INDIANAPOLIS — Dick Hall, the mortgage broker who was taken hostage by Tony Kiritsis in 1977 and held at gunpoint for 63 hours, has died.
Hall died in his sleep Friday following a brief illness, according to a website for his book, "Kiritsis and Me: Enduring 63 Hours at Gunpoint."
His kidnapping at the hands of Kiritsis on Feb. 8, 1977, much of it broadcast live on WRTV, became one of the most famous events in Indianapolis history.
RELATED | 45 years ago: Tony Kiritsis holds mortgage broker hostage for 63 hours
On that date, Kiritsis entered a mortgage company's office and wired a sawed-off shotgun to Hall's head, then paraded him around downtown Indianapolis.
Kiritsis was upset about a mortgage he had fallen behind on. Hall, an executive with the company, threatened to foreclose on it, according to WIBC.
During the standoff, Kiritsis commandeered a police car and headed home with his prisoner.
RELATED | After 40 years, the target of famous Indianapolis hostage situation breaks his silence
Kiritsis was taken into custody after he removed the wiring from the gun to shoot out a window, to prove it was loaded. Hall was uninjured.
Kiritsis stood trial and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He died in 2005.
Hall discussed the ordeal in 2017 and wrote a book about it 40 years after the fact.
"I've slept well," Hall previously said. "I haven't had any nightmares, and I've been kind of blessed by it not affecting me too much."
-
Plainfield restaurants step up to feed families losing SNAP benefits
Two Plainfield restaurants are stepping up to make sure families don’t go hungry after losing their SNAP benefits.
The Colts QB believes it's a blip, not an omen
Three picks. Two fumbles. Shaky decision-making. All the bad habits that Jones seemed to have left in New York resurfaced in a performance the AFC South-leading Colts believe is a one-off.
Hancock County non-profit serving women sees sharp rise in need
As uncertainty continues, leaders at the Women’s Resource Center say they’re preparing for that number to grow, and they’re calling on the community to help them continue meeting demand.
2 shot, critically injured on Indy's north side
Two people are critically injured following a shooting on the north side of Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon, police said.
