The Dark Story of New Jersey’s Most Infamous Criminal

A major publication has named the most notorious criminal in every state. Let's find out who holds the dubious distinction in New Jersey.

The Most Notorious Criminal In New Jersey History

It would make sense that the most famous criminal in New Jersey history was associated with the most famous crime in our state's history.

The year was 1932, and the world was talking about a horrific event that happened in New Jersey, the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby.

The wealthy and famous Lindberghs lived in Hopewell, and at approximately 9:00 PM on March 1, 1932, 20-month-old Charles was kidnapped. A ransom note was found. It was left on the windowsill.

The Heartbreaking Lindbergh Kidnapping Case

The entire world was captivated by this story and the young boy's fate. In all, a dozen ransom notes were received, and despite a payment of $50,000, the young boy's body was discovered on May 12, 1932.

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After an exhaustive investigation, Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested on July 12, 1933, at the Port of New York City.

The trial began in January 1935 in Flemington and lasted about six weeks. New Jersey's most notorious criminal was found guilty and was sentenced to death.

New Jersey's Most Notorious Criminal Is Electrocuted

After an appeal was denied, he was electrocuted on April 3, 1936, ninety years ago this month.

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Reader's Digest chose Hauptmann as the state's most notorious criminal, but they easily could have chosen these names: Richard Fran Biegenwald, Richard Cottigham, known as the "Torso Killer," and Robert Zarinsky