That night, his son received a ransom call demanding $250,000. A ransom note with Ernest’s driver’s license was found in the mailbox. The son, following police instructions, paid $75,000 in marked bills.

The kidnapper, contacted again a few days later, led the son (under surveillance) to several phone booths before instructing him to leave the money under a bridge. A short, white-bearded man picked it up. The son identified the man as Alvin Owens, a handyman who had worked for Ernest.

Owens was arrested. Almost all the ransom money, along with rough drafts of the ransom note, a rented typewriter receipt, and Ernest’s belongings (a watch and ring) were found. Hairs matching Ernest’s were in Owens’s car.

Owens was convicted of kidnapping in 1985, then of murder in 1986 (a landmark case as there was no body). Though the murder conviction was overturned, he was convicted again in 1991 and received a life sentence. Owens claimed a terrorist group forced him to commit the crime, but his later attempt to lead police to Ernest’s body proved fruitless. Police believe Ernest was murdered.