The 63-Hour Walk: Indiana’s Most Polite Hostage Situation
I decided I’d find some weird stuff from Indiana for this post, and of course, my searches did not disappoint. I ended up choosing this one that happened all the way back in 1977, and while not as humorous as the other, this is just plain bizarre. This is the story of Tony Kiritsis, the “Dead Man’s Wire,” and the most calmly unhinged crime Indiana ever hosted.
Tony Kiritsis
Most hostage situations involve barricades, shouting, maybe a megaphone. This one involved a leisurely walk through downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, a radio call-in show, and a man holding a wire that could instantly kill the person attached to it.
Step One: Decide the Legal System Is Wrong
Tony Kiritsis was a real estate developer who felt a mortgage company executive named Richard Hall had personally destroyed his life. Lawsuits didn’t go his way and appeals didn’t fix things. Tony became convinced that Hall and Hall’s father wanted his land.
Tony decided the courts were broken, which naturally, led him to conclude the best remaining option was: Strap a shotgun to this man’s neck and explain everything very clearly. As one does.
Kiritsis and Hall, need I say more?
Step Two: Make The Most Dangerous Necklace Ever
Kiritsis abducted Hall and attached a sawed-off shotgun to the back of his head, rigged with a wire looped around Hall’s neck. The wire was connected to the trigger.
If Hall stumbled: boom
If Kiritsis let go: boom
If anyone rushed them: boom.
This setup would later become known as the “Dead Man’s Wire,” which is exactly as subtle and comforting as it sounds.
Step Three: Take a Walk
Instead of hiding out, Tony decided to take a leisurely stroll with his hostage.
Through downtown Indianapolis.
For 63 hours.
They walked streets. They got into cars. They ate meals. They stayed in apartments.
Tony Kiritsis and Richard Hall going on a joyride.
Police followed at a distance, unable to intervene without risking an immediate, catastrophic end to the situation.
Tony Kiritsis also decided to call local radio stations and explain himself live on air.
Listeners heard him discuss his grievances, financial disputes, and justify why he currently had a shotgun wired to another man’s spine.
Step 4: Everyone Somehow Survives
After nearly 63 hours, police managed to convince Kiritsis to surrender. The device was disarmed and Richard Hall walked away physically unharmed.
At trial, Kiritsis was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a psychiatric hospital rather than prison, which seems somewhat fitting.
Reactions
So, even though this happened, there has been some conversation about it, since it was so famous. I’m mildly surprised I didn’t hear about it myself
I can just see it now on Google Maps: Rerouting, faster route available — avoid hostage.
If this were to happen today, I just know someone in that crowd would be live-streaming it like, ‘Hey guys don’t forget to like and subscribe, today we’re reviewing an ACTIVE CRIME SCENE.’
The fact that he’s asking to clarify his position like there are meeting minutes being taken is just special. I can imagine a whiteboard being involved in this one.
Sixty-three hours later is enough time to take a nap, assess your life choices, and still have time to make it worse. That’s a marathon of questionable decisions.
Sources
2.) https://edgeofindy.com/episodes/ep-7-dead-mans-line-true-story-tony-kiritsis/
3.) https://indyencyclopedia.org/tony-kiritsis-case/
5.) https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/z316qp35z/section/05742d40d