Vanessa Richardson

The next day, February 5th, the media converged on the Hursts' sprawling home outside San Francisco, trying to get a sound bite from her panic-stricken parents. But the Hursts were in the dark, too. Thankfully, they only had to wait one more day to find out what happened to their daughter. On February 6th, the SLA contacted a Berkeley radio station by mail.

The next day, February 5th, the media converged on the Hursts' sprawling home outside San Francisco, trying to get a sound bite from her panic-stricken parents. But the Hursts were in the dark, too. Thankfully, they only had to wait one more day to find out what happened to their daughter. On February 6th, the SLA contacted a Berkeley radio station by mail.

The next day, February 5th, the media converged on the Hursts' sprawling home outside San Francisco, trying to get a sound bite from her panic-stricken parents. But the Hursts were in the dark, too. Thankfully, they only had to wait one more day to find out what happened to their daughter. On February 6th, the SLA contacted a Berkeley radio station by mail.

In their letter, which was written in the style of an arrest warrant for Patty, the SLA took responsibility for the kidnapping. However, they didn't make a ransom demand. That came six days later on February 12th. But the SLA didn't ask for a prisoner swap like they'd initially intended to. They didn't ask for money either, at least not for them.

In their letter, which was written in the style of an arrest warrant for Patty, the SLA took responsibility for the kidnapping. However, they didn't make a ransom demand. That came six days later on February 12th. But the SLA didn't ask for a prisoner swap like they'd initially intended to. They didn't ask for money either, at least not for them.

In their letter, which was written in the style of an arrest warrant for Patty, the SLA took responsibility for the kidnapping. However, they didn't make a ransom demand. That came six days later on February 12th. But the SLA didn't ask for a prisoner swap like they'd initially intended to. They didn't ask for money either, at least not for them.

In exchange for Patty's safe return, the SLA wanted the Hurst family to invest millions of dollars into a food program for Americans living in poverty. To prove Patty was safe, the SLA also included a voice message from her via tape. She told her parents that she was okay and urged them to listen to the SLA's demands.

In exchange for Patty's safe return, the SLA wanted the Hurst family to invest millions of dollars into a food program for Americans living in poverty. To prove Patty was safe, the SLA also included a voice message from her via tape. She told her parents that she was okay and urged them to listen to the SLA's demands.

In exchange for Patty's safe return, the SLA wanted the Hurst family to invest millions of dollars into a food program for Americans living in poverty. To prove Patty was safe, the SLA also included a voice message from her via tape. She told her parents that she was okay and urged them to listen to the SLA's demands.

Catherine and Randolph were prepared to do as they asked, but the SLA's request was a logistical nightmare. The Hursts had to create a multi-million dollar food distribution plan from scratch and quickly. But they were willing to do whatever it took to get their daughter back.

Catherine and Randolph were prepared to do as they asked, but the SLA's request was a logistical nightmare. The Hursts had to create a multi-million dollar food distribution plan from scratch and quickly. But they were willing to do whatever it took to get their daughter back.

Catherine and Randolph were prepared to do as they asked, but the SLA's request was a logistical nightmare. The Hursts had to create a multi-million dollar food distribution plan from scratch and quickly. But they were willing to do whatever it took to get their daughter back.

And on February 22nd, 10 days after the SLA's request, the Hursts managed to launch a food giveaway program called People in Need. It was an unmitigated disaster. So many people showed up to the first day of distributions that it descended into riots. Making matters worse, the SLA refused to let Patty go unless things improved.

And on February 22nd, 10 days after the SLA's request, the Hursts managed to launch a food giveaway program called People in Need. It was an unmitigated disaster. So many people showed up to the first day of distributions that it descended into riots. Making matters worse, the SLA refused to let Patty go unless things improved.

And on February 22nd, 10 days after the SLA's request, the Hursts managed to launch a food giveaway program called People in Need. It was an unmitigated disaster. So many people showed up to the first day of distributions that it descended into riots. Making matters worse, the SLA refused to let Patty go unless things improved.

As the Hursts were trying to organize their program over the next few weeks, the SLA continued to send them recordings from Patty. She didn't sound impressed with their efforts to free her. In one recording from March 1974, she said, quote, I don't believe that you're doing anything at all. But Catherine and Randolph refused to give up.

As the Hursts were trying to organize their program over the next few weeks, the SLA continued to send them recordings from Patty. She didn't sound impressed with their efforts to free her. In one recording from March 1974, she said, quote, I don't believe that you're doing anything at all. But Catherine and Randolph refused to give up.

As the Hursts were trying to organize their program over the next few weeks, the SLA continued to send them recordings from Patty. She didn't sound impressed with their efforts to free her. In one recording from March 1974, she said, quote, I don't believe that you're doing anything at all. But Catherine and Randolph refused to give up.

They managed to smooth things out over the course of the next month. By March 26, 1974, the Hursts had spent $2 million and given away over 150,000 bags of food. It seemed like this time they'd done enough to secure Patty's release, and it appeared the SLA would honor their word.

They managed to smooth things out over the course of the next month. By March 26, 1974, the Hursts had spent $2 million and given away over 150,000 bags of food. It seemed like this time they'd done enough to secure Patty's release, and it appeared the SLA would honor their word.