Bruno Hauptmann: Criminal Mastermind or Dupe? During the cold night of March 1, 1932, Charles Lindbergh Jr. went missing from his warm crib only to be found dead of massive head trauma a short distance from his home on May 12, 1932. A series of ransom notes had been delivered to the family during the time demanding $50,000 in small bills. Bruno Hauptmann, a German immigrant with a checkered past was identified as a potential suspect when he passed one of the currency notes paid in the ransom. Hauptmann was eventually charged with the murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr. and electrocuted for his crime on April 3, 1936. (F.B.I., n.d.). These are the facts of the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Case and they are undisputed. What has and will be disputed is who actually kidnapped and killed Charles Jr. Charles Lindbergh Sr. was a national hero after piloting the Spirit of St. Louis around the globe so when the Hopewell Police Department received a phone call on that cold March night reporting that Charles Jr. was missing, they realized the case could be beyond their capabilities. The New Jersey State Police which had enormous resources was immediately notified and took investigative jurisdiction. The next day the …show more content…
The only physical evidence linking Hauptmann to the scene was the ladder. Experts claimed a piece of wood in Hauptmann’s attic was used to construct the ladder. A latent print expert, Erastus Mead Hudson, who used silver nitrate fuming developed several latent prints from the ladder, none of which matched Hauptmann’s. It was reported, unknown by whom, when Hudson notified the investigator of his findings, the ladder was washed cleaned of all prints. This fact was allegedly not presented during the trial. (Reference.com, 2006.) Even though Condon’s description of “John” matched Hauptmann, Condon was not able to positively identify him in subsequent line ups and even questioned whether Hauptmann fit the