Buzz
On February 4, 1974, Patty Hearst, a 19-year-old heiress to a publishing fortune, was abducted from her Berkeley, California apartment. Even after five decades, opinions remain split about this iconic crime. However, Hearst's case is just one of many high-profile abductions that have captivated the public. Here are nine infamous kidnappings that once gripped the nation.
1. The Abduction of Patty Hearst
Patty Hearst heading to court. | Keystone/GettyImagesIn 1974, when the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) abducted Patty Hearst, their ransom demand was far from conventional. Instead of asking for cash, they insisted that the Hearst family provide $70 worth of food to every needy individual from Los Angeles to Santa Rosa. Knowing the SLA’s violent history, including the assassination of Oakland’s school superintendent Marcus Foster the previous year, Randolph Hearst contributed $2 million to a charity named People In Need. However, the SLA demanded an extra $4 million, and while the Hearsts agreed, they insisted on Patty’s release first.
Before any resolution could occur, the SLA released an audio recording of Patty pledging loyalty to their cause and condemning her parents’ capitalist actions. Security footage later surfaced, showing Patty apparently participating willingly in a San Francisco bank robbery, which seemed to confirm the audio’s authenticity.
For over a year, Patty, now identifying as Tania, traveled across the country with the SLA. After her arrest in September 1975, her defense argued that she had been brainwashed, a condition referred to as Stockholm Syndrome (a term that had only been coined two years earlier). The jury rejected this claim, sentencing her to seven years in prison. Her sentence was later reduced to two years by President Jimmy Carter, and she received a full pardon from President Bill Clinton. Meanwhile, six SLA members died in a violent confrontation at their hideout, and several others were arrested with Hearst.
2. Olive Oatman
Olive Oatman. | Benjamin F. Powelson, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution via Wikimedia Commons // Public DomainOlive Oatman survived her abduction, but it left a permanent mark—both physically and emotionally. In 1851, the 14-year-old was journeying through Arizona with her family, seeking a new home. As they neared what is now Maricopa County, they were cautioned about the treacherous landscape and the potential for violent clashes with Indigenous tribes. Ignoring the warnings, the family of nine pressed on, only to face the grim reality of the threat.
Approximately 90 miles from Yuma, the Oatmans encountered a group of Native Americans, likely Yavapai. The details remain unclear, but six family members were killed. Lorenzo Oatman, 15, was brutally beaten and left for dead, while Olive and her sister Mary Ann were taken captive.
Olive later described how she and her sister endured a year of grueling labor, frequent beatings, and burns inflicted by their captors. Their survival seemed unlikely—until the Mohave tribe intervened, trading horses, blankets, and vegetables for the sisters. This exchange placed the Oatman sisters under new guardianship, ultimately saving their lives.
The sisters were embraced by Mohave tribal leaders, who treated them as family and marked them with traditional cactus ink tattoos on their chins and arms—a practice believed to ensure their recognition as Mohave in the afterlife. Olive described her years with the Mohave as peaceful and fulfilling. However, a severe drought led to crop failures and widespread famine in the region. Tragically, Mary Ann and many tribe members perished from starvation, while Olive survived due to her foster mother secretly sharing food with her.
In 1855, the Mohave received a demand from the federal government: they had learned of a young white woman living with the tribe and insisted on her return. Refusal would result in the tribe’s destruction. Heartbroken, Olive’s Mohave family eventually agreed to surrender her to protect the tribe. Despite her resistance, Olive was reintegrated into white society, though her traditional Mohave tattoos remained visible despite attempts to conceal them with Western attire and makeup. After marrying a wealthy rancher in 1865, Olive resorted to veils and heavy cosmetics to hide the indelible marks.
3. Cynthia Ann Parker
Fifteen years before the Oatman family’s ordeal, Cynthia Ann Parker faced a similar tragedy in a neighboring state. In 1836, during an attack on Fort Parker in Central Texas by Comanche warriors, young Cynthia Ann, her brother, and others were captured. While most captives were eventually freed, Cynthia Ann stayed with the Comanche for 25 years, marrying and raising two sons and a daughter.
In 1860, Texas Rangers apprehended three Native Americans and were stunned to discover blue-eyed Cynthia Ann among them. Like Olive Oatman, Cynthia was forcibly removed from her Comanche family, leaving her sons behind. Reports suggest she repeatedly attempted to escape but never succeeded. She passed away in 1870, allegedly from self-imposed starvation.
One of Cynthia Ann Parker’s sons, Quanah Parker, rose to prominence as a war chief, leading the Comanche in their resistance against white settlers in Texas during the mid-1870s. After their efforts faltered, he agreed to relocate to a reservation in southwestern Oklahoma. According to Britannica, he was later recognized as the “principal chief of all Comanche,” a title never previously granted. Quanah acted as a bridge between his people and white settlers, advocating for the Comanche while interpreting their culture. He even formed a friendship with Theodore Roosevelt and
In 1910, Quanah arranged for his mother’s remains to be reburied near his Oklahoma home. Decades later, in 1957, they were moved once more to Fort Sill National Cemetery, where she rests alongside other Native American legends such as Satank (Sitting Bear), Satanta, and Kicking Bird.
