The idea of kidnapping inspires great fear among children and parents alike. A survey from Pew Research suggests that over one-quarter of parents are very or extremely worried about their children being kidnapped or abducted. In fact, parents were more likely to cite fears surrounding kidnapping than drug abuse or gun violence.
Fueling these fears are frequent headlines about high-profile kidnapping cases, which understandably heighten pre-existing concerns. The public is under the impression that kidnappings occur frequently and that they typically involve strangers.
To clarify the realities behind kidnapping and crisis negotiation in law enforcement, we spoke with Keiser University’s Dr. Gregory Vecchi — a former FBI Special Agent with decades of experience in federal law enforcement. Dr. Vecchi reveals the extraordinary coordination and expertise involved in the kidnapping investigation process while also sharing important details about headline-hitting cases.
What Constitutes a Kidnapping Case?
The public often uses terms such as “kidnapping” and “abduction” interchangeably. In reality, these criminal acts carry different classifications and consequences.
Dr. Vecchi refers to kidnapping as a “specific form of abduction,” clarifying that kidnapping “usually involves force and violence, and it is usually done for some sort of leverage for a ransom.” This differs from an abduction case, in which someone is taken via persuasive or fraudulent methods — usually without the intent of harm.
Legal Definition of Kidnapping
Definitions of kidnapping vary slightly between states, but most reference two main concerns: a lack of consent and criminal intentions. The Minnesota Statutes, for example, describe kidnapping as the confining or removing of a person without their consent. It also clarifies that the perpetrator’s purpose involves ransom, involuntary servitude or terrorizing the victim.
The Florida Statutes define kidnapping as “forcibly, secretly or by threat confining, abducting or imprisoning another person against her or his will and without lawful authority.” It also details examples of the perpetrator’s intent: holding someone hostage, inflicting bodily harm or interfering with the “performance of any governmental or political function.”
Types of Kidnapping Cases Investigators Encounter
Kidnapping can be classified based on perpetrators’ motives or their relationships to victims. Potential kidnapping situations may involve the following:
- Stranger kidnappings. The public’s image of the ‘typical’ kidnapping involves strangers abducting victims they have never met. The Jacob Wetterling case comes to mind — an 11-year-old boy who suddenly disappeared during a bike excursion with his friends.
- Familial kidnappings. Cases may be described as ‘familial’ if perpetrators are family members who lack the legal authority (or consent) to transport the child or vulnerable adult in question. These often occur as a result of custody disputes but can also involve senior relatives moved without consent.
- Ransom kidnappings. Ransom is frequently cited in state statutes as one of the forms of ’intent’ leading to kidnapping. In these situations, perpetrators kidnap victims in the hope that they will receive a ransom sum for their safe return.
- Human trafficking-related kidnappings. Some kidnappings may center on overarching human trafficking schemes. In these cases, victims are intended to be used for forced labor or sexual exploitation. These victims may be captured amid immigration attempts, making them even more vulnerable.
Why Kidnapping Cases Are High-Priority
Swift law enforcement action is a priority during kidnapping cases because the victim’s safety may be in question. As with many crimes, the longer cases remain unsolved, the less chance there is of a satisfactory conclusion — especially one in which the kidnapping victim is returned unharmed.
The First Steps in a Kidnapping Investigation
Kidnapping investigations require swift and decisive responses. Clear initial steps must be taken to notify law enforcement. From there, a formal kidnapping investigation process can be initiated.
Immediate Law Enforcement Response
If a child is reported as missing — and kidnapping is the assumed motive — the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) team is alerted.
This special unit, which can be activated immediately, assists local law enforcement with the investigation and coordination aspects of the case. According to FBI Special Agent Jenifer Sparks, “The first few hours can mean the difference between life and death,” which means acting fast is crucial.
Determining Whether a Kidnapping Has Occurred
Law enforcement must quickly determine whether the victim’s disappearance fits the legal definition of kidnapping. They may search for signs of a struggle or indications of violent force. Witness statements clarify the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and offer insight into potential suspects or motives.
Activation of Specialized Units
Depending on the scope of the kidnapping case, collaborative efforts could involve local, state, or national agencies. Special investigative units operate at the local level, while state responses involve agencies such as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In cases involving the possibility of transport between states, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lends support.
Key Investigative Techniques Used in Kidnapping Cases
Local, state and federal agencies rely on many different techniques to fully investigate kidnapping cases. They interview witnesses, canvass crime scenes, and gather intelligence.
Evidence Collection and Crime Scene Analysis
Investigators pinpoint the exact location where they believe the kidnapping initially took place, cordoning off the area so that nothing gets in or out. A thorough search may reveal physical evidence, even indicating how the incident occurred. These insights direct investigators toward the most promising next steps.
Digital and Technology-Based Investigations
Mobile devices play a central role in contemporary investigations. GPS records and call data can establish movements of victims or potential suspects. With personal devices continuously logging user locations, investigators can sometimes find mobile assistance as they narrow search areas and determine where missing individuals may have traveled.
