Theories



1. __INSIDE JOB __ Many people are of the belief that the kidnapping was an inside job. The kidnapper(s) had to know the layout of the house and the best way to access the baby`s room as well as the routine of the Lindbergh family. Housekeeper Violet Sharp who was from Britain was a suspect for police from the very beginning. It would have been difficult to grab the toddler, keep him quiet and take him down a small ladder. If there were someone handing the baby to you out the window ledge it would be a much easier task, and there would be less a chance of being detected. Violet likely did not act alone so she may have been an accomplice for the actual offender (Fleming, 2010). Forensics would have been difficult to prove in this case as the housekeeper`s finger prints and biological trace evidence should be found throughout the house as she lived there and it would be normal for her to be in the child`s room. Violet contradicted her story about her whereabouts on the night of the kidnapping numerous times when speaking to police. She acted suspicious and nervous every time she spoke with police and prior to her fourth interrogation she committed suicide (FBI, 2010).

2. __JOHN CONDON__ John Condon was a retired school teacher who sought an interest in the kidnapping case and put an ad in the paper proclaiming his willingness to help in anyways possible. He supposedly received a letter from the kidnappers stating that he was to act as the go between with the Lindbergh family. The letter had the originally circular markings as with the ransom letter so the Lindbergh`s accepted it as legitimate and welcomed Condon into the investigation. There was a lot of trust placed in Condon considering he had no connection to the family and they had just met. His behaviour was suspicious to police. When Condon and Lindbergh secretly met with the kidnappers, he did nothing to prevent the kidnappers from getting away. Condon also received verification from the kidnapper that the baby was alive via the sleeper that the child was last seen wearing. Lindbergh verified the sleeper but Condon never showed the authorities. The trace evidence and fibres that may have been present on the sleeper may have allowed police to identify a location and possibly find the child. There was no direct evidence that linked Condon to the case, just his suspicious behaviour and secrecy, as well as his need to be continuously involved.
 * [[image:John_Condon(150).jpg align="center" caption="John F. Condon"]] ||
 * John F. Condon ||

3. __ORGANIZED CRIME __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">Lindbergh initially believed that organized crime may be responsible for his missing child. He had great authority over the investigation and was often <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">holding back pieces of information from police that may have helped to establish direction or leads. Lindbergh ignored the evidence from the ransom <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">letter than indicate a German individual and focused on the mob theory. He spoke with two known mob associates Spitale and Bitz and decided that <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">they would be the go between for him and the mob. Many known mob associates spoke out agreeing to help in exchange for freedom or cash but <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">none were accepted (FBI, 2010). This theory was eliminated when police found out as there was no evidence of mob involvement and the <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">kidnapping was not their mean of conducting business.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4. __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">HAUPTMANN __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">Bruno Richard Hauptmann seemed to be the most plausible scenario once police identified him. He was an immigrant from Germany and was in <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">possession of some of the ransom money. Most of the other evidence could be tied to him in some manner even if the police had to stretch it. The <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">only motive that was identified was money. He had no connection to the Lindbergh family or to the area in which they lived. No finger prints or trace <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">evidence could link Hauptmann to the crime. All evidence was circumstantial, not one piece of forensics could prove he committed the crime without <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">reasonable doubt. Evidence could have been planted or it could have been a coincidence or as the overwhelming evidence shown in court proved – <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">he did it.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5. __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">LINDBERGH __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">Lindberg seemed to be in control of the investigation for its entirety. He continued to interfere with evidence and the crime scenes tampering with <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">potential evidence that could have been helpful for police. He withheld crucial evidence and led police in the wrong direction. Police should have <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">secured the scene as soon as they arrived and removed Lindbergh from the area. It would be expected that his prints would be found in the room but <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">there were no prints anywhere. The body of the child was found not far from the Lindbergh home. It is possible he hired someone to kidnap the baby <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">not expecting them to kill him in order to increase his press or maybe he was tired of being a father and wanted to be able to focus on his own career <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">and stardom.