Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Research Paper
Throughout our nation’s history, child abductions have become a concern that the federal government has taken action on in order to face this problem. Cases such as the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping and the ones before and following, were instances that caught the attention of the government and legislatures to solve this pressing issue and have criminals charged for their actions that not only affected the families of these victims, but the nation. The Lindbergh Baby case was the stepping stone for legislatures to pass a law that still plays a major role today in charging abductors. The federal government encounter with child abduction cases, such as the Lindbergh Baby case, and with the public’s sympathy and anger towards this crime, made them push forward a new law that still affects us today.
Famous aviator Charles Lindbergh’s son, Charles Lindbergh …show more content…
Jr., was kidnapped at around 9 p.m.
on the night of March 1, 1932 from his nursery on the second floor of the Lindbergh home in Hopewell, New Jersey. His absence was discovered by the child’s nurse who reported it to the parents. They began to search in and around the home and found a ransom note on the nursery window sill demanding $50,000. They immediately contacted the Hopewell Police who then notified the New Jersey State Police and they took charge of the investigation. They questioned housekeeping and employees, Charles Lindbergh asked family and friends to help reach the kidnapper or to find any trace of who it might be. Dr. Condon, a retired school principal, starting publishing in newspaper articles negotiations with the kidnapper and he received ransom money to do so by the Lindbergh’s. All ransom notes were then sent to him and
on the 9th one, the kidnapper demanded a higher amount of money. Dr. Condon met with “John” who was the man who received the Lindbergh kidnap ransom money and in exchange, he gave Dr. Condon a note saying where the child could be found. Although an unsuccessful search was made at Martha’s Vineyard where the note said the child would be found, investigators kept searching for baby Charles. But on May 12, 1932, the body of Charles Lindbergh Jr. was found. Partly buried and badly decomposed, he was found about four miles and a half southeast of the Lindbergh home. The Coroner’s report showed that the baby had been dead for two months and that the cause of death was a blow to the head (FBI). Although catching the kidnapper was difficult, once they did the question of what to charge him with came up. The push for a new law came into place due to the kidnapping of “America’s Golden Boy” infant son and soon became known as the “Crime of the Century”. By the time police were notified to about 10:30 on the night of the kidnapping, radio news bulletins were announcing the story nation wide. About every newspaper in the country gave the story front page in their March 2 editions (PBS). Soon, sighting of baby Charles were reported from California, Michigan, and Mexico. But none of these sightings turned out to be genuine (PBS). Many people offered assistance to the family but false clues were mostly found when regular people and not the police were trying to get involved and help in any way they can. Even Al Capone offered his help from prison. In addition, national sympathy and anger arose and reached congress and because of the outcry of the public, they enacted this law (Wagner & Lynch). Today, Bruno Hauptmann’s, the baby’s kidnapper, trial is being reviewed because he never really admitted to the crime and people started questioning his innocence. He even truly believed he had nothing to hide and that he was an innocent man. Bruno Hauptmann, a German-born carpenter, was the man accused of kidnapping baby Charles. His trial lasted 5 weeks and through it, he said he was an innocent man. But he was eventually found guilty of first degree murder but because kidnapping a child wasn’t covered under burglary laws, he was convicted for a death resulted during the theft of the baby’s clothes. This case caught the nation’s attention and which also lead to a new law. The Lindbergh Law that was adopted by Congress makes kidnapping a federal crime when the abducted individual is taken across state lines and this law also gave juries the choice to recommend the death penalty in certain situations. But later, the Supreme Court said the death penalty was unconstitutional when it is applied to the Lindbergh Law and was too harsh of a punishment to give accused kidnappers. This also allowed federal authorities to chase abductors once they cross state lines with their victim. The reason for this is that they believe federal authorities are better equipped than state and local authorities to pursue these abductors across state lines. If it was not because of the public’s voice in this problem America was facing, who knows if kidnappers would be charged like they are today.
Famous aviator Charles Lindbergh’s son, Charles Lindbergh …show more content…
Jr., was kidnapped at around 9 p.m.
on the night of March 1, 1932 from his nursery on the second floor of the Lindbergh home in Hopewell, New Jersey. His absence was discovered by the child’s nurse who reported it to the parents. They began to search in and around the home and found a ransom note on the nursery window sill demanding $50,000. They immediately contacted the Hopewell Police who then notified the New Jersey State Police and they took charge of the investigation. They questioned housekeeping and employees, Charles Lindbergh asked family and friends to help reach the kidnapper or to find any trace of who it might be. Dr. Condon, a retired school principal, starting publishing in newspaper articles negotiations with the kidnapper and he received ransom money to do so by the Lindbergh’s. All ransom notes were then sent to him and
on the 9th one, the kidnapper demanded a higher amount of money. Dr. Condon met with “John” who was the man who received the Lindbergh kidnap ransom money and in exchange, he gave Dr. Condon a note saying where the child could be found. Although an unsuccessful search was made at Martha’s Vineyard where the note said the child would be found, investigators kept searching for baby Charles. But on May 12, 1932, the body of Charles Lindbergh Jr. was found. Partly buried and badly decomposed, he was found about four miles and a half southeast of the Lindbergh home. The Coroner’s report showed that the baby had been dead for two months and that the cause of death was a blow to the head (FBI). Although catching the kidnapper was difficult, once they did the question of what to charge him with came up. The push for a new law came into place due to the kidnapping of “America’s Golden Boy” infant son and soon became known as the “Crime of the Century”. By the time police were notified to about 10:30 on the night of the kidnapping, radio news bulletins were announcing the story nation wide. About every newspaper in the country gave the story front page in their March 2 editions (PBS). Soon, sighting of baby Charles were reported from California, Michigan, and Mexico. But none of these sightings turned out to be genuine (PBS). Many people offered assistance to the family but false clues were mostly found when regular people and not the police were trying to get involved and help in any way they can. Even Al Capone offered his help from prison. In addition, national sympathy and anger arose and reached congress and because of the outcry of the public, they enacted this law (Wagner & Lynch). Today, Bruno Hauptmann’s, the baby’s kidnapper, trial is being reviewed because he never really admitted to the crime and people started questioning his innocence. He even truly believed he had nothing to hide and that he was an innocent man. Bruno Hauptmann, a German-born carpenter, was the man accused of kidnapping baby Charles. His trial lasted 5 weeks and through it, he said he was an innocent man. But he was eventually found guilty of first degree murder but because kidnapping a child wasn’t covered under burglary laws, he was convicted for a death resulted during the theft of the baby’s clothes. This case caught the nation’s attention and which also lead to a new law. The Lindbergh Law that was adopted by Congress makes kidnapping a federal crime when the abducted individual is taken across state lines and this law also gave juries the choice to recommend the death penalty in certain situations. But later, the Supreme Court said the death penalty was unconstitutional when it is applied to the Lindbergh Law and was too harsh of a punishment to give accused kidnappers. This also allowed federal authorities to chase abductors once they cross state lines with their victim. The reason for this is that they believe federal authorities are better equipped than state and local authorities to pursue these abductors across state lines. If it was not because of the public’s voice in this problem America was facing, who knows if kidnappers would be charged like they are today.