Intelligence Gathering and Behavioral Analysis
The most effective means of intelligence gathering on a kidnapping case involves interviewing as many people associated with the victim as possible. This may help establish the victim’s last known whereabouts. Interviews also highlight any prior contact with suspicious individuals, surfacing personal factors that may develop into significant leads.
In addition, investigators examine the behavior of both the victim and potential captors, using these patterns to guide investigative strategies and advance the case. As Dr. Vecchi explains, “There are a lot of [behavioral] patterns that we focus on where we can make these [negotiations] a little bit easier.”
Multi-Agency Coordination in Kidnapping Investigations
Kidnapping cases often require teams from numerous different jurisdictions to collaborate. They work together to share information, plan next steps, and coordinate personnel movement. As information and potential leads emerge, investigators share relevant details promptly with all involved agencies.
Collaboration Between Law Enforcement Agencies
Once notified of kidnappings, law enforcement springs into action with an all-hands-on-deck strategy. This may involve numerous agencies that come together to align investigative actions or priorities.
In the high-profile case of Wisconsin teenager Jayme Closs, numerous agencies collaborated to coordinate search efforts. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald stated in a news conference that dozens of agencies were involved, illustrating just how large a high-profile operation can become.
Why Coordination Is Critical
Dr. Vecchi underscores the importance of agencies working together during crisis situations: “Everything we do has got to be done in coordination with the tactical team. So the narrative has got to be consistent. Same message.”
Coordination is an operational essential because conflicting messages lead to conflicting actions, which can consequently place victims or even the public at risk. Meanwhile, pooled intelligence provides a more complete understanding of the perpetrator’s motives, ultimately allowing for a precise response.
The Role of Crisis Negotiators in Kidnapping and Hostage Situations
Before we start, let’s discuss the specifics of kidnappings and hostage situations. Kidnappings are when the location of the kidnapper and victim are not known. In these cases, law enforcement is typically covertly involved because it raises the risk of injury to the victim (especially in ransom cases). Hostage situations are when the location of the hostage-taker and hostage are known. In these cases, the subject typically knows and expects to talk with law enforcement to meet their demands (like a prison takeover).
Should a kidnapping or hostage scenario escalate to place perpetrators in direct contact with law enforcement, crisis negotiators are brought in to communicate with captors. Dr. Vecchi refers to the crisis negotiator as “the only person that’s allowed to talk to the subject. No one else can.”
What Crisis Negotiators Do
As Dr. Vecchi explains, the crisis negotiator occupies a unique position. “It’s the only law enforcement activity that you’re doing when you’re actually talking to the bad guy while he’s committing a crime.”
Negotiators use psychological strategies to uncover the underlying factors that may have prompted the individual to take the victim. This can limit volatility while producing otherwise hidden insights that may help guide a safe and effective response.
Goals of Crisis Negotiation in Law Enforcement
The ultimate goal of any crisis negotiation involves the safe return of the victim. Before this is possible, several goals must be achieved by the negotiation team in its communications with the captors. They must first establish contact, then build a foundation of trust — a relationship in which the perpetrator feels comfortable giving in to some of the negotiators’ demands.
The negotiator can play a direct or indirect role in communicating with a kidnapper. In cases where law enforcement remains covert, such as when a child is taken from their parents by strangers, the negotiator covertly prepares and coaches the parent who is to talk to the kidnapper. In other cases, when a kidnapper or hostage-taker has made demands publicly, the negotiator will directly speak to them.
Why Negotiation Is Often the Safest Strategy
Law enforcement professionals favor hostage negotiation techniques over tactical rescues that require the use of deadly force. Dr. Vecchi explains that force “has to be justifiable. We don’t just start shooting suspects through the window right at will. There’s got to be a reason. It’s got to be something that’s decided at the command level.”
Negotiation Strategies Used in Hostage and Kidnapping Cases
A variety of hostage negotiation techniques allow negotiators to empathize and build rapport with captors. The FBI’s Behavioral Change Stairway model illustrates these steps, detailing how negotiators prioritize active listening and genuine trust before seeking to influence captors’ behaviors.
Building Rapport with Suspects
Clarifying the differences between kidnapping and other types of cases, Dr. Vecchi explains that, with kidnapping, suspects are engaged while in the process of committing crimes. This looks quite different from investigations in which the offense has already occurred. Therein lies the need for strong rapport, which allows negotiators to stabilize volatile situations.
Gathering Information During Negotiations
Lead hostage negotiators receive support from sizable teams during one-on-one interactions with captors. These teams are responsible for gathering intelligence that is then relayed to the lead negotiator. Examples of relevant information could include known associates, criminal histories, or observed behavioral patterns.
De-escalation and Time Management
Subtle verbal cues can de-escalate violence and hostage situations. Former FBI negotiator Chris Voss highlights the phrase “that’s right,” explaining this is preferable to the similar-sounding “you’re right.”
Voss explains: “When somebody says, ‘You’re right,’ what they’re really saying to you is, ‘Please, shut up. Stop talking. I can’t take it anymore. When somebody says ‘that’s right,’ they’re telling you they felt completely understood.”
Negotiations may prove time-consuming, but Voss warns against rushing the process. “Going too fast is one of the mistakes all negotiators are prone to making. If we’re too much in a hurry, people can feel as if they’re not being heard.”
