The Armstrong Kidnapping Case Backstory

The tragic story of the Armstrong family is revealed: the kidnapping and murder of Daisy Armstrong, the subsequent deaths of her parents, and the suicide of the maid Susanne.

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The Kidnapping of Daisy Armstrong

The Kidnapping of Daisy Armstrong The Crime Daisy Armstrong, the three-year-old daughter of Colonel Armstrong and Sonia Armstrong, was kidnapped from her home. The kidnappers demanded a huge ransom of two hundred thousand dollars. The family paid the ransom, but Daisy was found dead after two weeks. The public was outraged. The Aftermath Sonia Armstrong, who was pregnant, suffered a miscarriage and died of shock. Colonel Armstrong, heartbroken, committed suicide. The household was shattered. The nursemaid, Susanne, was suspected of complicity and threw herself from a window, dying. The family's governess, nurse, and servants were all traumatized. The Arrest of Cassetti Cassetti, the mastermind of the kidnapping gang, was arrested but acquitted on a technicality. He escaped the mob and changed his identity to Samuel Ratchett. The injustice outraged everyone connected to the Armstrong family, setting the stage for their revenge.

The Fate of the Household

The Fate of the Household The Governess and Nurse Mary Debenham, the governess, and Greta Ohlsson, the nurse, were both deeply affected. They loved Daisy and the family. After the tragedy, they left the household and eventually went abroad. They carried the memory of the injustice with them. The Servants Antonio Foscarelli, the chauffeur, and Edward Masterman, the valet, also had to rebuild their lives. Princess Dragomiroff, a family friend, remained in contact with the Armstrongs. Hector MacQueen's father, the district attorney, had handled the case and was frustrated by the acquittal. The Bond of Grief These individuals, scattered across the world, were united by their shared loss and desire for justice. They maintained contact through letters and eventually decided to take matters into their own hands, tracking Cassetti and planning his execution.

The Plan for Vengeance

The Plan for Vengeance The Conspiracy Forms Led by Linda Arden, the mother of Sonia Armstrong, the group of eleven (plus Pierre Michel, Susanne's father) decided to execute Cassetti. They drew lots to ensure each person stabbed him, creating a jury of twelve. They meticulously planned the murder on the Orient Express, using Pierre Michel's position as conductor. The Execution of the Plan Hector MacQueen and Edward Masterman infiltrated Ratchett's household. They arranged for the journey on the night when Pierre Michel was on duty. The other passengers booked tickets to ensure the carriage was full. The plan was to make it look like an outside job, but the snowdrift forced them to adapt. The Moral Justification Linda Arden, under the guise of Mrs. Hubbard, orchestrated the entire affair. She believed that society had failed to punish Cassetti, and it was their duty to carry out the sentence. The group felt that they were not murderers but executioners, acting in the name of justice.

Three years before the events on the Orient Express

During and after the kidnapping

Over the year following the Armstrong tragedy