"LOST": Kidnapping a Child
Recently, I had came across this ARTICLE about Jaycee Lee Dugard, who had been kidnapped at age 11 and found 18 years later. For reasons I cannot explain, the article led me to reflect about the child kidnappings featured in the ABC series, "LOST".
"LOST": KIDNAPPING A CHILD
*Ben Linus' kidnapping of Alexandra Rousseau. A French research vessel had ran aground the island back in 1988. Among the crew was the heavily pregnant Danielle Rousseau. Following the deaths of her husband and fellow crew members, Danielle gave birth to a daughter, Alexandra "Alex" Rousseau. Future leader of the Others, Ben Linus, had been ordered by the current leader, Charles Widmore, to kill both mother and daughter Instead, Ben merely kidnapped Alex, claiming that she would be safer with him within the Others' camp. He pretended to be Alex's father for sixteen years. Eventually, mother and daughter reunited in Season Four. But they were never able to enjoy their reunion, due to them both being killed by Charles Widmore's hired thugs within a few days of their reunion.
*Walt Lloyd's kidnapping by Tom, at Ben's orders. Four of the island's castaways - Walt, his father Michael Dawson, Jin Kwon and James "Sawyer" Ford - attempted to leave via a constructed raft. Hours later, a boat conveying a group of armed Others - the island's residents - intercepted the raft, snatched Walt, and damaged the raft. The three adults managed to make their way back to island. We all know about the circumstances that resulted from that particular kidnapping. Michael disappeared for a while to search for Walt. Once he found the Others, he made a deal with them to free both Ben and Walt, who had become the Losties' prisoner. In order to free Ben, he murdered Ana-Lucia Cortez and accidentally killed Libby Smith. His deal with the Others also included leading Jack Shephard, Kate Austen, Sawyer and Hugo Reyes to their camp. Upon leaving the island, Walt forced him to tell the truth about his deal with the Others and his shooting of Ana-Lucia and Libby. Father and son became estranged. And later, Michael returned to the island to atone for his actions . . . and ended up dead in a freighter explosion. All because Ben Linus had ordered Walt's kidnapping.
*Kate Austen's kidnapping of Aaron. Upset over Sawyer's decision to jump from a rescue helicopter and return to the island in the Season Four finale, Kate decided to claim Aaron Littleton, the infant son of the Australian-born missing castaway Claire Littleton, as her own. She convinced Jack Shephard to help her. And both of them managed to convince Sun Kwon, Sayid Jarrah, and Hurley Reyes to pretend that Aaron was Kate's son. Six months following their return to the United States, Jack and Kate encountered Aaron's grandmother, Carole Littleton, at the funeral of Jack's father, Christian Shephard. Despite their discovery that Aaron's grandmother was alive, Kate continued her impersonation as the boy's mother and Jack continued to support her lie. Two-and-a-half years later, Kate finally decided to hand over Aaron to Carole, due to being driven by guilt from Sawyer's ex-girlfriend, Cassidy Phillips, whom she had befriended. And I cannot help but wonder if Carole Littleton would have ever learned about the existence of her grandson if Cassidy had not convinced Kate to give him up. Because I have grave doubts that Kate would have made this decision on her own initiative.