The New Jersey estate where Charles Lindbergh’s toddler disappeared on a stormy March night

The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping House

The Lindbergh family built a country home called Highfields near Hopewell, New Jersey. Charles Lindbergh gained worldwide fame in 1927 as the first pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic.

The family rarely stayed at Highfields, preferring Anne’s mother’s estate in Englewood. They typically visited Highfields only on weekends. On March 1, 1932, the Lindberghs weren’t supposed to be at the house.

They changed plans when their 20-month-old son Charles Jr. caught a cold. This simple change led to one of the most infamous crimes in American history.

A Quiet Evening Turns Tragic

On Tuesday, March 1, 1932, the Lindberghs spent a quiet evening at home. Betty Gow, the baby’s nurse, treated Charles Jr.’s chest cold with medication. Around 7:30 PM, Gow and Anne Lindbergh tucked the toddler into his second-floor nursery crib.

Everyone then went about their separate activities in different parts of the house. Outside, the weather worsened. Cold rain fell steadily while strong winds blew through the trees surrounding the isolated house.

The harsh weather created an eerie backdrop for what would soon unfold.

The Shocking Discovery By Nurse Betty Gow

Betty Gow checked on Charles Jr. at 10:00 PM. His crib was empty. Thinking Anne might have the baby, Gow checked with Mrs. Lindbergh, who had just finished bathing.

When Anne said she didn’t have him, Gow rushed to alert Colonel Lindbergh. “The baby’s been kidnapped!” she cried out. The Scottish nurse had cared for Charles Jr. since birth.

The toddler had grown especially attached to her during his mother’s frequent absences. No one had heard unusual sounds over the howling wind.

The Mysterious Ransom Note

Colonel Lindbergh ran to the nursery. On the windowsill sat an envelope that hadn’t been there before. Inside was a poorly written ransom note demanding $50,000. The message contained many spelling mistakes and grammar errors.

The kidnappers marked the note with a special symbol – a signature with circles – that would later help prove which messages truly came from them. Police studied the note but found no fingerprints or other clues.

The kidnapper had carefully avoided leaving traces that might reveal their identity.

First Signs Of The Intruder

Lindbergh grabbed his rifle and began searching the property. Mud tracks marked the nursery floor where someone had walked from the crib to the window. The window had been left partially open despite the cold weather.

Anne remembered trying to fix a screen on that window earlier but couldn’t secure it properly. The intruder hadn’t worn shoes. Instead, they used socks or soft moccasins, making their footprints hard to identify.

These careful steps showed the kidnapping was well planned.

The Homemade Ladder Discovery

Searchers found a wooden ladder about 60 feet from the house near the woods. Someone with carpentry skills had built this three-section ladder to reach the second-floor window.

One section had split where it joined another, showing it broke during use. Mud covered the rungs, matching the wet conditions that night. The kidnapper likely dropped the ladder while escaping with the child.

This handmade tool quickly became key evidence in the case. Its unique construction would later help identify the builder.

Immediate Actions At The Crime Scene

While Lindbergh searched the grounds, butler Olly Whateley called the Hopewell police. Lindbergh also contacted his lawyer friend Henry Breckinridge and the New Jersey State Police. Police Chief Charles Williamson arrived shortly after receiving the call.

He found Lindbergh outside wearing a black leather flight jacket despite the cold. The officers joined the search but darkness made their work difficult. Under the nursery window, they found ground impressions where the ladder had stood.

A baby’s blanket lay nearby, confirming the kidnapper’s escape route.

The Initial Police Investigation

The New Jersey State Police took control under Colonel H. Norman Schwarzkopf Sr. Despite his authority, Schwarzkopf often let Lindbergh make key decisions about the investigation.

Within hours, people trampled potential evidence as officers, reporters, and onlookers swarmed the property. This chaos destroyed footprints and other clues. The nursery showed no blood or signs of violence.

This gave everyone hope the baby might still be alive. The police questioned household staff but found no immediate suspects.

The Media Frenzy Begins

News spread nationwide within hours. Police sent the first alert at 10:46 PM, just after the discovery. By morning, reporters from every major newspaper and radio station packed into Hopewell.

The tiny town couldn’t handle the sudden flood of people. Gebhart’s Hotel, now the Hopewell Inn, became the press headquarters with about 250 journalists. Cars with roof-mounted cameras lined the streets.

An estimated 15,000 people jammed the roads around the Lindbergh home the next day, turning a family tragedy into a public spectacle.

The Ladder As Crucial Evidence

The homemade ladder became the most important piece of evidence. Police hoped it would lead them to the kidnapper. Wood expert Arthur Koehler examined it and found four different types of wood: ponderosa pine, North Carolina pine, birch, and fir.

This unusual mix suggested the builder used whatever materials they had available. Despite careful study, no fingerprints appeared on the ladder. The construction showed someone with carpentry skills made it specifically for this crime.

This evidence would eventually help solve the case.

The House After The Kidnapping

The Lindbergh home became police headquarters during the investigation. Officers, detectives, and experts filled the rooms while the family stayed in residence. The Lindberghs remained at Highfields hoping their presence would help find their son.

The nursery stayed untouched after evidence collection. On May 12, 1932, workers found the baby’s body in woods less than five miles from the house.

The child had died the night of the kidnapping. The heartbroken Lindberghs later donated the house to charity and moved away.

Visiting Highfields House in East Amwell Township, New Jersey

Highfields exists at 37 Burnt Hill Road in East Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The property now operates as the Highfields Adolescent Treatment Center, a juvenile rehabilitation facility run by the state.

For those interested in the Lindbergh case, the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton offers the best alternative. You’ll find photographs and documents from the investigation in their special collections.

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