David Mamet's Theory of the Lindbergh Kidnapping - The Free Press
thefp.com
David Mamet's theory of the Lindbergh kidnapping reframes the case entirely — putting Charles Lindbergh himself at the center, and showing how narrative bias can blind investigators to the most obvious suspect.
Halo EffectNarrative BiasConfirmation BiasAttribution Error
Theory Briefing
- Mamet, the acclaimed playwright, wrote a letter to journalist Joe Nocera arguing that Charles Lindbergh was central to his own baby's kidnapping.
- The theory hinges on how Lindbergh's hero status created a halo effect that shielded him from serious scrutiny during the original investigation.
- Mamet's literary lens reframes the case as a classic misdirection — where public myth-making overrides the forensic logic of who had most to gain.