public eye. They built a house in a quiet area of New Jersey. Sadly, it was not enough to protect the boy.

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“They have stolen our baby.” The night of March 1, 1932, was damp and cold. Charlie had a cold. His nurse, Betty, rubbed medicine on his chest. She dressed him in a one-piece sleeping suit. Betty put the baby to bed at about 8:30 P.M. Downstairs, Anne Morrow Lindbergh waited for her husband, Charles, to come home. Then they ate dinner together. After dinner, Anne got ready for bed. Charles went to his study. At about 10:30 P.M., Betty checked on Charlie. She entered the room. Betty expected to hear his breathing. She heard nothing. She crept closer to the crib. She felt for the boy, but could not find him. The crib was empty. Betty tried to stay calm. She asked Anne if she had the child. Anne did not. Then the two went to Charles’s study. 9

They hoped he had brought Charlie downstairs. He had not. Charles headed for the nursery. He immediately noticed an open window. An envelope was sitting on the sill. “They have stolen our baby.” — Charles Lindbergh

The Ransom Charles called the police. He opened the note when the police arrived. The kidnappers demanded $50,000 in exchange for Charlie. The kidnapper used a special “signature.” The signature was a group of circles. It would help Lindbergh know which notes were really from the kidnapper. Police also found pieces of a ladder and a chisel near the house. Hundreds of people searched the area around the Lindbergh’s house.

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Dear John About a week after the kidnapping, a man named John Condon joined the search. Condon was a retired schoolteacher who admired Lindbergh. He placed an ad in a local paper offering help of any kind. He wrote to the kidnapper and said he would act as a go-between. The kidnapper took Condon up on his offer. Lindbergh also let Condon contact the kidnapper. Condon, who used the alias “Jafsie,” wrote several notes and newspaper ads to the kidnapper. On March 12, 1932, Condon received a note. It told him to go the main entrance of the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

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The Drop Off At the cemetery, he met a man called “John.” John told Condon he now wanted $70,000. Condon demanded proof that the kidnapper had the boy. A few days later, Charlie’s sleeping suit arrived by mail. Lindbergh agreed to pay more money. On April 2, 1932, Condon and Lindbergh brought the money to the cemetery. Lindbergh paid the ransom with gold notes. Gold notes were not often used. The police also recorded the serial numbers of the notes. This would make it easier for police to trace the money if the kidnapper spent it. Condon handed over the money. The kidnapper gave him a note. The note said that the boy was on a boat called the Nelly. The boat was “between Horseneck Beach and Gay Head near Elizabeth Island,” New Jersey. 12

Lindbergh had a plane fly up and down the Atlantic Coast. But, after many hours of searching, Lindbergh learned he had been tricked. Lindbergh tried to contact the kidnapper. But John was not heard from again.

Charlie is Found On May 12, 1932, two men walking in the woods a few miles from Lindbergh’s house found the body of a small child. He was buried in a shallow grave. Lindbergh said it was Charlie. Police think the boy had died the night of the kidnapping. An autopsy showed the boy died from a blow to the head. Police think the ladder broke as the kidnapper left the boy’s room. The baby must have hit his head against the house as he fell.

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A New Lead Soon money from the ransom began turning up. A gas attendant was given a gold note and compared the serial numbers to the ones given on the police bulletin. He wrote down the vehicle’s license plate on the gold note. The biggest lead came when a bank teller saw this gold note with the license plate number written on it. The bank teller told police about the gold note. The police traced the license plate number to a German immigrant named Bruno Richard Hauptmann. On September 19, 1934, police hid outside Hauptmann’s apartment. Hauptmann left his apartment and drove away in his car. Police followed him and stopped him. In his wallet, they found some of the ransom money.

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Arrest! Police arrested Hauptmann for the murder of Charles Lindbergh, Jr. Almost $15,000 of the ransom money was found in Hauptmann’s garage. Police charged Hauptmann with Charlie’s murder.

