Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped on December 8th, 1963. Frank Sinatra Jr. was a new singer. The two high school students who kidnapped him had been following the 19-year-old singer around towns and cities for several weeks. The two students, Barry Keenan and Joe Amsler’s plan was to kidnap Sinatra Jr. and demand money from his wealthy father.
Sinatra Jr. had just started his musical career. A while before the kidnapping, Sinatra Jr. was performing at Harrahs Club Lodge in Lake Tahoe on the border of California and Nevada. Around 9:00 pm, Sinatra Jr. had been resting in his dressing room with a friend. This is when Keenan knocked on the door pretending to deliver a package.
When the door was opened by Sinatra Jr, the two men entered the room and tied up his friend with tape. The two men blindfolded Sinatra Jr. and took him out a side door to their vehicle. Sinatra’s friend quickly freed himself and called the police. Later on, the kidnappers were stopped by authorities. They lied and got away. The two kidnappers then drove to LA where their hideout was located.
Around 9:40 the FBI office in Reno was put in on this case, and the agents met with both of Sinatra Jr.’s parents. The agents presumed that the motive of this kidnapping was money, which would be correct. The FBI suggested that Sinatra Jr’s father wait for a demand of money from the kidnappers, send the cash, and then the FBI would track down the money.
Later that evening, Keenan called a third conspirator. This man’s name was John Irwin, and he was the one who contacted Frank Sinatra Sr. and demanded money. Sinatra and told him to wait for the other men’s instructions.
On the 10th of December, Frank Sinatra gave the FBI $240,000. The FBI photographed this money and followed Keenan’s instructions. Keenan’s instructions were to leave this money in between two school buses during the early morning hours.
While Keenan and Amsler picked up their money, John got stressed and nervous and let Sinatra Jr. free. He was later found walking in Bel Air after walking multiple miles and alerting a security guard. To avoid the press, Sinatra Jr. was put into the guard’s patrol car and was then taken to his mother, Nancy Sinatra.
Sinatra Jr. did not see much of the kidnappers or the third conspirator, therefore he didn’t have much to tell the police. The police tracked clues back to the house where he was being kept and gathered more evidence. John Irwin broke first and told his brother who then told the FBI. Later on, Keenan and Amsler were caught and most of the stolen money was returned.
In court all 3 of the criminals tried to say that Frank Sinatra Jr. had set up the stunt and hired the 3 men. The FBI had enough evidence to prove that this was not true and all 3 of the men were convicted.
