The Perfect Crime occurred in Minnesota in 1972.

On July 27, 1972, two armed, masked men walked into the garden of Virginia “Ginny” Piper and walked out with the 49-year-old woman handcuffed and blindfolded. They had asked her where her husband Bobby was and when she told them he was at work, they told her she needed to come with them. The Pipers, parents of 3 grown sons, lived in Orono near Lake Minnetonka. Her husband, Harry “Bobby” C. Piper Jr., was a prominent Twin Cities investment banker and a respected figure on Wall Street. (Owner of Piper, Jaffrey & Hopwood ~ now Piper Sandler) Despite the FBI’s objection, Bobby personally drove $1 million in $20 bills in ransom to the back alley at about midnight behind a bar in Minneapolis the next day. Bobby was instructed to go into the bar and make a phone call. When he went back to his car the money was gone. He returned home that Friday night with no idea of who had the money or the fate of his wife. To put this in perspective, $1 million in 1972 would be equivalent to over $7 million today. It was the largest ransom ever paid at the time.
Virgina “Ginny” Piper = Her survival was attributed at least partially to her personality and intelligence. She was a likable person who was described as funny and unpretentious.  
Bobby and Ginny Piper This is the coverage area for the aerial photo map  I also attribute her survival to the love of her husband Bobby, who risked his own life to get her back. 
The next morning, Saturday, an unidentified man called a local minister and told the minister where Ginny Piper could be found. Three hours later, Ginny was found handcuffed and chained to a tree in a remote area of Jay Cooke State Park, south of Duluth. It was raining. She was traumatized, hungry and exhausted, but had not been physically assaulted. Ginny was put on a plane and flew back to her family who were overwhelmed with excitement and relief to have her back.
Jay Cooke State Forest Ginny had been chained to a tree Friday and abandoned. She was discovered the next day. 
The case went unsolved for years, and 16 days before the statute of limitations expired on the crime, two men were charged with the kidnapping. Kenneth Callahan and Donald Larson were arrested and charged with the crime.
In the fall of 1977, Callahan and Larson were tried in a federal courtroom in St. Paul. They were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thorwald Anderson and defended by high-profile attorneys Ronald Meshbesher and Bruce Hartigan. After nearly a month of testimony and four days of deliberation, a jury found Callahan and Larson guilty. The conviction was based on a partial fingerprint found on a ripped grocery bag in the kidnapper’s car. The print was matched to Donald Larson. The problem with this match is they didn’t identify a match the first 3 times they did the comparison. It was only days before the statute of limitations was set to expire that they concluded it was a match. A 6-inch strand of reddish microscopically resembled Kenneth Callahan’s hair. (If it’s not ripped out by the root you have no DNA. They had no DNA.) Ginny testified that Callahan’s voice was similar to one of her kidnappers. The verdict, however, was overturned on appeal. In a second trial two years after the first, the defendants were found not guilty. 
Viginia Piper Were they guilty?
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Virginia Piper stated that one of the men had an unusual eye condition. Neither of the suspects did. The FBI had spent millions on this investigation and didn’t have a solid suspect until days before they would have to abandon the investigation. After the first conviction, the FBI closed the case. 
The Piper family is split on the guilt of Callahan and Larson. Both Virginia and Bobby Piper went to their graves convinced Callahan and Larson were involved. Their middle son, Tad, agreed with his parents, stating, “Mom was a very intelligent woman. If she believed those guys did it, they probably did.” The oldest son Harry Piper III believed the two were innocent. The youngest son, David, was uncertain.   Donald Larson April 24, 1976, Donald Larson murdered 5 people in Willow River. He was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder (for fatally shooting his neighbor and former friend, James Falch, Sr. who was having an affair with his wife), two counts of second-degree murder (fatally shooting his wife, Ruth, and Falch's oldest son, James Falch, Jr.), and one count of third-degree murder (fatally shooting his 5-year-old son, Mark). Donald claimed his son was shot by accident when he was trying to keep Ruth from calling the police. He was acquitted by reason of mental illness on one count of first-degree murder (fatally shooting his stepson, Scott Powell). He was sentenced to concurrent terms of imprisonment for life, 40 years, 40 years, and 25 years. Donald was known as “the mouth” in prison for his incessant talking. He admitted he was a killer but denied being a kidnapper. 
