Special: Who Committed The Crime Of The Century?
POSTED: 2:27 pm EST February 27,
2003
UPDATED: 11:05 am EST March 5,
2003
An exclusive Problem Solvers investigation found new possible evidence connected with an Orlando man's claim that he is linked to one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries.
The Lindbergh kidnapping remains shrouded in mystery today, 70 years after the crime. But Robert Aldinger may have new clues in the case, according to Local 6 News.
Aldinger is convinced that the men and women he knew as his family are connected to the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh Jr. And, Aldinger believes that he may be Charles Lindbergh. Jr.
Problem Solver Mike Holfeld reported that Aldinger's theory hinges on two factors; his unexplained life in a Brooklyn orphanage and his family's relationship with Bruno Richard Hauptmann.
Hauptmann was the prime suspect in the 1932 crime of the century.
"I haven't seen anybody with a connection to the case but me," Aldinger said.
"I know that the people who are responsible to what happened to me are all dead and the people that are alive are innocent."
Our investigation confirmed that Aldinger's grandmother, Lena Knaus Aldinger was Hauptmann's mentor in the early 1920s.
She taught the German immigrant to read and write English, according to the report.
In fact, Lena Aldinger was so close to Hauptmann that after interrogating her after the kidnapping, a New Jersey State Police officer wrote, "If she did know of anything which would tend to further incriminate Hauptmann she would not reveal it.
Did Bob Aldinger's family back Hauptmann in the Lindbergh kidnapping, Holfeld asked?
"I am convinced until someone proves me wrong and I would be very surprised if I were proven wrong," Aldinger said.
Aldinger's theory assumes that there was a plot to swap the real Robert Aldinger with the Lindbergh baby.
However, the DNA profiles offer a split conclusion to the theory.
Aldinger's DNA does not match his father's side of the family.
However, there is a 94 percent probably match on his mother's side Nancy Clarke Aldinger.
Local 6 News reported that experts agree that the possibility of Bruno Hauptmann working as part of a kidnap team does make sense.
Local 6 News may have uncovered a message that reportedly proves that Hauptmann did not act alone in the crime.
Holfeld found forgotten artifacts of the Lindbergh case during a trip to New Jersey in the state police evidence warehouse.
Among those artifacts was a piece of wood that appears to come from a small table.
Holfeld reported that a message on the wood and its placement on the wood could change history.
"Those holes are indeed absolutely important to linking this information to the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby," Dr. Nancy Decker said.
Holfeld asked, "So we're looking at a legitimate confession?"
"We do," Decker said.
Local 6 New will continue the investigation Thursday night at 11 p.m..
Did Bob Aldinger's family back Hauptmann in the Lindbergh kidnapping, Holfeld asked?
"I am convinced until someone proves me wrong and I would be very surprised if I were proven wrong," Aldinger said.
Aldinger's theory assumes that there was a plot to swap the real Robert Aldinger with the Lindbergh baby.
However, the DNA profiles offer a split conclusion to the theory.
Aldinger's DNA does not match his father's side of the family.
However, there is a 94 percent probably match on his mother's side Nancy Clarke Aldinger.
Local 6 News reported that experts agree that the possibility of Bruno Hauptmann working as part of a kidnap team does make sense.
Local 6 News may have uncovered a message that reportedly proves that Hauptmann did not act alone in the crime.
Holfeld found forgotten artifacts of the Lindbergh case during a trip to New Jersey in the state police evidence warehouse.
Among those artifacts was a piece of wood that appears to come from a small table.
Holfeld reported that a message on the wood and its placement on the wood could change history.
"Those holes are indeed absolutely important to linking this information to the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby," Dr. Nancy Decker said.
Holfeld asked, "So we're looking at a legitimate confession?"
"We do," Decker said.
Local 6 New will continue the investigation Thursday night at 11 p.m..
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