Woman Survives Kidnap

An 88-year-old great-grandmother was kidnapped from her kitchen in her pajamas and kept chained inside a hitch-on trailer for five days before being rescued, authorities said Tuesday.

Hedwig “Heddy” Braun of East Troy, Wis., was reported in good condition Tuesday, three days after investigators tracked her down and arrested a longtime family friend in a kidnapping-for-ransom scheme.

Reinier Ravesteijn, 45, allegedly demanded $3 million from Braun’s grandson, who owns a construction business. Investigators refused to say what led them to Ravesteijn, who was arrested during a traffic stop last weekend.

Ravesteijn was charged with six counts, including kidnapping. If convicted, he faces more than 100 years in prison and $80,000 in fines.

Braun had frostbite and a blood clot in her leg from the shackles, police said.

Ravesteijn allegedly kidnapped Braun Feb. 4, according to the complaint.

Braun’s 87-year-old blind husband was asleep in another room when she was taken, police said.

Robert Mann, 33, said he received a call from his grandmother Feb. 4, telling him she was chained to a mattress in a closet.

“It sounded like he [the kidnapper] was writing stuff down for her to say while she was talking to me because she suggested to me I had to wait until he had the message for her and he was getting a flashlight,” Mann said.

Mann received a letter Thursday demanding the $3 million and instructing him to leave a cell phone number in the window of his construction business. Mann said he left the number, but the kidnapper never called.

The propane-heated trailer behind the suspect’s home where she was held was only big enough to hold two motorcycles. Braun had been wrapped in blankets and was fed a cheeseburger and orange juice once a day, her grandson said.

Her family attributed her survival to a strong will.

“She has always been real tough,” Mann said. “She’s a very strong-minded person.”