Extortion Try Just Latest Weirdness in Dave's Life

Letterman's extortion plot follows earlier stalkers, would-be kidnapper
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 2, 2009 12:47 PM CDT
Extortion Try Just Latest Weirdness in Dave's Life
Kelly A. Frank is led from the Teton County Court House in Choteau, Mont., Tuesday, March 22, 2005 after pleading not guilty to plotting to kidnap David Letterman's son.   (AP Photo/Great Falls Tribune, Robin Loznak)

David Letterman’s extortion drama is just the latest in a long line of bizarre happenings. A look back:

  • 1993: Margaret Ray, who stole Letterman’s Porsche in the 1980s and called herself “Mrs. David Letterman,” broke into his home at least seven times and was arrested in 1993. In 1998, she committed suicide by kneeling in front of a freight train.

  • 2005: Handyman Kelly Frank, 43, is charged with plotting to kidnap Letterman’s young son, Harry. Frank, who planned to demand a $5 million ransom, was sentenced to 10 years in prison; he escaped in 2007 and was recaptured.
  • 2005: Colleen Nestler claimed Letterman was communicating with her in code, causing her “mental cruelty.” A judge granted her request and ordered Letterman to “no longer think of her” and stay at least 9 feet away, but his lawyer had the “absurd and frivolous” action rescinded.
(More David Letterman stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X