The Trial of the Century Hauptmann’s trial became “The Trial of the Century.” People across the nation were shocked by the crime. Charlie Lindbergh was the child of wealthy and famous parents. All of these things made it a very interesting case. More than 60,000 people came to the tiny town of Flemington, New Jersey, where the trial was held. Key pieces of evidence shown at the trial were the ransom notes and the ladder. Handwriting experts said the

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handwriting on the notes and Hauptmann’s were the same. A wood expert said that a part of the ladder was made with wood missing from Hauptmann’s garage.

Guilty! Throughout the trial, Hauptmann said he did not kidnap Charlie. He said a friend gave him the money to hold while he returned to Germany. But the friend had since died in Germany. On February 13, 1935, the jury found Hauptmann guilty of first-degree murder. Hauptmann received the death penalty. Hauptmann and his supporters fought the ruling until his execution on April 3, 1936. Many still question the fairness of the trial. Others have suggested that Hauptmann did not act alone. Some

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even believe that Lindbergh was involved in the kidnapping. With many of the central figures dead, the mystery may remain unsolved.

An FBI poster asking for information about the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh, Jr.

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CHAPTER

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Abducted by Aliens!

D ATA F I L E T I M E L I N E September 1961 Betty and Barney Hill think they were abducted by aliens. 1966 The Interrupted Journey is published. The book tells the Hill’s kidnapping experience. Where is New Hampshire?

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blaze - to shine brightly satellite - a vehicle that orbits Earth, the moon, or another celestial body UFOologist - a person who studies UFOs hypnosis - a state something like sleep that can help people remember forgotten events

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In the summer of 1965, a number of people reported seeing UFOs near Exeter, New Hampshire.

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Chapter Two: Abducted by Aliens! It was a clear New Hampshire night. The sky blazed with stars. Betty and Barney Hill drove home from vacation. The couple had been to Niagara Falls. They lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a town on the state’s seacoast. The Hill’s journey took them through the White Mountains. It is a popular summer tourist spot. But the roads were nearly empty the night of September 19, 1961.

A Light in the Sky It was after 10 P.M. when the Hills saw a bright light in the sky. Betty Hill saw it first. She pointed it out to her

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husband. Barney thought it was a satellite. The couple stopped to take their dog for a walk. Betty looked at the light through a pair of binoculars. Then they got back in the car. The Hills made a few more stops. But they could not say for sure what they saw in the sky. Barney guessed it might be an airplane. Betty watched as the light grew bigger. It seemed to be getting closer. The couple stopped again at a picnic area. The light changed direction. It was coming right at them! Barney told Betty it was just a plane. The Hills and their dog got back in their car. They drove passed Cannon Mountain and the Old Man of the Mountain. They tried to keep the light in sight, but the mountains and trees blocked their view.

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After passing a motel, Betty saw the light again. Through the binoculars, she could clearly see a double row of windows. Red lights appeared to come from either side of the object.

It Looked Like a Pancake Betty made Barney stop the car in the middle of the road. But he left the engine running. Through the binoculars, Barney saw a pancakeshaped object. The object swung around. It stopped just 100 feet from the frightened couple! Barney walked toward the object. A few minutes later, Betty realized Barney was not in front of the car. He was in an open field. And he was headed straight for the object. Betty jumped out of the car.

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Watched Barney looked through the binoculars again. He saw someone or something watching him. His eyes focused on the eyes of one of the beings—it had large, black, liquid eyes. A feeling of dread washed over Barney. He frantically ran back to Betty and their dog.

Capture Barney threw the binoculars on the car seat and drove off. He screamed to Betty that they were going to be captured. Barney ordered Betty to look out the window. Where was the object? She could not see it anywhere. She could not see anything—just darkness. A beeping noise surrounded them. The next thing the couple remembered was they were 35 miles farther south down the highway. They had lost two hours of their lives. 23

Soon after their return home, Betty had nightmares. In her dreams, aliens examined her. Meanwhile, Barney had stomach trouble. He also suffered from panic attacks. The couple saw a psychiatrist. They hoped the psychiatrist might help them with their nightmares and panic attacks. The Hills were convinced aliens had abducted them.