Donald’s wife, Ruth Larson had originally been Don Larson’s alibi for the day Virginia Piper had been kidnapped. She had agreed to meet with the FBI but was murdered before that meeting took place. 
The drive to Donald Larson’s home. Kenneth Callahan and his wife moved to Wisconsin, and he resumed his work as a cabinet maker. 
What happened to the $1 million?
Rumor is that it is buried somewhere in the woods by Willow River. One of the reasons Larson and Callahan were originally convicted is that they always seemed to have money but couldn’t always prove it came from a legitimate source. It is significant to note that they were suspected of involvement in low level crimes at the time. 
Thanks for listening,


Frank Saturday, April 15, 2023, Forensic Psychologist, Frank F. Weber, will be at Luce Line Brewing Company, speaking from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  on the writing of True Crime, forensic work and his newest books. Frank will speak about his latest books. Black and Blue is a thrilling mystery based on the murder of a police officer’s 19-year-old fiancé in Minneapolis. The Haunted House of Hillman. {H2 OH} released in May 2023, is based on the true story of a search for a criminal that keeps leading back to crimes that occurred at one house. Frank will share the amazing stories of victim survival that led to the resolution of this true crime thriller.  Frank will demonstrate a lie detector test (volunteer a friend). Frank will be at Luce Line Brewing Company from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. to answer questions on his work, to sign and sell his books and to discuss the latest forensic tools. Luce Line Brewing is located at: 12901 16th Avenue North, Plymouth, Minnesota, 55441.
Monday, May 1, 2023, Frank Weber, Forensic Psychologist and True Crime Author, will be speaking on his newest book, The Haunted House of Hillman, at a Brown Bag Author event at the Brainerd Public Library sponsored by the Friends of the Brainerd Public Library. Book sale and signing will follow the presentation. Frank will be speaking from 12:00 to 1:00 on his newest book. Maddie Dehler demonstrated one of the most remarkable survival escapes in history. Still horror returns again and again to the same county in rural Minnesota, and eventually to the home Julia Adams built. Based on a true case that eluded resolution for years. The Brainerd Public Library is located at: 416 South 5th Street, Brainerd, Minnesota, 56401.
May 13, 2023, Forensic Psychologist and True Crime Author, Frank F. Weber will be signing his newest book, The Haunted House of Hillman (H2 OH) at Once Upon a Crime in Minneapolis from noon until 2:00 p.m.. Once Upon a Crime bookstore is located at 604 West 26th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55405. ​​
Monday, May 15, 2023, Frank Weber, Forensic Psychologist and True Crime Author, will be at Cherry Street Books in Alexandria speaking on his newest book, The Haunted House of Hillman. Frank will be speaking from 6:00 to 7:00 on his newest book. Frank will give a live demonstration of a lie detector test (volunteer a friend). Frank will be at Cherry Street Books from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. signing books. The Haunted House of Hillman {H2 OH} is based on the true story of teens daring each other to return to the home of an unsolved murder. The killer begins to view the home as a victim magnet. Frank will share the amazing stories of victim survival that led to the resolution of this true crime thriller. Based on a true case that eluded resolution for years. Cherry Street Books is located at: 503 Broadway St, Alexandria, MN 56308
Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Forensic Psychologist &True Crime Author, Frank Weber,  will be at Rapids Brewing Company  in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.  He’ll speak from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m. about forensic psychology and writing True Crime mysteries. Frank’s newest thriller, The Haunted House of Hillman. {H2 OH} is based on the true story of teens daring each other to return to the home of an unsolved murder. The killer begins to view the home as a victim magnet. Frank will share the amazing stories of victim survival that led to the resolution of this true crime thriller. Frank will demonstrate the lie detector test (volunteer a friend). It’s a great time to ask questions about forensics while enjoying a cold beverage. This is going to be a blast and there is no cost. Rapids Lake Brewing Company is located at 214 North Pokegama Avenue, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, 55744. ​
