Lindbergh kidnapping (1932) – abduction and murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr.
On 1 March 1932, Charles Lindbergh Jr. was abducted from the Lindbergh residence in East Amwell, New Jersey. A ransom was demanded, but the child’s body was recovered on 12 May 1932. Bruno R. Hauptmann was arrested in September 1934, tried, convicted of first‑degree murder and executed on 3 April 1936, though his culpability is still debated.
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Our thoughts are with the Lindbergh family and the memory of Charles Lindbergh Jr.
Timeline
- 1 March 1932 — Charles Lindbergh Jr. is abducted from his crib; ransom note left on windowsill.
- 2 March 1932 — FBI Director J. E. Hoover offers assistance; federal jurisdiction not yet authorized.
- 4 March 1932 — Gaston B. Means solicits $100,000 from Evalyn Walsh McLean, later convicted of embezzlement.
- 6 March 1932 — Second ransom letter arrives, raising demand to $70,000 and naming John Condon as intermediary.
- 12 May 1932 — Toddler’s body discovered by a truck driver in Hopewell Township; cause of death appears to be head trauma.
- October 1933 — President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces FBI will take jurisdiction over the case.
- 18 September 1934 — Bank teller traces ransom gold certificate to license plate; Bruno R. Hauptmann arrested.
- 2 January 1935 — Trial of Hauptmann begins in Flemington, New Jersey.
- 13 February 1935 — Hauptmann convicted of first‑degree murder and sentenced to death.
- 3 April 1936 — Hauptmann executed by electric chair at New Jersey State Prison.
- 1935‑1936 — Appeals and clemency petitions denied; debate over Hauptmann’s guilt continues.
Frequently asked questions
Who was arrested and convicted for the Lindbergh kidnapping?
German‑American carpenter Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested in September 1934, tried in early 1935, found guilty of first‑degree murder and executed in April 1936.
Was the ransom note written by a native English speaker?
Handwriting experts concluded the note was written by a foreign‑born person with limited English proficiency.
Did the FBI have authority to investigate from the start?
Federal jurisdiction was not granted until 13 May 1932; before that the case was handled by New Jersey state authorities.
Was Violet Sharpe involved in the crime?
Sharpe, a household servant, was suspected but later ruled out after her suicide on 10 June 1932 and confirmation of an alibi.
What law resulted from the Lindbergh kidnapping?
Congress passed the Federal Kidnapping Act (the “Little Lindbergh Law”), making interstate kidnapping a federal crime.
Did any fingerprints link the kidnapper to the scene?
No adult fingerprints were found on the ransom note, ladder, or in the nursery; only the infant’s fingerprints were recovered.
Why does controversy over Hauptmann’s guilt persist?
The conviction relied on circumstantial evidence—handwriting, wood matching, ransom money—while no direct eyewitness placed him at the crime scene, leading to ongoing debate.
Primary sources and references
The cases · Investigation glossary · On this day in history · The daily puzzle · Which detective are you? · Historical word search maker