Searching for Lost Time The Hills spoke to many experts. They spoke to UFOologists. In 1965, the couple tried hypnosis. The Hills hoped they would find out what happened during the two hours they had lost. The memories Betty recalled were much like her nightmares. Betty was led into a room as Barney was taken down

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the corridor of the spacecraft. Betty said the aliens promised not to hurt her. They just wanted to look at her. She said the aliens looked at her eyes, her throat, and her mouth. At one point, the aliens shoved a large needle into her stomach. She cried out in pain. One of the aliens rubbed his hands over her eyes. Then the pain stopped. Betty also said the aliens showed her a map of the sky. But she could not find any stars she knew. Barney’s memories of the spacecraft and the beings are like Betty’s. Once on the spacecraft, the beings took him into a room. There they took some of his hair and skin. Barney was afraid to open his eyes. The beings told him to keep his eyes closed. They said the examination would be over quickly if he did what they said.

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Barney does not remember much else of his time on the spacecraft. But he does remember leaving the spacecraft. He did not open his eyes until he walked down the ramp, and joined Betty and their dog in the car. In 1966, John G. Fuller wrote a book about the Hill’s experience titled The Interrupted Journey. The couple became famous and spoke about their experience. But many people did not believe the Hill’s story. They thought the Hills were making it up. Scientists gave their reasons why they felt the story was not true. Even the doctor who hypnotized the couple did not believe aliens abducted them. However, many others believed their story. Most of their friends and neighbors felt the Hills were telling the truth. 26

Barney Hill died in 1969. Betty Hill continued to tell their amazing story for many more years. Betty Hill died October 17, 2004.

Betty and Barney Hill with a copy of the book written about them, The Interrupted Journey.

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CHAPTER

3

Students Storm U.S. Embassy

D ATA F I L E T I M E L I N E November 1979 Iranian students storm the U.S. Embassy and take more than 60 hostages. January 1981 The hostages are released after 444 days in captivity. Where is Tehran, Iran?

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Shah - the Persian word for king embassy - the headquarters of an ambassador and staff hostage - a person held captive until certain promises or conditions are met diplomatic - friendly dealings with others Delta Force - a specially trained unit of the U.S. Army inauguration - a swearing-in ceremony

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The ABC news show, Nightline, was created to cover the Iranian hostage crisis. The program has been on the air for 24 years.

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Chapter Three: Students Storm U.S. Embassy Iranians removed the Shah of Iran from power during the 1979 civil war. Soon after, the United States allowed the Shah into the United States. This action angered the Iranian people. They thought the U.S. government supported the Shah. The Iranians also thought the U.S. government wanted him back in power. On November 4, 1979, 500 students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. More than 90 people were in the embassy at the time. Many of the students later said they did not plan to take any hostages. They only wanted to protest. But things quickly got out of control. 30

The leader of Iran, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, supported the students. They wanted the Shah to face trial in Iran. The students also demanded the United States return millions of dollars they claimed America stole from Iran.

An Oil Embargo On November 11, 1979, President Jimmy Carter placed an embargo on Iranian oil. This meant that Iranian oil was not allowed into the United States. The Iranian government lost money. President Carter hoped the embargo would make Khomeini release the hostages.

Some Hostages Freed A week after the embargo began, Khomeini freed the female and African American hostages. Non-U.S. citizens 31

were also freed. Others were released because of illness. Then talks to release the other hostages fell apart. More than 50 people remained captive.

Yellow Ribbons Americans thought the hostages were heroes. In December 1979, one of the hostage’s wives placed a yellow ribbon around a tree in her yard. The ribbon was a symbol of freedom. Millions of Americans across the country tied yellow ribbons around trees. The ribbons stayed on the trees until the hostages came home. Inside the embassy, the hostages waited. They could hear the crowds chanting “Death to America.” Some mail was delivered to the hostages. But the hostages were not able to get much information from the letters. The students censored everything. 32

Operation Eagle Claw President Carter soon froze all Iranian assets in the United States. He also cut all diplomatic ties with the country on April 8, 1980. Later that month, Carter approved a secret mission to free the hostages. It was called Operation Eagle Claw. The plan involved members of Delta Force. Soldiers would fly by helicopter into Tehran. But the helicopters had to refuel in the Iranian desert. The place was labeled “Desert One.”

