Violet Ripken Kidnapping: Cal Ripken’s Mom Safe After Being Abducted At Gunpoint

The 74-year-old mother of former MLB great Cal Ripken is reportedly safe and back with her family after being abducted from her Maryland residence Tuesday morning.

According to police reports, Violet “Vi” Ripken was kidnapped at gunpoint between 7 and 8am Tuesday and forced her into a 1998 Lincoln Town Car.

She was found about 6:15am Wednesday tied up and blindfolded in the back of her car near her home in Aberdeen, some 25 miles from Baltimore. After undergoing an examination by medical personnel at the scene, Vi was released to be with her family.

“As you now know, our mother was abducted at gunpoint from her home yesterday morning,” the Ripken family said in a statement released Wednesday (July 25). “This has been a very trying time for our family, but we are grateful and relieved that mom is back with us, safe and healthy.”

“We want to thank everyone for their tremendous support, especially all of the law enforcement agencies that worked so hard and quickly,” the statement said. “This is an ongoing investigation, so we hope everyone understands that we cannot comment further at this time. Thank you.”

FBI spokesman Rich Wolf said authorities don’t know whether the abductor knew the Ripken family or what, if any, demands might have been made.

“Maybe they can come up with a motivation based on the actions of the guy,” Wolf said.

Violet Ripken described her abductor as a tall, thin white man with glasses, but police spokesman Lt. Fred Budnick had no other details.

Anyone with additional information on Vi Ripken’s abduction is asked to call the Criminal Investigation Section of the Aberdeen Police Department at 410-272-2121.

via Fox 40