4. Nell Donnelly
Nell Donnelly, a fashion icon of the 1930s, became a prime target for kidnappers due to her fame. | Courtesy of the Ellen 'Nell' Quinlan Donnelly Reed Papers (KO444); The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Kansas CityDuring the Great Depression, thousands of kidnappings occurred, including the infamous abduction and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s young son in 1932. Among the victims was Nell Donnelly, a Kansas City, Missouri, resident and a leading fashion designer. Her brand, Nelly Don, brought style and elegance to women during the financially strained era. She employed over 1000 people and built the Donnelly Garment Company into a $-million business, an extraordinary achievement for the time—and one that made her a target for criminals.
On December 16, 1931, Donnelly and her chauffeur were attacked by armed men, who forced them into a car and drove them to a remote safehouse. The kidnappers made Donnelly write a ransom note demanding $75,000, threatening to kill the chauffeur and blind Donnelly if their demands weren’t met.
In desperation, Donnelly’s husband sought help from their neighbor, James Reed, a former U.S. senator with extensive connections, including ties to organized crime. Reed contacted crime boss Johnny Lazia, warning him to assist in locating Donnelly or face severe consequences. The threat worked: Lazia’s men tracked down the kidnappers and ordered them to release Donnelly immediately. On December 18, Donnelly and her chauffeur were freed unharmed.
The three kidnappers were identified, arrested, and imprisoned. However, the story didn’t end there. A few years after the kidnapping, Nell divorced her husband and married James Reed, her rescuer. Decades later, it was revealed that Donnelly and Reed had been romantically involved long before the abduction, even having a son, David, whom Donnelly and her first husband had passed off as adopted.
5. Mary McElroy
This kidnapping also unfolds in 1930s Kansas City. On May 27, 1933, Mary McElroy was relaxing in a hot bath at home when her peace was shattered. Two men, disguised as delivery drivers, had entered her home, subdued the staff at gunpoint, and then forced Mary out of the tub. They allowed her to dress—she even had time to put on stockings—before taking her to a house roughly 10 miles away in Shawnee, Kansas. There, they chained her to a basement wall.
The kidnappers demanded $60,000 from Mary’s father, Henry McElroy, the city manager of Kansas City with close ties to corrupt political boss Thomas Pendergast. After negotiations reduced the ransom to $30,000, Henry paid, and Mary was released the next day—even given cab fare. Four men were arrested shortly after, with one receiving a death sentence. Surprisingly, Mary felt sympathy for her captors, insisting they had treated her well during her ordeal, even giving her flowers before her release. She was so troubled by the death penalty that she convinced her father to help secure a stay of execution.
Mary continued to visit her kidnappers in prison for the rest of her life—though her life was tragically short. On January 20, 1940, she died by suicide. In her final note, she wrote that her captors “are probably the only people on earth who don’t consider me an utter fool. You have your death penalty now—so please—give them a chance.”
6. Adolph Coors III
An empty car with its doors open, engine running, and radio playing is seldom a positive discovery. This was the scene a milkman encountered in Morrison, Colorado, on February 9, 1960, during his morning rounds. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a hat on the riverbank and a reddish-brown stain on the bridge railing.
The following day, Mary Coors received a typed ransom note demanding $500,000 for the safe return of her husband, the heir to the Coors Brewing Company fortune and grandson of its founder. Investigators quickly zeroed in on a distinctive bright yellow 1951 Ford Mercury seen in the area around the time of the abduction. The car was eventually traced to Joseph Corbett, Jr., an escaped murderer named in connection with the crime.
Seven months after Coors vanished, hikers near Sedalia, Colorado, found a pair of pants and a key ring engraved with “ACIII.” Nearby, skeletal remains were discovered in the forest, confirming the tragic end of the search for Adolph Coors. An autopsy revealed he had been shot in the back.
The hunt for his killer continued for two more months. On October 29, Corbett was apprehended, thanks to a fire-engine-red Pontiac. After his photo appeared in Reader’s Digest, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police received multiple tips about sightings of Corbett, always driving the conspicuous car. He was finally caught when the vehicle was spotted in a Vancouver motel parking lot. Corbett was convicted and sentenced to prison.
7. Frank Sinatra Jr.
Frank Sinatra Jr. | Evening Standard/GettyImagesOn December 8, 1963, as the world was still mourning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, shocking news emerged involving another American icon: Frank Sinatra. His 19-year-old son, Frank Jr., had been kidnapped. The young Sinatra, who was beginning his own music career, was abducted from his dressing room at Harrah’s Club Lodge near Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada, by two men posing as package deliverymen.
