Ransom

January 5, 2013 6:45 PM

A millionaire's son kidnapped, a wild ransom note and a family on the edge of terror. Peter Van Sant reports.

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by Nunyabidness967 April 12, 2013 11:01 AM EDT: I don't believe there is proof that Toby Holt is guilty. If they believe Holt was TALKING on Roberts cellphone as he passed through the toll then shouldn't there be a record of WHO he is talking to? As far as an alibi, I shudder to think if I ever have to prove my whereabouts at any given time. Also, having liaisons outside a marriage hardly makes a person a murderer. I just don't feel there was enough evidence to prove his guilt and real proof of a murder needed to be proved for all we know Robert is alive and living a new life elsewhere.; Reply to this comment


by JUSTICEISBLIND22 February 16, 2013 3:32 PM EST: All I have to say is the justice system needs to be improved BIG time. Stop pointing a finger at the person with the biggest motive and building the case around them, because pretty soon people will catch on and know they wont be caught because there's other people with a bigger reason to kill out there.; Reply to this comment


by frelnc February 13, 2013 12:08 PM EST: I have watched this episode several times, trying to find the clue to how the jury came to their conclusion. A strictly circumstantial case - no hard evidence. Why would Toby ask to have the ransom money dropped at the office? That would have been like shooting himself in the foot - if he was the kidnapper. He knew Tom - knew the kind of "take charge" guy he is. He would have known that Tom would call the cops - would want to take control of the situation. The fact that the box was filled with coffee is, in my view, strictly coincidental. And the "don';t call the cops or we'll kill him"? What kidnapper wouldn't make those kinds of statements. The video of him driving through the toll plaza....was it him? Did he ever admit to that? Too many unanswered questions - too many jumps to conclusions, no solid evidence. I don't think Toby did it.; Reply to this comment


by J-ville04 February 3, 2013 7:24 PM EST: I went to school with Toby and it is difficult to concieve that he commited these crimes. I feel for the family and it is sad that they may never know what happened and get closure. I would like to see the truth come out through hard evidence for the family to know what happened and to ensure the right person is in prison. There is no justice for anyone here with so little truth revealed it is only a compromise.; Reply to this comment


by fantomefille January 28, 2013 4:22 AM EST: I'm not convinced Toby is guilty, at all. This case is particularly frightening because of the lack of evidence and the police work that was done...did anyone else wonder why they didn't try to trace the email further? I do hope they find him or his remains. What a sad, sad case.; Reply to this comment


by Anonymous2013 January 24, 2013 6:55 PM EST: Pay, don't pay the ransom, it doesn't matter, they would have had to make the plan to kill poor Rob either way. He'd know their identity and there would be no way to keep him quiet except for ending his life. Its sad to say but he was most likely gone before they ever got the ransom note and knew what was missing. Its so awful to take his life like that. He had so much to live for.; Reply to this comment


by jarrellkaren January 21, 2013 12:18 PM EST: I agree they didn't have much evidence, but him having his cell was a big part of it, plus the fact no one ever picked up the box.
1.)He knew it contains no money
2.)He knew the FBI was involved.
I thought at his trial he showed no emotions at all, he sat there with a smeerk on his face.
So even though they didn't have much evidence I'm leaning towards him being guilty, and he should tell them where he is so they can have some closure.; Reply to this comment


by Korvid January 20, 2013 12:17 AM EST: In my view this poor man Toby was railroaded by a government eager to convict someone/anyone to justify years and dollars spent on a case. BTW- wow, how often does the FBI put that much resources into a local case like this? And as usual of course the family thinks Toby is guilty simply because they want to blame someone. And let me get this straight, OJ Simpson gets off of a double murder in which there was a bloody glove, a knife , two dead bodies and huge motive . By contrast Toby gets thirty years with nothing like that. Oh wait, a cell phone record and a sketchy camera shot on the highway , WOW Want my opinion? This guy sits in jail because a bunch of prude jurors decided that a guy that has more than one girl friend MUST be guilty of SOMETHING.; Reply to this comment


by Seattle23 January 13, 2013 4:47 AM EST: This is so sad for that poor family. I think Toby did kill him....and he is where he loved the most,the ocean. Toby had his cell phone and was the only one that knew the ransom package was full of coffee at the plant,then nothing happened with the set-up. That sure didn't work out like he hoped it would. The motive seems adequate enough, money and hatred for the guy...plus Toby almost seemed happy and jovial at his trial, at least his facial expressions. Perhaps to him it was a game he was sure he'd win. He was used to getting his own way being successfully deceptive in having all his mistresses. I say, score one again for the FBI and the other local agency that worked on it. He's where he belongs.; Reply to this comment


by J51cameron January 10, 2013 12:49 AM EST: What a travesty of justice. Clearly it was a staged kidnap and ransom. Does that sound familiar to anyone? Like Jon Benet Ramsey? Read the E-mail Ransom note and you can see that it is a short version of the Ramsey ransom note. Signed by Group X and the Ramsey note was signed VICTORY SBTC ( I Won, signed by the cross) Now who signed their killer letters and anonymous notes with a cross since 1969?; Reply to this comment

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