Frank Sinatra’s Son Kidnapped At Gunpoint

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30310, 10 December 1963, Page 17

Frank Sinatra’s Son Kidnapped At Gunpoint

(NZ P.A. -Reuter—Copyright)

STATELINE (California), Dec. 9.

Two men in ski jackets kidnapped 19-year-old Frank Sinatra, jun., the son of the singer, at gunpoint from a motel in Stateline last night and drove off in darkness, leaving a trail of car tracks in the snow.

Local sheriffs deputies followed the tracks, leading over the State border to Nevada, and told the F. 8.1. Falling snow rapidly obliterated car trails as the search went on.

Frank Sinatra, sen., was reported to be flying to nearby Lake Tahoe from Los Angeles after being told of his son’s kidnapping. News of the kidnapping came from John Foss, aged 24. the younger Sinatra companion in the motel. Harrah's Lodge, who warned the El Dorado County sheriff's office. Mr Foss said that some-

one knocked at their door about 9 p.m. and said he had a package for Mr Sinatra. When the door was opened the man. wearing a ski jacket, rushed into the room with a revolver and ordered Mr Sinatra to go with him. Mr Foss said that another man in a ski jacket was outside. The two drove off with young Sinatra. Roadblocks were set up in the area. Sheriff Ernest Carlson said his deputies had found car tyre tracks leading towards Nevada. Stateline is a community partly in California and partly in Nevada. Mr Sinatra was believed to be appearing at Harrah’s Casino at Lake Tahoe, just over the State border in Nevada. The man with the gun was described by Mr Foss as being about 25 and about sft lOin tall, while his companion, outside, was about 6ft tall. Frank Sinatra, jun., is one of three children of Frank Sinatra and his first wife. Nancy Barbato. Sheriff Carlson said Mr Foss told detectives that the gunman had ordered him and Mr Sinatra to lie down and taped their wrists together. Then his partner had come in and asked where they kept their money. Mr Foss said he had told them his wallet was on a dresser, and it was the only money either of them had. One man had grabbed the

wallet, and then said to his partner: "We better take one of them with us." Mr Foss said they had untaped Mr Sinatra's hands and allowed him to get dressed. Mr Foss was able to free himself after a few minutes and call the police. Sheriff Carlson said there were three inches of snow on the ground when the kidnappers drove away. And it was stiU snowing. “From the car tracks in the enow, they headed straight into Nevada." the sheriff said. Their car had snow chains. Mr Dean Evans, a spokesman for Harrah's Casino, told Reuter that the lodge from which young Sinatra had been taken was only about 50 yards from the casino. But the lodge is in California and the casino in Nevada. Young Sinatra, who is strikingly like his father, left the University of Southern California after two years to pursue a singing career. Frank Sinatra, jun., recently made his New York debut as a singer with an appearance at the Americana Hotel, near Broadway. His father went to New York to see one of his performances. The elder Sinatra recently announced he was divesting himself of his extensive interests in two Nevada gambling establishments after being reprimanded by the State Gaming Control Board for allegedly entertaining a knowfi underworld figure, Sam Giancana, at one of the I casino resorts.