Disaster The rescue plan ended badly. Three of the eight helicopters broke down in the desert. Sadly, before the mission ended, eight U.S. servicemen died. They were killed when one of the helicopters crashed into a plane. Iranians celebrated

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the failed rescue plan. President Carter appeared on TV. He said the failed mission was his fault. Throughout the hostage crisis, Iranians protested outside the U.S. Embassy. They burned American flags. They dragged blindfolded hostages through the streets of Tehran. Americans saw these scenes on TV. Walter Cronkite, a famous news anchor, reminded viewers of the number of days the hostages had been held. Americans were shocked by the crisis. They could not believe a small country, such as Iran, could hold such power over the United States.

At Their Mercy The hostages were at the students’ mercy. At one point, the hostages were

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lined up with their faces to the wall. The captors acted as if the hostages were going to be shot. One of the hostages later said how proud he was that none of the hostages begged for their lives. Many hostages kept diaries during this time. In his diary, Robert C. Ode told what it was like inside the embassy. He described his joy when he received letters from home. “I was delighted to receive [the letters]…. However, I had to return the letters to my captors…even though I protested that they were personal items.” — Robert C. Ode In July 1980, the Shah of Iran died. But even his death did not end the crisis.

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Many people blamed President Carter for the crisis. Carter worked hard to get the hostages released. He tried to get them home before Americans voted for president in November 1980. The election was held on the one-year anniversary of the embassy takeover. Many believe Carter lost the election to Ronald Reagan because of the hostage crisis. Talks with Khomeini continued after the election. Earlier in the fall, Iraq had invaded Iran. The two countries were at war. Khomeini felt the hostages were no longer useful. He thought about freeing the hostages. Reagan was sworn in as president on January 20, 1981. The morning of the inauguration, a deal was struck with Khomeini. The United States would return $8 million in Iranian assets in exchange for the hostages. 36

Shortly after Reagan was sworn in, the hostages were released. Reagan made the announcement to the nation. The hostages flew from Iran to West Germany. Because Carter had worked so hard to free them, he met the hostages in West Germany.

Iranian hostages step off a plane in West Germany after more than a year in captivity. 37

CHAPTER

4

Terry Anderson Held Hostage

D ATA F I L E T I M E L I N E March 1985 Reporter Terry Anderson is kidnapped. December 1991 Anderson is freed after spending six years in captivity.

Where is Beirut, Lebanon?

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Middle East - a region made up of southwest Asian and Northeast African countries extremist - a person or group who supports extreme political practices seize - to take captive siege - a persistent or serious attack

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Terry Anderson ran for the Ohio State Senate in 2004. Anderson said he was tired of being someone who watched things. He wanted to be someone who did things.

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Chapter Four: Terry Anderson Held Hostage Terry Anderson loved his job. Reporting on the Middle East for the Associated Press was dangerous. Lebanon was in the middle of a civil war. Anderson reported on violence every day. The U.S. government told Americans to leave Lebanon. It was too dangerous to stay there. Some Lebanese hated Americans. They felt the United States should not be involved in their war. They also felt Americans should not be in the Middle East. But Anderson stayed. He felt he had to tell the war’s story. He loved the country. His fiancee, Madeleine Bassil, 40

also lived in Lebanon. She was six months pregnant with his child when Anderson was taken.

A Warning Ignored The day before Anderson was kidnapped, a car followed him home from work. He lost his pursuers that day. The next day, March 16, 1985, Anderson was not so lucky. Anderson and a co-worker had played an early-morning tennis match. Anderson stopped to let his friend out at his apartment around 8 A.M. As they sat in the parked car, another car pulled up beside it. Several men got out. They grabbed Anderson and forced him into their car. Anderson’s co-worker watched in horror. At once, he went to the newspaper office. He told others what had happened.

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Madeleine was still asleep when Anderson was taken. She did not know about the kidnapping until her landlord told her around 10 A.M. For the first few days, Madeleine went to the newspaper office hoping for news. When she realized Anderson would not be released soon, she left the country.

Three Hostages in Three Days Anderson was not the first American kidnapped. Others had been taken too. Anderson was the third hostage taken in three days. Extremist Islamic men were the kidnappers. They said they would release their hostages when a group of Lebanese prisoners were released from a Kuwaiti jail. The kidnappers felt the U.S. government could make this happen.

