The Kidnapping Epidemic of the Great Depression

01/10/2025 13 min
The Kidnapping Epidemic of the Great Depression

Listen "The Kidnapping Epidemic of the Great Depression"

Episode Synopsis

During the 1930s, amid the economic devastation of the Great Depression, the United States faced a surge in high-profile kidnappings, capturing public attention and igniting widespread fear. Criminals, often driven by financial desperation, targeted children from prominent families to demand ransom, with cases like the infamous kidnapping of the son of wealthy banker Charles Lindbergh dominating headlines. These events not only exposed vulnerabilities in law enforcement but also spurred significant changes in federal criminal law, including the Lindbergh Law of 1932, which made kidnapping across state lines a federal offense.   DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise  LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now