The kidnapping of 1-month-old Peter Weinberger on July 4, 1956, in Long Island, New York, resulted in new legislation passed by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his presidency which allowed federal investigators to become involved in a kidnapping case after 24 hours missing versus the original 7-day waiting period.

In the late afternoon on Independence Day in 1956, Beatrice “Betty” Weinberger wrapped her baby in a blanket and placed him in a carriage on the family’s front porch before going into the home for a few minutes as the child slept.

When she returned to the porch, the carriage was empty and a ransom note was left by a kidnapper.

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The note written in pencil read, “I hate to do this to you, but I am in great trouble,” according to the New York Daily News. It added that the kidnapper was “not asking for a lot of money” but only what he needed and that he was “very serious about this.”

He also threatened to kill the baby at the “first wrong move” and also read that he was sorry for his actions but was desperate for money. The criminal demanded $2,000 in small bills for the return of the baby, according to the FBI’s website. If the ransom was paid, he promised to return the baby “safe and happy” the next day.

He signed the letter “Your baby sitter.”

Weinberger called the Nassau County Police Department, about 35 miles outside of New York City, and her husband, Morris Weinberger, a drug salesman, requested newspapers opt out of reporting on the abduction at the time. However, the New York Daily News included Peter’s story as a front page headline, and reporters immediately surrounded the Weinberger residence.

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Peter Weinberger was kidnapped from the front porch of his home as he slept in a carriage outside. (John Drennan/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Police left a decoy ransom package at the spot, but the kidnapper never showed up to collect it. It was later confirmed, after an arrest was made, that the kidnapper did show up with the infant but was quickly diverted by the commotion outside the home.

The FBI set up a temporary investigation headquarters for the case in Mineola, Long Island, beginning on July 11, 1956, just one day after a second attempt at the ransom money was made by the kidnapper. On July 10, he called the Weinberger home twice demanding $5,000 and provided new instructions as to where to leave the money, but he did not show up to either location.

Police located a bag with a note written in the same handwriting as the first ransom note. It provided a location where the baby could be found “if everything goes smooth [sic].” FBI agents and handwriting experts from the FBI analyzed almost 2 million writing samples, which included many provided by the BMV and probation offices and schools, as well as other federal and state municipalities, according to the FBI website.

On Aug. 23, 1956, Angelo John LaMarca, a truck and taxi driver and Plainview, New York, resident, was arrested for the kidnapping of Peter when police matched his handwriting to the ransom notes.

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Peter Weinberger’s decomposing remains were located by police following Angelo John LaMarca’s arrest. (Sam Platnick/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Though LaMarca initially denied any connection to the kidnapping, it was later discovered that he was living in a $15,000 home with his wife and two children that he could not afford and admitted to the abduction.

LaMarca also told police he had killed the baby for the sake of his own children as he was in financial debt with loan sharks from Brooklyn. He said that he had been driving around neighborhoods looking for a way to make quick cash and saw Weinberger leave Peter on the porch.

He told police that the day he went to drop off the infant and receive the ransom money, he was scared off by the crowd of reporters and officers and dumped the baby off of a highway, according to the FBI’s website.

The FBI fled to the scene described by LaMarca and found the decomposing remains of Peter. During the trial, where lawyers attempted to plead temporary insanity, it was determined Peter died of asphyxia, starvation and exposure at around 6 weeks old.

LaMarca was tried on kidnapping and murder charges and on Dec. 14, 1956, and found guilty by a jury. He was sentenced to death. Though he appealed a number of times, LaMarca was executed on Aug. 7, 1958, at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York.

The Boston Bruins will kick off their 2024-25 season on September 22nd with an exciting slate of seven preseason matchups against four different teams. The first of which will occur vs. one of the best teams in the NHL last season, the New York Rangers, at 5 PM on September 22nd.

While the Rangers may not bring their top players to this matchup, and there is a good chance the Bruins won’t either, the game could be a way for fans to see some of the more fringe players in action. That said, the Bruins and Rangers will meet again on September 26th in New York with a 7 PM start time, and there is a good chance that this game could feature a better preview of what to expect in a regular season that should see both teams as among the most competitive in the Eastern Conference. 

On September 24th and October 5th at 7 PM and 5 PM, respectively, the Bruins will face the Washington Capitals, with the game on the 24th occurring at home and the preseason finale on the road. We know the Capitals were that “just happy to be there” playoff team last year, but that shouldn’t be the case in 2024-25. For one of these two games, expect the Bruins to play those “new-look” Capitals best squads.

The Bruins tour against the Metropolitan Division will continue in back-to-back preseason matchups against the Philadelphia Flyers on September 28th on the road and October 1st at home, with both games taking place at 7 PM. Philadelphia nearly became that final playoff team last year, and this season, we don’t know what to expect from them, but the Bruins will likely get a good idea in one of these two matchups. 

Boston will also play the Los Angeles Kings at 7 PM on October 3rd at a neutral site, and LA is a team looking to find more consistency in 2024-25. The Kings did finish third in the Pacific last season, but it didn’t come without a coaching change and some major highs and lows last season. 

Overall, we’re mainly seeing the Bruins get a small tour of the Metropolitan Division, featuring a powerhouse team in the Rangers, an organization that made a lot of moves in the offseason in the Washington Capitals, and a potential up-and-coming organization like the Flyers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will need to rely on their young core of Georgia players during the 2024 season.

The Georgia Bulldogs have had 33 players drafted over the last three years and several NFL organizations have really focused in on drafting former Bulldogs. The Philadelphia Eagles are the most famous example of this, but other teams aren’t too far behind them. The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected a multitude of former Bulldogs over the last few years, and they will have to lean on them this season.

ESPN released an article where they ranked NFL team’s under 25 talent. They also listed the “blue chip players” for each team which is determined by many factors. The Steelers ranked 20th amongst the other teams and two Bulldogs made up their list of blue chips – George Pickens and Broderick Jones. Here is what ESPN wrote:

“The Steelers graduated a starting offensive tackle, Moore, from this list, but he probably won’t have a starting job this season anyway after posting an 87.5% PBWR and 73.8% RBWR. Instead, younger and higher-drafted talents will man the tackle spots, with Jones and first-round pick Troy Fautanu at age 23. Center Zach Frazier is also 23 and will start as a rookie. At wide receiver, 23-year-old Pickens takes over as the unchallenged No. 1 receiver in Pittsburgh after having 1,140 receiving yards in 2023. Also age 23: rookie slot receiver Roman Wilson, nose tackle Keeanu Benton and second tight end Darnell Washington. The one exception when it comes to talent under 25 is No. 1 cornerbackJoey Porter Jr., who turns 24 in late July.”

The Steelers also signed former Georgia running back Daijun Edwards as an undrafted free agent after this year’s draft.

With Georgia stacking up NFL draft classes, organizations will continue to rely on their young Georgia cores to make a difference. But other organzaitions, like the Steelers, will be relying on them more than others.

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