American History Hit Crime of the Century: Who Kidnapped Charles Lindbergh Jr?
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Nov 24, 2025 
Thomas Doherty, a cultural historian and Brandeis University professor, dives into the notorious Lindbergh kidnapping. He explores the crime's seismic impact on American law and media, illustrating how this event changed the landscape of fame and justice. Doherty details the chaotic investigation, the media frenzy surrounding the case, and the eventual trial of Bruno Hauptmann. He also discusses lingering conspiracy theories and the complex legacy of Charles Lindbergh, illuminating the intertwining of crime, celebrity, and public perception.
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Celebrity Turned Crime Into National Trauma
- Charles Lindbergh's celebrity made the kidnapping a national, personal obsession rather than a local crime.
- Radio and mass admiration caused Americans to feel they 'knew' the Lindberghs and to invest emotionally in the case.
Radio Created A Shared, Instant Public
- Radio's recent penetration meant instant national coverage and shared experience in 1932.
- The Lindbergh case became the first story Americans sought immediate updates from their radios.
How The Kidnapper Entered The Nursery
- The kidnapper entered the second-floor nursery through a window using a handmade ladder and stole the 20-month-old toddler.
- Investigators found the ladder and muddy footprints on the grounds, indicating the route of escape.
