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Podcast: Nashville For Nobodies
Adolph Coors III, known as Ad, was the heir to the Coors Brewing Company. He was kidnapped on February 9, 1960, while en route to work from his home in Morrison, Colorado. The route he took over Turkey Creek Bridge was where his car was later found abandoned.
Kidnapping
The initial discovery of Coors' car led to the immediate suspicion of foul play, as his hat and glasses were found near the vehicle, and there was evidence of a struggle. The FBI got involved quickly due to the nature of the crime and the victim's high profile. They found a ransom note demanding $500,000, which Coors' wife, Mary, tried to follow through with, but the kidnapper never made further contact.
Investigation and Law Enforcement's Role
The investigation was extensive and challenging. The FBI, alongside local law enforcement agencies, undertook a massive search and follow-up on numerous tips from the public. One of the key pieces of evidence was a description of a suspect and his vehicle, which a witness provided who saw Coors' car on the bridge. This led to the identification of the suspect as Joseph Corbett Jr., a convicted murderer who had escaped from a California prison in 1959.
Capture of Joseph Corbett Jr.
Corbett became the subject of one of the largest manhunts in FBI history. His car was later found in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which added to the nationwide scope of the search. The case broke wide open when a can of Coors' beer and a typewriter used for the ransom note were traced back to Corbett. By September 1960, Corbett was placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
Discovery and Aftermath
Tragically, Adolph Coors III's remains were discovered in September 1960 near Pike's Peak, Colorado, by a hunter. The discovery ruled out any possibility of his survival and shifted the investigation towards a murder inquiry. The autopsy confirmed that Coors died from a gunshot wound.
Arrest and Conviction
Joseph Corbett was captured in Vancouver, Canada, in October 1960 after being recognized from an FBI poster. Extradited to Colorado, he faced trial in 1961. Despite his plea of innocence and lack of direct forensic evidence linking him to Coors' murder, the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming. Corbett was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Conclusion
Joseph Corbett Jr. remained in prison until his parole in 1980. He maintained his innocence until his death in 2009. The Coors kidnapping and murder case remains one of the most infamous crimes in American history, highlighting both the reach and limitations of law enforcement capabilities at the time. It also marked a significant moment in the FBI's use of nationwide alerts and cooperation with the public in apprehending fugitives.
Highway Highlights:
1. Ad Coors III the heir to the Coors company and fortune was kidnapped and murdered on February 9, 1960 by Joseph Corbett Jr. an escaped murderer from California
2. This kidnapping resulted in the largest FBI manhunt since the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby and involved personal involvement with Hoover himself
3. Ad Coors body was found and identified in September of 1960 and in the 263 days it took to catch Corbett the FBI collected an evidence file so thick it was 5 inches tall.
4. Corbett was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison at Old Max but only served 18 years.
5. Corbett died by suicide at the age of 82 as a free man (age of Adolph Coors suicide)
Sources:
https://www.fbi.gov/history/artifacts/coors-kidnapping-ransom-note
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHlaw1O3TMw
https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/-a-look-back-at-the-coors-kidnapping-case
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolph_Coors_III
https://youtu.be/UFHPRNDYEfY?si=ODfnBphLkzUpp14m
https://bookreadfree.com/216131/5352083