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Give Them Names When Anderson was first kidnapped, his captors tried to get information from him. They wanted a list of all the Americans he knew in Lebanon. Anderson refused to tell them anything. He knew if he gave the kidnappers any names, these people would be kidnapped too. Eventually, the kidnappers gave up. They knew Anderson would not give them names.

Held Captive for Six Years For the next six years and nine months, Anderson was held captive. He was blindfolded and chained by his wrist or ankle to the floor or a wall. At first Anderson was alone in a room. He could hear the guards talking to other hostages.

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A few months later, he shared a room with another hostage. Anderson shared a cell with several other hostages over the next six years. Sometimes the guards would bring them books. They also gave them radios and televisions. The men made decks of cards out of scraps of paper. They even made a chessboard out of trash. The men were fed bread and cheese. Many hostages were beaten. Some of the worst times for the hostages were when they were placed in small, dark cells. Anderson later said the dark silence nearly drove him mad. The kidnappers frequently moved the hostages. Sometimes they only changed rooms. But other times the journey was longer. Anderson recalls many trips of three or more hours long. During those trips, he was completely covered in tape, except for small holes for him to 44

breathe. The kidnappers hid Anderson in a secret compartment of the car. For miles, he breathed exhaust fumes.

A Baby Girl Three months into Anderson’s kidnapping, his daughter was born. Anderson learned of his new daughter four months later. The guards brought in a small TV so Anderson could watch the news. During the newscast, a photograph of his daughter, Sulome Theresa, flashed on the screen. Anderson cried bitter tears of joy. He was happy to see his baby. But he was angry he could not be with her.

Iran-Contra Affair One attempt to free the hostages was called the Iran-Contra affair. As part of the plan, the hostages would be freed in exchange for weapons. This secret deal 45

was exposed in 1986. After that, the U.S. government said it would not negotiate with terrorists. But Anderson’s family did not give up. His sister, Peggy Say, kept his name in the papers. She did interviews. She attended events. She would not let Americans forget Anderson.

Free At Last Finally, 2,454 days after abduction, Anderson was freed. December 4, 1991, he met daughter, Sulome. Anderson Madeleine later married.

his On his and

Return to Lebanon In 1996, Anderson returned to Lebanon. Anderson does not hate his captors. He also does not think of his time spent in captivity as wasted years.

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Anderson and his wife walk the streets of Beirut on a return trip to Lebanon.

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“Wasted empty years? Not quite. No years are empty in a life, and wasted? That depends on what I made of them after.” — Terry Anderson Since his return to the United States, Anderson sued the Iranian government. He felt the Iranian government was responsible for his kidnapping. Anderson was awarded a $341 million settlement. Terry Anderson used some of his settlement to create the Vietnam Children’s Fund. This fund builds schools in Vietnam. Anderson also created the Father Lawrence Jenco Foundation. This foundation honors and supports people who do charitable work.

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Chechen Rebels Seize Moscow Theater October 23, 2002: Fifty Chechen rebels seized the Palace of Culture Theater in Moscow, Russia. They took more than 800 people hostage inside the theater. The Chechen rebels wanted an end to the war in Chechnya. Chechnya is a republic of Russia. The Chechens want independence. The rebels said they would blow up the theater with everyone inside. During the three-day siege, they killed a Russian policeman and five Russian hostages. On October 26, Russian Special Forces pumped a gas into the theater. They wanted to put the rebels to sleep. Then the Special Forces stormed the theater. All of the rebels died. However, 94 hostages, including one American, also died. Many died from the gas. A group led by a Chechen warlord said they had planned and carried out the kidnapping. 49

CHAPTER

5

Elizabeth Smart Taken at Night

D ATA F I L E T I M E L I N E June 2002 Elizabeth Smart is taken from her Utah home. March 2003 Police find Elizabeth Smart with two homeless people outside of Salt Lake City.

Where is Salt Lake City, Utah?

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K E Y

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homeless - without a home set in - begins desperately - want very badly release - to put out; to make public brainwash - to indoctrinate intensely and bring about a complete change of beliefs

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Police believe Elizabeth’s abductors also tried to kidnap one of her cousins. Someone cut a hole in her cousin’s bedroom window, the same way the Smart home was broken into.

