The Lindbergh kidnapping, also known as the "Crime of the Century," refers to the abduction and murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The crime, which took place on March 1, 1932, in Hopewell, New Jersey, sent shockwaves through the United States and garnered international attention.
The Lindberghs, who were living in a mansion called "Highfields" at the time, had retired to bed early on the night of the kidnapping. Around 9:00 pm, Charles Jr. was taken from his second-floor bedroom, and a ransom note was left in his place demanding $50,000 for his safe return. The Lindberghs followed the kidnappers' instructions and paid the ransom, but unfortunately, their son was never returned to them.
On May 12, 1932, the body of Charles Jr. was found in a shallow grave just a few miles from the Lindbergh home. The autopsy revealed that he had died from a skull fracture, likely caused by a blow to the head, several weeks earlier. The Lindberghs were devastated by the loss of their son, and the crime sent the nation into a state of shock and outrage.
In the years that followed, a number of suspects were investigated in connection with the Lindbergh kidnapping, but it wasn't until 1934 that a man named Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested and charged with the crime. Hauptmann, a German carpenter and handyman, was found in possession of several thousand dollars of the ransom money, and he was later convicted and sentenced to death.
The Lindbergh kidnapping has inspired numerous books, plays, and movies over the years, including the 1976 film "The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case," which starred Treat Williams as Charles Lindbergh and Anthony Hopkins as Bruno Richard Hauptmann. The film was based on the bestselling book "The Case That Never Dies" by William Norris and featured a number of fictionalized elements, but it offered a detailed and compelling portrayal of the crime and its aftermath.
Overall, the Lindbergh kidnapping remains one of the most notorious and well-known crimes in American history. It not only captured the attention of the nation but also had a lasting impact on the legal system and society as a whole. The tragedy of Charles Lindbergh Jr.'s death and the search for his killer continue to fascinate and horrify people to this day.