Stanley Alpert, the Kidnapping Victim Who Outsmarted his Captors
Summary
Harvey Guillén narrates the true story of Stan Alpert, a federal prosecutor kidnapped on his 38th birthday in 1998. Held blindfolded by three young men and two sex workers, Stan survived by building rapport with his captors, who eventually released him. The bizarre ordeal led to the kidnappers' arrest and, years later, helped Stan find love through his book, The Birthday Party.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Birthdays as thresholds and parables
Stan's disappearance and friends' discovery
The night before: A blind date and subway encounter
The kidnapping: Abduction and financial demands
Stan's profession revealed and transport to crash pad
The crash pad: Sex workers and bizarre birthday gifts
Lucky's return and the broken car window delay
Building rapport: Jokes, accents, and gaining trust
The release: Duct tape scare and drop-off at Prospect Park
Reunion with police and FBI skepticism of the story
Investigation, arrests, and sentencing of the kidnappers
Aftermath: Identity theft, writing the book, and finding love
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