Minnesota

Minnesota millionaire’s kidnapping ends in tragedy for captor

Published

2 years ago

October 13, 2022

Minnesota millionaire’s kidnapping ends in tragedy for captor

Editor’s notice: That is half 3 in a three-part sequence on the kidnapping of Haskell Bohn in 1932. Earlier articles on this sequence:

half 1

and

half 2.

After six days of blindfolded isolation in a basement with minimal daylight, Haskell Bohn realized that his launch had been efficiently negotiated.

Lastly, freedom was close to.

Twenty-year-old Bohn, son of a Minnesota millionaire, had been kidnapped by gunpoint the morning of July 30, 1932, from his St. Paul residence. His captors tossed the household’s chauffeur a ransom notice as they drove off, revealing their demand of $35,000 (about $756,641in 2022 {dollars}) in trade for his launch.

Six days later, Bohn was launched from his captors’ custody, in trade for a negotiated $12,000 ($259,420 in 2022 {dollars}) – a far cry from the unique demand, however sufficient to purchase again his freedom.

His captors, whose identities have been nonetheless unknown to Bohn, drove for almost an hour down bumpy, winding roads — a deliberate transfer meant to confuse the sufferer, rendering him unable to identification to authorities the place he had been held.

Because the car got here to a cease, the abductors gave him very particular directions.

“That’s after they instructed me to not say or do something for 10 minutes, after which they instructed me to stroll to the suitable for a half hour and after I known as up to not name up the police however to name my residence and ask for my father,” Bohn instructed legislation enforcement, based on the police transcript completely obtained not too long ago by Discussion board Information Service.

Earlier than setting him free, his captor handed him $10, fulfilling a promise made to pay him again for $7 that had been taken from his billfold on the day of his kidnapping.

Bohn lay face down on the bottom as the abductors drove away into the darkish evening. He adopted orders, for probably the most half, ready nearly 5 minutes earlier than getting up and trekking by way of a discipline, which led him to a close-by farmhouse.

Arriving on the farmhouse

Bohn was technically free, however he nonetheless had a big process forward of him: making his manner residence. That was a tough one contemplating he was completely uncertain of his whereabouts.

Verne Sankey is thought to be the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Haskell Bohn of St. Paul in 1932.

Photograph courtesy of Newspapers.com

“As I crossed the corn discipline, and crossed the highway, I seen an indication, ‘For Sale.’ The home had fairly a number of lights on the aspect, and canine have been barking. And as I walked, I consider it was the girl that mentioned, ‘What would you like?’ She mentioned, ‘What would you like?’ And I mentioned, ‘I’m Haskell Bohn that was kidnapped,’” he mentioned within the transcript.

After displaying his identification, he was welcomed into the house. Regulation enforcement was known as. He was reunited together with his household, and the hunt for his captors started.

Unbeknownst to legislation enforcement, they have been headed to Colorado to proceed their kidnapping spree. However they would not escape the legislation for lengthy.

Greater than two years after Bohn’s kidnapping, two males named Verne Sankey and Gordon Alcorn have been arrested in Chicago on costs associated to the 1933 kidnapping of rich Colorado businessman Charles Boettcher.

Similarly to the Bohn kidnapping, Boettcher was approached at gunpoint, blindfolded with tape and thrown behind a car. His spouse, current on the time of the kidnapping, was given a ransom notice demanding $60,000 (about $1.37 million in 2022 {dollars}), a value they finally obtained.

Boettcher’s spouse’s capacity to determine the 2 males was vital to their seize, and useful to the Bohn case.

Bohn recognized Sankey and Alcorn as the 2 males who kidnapped him from his residence in the summertime of 1932, based on a March 1993 Minneapolis Star Tribune article.

As Bohn acknowledged within the 40-page police transcript, he interacted with two important captors. Nevertheless, he had instructed legislation enforcement the ring chief did allude to the truth that a gang of individuals have been concerned within the crime. At one level, when discussing what to do with Bohn, the ringleader claimed he’d talk about their plans with the remainder of the gang.

Because it seems, Sankey did run with a number of Canadians that he had recruited from his time on the railroad to assist him in his felony enterprises. Along with Alcorn, Sankey requested Ray Robinson to assist him out.

There are competing theories on Alcorn’s involvement within the Bohn kidnapping. Whereas Bohn did partially determine him as one of many captors, one other member of Sankey’s gang later confessed that he performed a vital function in Bohn’s abduction.

After being arrested in Canada and extradited to Minnesota in 1933, Robinson confessed to taking part in a key function within the Bohn kidnapping, based on an April 3, 1933 New York Occasions article.

Along with his confession, he instructed authorities that Sankey was the felony thoughts behind the operation. He additionally instructed legislation enforcement that Sankey’s spouse, Fern Sankey, was an confederate, having cooked meals for Bohn whereas he was held in her basement.

Whereas Fern Sankey was arrested and tried for the Bohn kidnapping, she was finally discovered not responsible by a jury who seen her as a sufferer of her husband’s crimes.

Fern Sankey, spouse of Verne Sankey, was acquitted by a jury for her alleged function within the Haskell Bohn kidnapping.

