Letterman Thankful Kidnap Plot Foiled

David Letterman and his girlfriend thanked law enforcement officials for uncovering a plot to kidnap their 16-month-old son from their Montana ranch, saying they were "forever grateful."

The man charged Thursday with hatching the scheme, Kelly A. Frank, worked as a painter at the talk-show host's 2,700-acre spread near the rugged Rocky Mountain Front. The 43-year-old Frank, according to police, had planned to hold the boy and his nanny for $5 million ransom.

In a statement issued by the publicist for Letterman's production company, World Wide Pants, Letterman and his girlfriend, Regina Lasko, praised the FBI and local authorities.

"We will be forever grateful for their tireless efforts and determination to vigorously pursue this situation," the couple said in the statement.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/03/18/entertainment/e113756S57.DTL

He's always getting harrassed by weirdos.

:tinfoilhat:

:wtf:

his girlfriend. . . this degrades her status to that of being the vessal that bore Letterman's Son.

Please, call the mother of this child by her name.

"David Letterman and Regina Lasko his girlfriend thanked law enforcement officials for uncovering a plot to kidnap their 16-month-old son from their Montana ranch, saying they were "forever grateful."

If she was the star, and he was unknown, it would say "Lasko, and her boyfriend, David Letterman."

There's a kind of chattel implication, imho. I have always felt uncomfortable using the phrase "my wife" or "my fiancee" when identifying a person who I regarded with respect and sense of equality. There's just something subordinating about it, in my view.

"the wife" or "the husband" sounds so much better.

;)

Your PM is turned off why don't you PM me?

I hated it when my ex referred to me as his wife instead of by my name. And I left my last partner because he just couldn't remember my name and called me his fiancee.

Neither of these guys understood my hurt, angst, anger they just thought I was being touchy.

As if.

:evilgrin: While I still have a 'glitch,' it's been at its highest when referring to wife or fiancee. The problem, of course, is that there're few alternatives when speaking of such people outside of their presence. I have less hesitency to post about "my ex-wife" ... since it's immaterial to the audience who that person was other than in terms of that relationship.


When, however, we were present together in some social situation, I typically introduced her as "Chris" (or "Barbara," for my first wife) rather than "my wife, Chris." Her identify by name seemed more respectful. When I was introduced as "my husband," I didn't like it. (Nor do I particularly like being introduced as "my son." It's demeaning, imho.) If I had children, I think surely I'd introduce them by name, not by relationship: "John, I'd like you to meet Mike Junior." :silly:


FWIW, protocol calls for the senior person to be addressed first in an introduction. Thus, in introducing my wife and my boss, I'd say "Chris, I'd like you to meet (boss) Margaret." (Since one's spouse should always be most senior in my regard.)

written on an IBM Selectric typewriter....

Leno gets to testify at the Michael Jackson trial and Letterman has this kidnapping thing

while the Gap-Toothed Grinner makes millions just for standing there like a dope. His jokes were funny maybe years ago but now they're just so...bland.

I think Letterman is a brilliant comedian and a breath of fresh air when you compare him with media whore extraordinaire Jay Leno. His George Bush bits are excellent. He does his part everynight to show the nation that our President is a bumbling moron incapable of putting together a coherent sentence.

My respect for him also went sky-high with the whole CNN-White House-Yawning Kid controversy that occurred about a year ago.

The guy is arrested on the *intent* to kidnap, not for having kidnapped. Since when is an intention a punishable offense? It reminds me a bit too much of the doctrine of pre-emptive warfare.

If he had made plans with any other people, then he probably will be charged under a conspiracy statute, and if he made preparations for the kidnapping, then he will probably be charged with attempted kidnapping.

Either way, he isn't being arrested for "intent" alone, he was arrested for taking some action to manifest his intent.

(There might be other charges, but I haven't read the statutes)

Ever see "Minority Report"?

.

I think Dave's just the greatest and have watched him for years-gawd pretty much since he started with his first show-and I really feel for him having to go through shit like this! It's hard enough being a parent and worrying about the weirdos who are out there on the prowl targeting kids; but to have people you trust deliberately targeting you and your child for your money...Yikes! I'm sure there are many celebrites out there-new moms Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrowyyy come to mind-who upon hearing this news are more than likely freaking out. I know I would be.

A HANDYMAN working at David Letterman's Montana ranch has been charged with plotting to kidnap the US late-night talk show host's 16-month-old son and nanny, officials said today.

Kelly Frank, 43, was arrested on Monday and charged with solicitation of a felony, said Sally Hilander, a spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Corrections.
"The charge alleges that he planned to commit the offence of kidnapping of the child and the nanny, and seek up to five million dollars in ransom," Hilander said.

Frank, who had a job painting buildings on Letterman's 2,700 acre ranch, allegedly approached another ranch employee, Robert Gondeiro, with his plan to snatch the infant.










http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,12592967-29278,00.html

<http://thesmokinggun.com/archive/0317051letterman1.html>