The official said that investigators had multiple questions, particularly regarding how the man came to be kidnapped.

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Yet the hijinks of "Discovering Columbus" come at the expense of the Columbus Circle monument itself, which must be kidnapped to take part in the party.

WSJ: Discovering Columbus | A Monumental Problem | By James Panero

Just weeks after Etan disappeared in May 1979, an attacker abducted the first of more than 20 children to be kidnapped and killed in Atlanta, stirring fear until police arrested a suspect two years later.

CNN: Missing child case 'awakened America'

There has also been persistent speculation by historians that during World War II, Pope Pius XII drew up a document stating that if he were to be kidnapped by the Nazis he was to be considered to have resigned, and a successor should be chosen.

BBC: How does a Pope resign from office?

This week, the High Court considered a case brought by Lindiwe Dlamini, Ms Mahlangu's mother, who claims that the 18-year-old queen-to-be was kidnapped by the royal flunkies, along with two other girls.

ECONOMIST: Yes

Parents Marlene Aisenberg, 47, and Steve Aisenberg, 46, continue to believe their daughter, who would be 12 now, was kidnapped and is being raised by another family.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The same rules apply for kidnapped children who would otherwise be considered a qualifying relative.

FORBES: Taxes From A To Z (2013): K Is For Kidnapped Children

Western tourists have been kidnapped in eastern Ethiopia and Salopek will be travelling through a troubled Middle East.

BBC: Paul Salopek: Going for a seven-year walk

He was young and came from a rich prominent family that was supposed to be able to protect itself from the gangs who have kidnapped more than 300 people this year.

BBC: Mexico to combat rising violence

Seven French nationals are still being held after they were kidnapped across the border in Cameroon by gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram.

BBC: Diplomats check reports of Nigeria hostages' deaths

Gillian Anderson, onetime star of "The X-Files, " will be back in "Crisis, " a drama about a bus full of high school students who are kidnapped.

NPR: NBC Bringing Back '70s Cop Drama 'Ironside'

Chief Philippine government negotiator Robert Aventajado said he was confident that all of the remaining hostages, including four Europeans from among the original 21 kidnapped at the Malaysian island resort of Sipadan in late April and a Filipino man, would be released after payment of additional "development aid" by Tripoli.

CNN: For the Love of Money