NORMAL, Ill. — A Peoria man accused of kidnapping two men from Normal, Illinois, including one who died of a head injury suffered during the incident, demanded the victim's family pay a ransom from lottery winnings, Normal police said Friday.
Danny Smith Jr. 28, is charged with kidnapping Maunds Bryant, 41, and his stepfather from their home in the 100 block of West Raab Road on Dec. 22.
Smith remains in the Peoria County jail in lieu of $300,000 bond. Additional charges are under review by both Peoria and McLean County authorities.
McLean County State's Attorney Jason Chambers said Friday that the incident that started in McLean County and ended in Peoria County involves unique circumstances in two jurisdictions.
"At this point, the person who we believe is responsible is in custody and there is no current public safety issue," he said.
"As this matter moves forward, it will become apparent that some of the facts involved are very unusual and involve multiple jurisdictions. We have made a decision on the charges we want to proceed with, but in this circumstance we are being particularly methodical in the process," said Chambers.
Bryant died on Christmas Day at a Peoria hospital of a head injury authorities said he suffered after he fell during the abduction in Normal.
On Friday, Assistant Police Chief Eric Klingele said Smith threatened to harm the two men if Bryant's 57-year-old mother did not get cash and call him with a phone he left with her to arrange for the payment to be picked up.
"Somehow this suspect knew about the (lottery) money and that's why he targeted them," said Klingele.
Police have not yet determined Smith may have known about the lottery winnings, said Klingele, adding he did not know how much the family had won in the lottery in July.
"The woman was told someone was watching and that's why she didn't call police," said Klingele.
Bryant's mother did not have an opportunity to get the ransom money before Normal police were notified of the kidnapping by Peoria police, who learned of the abduction after the stepfather managed to get away from the Peoria residence where he and his stepson were being held. He went to a nearby house and called for help.
Peoria police found Bryant unresponsive in the basement of the house in the 800 block of West Kettelle Street in Peoria.
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
Which reminds me, l watched an old Western the other night with Clint Eastwood in it entitled " Hang em High."
If there was ever a reason for allowing anonymous this is it.
Illinois has no death penalty so that won't happen in this case.
Here in California, your name is required to be released. You have the right to say NO to the Press availability and NO to the grip and grin photo shoot.
The name and location of the store where you purchased the winning ticket will be made public. The amount you won and how you took the prize, Lump Sum or Thirty-year payment plan. The photo of the ticket will be released.
Stay out of the news and do not break any laws and you should be fine.
I was reading on Ohio's lottery website that they only published names of winners of $10M or more with their permission. I guess they figured winners of smaller prizes wouldn't attract crooks.
My referencing the movie was based solely on let justice be done whether it's in Illinois or any other State.
.
I am totally horrified at the news.
The crooks liable for the human damage should be hanged.
Should I win, and am told my name will have to be made known,
I'll negotiate the prize amount, or whatever I can do. Maybe this
is the game of the publish-happy states.
COME ON LOTTO STATES, JUST MAKE ALL STATES ANONYMOUS.
YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY, DON'T YOU?
Mr. Groppo
Which is why l say that one of the best moves a winner can pull in California is " converting is Sikhism" right after you know for certain you the sole winner of a massive jackpot. Every male is called Mr Singh. Once you have cleared the hurdles from all the press and folk have stopped digging to your whereabouts to find out who you are- revert back to your old name.One has ample time to pull this off since you have a full year in which to come forward and claim. Some would say it's too much of a hassle, l say it's an adventure, l mean imagine how much fun you can have...relating these and other stories to the grandchildren?
This Is terribly horrendous AGAIN THIS HAS HAPPENED...
I'm speechless! I don't think the whole story has came to light just yet, This Poor Women Has Lost Her Child over $300k by one SCUM Bag?
The Stepfather Is Fine???????? I don't think so!
Yes they should get the Maximum! HANG THE S.O.B'S.....
What I question is under what authority do they have to display your name on all those screens where they sell lottery tickets. I've seen names of people who won years earlier. It doesnt seem like they are just following the required name release rule but instead using the person's name for publicity. I would make a stink or have my atty make a stink about that. Also, when claiming your award I would make no comments or specifically state they have no right to release your comments to the press.
If I ever win and claim via trust or not, I now plan to make a "political" statement and mention using real balls for all drawings vs computer generated to decrease the chance of fraud. If it is a public state win, I also plan to say my family will hold the lottery responsible if anything happens to me from the over the top publicity. I know you agree to the publicity but it would still draw attention to the issue.
That's a shame. Someone was watching too many movies I suppose. Reality is a much different picture. Good luck in jail mf
Good story, r.i.p.
Apparently the only thing these people did "wrong" was win the lottery and they are most certainly NOT fine.