Friday, May 19, 2023, Fergus Brewing Company is hosting the opening of Frank F. Weber’s newest novel, The Haunted House of Hillman. Frank will speak from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. about forensic psychology and intriguing murder mystery The Haunted House of Hillman. {H2 OH} is based on the true story of teens daring each other to return to the home of an unsolved murder. The killer begins to view the home as a victim magnet. Frank will share the amazing stories of victim survival that led to the resolution of this true crime thriller.  Frank will be at the taproom from 4:00 to 9:00, signing and selling books and answering individual questions. Fergus Brewing is located at 1683 Drive, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, 56537. This is going to be a blast and there is no cost.  Stop in and enjoy a cold beverage. Saturday, May 20, 2023, Angry Inch Brewing is hosting the metro opening of Frank Weber’s newest book, The Haunted House of Hillman (H2 OH).  Frank will speak from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm. about forensic psychology and the intriguing murder mystery that led to writing The Haunted House of Hillman. Frank will be at Angry Inch signing and selling books and answering forensic questions from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Learn about new forensic techniques and find out what they get wrong on crime shows and movies.  Frank will sign and sell books both before and after speaking.  Angry Inch Brewing  is located at 20841 Holyoke Avenue in Lakeville, Minnesota,  55044. This is going to be a blast and there is no cost.  Stop in and enjoy a cold beverage!
Sunday, May 21, 2023, Forensic Psychologist, Frank F. Weber, will be at Lost Sanity Brewing, speaking from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on his forensic work and the writing of True Crime mysteries. Frank will speak about his latest book: The Haunted House of Hillman.  H2 OH is based on the true story of a search for a criminal that keeps leading back to crimes that occurred at one house. Frank will share the amazing stories of victim survival that led to the resolution of this true crime thriller. Frank will demonstrate a lie detector test (volunteer a friend). Frank will be at the Lost Sanity Brewing from 1:00 to 5:00 to answer questions on his work, to sign and sell his books and to discuss the latest forensic tools. Lost Sanity Brewing is located at: 12 West Main Street, Madelia, Minnesota, 56062.
Monday, May 22, 2023, Beaver Island Brewing Company is hosting the big St.Cloud opening of The Haunted House of Hillman (H2 OH) from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m..  Frank will speak from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm. about forensic psychology and the intriguing murder mystery that led to writing The Haunted House of Hillman. Learn about new forensic techniques and find out what they get wrong on crime shows and movies.  Frank will signing and selling books both before and after speaking.  The Beaver Island Brewing Company is located at 216 6th Avenue South, St. Cloud, Minnesota on Division. This is going to be a blast and there is no cost.  Stop in and enjoy a cold beverage!


Sunday, May 28, 2023, Forensic Psychologist, Frank F. Weber, will be at Roundhouse Brewing, speaking from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.  on the writing of True Crime, forensic work and his newest book. The Haunted House of Hillman. {H2 OH} is based on the true story of teens daring each other to return to the site of an unsolved murder. The killer, who remained in the area, began seeing the home as a victim magnet. Frank will share the amazing stories of victim survival that led to the resolution of this true crime thriller.  Frank will demonstrate a lie detector test (volunteer a friend). Frank will be at Roundhouse Brewing from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. to answer questions on his work, to sign and sell his books and to discuss the latest forensic tools. Roundhouse Brewing is located at: 23836 Smiley Road, Nisswa, MN 56468