In the annals of crime, kidnap is considered one of the most heinous, usually characterized by violence and prolonged physical and mental abuse. Victims often endure long and terrifying periods of captivity, with no contact with the outside world. History has recorded some notorious cases of kidnap, but some of the most disturbing abductions have taken place quite recently.
So what happened? And what became of the victims? Browse this gallery and relive some of the worst crimes of kidnap in recent times.