Robinson obtained a 25-year sentence, served at Minnesota’s Stillwater Penitentiary. It was a far cry from the life sentence different kidnappers – together with Sankey – have been dealing with beneath the newly minted Lindbergh Regulation.

Within the aftermath of the notorious 1932 kidnapping of the 20-month-old baby of well-known aviator Charles Lindbergh, Congress handed laws to crack down on the rising variety of kidnappings being carried out by gangs all through the nation.

The transfer made crossing state borders with a sufferer a federal offense, with a punishment of life in jail.

The Lindbergh Regulation included a provision that acknowledged a captive held for seven days or extra would robotically be assumed to have crossed state traces, opening up the door for federal prosecution and life in jail.

On the time of Robinson’s confession, Sankey and Alcorn have been being held for the kidnapping of Boettcher.

As a result of Boettcher was held captive on Sankey’s farm in Buffalo County, South Dakota, Sankey was transported to Sioux Falls, the place he was to face trial for the kidnapping of Boettcher. It’s additionally alleged that he was going to plead responsible to the kidnapping of Bohn.

Nevertheless, on his first evening at South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, Sankey’s physique was discovered unresponsive – he had hung himself in his cell.

Verne Sankey ranch South_Dakota_ranch_.jpg — Verne Sankey’s Kimball, South Dakota residence was used to carry Colorado businessman Charles Boettcher. Sankey kidnapped Boettcher in trade for $60,000.

The next day, Alcorn was sentenced in Sioux Falls to life in jail for the Boettcher kidnapping, a time period he carried out in Colorado’s Leavenworth penitentiary.

Bohn went on to stay an in any other case regular life. Whereas his household’s enterprise did not outlast the Nice Melancholy, he carried out a profession within the energy sector, retiring from Illinois Energy Firm as its district supervisor. He was married, had youngsters and settled in a rural Illinois space.

Whereas his life took an in any other case regular flip, his youngsters grew up listening to tales from a really completely different period of his life — one which included his time in captivity by the hands of the FBI’s most needed felony.

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Minnesota

In a Minnesota Hotel Room, Suitcases Full of Lululemon

Published

46 mins ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

In a Minnesota Hotel Room, Suitcases Full of Lululemon

An East Coast couple arrested for alleged theft at a Lululemon store in Minnesota are now at the center of a probe into a wider $1 million crime spree in multiple states. The Star Tribune reports that 44-year-old Jadion Richards and 45-year-old Akwele Lawes-Richards of Danbury, Connecticut, were detained on Nov. 14 and charged a day later in Ramsey County with organized retail theft, tied to crimes that took place over the past two months. According to a criminal complaint, the couple had been stopped at a Lululemon store in Roseville on that Wednesday when they tried to exit the women’s athletic wear store and set off security alarms, per USA Today. Richards is said to have complained that he’d been racially profiled, and employees reportedly let the pair leave.

“The couple later commit[ed] fraudulent returns with the stolen items at different Lululemon stores,” police say, which led to their arrest at the Lululemon store in Woodbury, per the Kansas City Star. A retail fraud investigator later claimed that the two had been at the same store the day before, on Nov. 13, and lifted nearly four dozen items, with a combined value of nearly $5,000. They were alleged to have committed four other thefts that same day, including in Minneapolis. The couple denied involvement in any thefts, but with a search warrant issued after their arrest, police found 12 suitcases in their Marriott hotel room in Bloomington, a quarter of them stuffed with tagged Lululemon clothing, worth more than $50,000.

The investigator estimates the two stole about $1 million in total since September from Lululemon stores not only in Minnesota, but also in Colorado, Utah, New York, and their home state. Among the tactics the two are accused of using in their thefts, per the criminal complaint: having one of them distract staffers while the other shoved Lululemon products into whatever they were wearing. They also allegedly would have one of them set off the security alarm by trying to walk out with a relatively inexpensive item, while the other would sail out the door with more expensive items while store security was dealing with the first incident. Bail for Richards is set at $100,000, while Lawes-Richards’ is set at $30,000. Hearings for the two are scheduled for Dec. 16. (More Lululemon stories.)

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Minnesota

Bear-ly Accurate Predictions: Week 12 Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings

Published

9 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Bear-ly Accurate Predictions: Week 12 Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday and Windy City Pro Wrestlers, Redus and Traxx, help Ryan predict the winner! Each wrestler represents a different NFL team and steps into the ring for a face-to-face competition. Plus, Ryan gets some payback from the last time these wrestlers stepped inside the ring!

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

For more on Windy City Pro Wrestling, visit: officialwcpw.com.

SEE ALSO | ABC7 Sports Overtime with Dionne Miller

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Minnesota

Penn State Vs. Minnesota: How to Watch, Story Lines, Predictions

Published

17 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Penn State Vs. Minnesota: How to Watch, Story Lines, Predictions

For Penn State football, keeping a low profile represents the best path Saturday at Minnesota. The Nittany Lions want to win, comfortably and quietly, let Ohio State and Indiana own college football’s oxygen this weekend and get to their regular-season finale against Maryland.

