Not Released Unharmed

About the Book

Rich with little-known details in the infamous Lindbergh kidnapping case, the day Machine-Gun Kelly coined the term "G-Men," and the events and trails-of-evidence in a variety of kidnappings, Not Released Unharmed- Kidnap Victims offers a fascinating look at historical highlights of American crime and investigation. Written by retired FBI Special Agent Donald L. Smith, the book is a survey of tragedy juxtaposed with rescue and relief; of pursuit and capture; of justice and injustice. In these stories, some kidnap victims survive, some do not. Some of the characters are scarred for life, others find forgiveness and redemption. But, just as Smith entitles his book, none are released unharmed.

A preview of actual FBI cases covered in this book:

·        Wood evidence (the ladder) in the Lindbergh case trial and some previously undisclosed evidence.

·        Kidnap of a wealthy Oklahoma oil man, his captivity and release nine days later.

·        Machine Gun Kelly captured unarmed and afraid, shouting the famous line “Don’t shoot G-men!  Don’t shoot G-men”.

·        Kidnapping of a 9-year-old boy who was released after seven days. Years later he gave a job to one of his kidnappers because he credited him with saving his life. Also included is an account of a recent telephone interview between this victim (now over 80) and the author.

·        A 72-year-old businessman who was kidnapped. A $50,000 ransom was paid but he was not released. About a week afterward, one of the kidnappers shot him, then turned and shot his own partner. He buried both in the same grave.

·        A boy kidnapped from his school by a woman claiming to be his aunt. Ransom was paid, but the boy had been killed right after his abduction. The kidnappers were apprehended, tried and executed. The kicker—over half of the $600,000 was never found, though one vehemently claimed the money was in his possession when he was arrested by two police officers. The officers were tried and sent to prison. The money--???????  

.      The kidnapping and murder of a 14-year-old girl in California whose murderer’s downfall began with an innocent phone call from his wife.

·        Activities of a close associate of Generalissimo Trujillo who failed to keep his mouth shut, and was kidnapped. This includes an account of the man who flew the plane taking him to the Dominican Republic -- who also disappeared. It’s all in the politics.

.     A baby taken from his carriage right in front of his home; the ransom note only asking for $2,000. Scared   away by press and police at the drop site the kidnapper abandoned the baby alive in some heavy brush, but the baby had died by the time he was found. One newspaper had not heeded the request to hold the story until the next day, and could conceivably have prevented the death had it agreed.

About the Author

Donald L. Smith was born and reared in Auburndale, Florida.  He served two years in the U. S. Army as an infantry soldier followed by a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He briefly attended the University of Utah and then studied at Oglethorpe University, Chamblee, GA. He graduated from John Marshall Law School in 1959.

In 1960 Don became a Special Agent for the FBI. He served in Oklahoma City, OK; Louisville and Elizabethtown, KY; Las Vegas, NV; and at FBI Headquarters, Washington, DC, where he retired September 1982 after 25 years service.

While in Kentucky he was honored by commissions both as a Kentucky Colonel and as an Honorary Colonel in the Kentucky State Police.

Upon retiring from the FBI, Don went to work for the Pentagon Federal Credit Union in Alexandria, VA, where he set up a security system and supervised its operation.  In 1985 he moved to Phoenix, AZ, where he has done investigative work for several companies, managed homeowners associations, and became an investigator for the Air Force doing background checks. He has also worked on this book, one he had always planned to write upon retirement from the FBI.

While living in Kentucky, Don became enamored with the sport of horse racing, and in Arizona has been able to fulfill his dream of owning race horses.

Don has also served on the Deer Valley Planning & Zoning Committee and the Supervisory Committee (auditing) of Credit Union West.

 He was a small shareholder in a weekly Florida newspaper (now defunct) and has published articles regarding Arizona Ghost Towns that flourished in the late 1800s.

Now fully retired, Don and his wife, Vera, reside in Phoenix, AZ. They have four children and 19 grandchildren.