By Heather Collins
In 1977, Dick Hall was held at gunpoint for 63 hours by Anthony Kiritsis in downtown Indianapolis. He hasn’t spoken about the incident in 40 years. Until now.
“We have waited four decades to hear more of the story. Richard Hall now shares his singular experience of being the victim of a historic act of terror that seized the world’s attention and ushered the media into an unpredictable new world,” retired journalist Tom Cochrun stated in the forward of the new book chronicling the incident, “Kiritsis and Me: Enduring 63 Hours at Gunpoint.”
Cochrun described the event as a bizarre and frightening, three-day psychodrama. During the incident, Kiritsis wired a shotgun to the back of Hall’s head and marched him throughout downtown Indianapolis. For three days, Kiritsis held Hall captive.
Carmel Clay Public Library will present the memoir with authors Dick Hall and Lisa Hendrickson from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. May 23 in the Program Room.
Hendrickson, a former journalist, writer and editor, assisted Hall in writing the book. Hendrickson said she remembered the media coverage of Hall’s kidnapping and was honored that he asked her to help him tell his story. Throughout the writing process, beginning in August of last year, Hendrickson said she was impressed by Hall’s strength, courage, faith and his openness and honesty in telling his story.
“(Hall’s) kidnapping by (Kiritsis) received national media attention when it occurred in February 1977, but (Hall) did not speak publicly about his ordeal for 40 years. At the Carmel-Clay Public Library on May 23, he’ll share previously unknown details about the kidnapping and its aftermath from his recently published memoir, ‘Kiritsis and Me: 63 Hours at Gunpoint,'”Hendrickson said.
The memoir will be available for purchase at the presentation. It is also available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. For more, visit carmel.lib.in.us.
