On Wednesday Cal Ripken Jr.’s mother was found in the backseat of her car after a man held her at gunpoint and abducted her from her home in Baltimore. Police are currently investigating the situation but as of now, the identity of the abductor is unknown.

There was no clear motive for Vi Ripken’s abduction and the kidnapper made no effort to collect ransom. In fact, there is no indication that he was aware that she is the mother of Cal Ripken Jr., a Hall of Fame infielder and former baseball players for the Baltimore Orioles.

She was released about twenty-four hours after she was taken from her home on Tuesday between 7am and 8am. She was found unharmed around 6:15am.

I have a confession. No, don’t look at me like that, I didn’t kidnap Vi Ripken. My confession is that I have a major soft spot for the elderly. Although she wasn’t hurt, my heart still goes out to her because I can’t imagine how scared she must have felt.

Who kidnaps a seventy-four-year-old woman? The heartless, that’s who. There is something deeply wrong about this. Of course, it is a horrific thing to abduct anyone at all but there is an unspoken rule about the elderly. Don’t mess with them.

Not to mention, she’s a mom. There are just some lines you don’t cross and this is one of them. Mothers are off-limits. If anyone kidnapped my mom, I would perform unspeakable grievances against them.

I suppose I should acknowledge the gunman for keeping Ripken relatively unharmed. According to Gus Kowalewski, a neighbor, the abductor supplied her with cigarettes and fed her. Kowalewski explained that when the gunman attempted to put tape over her eyes, she protested because of her claustrophobia and he accommodated her by giving her sort of mask or  blinder. He released her eventually- alright, I can’t do this.

This is absurd. This is like applauding mugger because he didn’t pistol-whip his victim (a nun) but just threatened to do while he took her money. What a guy.

I’m done being open-minded. Here is what I really think.

I want you to know, abductor, that I don’t care what your motive was or why you were so desperate for cash. Leave the elderly out of your dastardly deeds. I hope someone kicks sand in your face.

Jerk.

-Rose Vardell, 98.5 WNCX Morning Show News Blogger and Unofficial Defendant of the Elderly