Cal Ripken's Mother Safe After Abduction

Kidnappings of celebrity family members have been pretty popular this week. After the Michael Jackson family debacle that left guardian Katherine Jackson missing for several days, I think most of us were pretty spent on kidnapping news for the week. Unfortunately, just a few days later, Vi Ripkin, the wife of Cal Sr. and mother of Cal Jr. and Billy Ripken, was kidnapped at gunpoint near Baltimore, Maryland.

Before we get into the crazy details, I will go ahead and preface this by saying the 74-year-old came out of the experience unhurt, so we can breathe a sigh of relief for the elderly woman. Early on Tuesday, however, things were not looking so sunny. An armed man burst into Ripken’s home sometime after 7 a.m. Tuesday, stealing the woman’s Lincoln Continental and driving off with her in tow. Due to the suspicious way the kidnapper was maneuvering the car on the streets, the plates were called in. According to The Los Angeles Times, after the car was determined to be Ripken’s, a full-on manhunt began.

Local PD, the Maryland State Police, and even the FBI were looking for the beloved mother and wife when they happened upon her car nearly 10 hours later. Vi Ripken was located in the backseat of the vehicle, all tied up. Her kidnapper, a white male wearing camo pants, did not attempt to ask for a ransom or steal some of the family’s prized possessions. So far, the kidnapper is a little bit of a mystery, but Pop Blend is very happy Ripken will sleep safely tonight and for many nights after. Hopefully, police will earn her a little justice, as well.