There are many ways in which kidnappers make a ransom demand after they have abducted their victim. How those demands are made have changed over time. Available technology, forensic criminology and skill have competed in a very different kind of arms race.
Let’s talk about some of them here, and importantly, talk about the pro’s, con’s and the risks associated with them. Figure 1 shows some of the different ways that kidnappers can make a ransom demand for comparison.
Take a look at the example in Figure 2 below. There are a couple of things that really stand out. Firstly, the demand value, it’s very low. It is probably a reasonable, manageable amount for many families to try to gather in a short time frame. It also appears to be non-negotiable. There is no detail given that shows how the family can communicate back with the kidnappers and haggle.
The Ransom Note is sent when the Kidnappers make a ransom demand
Delivering a ransom note to a victims family takes time. Is it being sent by post? Could the letter get lost? Does a courier drop it through the post box at the victims home? Or is it delivered to the reception at the office? With the mass availability of video doorbells and office video surveillance systems these days, those are risky moves.
There is no way, in this instance, to prove that these are the kidnappers that actually have the son, even if the boy is missing. Unless of course a tuft of hair, or something worse was provided in the envelope that the note was delivered in. There is also no way to prove the boy is alive before the ransom is delivered.
What does the note say?
This note offers a specific time and place for what appears to be a meeting, though that is likely to be just a first stop on a frantic trip around London. How the next stop is communicated could be as simple as a burner phone hidden by the Peter Pan statue that will start ringing once the person carrying the ransom turns up.
It’s Easy To Make A Mistake When The Kidnappers Make A Ransom Demand.
As the delivery person you’re unlikely to be met by one of the kidnappers on the first stop. The kidnappers are going to want to make sure you didn’t call the police before they risk physical contact.
The risks to the kidnappers of sending an actual note will be apparent. Physical evidence is a forensic officers delight. It doesn’t matter how careful you are in creating the note, even with gloves and using lots of cut out letters instead of handwriting.
The forensic team will identify the glue you used, where you bought the paper, what type of scissors you used to cut the magazines up with and a whole host more. Watch out if you were foolish enough to ever touch the paper, or magazine with your bare hands or even lick the envelope! – You’re probably are not likely to be a free person for long.
What’s wrong with magazines?
The same goes if you cut up a couple of magazines which you subscribe to and which get delivered to your house. How many people do you know that get both a copy of Guns an’ Ammo and Gardeners Weekly delivered? It doesn’t stop there. Which post box did you post the letter from? – Was it under camera surveillance from a private house’s fancy new doorbell?
All of that said, surprisingly, when compared to other methods, a ransom note isn’t too bad an option, if you can manage the issues above. But, screw up just a tiny amount, and it’s a piece of physical evidence that directly connects you to a major crime.
Case Study
There is an excellent case study on the FBI webpage which describes how a man called Charles Ross was kidnapped. In that case, the ransom notes were written under duress by the victim in his own hand and then posted. One of the abductors, a man called Sedland, made sure the letter included a detailed breakdown of the type of cash notes that he wanted. He also insisted that an advert with specific wording was placed in a local newspaper when the ransom was ready.
Sadly the victim was killed, along with one of the abductors when a fight broke out between the gang members. That fight occurred two nights after the ransom had been paid.
Sedland didn’t get away.
The hostages death prompted a huge man-hunt for Sedland. Whilst he had collected his money, and stolen the balance from his now dead partner, the bills were all traced, and he was caught in a bookies trying to place a bet. Stupidly he had set a pattern and kept re-visiting the same bookies betting his ill-gotten gains.
Dilemma
There are no guarantees here that the amount demanded is actually the full and final amount of the ransom. Could this just be a first payment? If it’s paid, will the family get rinsed again, and again? Should you arrive at the location and go through the process in the expectation that you will actually meet with someone eventually so that a communication channel can be established? Or is the end result actually planned by the kidnappers to be a dead drop? Will you will ever meet anyone? What happens if you don’t even turn up to the initial meeting?
The article above is an excerpt from How To Deliver A Ransom, by Rob Phayre. Explore so much more on this subject in the book.
More By Rob Phayre
True Crime, Non-Fiction – To Be Released in February 2025
You can find out more here: www.HowToDeliverARansom.com
Rob Phayre is the author of The Ransom Drop, a novel about maritime kidnapping and ransom delivery. It may be found on Amazon here.
Rob is also the author of How To Deliver A Ransom. It’s a non-fiction true crime study of the kidnap for ransom industry. That’s available here.
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