Kobe Bryant Has Successful Surgery to Repair Achilles’ Tendon
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Kobe Bryant’s surgery to repair a torn Achilles’ tendon was successful, however the Los Angeles Lakers star will be sidelined for at least six to nine months as he recuperates, the team and docto…
Woman Dead, Snowshoer Missing After Cascade Mountains Avalanche
Hemera/Thinkstock(SEATTLE, Wash.) — A woman hiker who was rescued Saturday from the Cascade Mountains in Washington after being buried by an avalanche has died, and one snowshoer remains missing.The first avalanche took place around noon at Granite Mo…
Police Sergeant Fired Over Trayvon Martin Shooting Targets
Allison Joyce/Getty Images(CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.) — A Florida police sergeant was fired for allegedly bringing Trayvon Martin shooting targets he purchased on the Internet to a firearms training session.Sgt. Ron King, who had been with the Cape Canaver…
Fla. Bill Would Ban Benefit Use at Strip Clubs, Casinos, Liquor Stores
Goodshoot/Thinkstock(TALLAHASSE, Fla.) — A proposed bill in the Florida state senate would ban people who receive public assistance from withdrawing money from their electronic benefits transfer program accounts in liquor stores, smoke shops, strip cl…
Former Justice of the Peace Charged With Making ‘Terroristic Threat’
Digital Vision/Thinkstock(KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas) — A former Kaufman County, Texas, justice of the peace was charged with making a “terroristic threat” after authorities searched his home as part of the ongoing investigation into the killings of two pr…
Shooter May Have Posted Online Before Va. Community College Attack
Hemera/Thinkstock(CHRISTIANSBURG, Va.) — An 18-year-old college student may have posted messages online that detailed the weapons and ammunition he planned to use before allegedly shooting two women at a Virginia community college on Friday.”I’m nervo…
Police Investigate Reddit Murder ‘Confession’
Comstock/Thinkstock(SAN DIEGO) — California police are investigating an alleged murder, confessed anonymously on the internet and brought to the authorities’ attention by citizen sleuths who believe they may have uncovered the poster’s identity.The Sa…
Denied Money, Panhandler Lights California Man, Car on Fire
KABC-TV/DT(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — Police arrested a panhandler who reportedly lit a man on fire outside a convenience store in Long Beach, Calif. after not receiving money.The 63-year-old victim was hospitalized with third-degree burns. He is in critic…
Denied Money, Panhandler Lights California Man, Car on Fire
KABC-TV/DT(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — Police arrested a panhandler who reportedly lit a man on fire outside a convenience store in Long Beach, Calif. after not receiving money.The 63-year-old victim was hospitalized with third-degree burns. He is in critic…
Teen Daughters Lift 3,000-Pound Tractor, Save Father’s Life
Jupiterimages/Thinkstock(LEBANON, Ore.) — An Oregon man who became pinned by his 3,000-pound tractor has his teenage daughters to thank after they were able to lift the machine off him and quickly summon help.Jeff Smith, 36, of Lebanon, Ore. was on hi…
Bumbling Thief Sought in $30k Coin Heist
ABC News(TACOMA, Wash.) — A Tacoma, Wash., coin shop owner says he’s close to finding out who broke into his store on Sunday, stealing $30,000 worth of coins. The suspect wasn’t exactly an accomplished thief, leaving a trove of clues behin…
Clark Rockefeller Impostor Found Guilty of 1985 Murder
JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — A German conman, who became infamous for posing as a Rockefeller, was found guilty Wednesday of murder in the decades-old killing of a California man.Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, 52, who has lived for years…
Reward Offered in Drive-By Shooting of Circus Elephant
File photo. iStockphoto/Thinkstock(TUPELO, Miss.) — A total of over $20,000 is being offered as a reward in the drive-by shooting of a circus elephant.
Police Chief Tony Carleton said that a vehicle drove past Tupelo’s Bancorp South Arena at about 2 a…
‘Extreme Kidnapping’ Is No Risk-Free Thrill
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Being pulled out of a car at gunpoint by masked men while heavy metal music plays in the background would be a nightmarish experience for most people.
Not so for the increasing number of people who pay hundreds of dollars to experience it.
“It’s more or less a thrill entertainment of a kidnapping scenario,” said Shanel Hill, a professional abductor for the Detroit-based company called Extreme Kidnapping.
For about $500, you can get the four-hour “econo-kidnapping” package, or spend thousands of dollars for more deluxe packages that can run a full day.
“Some people come to us because they want to lose control,” Hill said.
The company’s founder, Adam Thick, says he was inspired to start the company nearly a decade ago by The Game, the 1997 movie starring Michael Douglas as a wealthy investment banker given the gift of a “game” that brings excitement into his life.
Law enforcement experts, however, say the excitement created by the all-too-real kidnappings could create real-life danger.
An alleged abduction in New York City made headlines earlier this month as police investigated whether the incident – in which a man with a plastic bag over his head and another wearing a mask forced a woman into a minivan at gunpoint – was a hoax staged to celebrate a friend’s birthday. It was.
“What you’ve done is create a situation where both the police, the victims and the fake bad guy could be harmed,” ABC News analyst and former FBI special agent Brad Garrett said.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Teens Hook Great White Shark Off Coast of Florida
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.) — A group of teenagers out on a charter fishing trip off of Fort Lauderdale got a rare surprise when they found themselves grappling with a 12-foot, 1,000 pound great white shark.The four teenagers, who pl…
US Families Waste 20 Pounds of Food Each Month, Study Claims
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — On average, families in the United States throw away 20 pounds of food each month, an amount worth approximately $2,000 annually for a family of four.John Floros, the dean of the College of Agriculture at Kansas Stat…
Pastor Rick Warren ‘Overwhelmed’ by Support After Son’s Suicide
Courtesy Saddleback Valley Community ChurchPastor Rick Warren said on Sunday that he and his wife, Kay, are “overwhelmed” by the support they have received following the suicide of his 27-year-old son.
“Kay and I are overwhelmed by your love, prayers, …
First of 26 Newtown Memorial Playgrounds Opens
iStockphoto(SEA BRIGHT, N.J.) — The first of 26 planned memorial playgrounds in honor of each of the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting was unveiled in Sea Bright, N.J. on Saturday.
The playgrounds are part of “The Sandy Ground …
Son of Pastor Rick Warren Commits Suicide
Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for The Elton John AIDS Foundation(LAKE FOREST, Calif.) — Matthew Warren, the son of Saddleback Church founder and author Pastor Rick Warren, took his own life on Saturday.
The 27-year-old had struggled with ment…
Late Winter Cold Delays Washington Cherry Blossom Bloom
iStockphoto(WASHINGTON) — Every year, thousands of tourists travel to Washington DC to see the famous cherry blossoms come out in spectacular fashion. This year however, later winter cold blasts have delayed the bloom, and it’s making things dif…