Penn State is in prime position to host a first-round College Football Playoff game, no matter how much College Football Influencers argue against it. The playoff committee has made that clear: Penn State has been No. 4 the past two weeks and should remain there, as long as Ohio State wins Saturday over the Hoosiers. A Buckeyes’ loss reignites debate. Penn State can hedge that debate with a no-doubt win at Minnesota that quietly appeases even the scoreboard-watchers.

What to expect from the Penn State-Minnesota game? Here’s the breakdown, including where to watch, what to watch, and our predictions.

No. 4 Penn State (9-1) vs. Minnesota (6-4)

How Andy Kotelnicki brought his Minnesota roots to Penn State’s offense

How to watch, stream the Penn State-Minnesota game

Penn State is playing on CBS for the second straight week and the third time this season. Fans can stream the game on the CBS Sports app as well. Brad Nessler and ary Danielson have the broadcast, and Jenny Dell will conduct sideline interviews. Penn State fans who can’t watch should turn to the Penn State Sports Network for the radio call with Steve Jones and Jack Ham. The games also is available on SiriusXM channels 83/158/196.

What is the betting line for Penn State-Minnesota?

The Nittany Lions are 11-point road favorites, according to DraftKings. The over/under is 45 points. Penn State is 9-0 as a favorite this season and 5-4 against the spread.

What Are the Primary Penn State-Minnesota Story Lines?

On the Penn State Coaches Show this week, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said something interesting: “Watching them on tape, [Minnesota] is very good on defense, maybe the best defense we’ve played this year.” That’s noteworthy, considering Ohio State’s defense, which held Penn State without a touchdown for the first time in 10 years, is ranked first by ESPN’s SP+, and Minnesota’s is 15th. The Gophers excel in takeaways (20, including 16 interceptions) and do so by playing largely a zone defense.

Freshman safety Koi Perich is Minnesota’s highest-graded defender (84.9, according to Pro Football Focus) and leads the Big Ten with five interceptions. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar noted that Minnesota’s secondary does ball-hawk but also generates turnovers through defensive line pressure. But Allar has proven capable of escaping pressure, beating zones with his checkdown receivers and avoiding interceptions. For Allar, identifying zone weaknesses (should Minnesota stick with it) with Tyler Warren and his underneath receivers will be essential. He also’s going to look to stretch the field, particularly when Penn State gets into its tempo offense.

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s offensive strategy favors Penn State’s front-four aggressiveness and back-four experience. The Golden Gophers don’t have the receiving trio of Rashod Bateman, Tyler Johnson and Chris Autman-Bell they relied on to beat the Nittany Lions in 2019. Minnesota ranks 10th in the Big Ten in passing, though quarterback Max Brosner does have some chemistry with receiver Daniel Jackson (63 receptions, three for touchdowns). But Minnesota isn’t an explosive offense. The Gophers rank 96th nationally in explosive-play rate (12.32 percent). Penn State is sixth (17.91 percent).

Penn State Players to Watch

Nicholas Singleton: The running back is overdue for a big game. He hasn’t rushed for 50 yards in the past five games and hasn’t topped 100 since Bowling Green. Singleton looked healthy in limited snaps last week at Purdue and is ready to unleash.

AJ Harris: Penn State’s dip into the SEC for cornerbacks Harris and Jalen Kimber has proven smart. Watch for Harris on Minnesota’s Jackson.

Tre Wallace: Penn State needs a receiver to relieve some of the offensive pressure from Tyler Warren. If Minnesota overloads the tight end, Wallace should reap the benefits. He has to take advantage.

Minnesota Players to Watch

Max Brosmer: Minnesota’s quarterback has been underrated this year. He ranks seventh in the Big Ten in passer rating and has a completion rate of 67.1 percent. He’s not a big-play quarterback; Minnesota ranks 12th in the Big Ten in pass plays of 20+ yards. But he’s efficient and reasonably mistake-proof. Penn State can’t give him reason to believe.

Cody Lindenberg: Can’t highlight too many Minnesota defenders. The linebacker covers a lot of ground as Minnesota’s leading tackler and really attacks the run.

Darius Taylor: Minnesota will try to run with Taylor, though its offense ranks 17th in the Big Ten in rushing offense. Taylor has had a couple big games (144 yards vs. USC, 131 vs. Illinois), but Rutgers held him to 28 yards on 10 carries last week.

The Predictions

Mark Wogenrich: This game has some potential red flags. If Penn State can’t get the run game going and starts throwing hastily, Minnesota’s defense will capitalize. Now, the Gophers don’t have a counter for Tyler Warren, so the Nittany Lions could ride him as they did last week at Purdue. This is a capable but not great Minnesota offense that Penn State should shutter. Still not feeling an overwhelming offensive performance, though. Penn State 24, Minnesota 13

Daniel Mader: The Golden Gophers’ secondary alone (16 interceptions) is enough to give Penn State another late-season challenge. However, based on the way the Nittany Lions took care of business against Washington and Purdue, I don’t think there’s any reason to doubt their current momentum. I think Penn State pulls away in the third quarter, owning the ground game on both sides of the ball for win No. 10. Penn State 31, Minnesota 14