The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case

Anne Morrow Lindbergh and nurse Betty Gow discover the baby is missing from the crib in Hopewell, New Jersey. They find an envelope near the nursery window containing a note with a three-hole signature. Charles Lindbergh orders the police to be called and tells his wife not to interfere with anything in the nursery.

Police establish a command post in the Lindbergh garage and begin the investigation. A ladder is found outside the nursery window and a nearby footprint is recorded. Inside, the envelope is opened and the ransom note is revealed.

The press swarms the Lindbergh home and public interest runs high. Reporters press Lindbergh for statements while investigators contend with sensational coverage. Officials begin considering that the kidnapper may be acting alone rather than part of an organized crime group.

In New York City, Dr. John Condon volunteers as an intermediary and communicates with the kidnapper through the Bronx newspaper. He receives a reply confirming the unique three-hole signature and a ransom amount. Condon then informs Lindbergh and prepares for the eventual meeting.

Condon relays the ransom demands to Lindbergh, including a request for seventy thousand dollars. Lindbergh disguises himself and retrieves a sleeping garment sent by the kidnapper for verification. They follow a set of instructions to arrange the exchange.

On April 2, 1932, Lindbergh and Condon travel to a cemetery in the Bronx to deliver the ransom. The kidnapper speaks with a German accent and identifies himself as John. Condon hands over the money and learns where the child should be retrieved.

Despite aerial searches, authorities fail to locate the child after the ransom exchange. The trail remains cold as diversions and false leads complicate the investigation. The case remains unresolved for months.

In May 1932, the body of the child is found two miles from the Lindbergh home. Lindbergh identifies the body, bringing a devastating milestone to the case. Public attention intensifies as investigators reassess the evidence.

By November 1933, detectives begin tracing the gold certificates from the ransom as they circulate. The trail broadens to suspects and finances, drawing investigators toward a German-sounding lead. The case grows increasingly complex as the money moves through the system.

On September 15, 1934, a gas station attendant reports receiving a gold certificate and recalls a customer with a German accent driving a brown Plymouth Sedan. The tip helps narrow the suspect pool and links to the ongoing investigation. The case shifts focus toward the Bronx area and its residents.

Police stake out Bruno Hauptmann's home in the Bronx and arrest him after finding ransom money totaling $14,000 with matching serial numbers. Hauptmann denies guilt as investigators gather more evidence linking him to the ransom and the ladder. The capture marks a turning point in the case.

On January 2, 1935, Hauptmann's trial opens in Flemington, New Jersey. Prosecutors present evidence tying him to the ransom letters, the ladder, and wood from his attic. The courtroom becomes a focal point for national attention as the case unfolds.

Hauptmann is found guilty after eleven hours of jury deliberation. An angry mob gathers outside the courthouse, demanding the death penalty. The verdict solidifies the sensational nature of the case and fuels ongoing public interest.

Hauptmann is sentenced to death and is executed by electric chair on April 3, 1936, after all appeals fail. The legal process closes with the state declaring the punishment carried out. The case leaves a lasting mark on American crime history.

The Lindberghs decide to leave the United States for England, seeking distance from the sensational case. They are informed of Hauptmann's execution as part of their departure process. The family begins a new chapter overseas.