Dead Man’s Wire dramatizes Tony Kiritsis 1977 Indianapolis hostage case

People reports that Dead Man's Wire, which opened in U.S. theaters on Jan. 16, dramatizes the 1977 Indianapolis hostage case in which Tony Kiritsis abducted mortgage broker Richard O. Hall. According to the account the film follows, Kiritsis entered the Meridian Mortgage office on Feb.

8, 1977, wired the muzzle of a shotgun to the back of Hall's head and connected the trigger to a loop around Hall's neck — the device called the "dead man's wire." Even after police arrived, they were unable to apprehend or shoot Kiritsis without risking Hall's death, and Kiritsis and Hall left the building and drove off in a police car to Kiritsis's apartment, where Kiritsis demanded an apology, debt clearance and $5 million and said he would only free Hall if promised immunity.

Kiritsis contacted journalist Fred Heckman and made recorded statements that were aired as police negotiated; after 63 hours he held a press conference, removed the wire, fired the gun at the ceiling and was arrested despite the promise of immunity. Hall was released unharmed on Feb.

Key Topics

Culture, Dead Man's Wire, Tony Kiritsis, Richard Hall, Meridian Mortgage, Indianapolis