Two days later, the kidnappers contacted Frank Sr., demanding $240,000 (equivalent to about $2.3 million today) for his son’s safe return. Frank Sr., who had alerted the FBI, was instructed to communicate only via pay phones and to drop the ransom between two school buses in Sepulveda, California, on December 11. The FBI delivered the money, and while two kidnappers went to collect it, the third, John Irwin, lost his nerve. He released Frank Jr., who was later discovered wandering in Bel Air after walking several miles.
Although Frank Jr. had limited visibility during his captivity, he provided enough details to lead the FBI to the Canoga Park house where he had been held. There, they uncovered additional evidence. Irwin later confessed to his brother, who then informed the FBI, resulting in the arrest of all three kidnappers.
The mastermind behind the kidnapping, Barry Keenan, had known Frank Jr.’s sister Nancy from high school. Keenan revealed they had initially considered abducting Tony Hope, son of Bob Hope, but decided against it, feeling it was unpatriotic given Bob’s support for U.S. troops. Ultimately, the kidnappers served less than five years in prison. After his release, Keenan ventured into real estate and amassed a fortune of $17 million by 1983.
During the trial, the defense argued that the kidnapping was a publicity stunt, a rumor that persisted for decades. However, the truth of the ordeal was evident in a lifelong habit Frank Sinatra adopted: he always carried 10 dimes with him, ready to use a pay phone to negotiate with potential kidnappers. When he passed away in 1998, it was said he was buried with a bottle of whiskey, cigarettes—and those 10 dimes.
8. John Paul Getty III
John Paul Getty III. | Keystone/GettyImagesKidnappers often target affluent families, expecting a hefty ransom—but what occurs when the family refuses to pay?
J. Paul Getty III, the grandson of oil magnate J. Paul Getty, vanished in Rome in the early hours of July 10, 1973. A few days later, his mother received a ransom demand from Italian gangsters for $17 million, accompanied by a handwritten plea from her son: “Please don’t let me be killed.” However, some family members were initially skeptical, as Getty had previously joked about faking a kidnapping to extract money from his grandfather.
The only person in the family with access to $17 million was the patriarch, J. Paul Getty. Despite his immense wealth, Getty Sr. was famously frugal—he even installed a pay phone in his home to avoid guests running up long-distance charges. He adamantly refused to pay the ransom, not out of stinginess but out of principle. “I have 14 other grandchildren,” he said. “If I pay a penny, I’ll have 14 kidnapped grandchildren.”
During his five-month captivity, Getty III’s captors cut off his ear and sent it to a Rome newspaper. They warned that if the ransom wasn’t paid, they would send his body parts one by one.
Eventually, a reduced ransom of $2.89 million was negotiated. However, according to John Pearson’s book Painfully Rich, Getty Sr. “only agreed to pay the tax-deductible portion of the ransom—his son, J. Paul Getty II, had to cover the rest.” (Getty II, lacking the funds, borrowed the money from his father at a 4 percent interest rate.) Getty III was freed in December 1973, but the trauma of his ordeal left lasting scars. He struggled with drug addiction and, at 25, suffered a debilitating stroke that impaired his mobility, speech, and vision.
Nine men were eventually arrested for their roles in the kidnapping, though only two were convicted.
9. Masterpiece
Not all kidnappings involve people. Picture a dog more valuable—and perhaps more famous—than Lassie, Toto, or Rin Tin Tin. That’s Masterpiece, a silver-gray poodle who made history as the first toy dog to win the prestigious trifecta at the Westminster Dog Show: championship, obedience, and utility titles. His owner, Alexis Pulaski, was not only a dog breeder but also a savvy marketer who transformed Masterpiece’s victories into a cultural phenomenon.
Pulaski showcased Masterpiece at exclusive events and cocktail parties nationwide, where the poodle performed tricks and flaunted an extensive wardrobe. He established Poodles Inc., a New York-based salon, kennel, and retail store, where Masterpiece and other poodles lounged on cushions to the sound of harp music. Masterpiece’s fame soared to such heights that Pakistani prince Ali Khan offered $25,000 to buy him as a gift for his wife, Rita Hayworth. (Pulaski declined.) Masterpiece earned $11,000 annually through breeding and endorsements, with celebrities like Judy Garland, Gary Cooper, and Eva Peron owning his descendants.
Masterpiece’s celebrity status took him from Brussels to Paris, where he once needed police intervention to escape a dog show. He appeared on talk shows and modeled in store windows, captivating the public. In the spring of 1953, someone entered Poodles Inc., issued commands in a “dog-show fashion,” and left with Masterpiece obediently following. Despite alerts in 13 states, neither the dog nor the kidnapper was ever found. Pulaski chose Masterpiece’s offspring, Just Johnny, to continue the legacy, but he never matched his father’s fame.