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Chapter Five: Elizabeth Smart Taken at Night It was a beautiful June night. Lois Smart cooked dinner. She burned the potatoes. She opened the window. She left it open to let the spring air in. Later that night, the open window would change their lives. Elizabeth shared a bedroom with her little sister. At the time, Elizabeth was 14 and Mary Katherine was nine. The two girls lived with their parents and four brothers in Salt Lake City, Utah. On the night of June 5, 2002, the children went to bed as usual. Later, their dad checked to make sure all the doors were locked. Then he went to bed. 52

The family slept peacefully as a man broke into the house. He cut two slits in the kitchen window screen.

Crept into Their Room The man entered the girls’ bedroom. First, he looked around the room. He stood over Mary Katherine for a moment. Then he walked back to Elizabeth’s side. He pulled her out of bed. It seemed as if he had a gun. At first, Mary Katherine was too scared to move. She hid in her bed. It was several hours before she finally left her room. Hiding behind a blanket, she told her parents. “Elizabeth’s gone. A man took her with a gun.” — Mary Katherine Smart

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Ed and Lois Smart searched the house. Panic set in when they saw the cut screen.

Call the Police! The Smarts called the police. The police questioned the family. Thousands of children disappear each year. Only a few are taken by strangers. Police had to make sure that Elizabeth had not run away. They also had to make sure that someone in the family had not taken her. Elizabeth’s parents asked the public for help. They put pictures of Elizabeth on trees. The talked to news reporters. They offered money to anyone who could tell them where Elizabeth was. Soon most people knew Elizabeth Smart’s name.

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Police Make an Arrest On June 14, 2002, police arrested handy man Richard Ricci. Ricci had worked for the Smarts. But Ricci said he did not take Elizabeth. In August 2002, Ricci died in jail. Many thought Elizabeth was gone forever. The Smarts did not give up. They kept telling Elizabeth’s story. In time, it was Mary Katherine who gave her parents the information they so desperately wanted.

A Face Remembered In February 2003, Mary Katherine told police whom she thought took her sister. Mary Katherine said the kidnapper looked like a man named Emmanuel.

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Emmanuel had done some yard work and repairs at their home in November 2001. Police released a picture of Emmanuel. He was also known as David Mitchell.

Elizabeth Found On March 12, 2003, Elizabeth was found. Mitchell and his wife had held Elizabeth captive for nine months. At one point, the kidnappers held Elizabeth at a campsite just two miles from her home. Police say they brainwashed Elizabeth. One of the two stayed with Elizabeth at all times. She could not get away. The Smarts were together again. Elizabeth was happy to be home. The Smarts kept her out of the public eye. They wanted her to get used to being home.

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“Dear World: I am so happy and thankful to be home with the people I love. I’m doing great.” — Elizabeth Smart Elizabeth had missed a year of school. She was tutored over the summer. She quickly caught up and returned to school in the fall of 2003. In 2004, the Smarts wrote a book about their story. The book is called Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope.

Elizabeth Smart with her parents

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Amber Alert Amber Alert is one of the many tools police use when a child is kidnapped. The bulletin lists such important information as the child’s name, his or her appearance, and a description of the kidnapper. The bulletins are flashed on TV screens and read on the radio in each state and sometimes across the nation. The Amber Alert system is named for Amber Hagerman. Nine-year-old Amber was kidnapped and murdered in 1996. After the crime, residents of Hagerman’s community called local radio stations. They suggested that in the future, the radio stations broadcast special alerts when a child is reported missing.

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Nearly all states use the Amber Alert program. As recently as June 2004, the Amber Alert is credited with the recovery of 11-month-old Sabrina Gwen Cleveland. In that case, someone called the police when Sabrina was seen in Bedford, Connecticut.

The Amber Alert sign above this highway alerts motorists about missing children.

