Episode 72: For Ransom

Kidnapping for ransom is prevalent across the world, however, in today's United States it is essentially obsolete. Today’s episode covers three historic US kidnappings that helped to fuel the American parent’s fear for the wellbeing of their child. While the cases are unique in their own way, each child’s parents agonized over whether or not they would see their child again, and not all of them did. Listen in while we discuss the cases of Charles Lindbergh Jr.,Marion Parker, and George Weyerhaeuser.

Charles and Anne Lindbergh, Photo courtesy of Britannica.com

Lindbergh Poster, photo courtesy of Britannica.com

Charles Jr with mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, photo courtesy of newengland.com

Bruno Hauptman, photo courtesy of Britannica.com

Perry Parker, photo courtesy of Findagrave.com

Geraldine Perry, photo courtesy of findagrave.com

Lindbergh Ransom Note, courtesy of Britannica.com

Geraldine with daughters Marion (Marian) (left) and Marjorie (right), photo courtesy of Oakland Tribune

Marion (Marian) Parker, photo from www.kcet.org

Auto information for "Mr Cooper" photo courtesy of Los Angeles News, Marion (Marian) Ransom notes, photos courtesy of medium.com

William Hickman, photo courtesy of calisphere.org

Photos of Marion (Marian) Parker during Autopsy, photos courtesy of Reddit.

1935 George Weyerhaeuser, photo courtesy of Bryan Johnston

JP and Helen Weyerhaeuser, photo courtesy of Deep in the Woods

Weyerhauser ransom note, photo courtesy of Deep in the Woods

Truck re-enactment, photo from Deep in the Woods

George's path once released, photo from Deep in the Woods

William Dainard (Historylink.org), Harmon Waley (Historylink.org), Margaret Waley (Amazon.com)

Special thanks to Bryan Johnston for joining us to talk about his book Deep in the Woods.

Constellis - Global Overview | Safeatlast - 40+ Horrific & Chilling Kidnapping Statistics | FAQ - AMBER Alert | Wikipedia - Lindburgh Kidnapping | Britannica - Federal Kidnapping Act | The Evening News - Various Articles Marion Parker 12.23.1927 | The Malefactor’s Registry - The Murder of Marion Parker | KCET - Bedlam at Bellevue Arms | Medium - Horrifying Murder of Marion Parker | Murderpedia - William Hickman | Cemetery Guide - Marion Parker | Bryan Johnston - Deep in the Woods | Great Falls Tribune - Convicted Kidnapper Petitions for Release 03.06.1943 |