Gloria refused a press conference as was her right, and the lottery office called the press and had her waylaid anyway. Win a big enough amount and whatever publicity you're allowed to refuse can be usurped by their need for free publicity. When the very people who are to uphold the rules of publicity limits and identification can set you up so that they can get their headlines at the expense of your privacy, "not breaking laws" isn't enough and "staying out of the news" mat very well be unavoidable and no fault of your own.
We're apparently okay with corporations willing to trade human safety for free advertising dollars without batting an eye and we're apparently okay saying "stay on the DL and you SHOULD be fine" even though that comment is being written under an article detailing the kidnapping and death of a lottery winner. How about we start saying it's not okay and winners may not be fine. Denial won't help future victims.
I need a criminal justice expert to back me up or correct me, but as I understand it, kidnappings are a federal offense. And death occurring during the commission of a felony, even if not intended makes it a felony murder. Can't the death penalty come into play if the feds take the case and felony murder is charged under federal, not state, jurisdiction?
On a different note, how did one guy think he was going to take and keep 2 people (grown men) hostage AND blackmail the family AND pick up the money AND cover his tracks well enough to not get caught? One episode of CSI and Law & Order should have given him pause. Maybe we can hang him under a TSTL loophole
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
"...kidnappings are a federal offense."
I looked that up earlier after reading some of the above comments, thinking the same thing, but only in certain circumstances. One was kidnapping a federal agent and the main one, IIRC, was transporting the victim across state lines.
I agree with you about what was the guy thinking, but you once told me that sometimes criminals are dumb as rocks (paraphrasing). I couldn't argue with that and I'm beginning to think far too many people are that way, the "dumbing down of America".
If you take a person across State lines then it is a Federal Crime and the FBI will automatically be called in. As someone who has extensive knowledge of the law, I cannot understand why he is getting only a $300K bail. He only has to post $30K and if a relative owns a home, a bail bondsman will take that as collateral. Thats absurd considering someone died. He should be charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to blackmail, first degree murder, using a weapon during the commission of a crime, and probably a few misdemeanors to boot.
Awful way to close out 2016; another lottery winner horror story. Hope the book gets thrown @ this thug.
I agree. Something is off here.
I dont think this is a case with regard to fault of the system
It does not appear that Illinois Lotto or any media outlet had this family or its lotto winning info out there. They haven't said what the prize they won was but as of now none of the Illinois press releases (From July thru now) have involved the individuals who were victims for a substantial prize. Usually big wins end up in a press release with basic info (Name , City , What place you bought it , What you plan to do with it). They do that for big wins including top prize wins for scratch offs
Its possible that this guy was tipped off something else as to some sorta lotto win. Maybe a mutual confident or maybe he knew the victims and found out that way
This at early stage does not appear to be a case of someone's win/information being outed to public by media/lotto. As of now there is also no evidence they won a grand prize or primary prize from whatever game they played
"under what authority do they have to display your name"
It's under the authority that you gave them by agreeing to the rules when you bought a ticket and claimed a prize. There's absolutely no requirement to allow them to use you for publicity until you give it to them.
BS. The rules are that "[your name is a] matter of public record and [is] subject to disclosure." That is not the same as agreeing to have your name flashed on thousands of computer screens for years. Public disclosure is not equivalent to free and endless publicity.
It's obvious that you don't know what the rules are, but they're easy enough to find if you want to fix that. The exact rules and phrasing will vary from state to state, but they generally say that the lottery is allowed to use your name and likeness to promote the lottery. That means they're allowed to put your name and face on a postcard and send it to every person on the planet if they want to.
Sad story. Some people will do anything just to get their hands on someone Else's money and will often turn to violence in order to fulfill their desire.
This thug doesn't deserve to be housed and fed in a cell. I wish they would allow the family of that deceased man to provide swift justice.
Not only do I know the rules, I reviewed them before commenting. Apparently, you missed that I and Music were discussing the Calif lottery when you butted in with your usual snark. I dont care about the rules in other states since that was not the topic. Now get lost. There are some nice people here but you are not one of them. Seek counseling.
You mean this California Lottery?
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Acalottery.com+likeness
Illinoisdreamer,
The next time you go play take a real good look at the monitor where they sell tickets. The winner's first name and amount won are there for all to see.
Illinois used to post full name and town but people contacted the Illinois lottery and asked them not to be responsible for another Abraham Shakespeare.
Every player in Illinois should boycott the lottery and send a message, no allowing winners to remain anonymous, no ticket sales. But that will never happen, too bad.
Economic boycotts have proved effective ever since our Colonial era - IT WORKS!
Eddessa_Knight with Light of Justice
This is so sad and scary. I hope the piece of s*** gets the death penalty.