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Book Review The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Trial: A Primary Source Account by Greg Roensch. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2004. Want to know more about the Lindbergh baby kidnapping? There is no better way to learn about an event than through primary sources. Original photographs, newspaper clippings, and official documents help readers understand an event. The Lindbergh baby kidnapping has fascinated people for decades. In this book, the author uses primary sources to bring the nearly 60-year-old trial to life. More than 30 photographs and documents tell us about the event. The book begins with background information on Charles Lindbergh and

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his historic flight, and then wraps up with the impact the trial has had on history. See what the “Wanted” posters looked like. Put a face to the name “Jafsie.” See parts of the ransom note Charles Lindbergh found on his baby’s nursery window. View a diagram that shows one kidnapping theory. Find information about Bruno Richard Hauptmann’s trial in the later chapters. Quotes from the trial are sprinkled throughout the text. The book includes a glossary that will help readers understand the legal terms. It also includes a list of recommended books for further reading.

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Glossary alias: a code name autopsy: a study done on a dead body to determine the cause of death blaze: to shine brightly brainwash: to indoctrinate intensely and bring about a complete change of beliefs Delta Force: a specially trained unit of the U.S. Army desperately: want very badly diplomatic: friendly dealings with others embassy: the headquarters of an ambassador and staff extremist: a person or group who supports extreme political practices gold notes: U.S. paper currency used from 1865 to 1933; each bill was worth a certain amount of gold homeless: without a home hostage: a person held captive until certain promises or conditions are met hypnosis: a state something like sleep that can help people remember forgotten events

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inauguration: a swearing-in ceremony Middle East: a region made up of southwest Asian and Northeast African countries release: to put out; to make public satellite: a vehicle that orbits Earth, the moon, or another celestial body seize: to take captive set in: begins Shah: a Persian word for king shield: to protect siege: a persistent or serious attack UFOologist: a person who studies UFOs verdict: a decision made by a jury in a court of law

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Index Amber Alert, 58-59 Anderson, Sulome Theresa, 45, 46 Anderson, Terry, 5, 38-49 Bassil, Madeleine, 40, 42, 46 Bedford, Connecticut, 58 Cannon Mountain, 21 Carter, Jimmy, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 Cleveland, Sabrina Gwen, 58 Condon, John, “Jafsie,” 11, 12 Cronkite, Walter, 34 Delta Force, 33 Desert One, 33 Elizabeth Island, New Jersey, 12 Emmanuel, 55, 56 Flemington, New Jersey, 15 Fuller, John G., 26 Gay Head, New Jersey, 12 gold notes, 12, 14 Hagerman, Amber, 58 Hauptmann, Bruno Richard, 6, 14, 15, 16 Hill, Barney, 4, 18-27 Hill, Betty, 4, 18-27 Horseneck Beach, New Jersey, 12 Iran-Contra affair, 45 Iranian government, 31, 48 Khomeini, Ayatollah Ruhollah, 31, 36

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Kuwait, 42 Lebanese civil war, 5, 30 Lebanon, 38, 40, 41, 43, 46 Lindbergh, Anne Morrow, 9 Lindbergh, Charles, 6, 8-10, 12, 13, 17 Lindbergh, Charles, Jr., 4, 8-17 Mitchell, David, 56 Niagara Falls, 20 Ode, Robert C., 35 Old Man of the Mountain, 21 Operation Eagle Claw, 33 Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 4, 20 Reagan, Ronald, 36, 37 Ricci, Richard, 55 Salt Lake City, Utah, 50, 52 Say, Peggy, 46 Shah of Iran, 30, 35 Smart, Elizabeth, 5, 50-57 Smart, Lois, 52, 54 Smart, Mary Katherine, 52, 53, 55 Tehran, Iran, 5, 28, 30, 33, 34 UFOologists, 24 U.S. Embassy in Tehran, 5, 30 U.S. government, 30, 40, 42, 46 White Mountains, 20 Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York, 11, 12

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KIDNAPPED

AT TA C K E D CAPTURED CONDEMNED KIDNAPPED LOST AND FOUND MISSING SHOT DOWN S T O W E D AWAY S T R A N D E D AT S E A

Taken from their homes or seized from their cars, kidnapping victims and their families face a terrifying ordeal. Some kidnappers want money; others do it for political reasons. Learn the frightening details of the Lindbergh, Hill, Anderson, and Smart abductions.

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TRAPPED

• KIDNAPPED CARPENTIERE

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ELIZABETH CARPENTIERE