It was the most famous kidnapping case of the generation. Even the Pope made a plea for the safe return of Annabel Schild, who was ambushed and taken, along with her mother and father, near the village of Porto Raphael on the coast of northern Sardinia. Rudolf Schild, her father was the CEO of Huntleigh Electronics, and the kidnappers believed they would be able extort from him a large ransom for his family. The case drew national attention as Rudolf was released to gather the $24 million and change the kidnappers demanded. It was thought the Holy See might have some influence in the deeply religious Sardinia, but the kidnappers stuck to their demands.

On this day, March 22, in 1980, Rudolf Schild was reunited with his wife and the 15 year-old Annabel. The captors were paid less than they demanded — about $650,000 all told — but enough to get them to release the two women. They were dumped on a deserted stretch of road between two small towns in Sardinia.

The widespread television coverage may have contributed to the kidnappers’ decision to settle for less, considering it brought them even the Pope’s appeal. On the other hand, Rudolf was sure the media actually perpetuated the problem, reporting — wrongly, it turned out — that he was worth millions of dollars, encouraging the kidnappers to hold out longer for larger sums.