When was the federal kidnapping act passed

Not long after he was placed in his crib, a loud noise was heard from his room and soon those that were home discovered the child was missing. It may not seem like a lot of money now, but back then, it was quite a demand. The kidnapper also left a few pieces of evidence at the scene. Although the crime scene occurred in New Jersey and there was no legal jurisdiction for it, the Attorney General and the President of the United States at the time, Herbert Hoover, both agreed to use the resources of the United States Department of Justice to help the case.

While the ransom was paid using soon-to-be-removed gold certificates and bills with recorded serial numbers, the outcome was tragic. The body of a young Charles Lindbergh, Jr. Apparently, the child was murdered due to a blow to the head. The second step in defending your kidnapping case is showing that the prosecutor has failed to prove the case against you beyond a reasonable doubt.

If your lawyer can show there is some reasonable doubt as to whether you committed the crime, the jury will be instructed to enter a verdict of not guilty. It may also be possible to introduce evidence into the case that points to your innocence. A frequent defense to kidnapping charges is to claim that you reasonably believed the alleged victim had given his or her consent to go with you.

This defense is not available, however, where the alleged victim does not have the mental capacity to give consent. For example, there is no possibility of using the consent defense when the case involves the kidnapping a small child or a mentally disabled person.

To learn more about what a Columbus criminal defense attorney can do for you, call us today at for a free and confidential consultation of your case. Please leave this field empty. Exact matches only. Search in title. Search in content. Search in excerpt. Luftman Joseph J. The Federal Kidnapping Act includes provisions that allow authorities to presume that if the victim of the kidnapping has not been released within twenty-four hours of the abduction, they have more than likely been taken across state lines.

Section of the U. Code contains this federal statute.