Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Ransom Gone Wrong in Pennsylvania

Pa. baby abducted after grandmother was killed, police say

"Pennsylvania family friend charged with killing grandmother, baby" by Maryclaire Dale  |  Associated Press, October 27, 2012

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — A family friend charged with killing a baby girl and her grandmother told police he dropped the baby as he wielded a knife and the grandmother charged at him during a botched kidnapping, authorities said Friday.

Raghunandan Yandamuri targeted the family for a $50,000 ransom, and he left copies of a ransom note, according to a police affidavit filed in suburban Philadelphia.

‘‘It’s up to you to decide, do you want your 1-year-old or five months of your income?’’ the lengthy note said.

Ten copies of the note were left at the family’s King of Prussia apartment, but no one ever contacted the baby’s parents, both software engineers, after the grandmother was found dead Monday and the baby went missing.

Authorities found the body of 10-month-old Saanvi Venna early Friday in a basement fitness room at the apartment complex where Yandamuri and the victims lived.

Yandamuri was being held without bail on two counts of murder, kidnapping, robbery, and other charges pending a preliminary hearing next week.

He does not have a lawyer and did not enter a plea at a brief arraignment Friday afternoon. Yandamuri, a native of India, told a judge he is not a US citizen and was given time to make a private call to the Indian consulate.

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