“THE STORY OF HOLLYWOOD ACTOR
LEON AMES KIDNAPPING” -
Modern kidnappings of celebrities
This dramatic real-life event remains one of the most harrowing
home invasion stories in Hollywood history. Leon Ames, known for
his roles in Meet Me in St. Louis and Mr. Ed, found
himself in a real-life thriller on the night of February 12, 1964.
The Kidnapping and Hostage
Crisis:
On that Wednesday evening, a man later identified as Christopher G.S. Moore, a 22-year-old former student,
forced his way into the Ames’ home in Studio City, California.
·
The Entry: Moore, armed with a gun,
took Leon Ames and his wife, Christine Ames,
hostage.
·
The Demand: He demanded a ransom of $50,000 (roughly over $480,000 in today’s money).
·
The Clever Move: Moore
instructed Ames to call his business partner to arrange the cash. Ames called Ray McConnell, his partner in a local Ford
dealership. During the call, Ames managed to speak in a way that
signaled something was wrong without alerting the gunman.
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The Investigation and Rescue:
McConnell immediately realized Ames was under duress. He did not
go to the bank alone; he contacted the Los Angeles Police Department
(LAPD).
·
The Setup: Police officers swarmed
the area surrounding the Ames residence and the dealership. They instructed
McConnell to proceed with the "ransom drop" as if everything were
normal.
·
The Rescue: When the kidnapper
forced Leon Ames to drive him to the dealership to pick up the money, the LAPD
moved in. As Ames pulled up to the location, police ambushed the vehicle.
·
The Result: Leon Ames was rescued
unharmed. Simultaneously, officers at the Ames home secured the safety of
Christine Ames, who had been held behind as leverage.
Findings and Arrest:
The kidnapper, Christopher Moore,
was arrested on the spot at the dealership.
·
The Findings:
Investigations revealed that Moore had planned the kidnapping out of financial
desperation. He was a "loner" who had dropped out of college and had
been stalking the Ames family to determine their routine.
·
The Weapon: The gun used during the
commission of the crime was recovered and found to be loaded, confirming the
lethal intent of the suspect.
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Verdicts and Legal Proceedings:
Moore was charged with kidnapping for the purpose of
robbery, a charge that at the time carried very heavy penalties in
California.
·
The Trial: During the proceedings,
Moore’s defense attempted to argue mental instability. However, the prosecution
highlighted the calculated nature of the crime—the phone calls, the ransom
demand, and the forced transportation.
·
The Sentence: In
late 1964, Moore was found guilty. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole
(though this was later subject to the evolving California sentencing laws of
the 1970s).
The Aftermath:
For Leon Ames, the event was a traumatic interruption to a
storied career.
·
Personal Impact: Ames
and his wife became much more private following the incident. Despite the
terror, Leon Ames returned to work almost immediately, appearing in several
more films and TV shows until his retirement.
·
Security Awareness: The
case was one of the first "high profile" celebrity home invasions of
the 1960s, leading many Hollywood stars of the era to begin investing in
private security and gated perimeters.
·
Legacy: Leon Ames lived a long
life after the incident, passing away in 1993 at the age of 91. He often
credited the quick thinking of his partner, Ray McConnell, and the precision of
the LAPD for saving his life.
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