Man Arrested For Plot To Kidnap Letterman's Child, Nanny

[Tombstone]

When I first saw this story, I thought: "How in the world would anyone get access to the child or the nanny?" This is Montana, mind you. Letterman's ranch is almost 3000 acres. Sure enough, it was going to be an inside job.

HELENA, Mont. -- Authorities have arrested a man on allegations he was plotting to kidnap David Letterman's young son and nanny from the talk-show host's Montana home.

Sally Hilander, a spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Corrections, identified the suspect as Kelly A. Frank.

The plot was uncovered when someone whom Frank had approached about the plan informed local police, Hilander said. Frank was in custody on a felony charge of solicitation.

Two spokesmen for Letterman in New York did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

Mike Ferriter of the state Department of Corrections said Frank, 43, was arrested Sunday in Cascade County and arraigned Thursday. He had been working as a painter at Letterman's ranch west of Choteau in northcentral Montana, Ferriter said.

"An individual was approached by Mr. Frank, an acquaintance of some kind, about his thought on the kidnapping, and (Frank) shared his idea with this individual," Ferriter said. "I'm not sure if he asked him to assist or be a part of it. "

Letterman's girlfriend, Regina Lasko, gave birth to their son on Nov. 3, 2003. Letterman said that the boy, his first child, was named after his late father, Harry Joseph Letterman.

The comedian who hosts CBS' "Late Show" bought the 2,700-acre ranch in 1999.

This story is at: http://www.wnbc.com/entertainment/4295016/detail.html