Trapped in a Box: The Exxon^® Exec Who Didn't Make It Out Alive

On May 3, 1992, the brutal and tragic kidnapping of Exxon^® executive Sidney Reso ended in his death. What began as an elaborate ransom scheme unraveled into a shocking case of greed, deception, and murder. The culprits — Arthur and Irene Seale — went to extreme lengths to extort millions, but their crime soon caught up with them. Here's a closer look at how this horrifying case unfolded.

The Abduction

Sidney Reso, a high-ranking executive at Exxon, was taken from the driveway of his Morris Township, New Jersey, home on April 29, 1992. As he exited his car, he was ambushed by Arthur Seale, a former police officer and ex-Exxon security consultant. Seale shot Reso in the arm, then bound and gagged him. Eventually, Reso was forced into a wooden storage box and kept in a storage vault.

The kidnappers, Arthur and his wife, Irene, initially planned to keep Reso alive while negotiating a hefty ransom of $18.5 million in used $100 bills. Their ransom notes, sometimes signed as "Rainbow Warriors," were left at payphones near Exxon stations to mislead investigators into thinking environmental radicals were behind the crime.

A Crime Motivated by Revenge and Greed

Arthur Seale had once worked in Exxon's security division but was fired in 1987. Financial struggles soon followed as he and Irene racked up debt while living in luxury resort towns. When their lifestyle became unsustainable, they moved in with Arthur's parents — fueling resentment and desperation.

Rather than seeking legitimate financial recovery, the Seales devised an intricate plan to kidnap and extort a wealthy Exxon executive. Seale's former employment made Exxon's top leaders familiar figures to him, and he specifically chose Reso — perhaps out of a personal grudge against the company.

The Grisly Death and a Continued Ransom Plot

Trapped in the wooden box, Reso endured sweltering temperatures exceeding 100 degrees while being denied proper medical attention. Given only a limited supply of water, an orange, and sleeping pills, his condition rapidly deteriorated. Four days into his captivity, he succumbed to his injuries and the harsh conditions.

Despite Reso's death, the Seales continued their ransom demands. They attempted to collect the $18.5 million without revealing that their victim had already died.

The Investigation and Arrest

The FBI launched an extensive investigation, tracking down DNA samples from the ransom notes and payphones the kidnappers used. These crucial pieces of evidence led authorities directly to Arthur and Irene Seale.

On June 19, 1992, after a high-stakes chase involving more than 100 FBI agents, the couple was arrested. Under pressure, Irene Seale eventually agreed to testify against her husband and revealed where they had dumped Reso's body — in a remote part of the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey.

Justice Served

Due to New Jersey law preventing spouses from testifying against each other in state court, federal prosecutors stepped in. Under federal law, spousal testimony was permitted, making it possible for Irene Seale to provide crucial testimony against her husband.

Arthur Seale was convicted and sentenced to 95 years in prison, along with a $1.75 million fine. Irene Seale, having cooperated with authorities, received a 20-year sentence.

A Copycat Crime

Later that same year, a bizarre parallel case emerged involving Sol Wachtler, the chief judge of New York's highest court. Investigators initially thought Wachtler might be connected to the Reso case because the ransom notes he sent to his former lover, Joy Silverman, bore striking similarities to Seale's communications.

Wachtler had become obsessed with the Reso kidnapping, to the point that he mimicked Seale's ransom tactics to harass Silverman and her teenage daughter. He was eventually convicted of stalking and served time in prison.

The Legacy of the Case

The tragic death of Sidney Reso remains one of the most harrowing corporate kidnappings in U.S. history. The case highlighted the depths of desperation some criminals will reach when fueled by greed and resentment. It also underscored the role of forensic science in tracking down suspects, with DNA evidence playing a vital role in solving the case.

Even today, the crime serves as a cautionary tale about personal security and the extreme lengths criminals may go to for financial gain.

References: Kidnapped Exxon Executive Dies in a Wooden Box | Crime History – Kidnapped Exxon Exec Dies in Ransom Scheme | Exxon Executive Dies After Being Kidnapped – 1992