Scapegoat: The Truth About the Lindbergh Kidnapping

by Anthony Scaduto

Drawing on three years of research and suppressed police and FBI documents, an investigative reporter discloses evidence that Bruno Richard Hauptmann did not kidnap and kill the baby of Charles and Anne Lindbergh

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Anthony Scaduto was a journalist and biographer of rock musicians who also wrote under the name Tony Sciacca.

Reviews

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Scapegoat" is the book that first spurred my interest in the Lindbergh kidnapping case. It is more the story of the man framed for the crime, German immigrant Richard Hauptmann, than of the crime itself. Hauptmann emerges in these pages as a truly sympathetic character, who almost certainly was guilty of nothing more than greed (if that). Author Scaduto worked closely with Hauptmann's widow Anna, who was nearing the end of her long, courageous battle to clear her husband's name. Anna never stopped believing in her husband's innocence, and gives new meaning to the word "loyal" with her close to sixty years of fighting a lonely battle to simply get the authorities to admit they executed an innocent man. Alas, the authorities have never been fond of admitting their mistakes, so Mrs. Hauptmann died a bitter and frustrated old woman. Anyone interested in this case, or curious about the all too frequent failures of our justice system, should read "Scapegoat." It is certainly the seminal book on this subject.

[Vaso Constantinides · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book very factual and believable

[Benjamin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is so disturbing to me; such a gross violation of justice. The writing is okay, but at times it becomes a tome, meticulously covering detail after detail. Then just when it seems like you cannot really read through one more look at the same details, suddenly the book shifts and becomes more of a story about meeting Anna Hauptmann. It is a bit odd but in some strange way kind of works. Sort of.

In any case I am very glad I read the book. Although I wish there had never been this awful story to tell.

[Madaline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to believe this version of the story.