10 documented events · 5 mapped locations · documented resolution
Sixteen-year-old John Paul Getty III was abducted in Rome on July 10, 1973. His mother, Gail Harris, sought his return while his grandfather initially refused the $17 million demand. The captors sent part of Paul’s right ear to a...
Sixteen-year-old John Paul Getty III was abducted in Rome on July 10, 1973. His mother, Gail Harris, sought his return while his grandfather initially refused the $17 million demand. The captors sent part of Paul’s right ear to a newspaper and threatened further injury. After a reduced ransom was paid, he was released in southern Italy on December 15. In July 1976, Giuseppe Lamanna and Antonio Mancuso were convicted and sentenced to 16 and eight years respectively. Seven other defendants were acquitted for lack of evidence.
Case record
Palazzo Farnese facing the square associated with Paul’s abduction. Modern location photograph taken in 2019. Credit: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons. CC0 public-domain dedication; modern location photograph.
Recent developments
Recent reporting and official developments, labeled by source and verification status.
Oct 19, 2026 · Grab Bag Collab
A new case-focused episode examines the kidnapping and the family's response. Its audio and video versions are included in the permanent media sections.
Listen to podcast →Sep 14, 2026 · Nathan Olli / Curator 135
Curator 135’s August 30 and September 14 episodes cover the abduction, ransom negotiations, release and Paul’s later life.
Listen to podcast →The scale
Key figures are drawn from the published case record.
The case sequence
This selection follows the major progression of the case from its earliest documented event through the latest material development.
See all 5 mapped locations →Jul 10, 1973
Sixteen-year-old John Paul Getty III disappeared before dawn after a night in central Rome. Reports place the abduction around Piazza Farnese. His captors took him to southern Italy and held him until December 15.
Nov 1, 1973
Il Messaggero received a package containing hair and part of Paul’s right ear, accompanied by a threat of further mutilation if the family did not pay.
Dec 13, 1973
Fletcher Chase delivered the ransom in Italian lire. Police recorded the banknotes and observed the collectors before following suspects linked to the payment.
Dec 15, 1973
Paul was found alive beside a road in southern Italy before dawn on December 15. He was 17 and had been held for more than five months.
Jan 1, 1974
Paul returned to Rome to assist investigators after the arrests. Contemporary reporting described his offer to identify suspects, and AP footage recorded his involvement in the inquiry.
Jul 29, 1976
A three-judge tribunal convicted Giuseppe Lamanna and Antonio Mancuso, sentencing them to 16 and eight years in prison respectively. Lamanna was accused of cutting off Paul’s ear. Seven defendants, including alleged organiser Girolamo Piromalli, were acquitted for lack of evidence.
How the record develops
Sixteen-year-old John Paul Getty III disappeared before dawn after a night in central Rome. Reports place the abduction around Piazza Farnese. His captors took him to southern Italy and held him until December 15.
Paul was found alive beside a road in southern Italy before dawn on December 15. He was 17 and had been held for more than five months.
A three-judge tribunal convicted Giuseppe Lamanna and Antonio Mancuso, sentencing them to 16 and eight years in prison respectively. Lamanna was accused of cutting off Paul’s ear. Seven defendants, including alleged organiser Girolamo Piromalli, were acquitted for lack of evidence.
A three-judge tribunal convicted Giuseppe Lamanna and Antonio Mancuso, sentencing them to 16 and eight years in prison respectively. Lamanna was accused of cutting off Paul’s ear. Seven defendants, including alleged organiser Girolamo Piromalli, were acquitted for lack of evidence.
Explore the visual record →Go deeper
This overview is the map. The case tabs hold the underlying events, people, media, locations, and source material.