How Investigators and Negotiators Work Together
The teams responsible for investigating kidnapping cases gather details and relay them to negotiators. Using this information, the negotiation team can devise a course of action deemed likely to prompt a safe resolution.
Information Sharing Between Teams
Kidnapping cases run the gamut from very little information available to nationwide tiplines bringing in dozens of clues per day. Investigators must sort through these leads and provide negotiators with only the most relevant information.
During the Elizabeth Smart investigation, for example, investigators dealt with huge volumes of often contradictory tips and needed to triage and coordinate carefully to avoid actionable tips from getting lost in the noise.
Negotiations Can Generate Investigative Leads
Information gained during the negotiation process can sometimes generate leads that help resolve difficult cases. A notable example involves the 2013 Alabama bunker hostage crisis, in which a 5-year-old boy was kidnapped. Negotiators learned the patterns of kidnapper Jimmy Lee Dykes during days-long negotiations, using this information to eventually enter the bunker and save the hostage.
Coordinated Decision-Making
The complexity of a hostage negotiation situation can change at any moment, so it is crucial that important decisions (especially regarding the use of force or changes to negotiation strategies) are made in coordination.
Dr. Vecchi details how a suddenly violent situation could lead to a tactical response. For example, if a hostage is killed after a stated deadline, the negotiator’s role shifts to supporting tactical operations. This may involve influencing the subject to change position—such as moving away from the hostages or exposing themselves—so the tactical team has a clearer opportunity to act.
Common Outcomes in Kidnapping Cases
The most common outcome in a kidnapping case involves the safe return of the victim. While this would ideally be the only result, there are situations in which tactical intelligence is needed or the person is never recovered. Individual kidnapping statistics are not systematically maintained but rather included as part of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
Peaceful Resolution Through Negotiation
Kidnapping investigators and hostage negotiators work tirelessly to ensure that, should a kidnapping case reach the point where a negotiation takes place, a safe and peaceful resolution is reached. Through coordinated efforts and evidence-backed negotiation strategies, they aim to stabilize situations and achieve non-violent outcomes.
Tactical Interventions
Urgent tactical interventions may prove necessary when the victim’s life is thought to be at immediate risk. Dr. Vecchi illustrates a scenario in which “they do something like kill a hostage on a deadline… or start shooting out the window, then it’s going to be a tactical thing. And the tactical team has two options. They have snipers, and that’s the preferred method.”
In this situation, Dr. Vecchi explains, “I’m going to try to get him in a position, get him away from the hostages, get him into a position where a sniper can shoot and kill him. That’s my job. Okay. If I can’t do that, then they’re going to have to storm the place.”
Criminal Prosecution
Investigators must meticulously collect evidence to ensure that it will remain admissible in court. This evidence is then analyzed and documented to provide a detailed record so that prosecutors can file relevant charges. Criminal penalties for kidnapping vary depending on the severity of the charges; those found guilty could potentially be sentenced to life in prison.
The Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Case
Kidnapping has been in the news as of late due to a high-profile case involving Nancy Guthrie, 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie (co-anchor of the “Today” show). Dr. Vecchi is intimately familiar with this case, having already been interviewed about it over a dozen times.
Overview of the Case
Nancy Guthrie was reportedly taken under unclear circumstances. Early reports have not identified a clear timeline, witnesses or individuals involved, which has complicated the investigation. While law enforcement officials continue to examine the case, limited public information has contributed to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the situation and the motives behind it.
Dr. Vecchi notes that the case has additional challenges due to the victim’s older age, explaining, “…when you add the health issues, someone who might need medication, someone who is not ambulatory, someone who is frail, then that adds more complications to it.” Investigative Response from the Case
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is the main investigative force handling the Nancy Guthrie case. Despite coming under fire for potentially preventing the FBI from accessing information related to the case, Pima County has now received assistance from other state and federal agencies — partly due to the high-profile nature of the kidnapping.
The Role of Crisis Negotiators in the Case
Dr. Vecchi explains that cases like Nancy Guthrie’s usually call for swift attention from a crisis negotiation unit, with the negotiators “focused on getting an understanding of the situation and context.” Ultimately, cases like this underscore the importance of skilled emergency response professionals who can assess situations and act with precision when it matters most.
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Contributing Author(s)
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About the Contributing Author: Dr. Vecchi University Department Chair/Program Director
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| Dr. Vecchi formerly served as Chief of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit and was a career FBI negotiator. In these positions, he gained extensive experience assessing and interacting with violent offenders with a focus on understanding their motivations and the meaning behind their behavior. Dr. Vecchi uses this knowledge and understanding of offender behavior to enhance his teaching, training, research, and consulting activities. Dr. Vecchi specializes in behavioral threat assessment, threat prevention and management, and threat response. Dr. Vecchi also provides expert witness consulting in targeted violence, police procedures, confirmation bias, negotiation, and behavioral analysis. | ||
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After experiencing profound personal loss, Sydney Nau found her purpose in nursing. Today, she leads with compassion while advancing her education and transforming lives through patient-centered care.
