14 Celebrities Who Got Wrapped Up in a Kidnapping Plot
Here’s a rule of thumb: If you think you’re talking to a hitman, you’re not. You’re talking to a fed. Every time.
Jessica Alba
In 1996, two years into her film career at age 15, Alba was blindfolded, bound and gagged for 14 hours. No culprit has ever been brought to trial.
The Heir to the Heineken Fortune
Freddy Heineken, grandson of founder Gerard Heineken, was kidnapped while he was serving as the CEO of the company in 1983. His kidnappers had been planning for two years, and were finally able to nab Freddy and his driver, holding them hostage for three weeks before his Heineken kin shelled out about $18 million.
Cindy Birdsong
Two years into her stint in the supergroup The Supremes, Birdsong was taken from her Hollywood apartment at knifepoint, and managed to jump out of her kidnapper’s car as it took a freeway exit. Her apartment’s handyman was convicted of her kidnapping.
Daisy McCrackin
The actress was kidnapped along with fellow actor Joseph Capone in 2017. Capone was left naked in a bathtub for 30 hours while their captors forced McCrackin to drive around town to take out money from a bunch of different banks.
Yoko Ono’s Daughter
John Lennon was Ono’s third husband, and fourth marriage. Marriages number two and three were to film producer Anthony Cox who, in 1971, kidnapped their daughter Kyoko Chan Cox and raised her in a Christian cult. Ono didn’t see her daughter again until 1997.
Miss Venezuela
Veruska Ramirez was kidnapped in 2003, but her captors let her go after three hours when she agreed to sign 15 autographs.
Madonna, Maybe?
In 1987, tabloids reported that Sean Penn had tied Madonna to a chair, held her captive and subjected her to brutal physical attacks. In response to a defamation suit, Madonna has since stated, “While we certainly had more than one heated argument during our marriage, Sean has never struck me, ‘tied me up’ or physically assaulted me.”
Holly Willoughby
A dude hired a hitman from America to fly over and kidnap the English TV presenter. Luckily and predictably, the hitman was actually an undercover cop.
The Drummer From Guns n’ Roses
Steve Adler’s brother kidnapped him in 2007 and held him captive for 30 days so he’d quit doing heroin.
The Guitarist From the Calling
In 2013, Alex Band was tossed in a van, robbed, beaten and chucked out onto some train tracks. Sound like a low-profile target? The 700 million Spotify listens on “Wherever You Will Go” make the band worth a cool two mil.
A Rapper From Sweden
In 2020, Swedish rapper Einár was kidnapped by some goons working on behalf of his rival, Yasin. Einár escaped, but was murdered when he was supposed to testify against Yasin the following year.
Jennifer Hudson
In 2008, Hudson’s mother and brother were found murdered, and her nephew was missing. He would also be found dead three days later. Her sister’s estranged husband was convicted of all three murders.
Benedict Cumberbatch
While filming To the End of the Earth in 2005, Cumberbatch and a couple buddies were high while driving back from a little vacation when their tire blew on a notoriously dangerous road in South Africa. Six armed thugs rifled through their stuff and threw them into a car, but they were miraculously rescued by some random dude.
David Letterman’s Son
In 2005, a painter who worked on Letterman’s Montana ranch hatched a plot to kidnap his infant child (as well as the nanny, so she could take care of the kid while he waited for the cash to roll in). He blabbed to an acquaintance, who notified authorities. For good measure, he was also charged with felony theft for overcharging Letterman for paint.