Bond set at $1M for accused kidnapper

Bond was set for the man accused of kidnapping family members in his dad’s Willoughby basement.

Bond was set at $1 million for the Cleveland man accused of kidnapping three family members in his father’s basement.

In Willoughby Municipal Court on Feb. 27, 34-yearold Michael Ribaudo was arraigned on three firstdegree felony counts of kidnapping.

According to Willoughby police:

Ribaudo planned to have dinner at his father’s house Feb. 24. After he arrived, he lured his 72-year-old father into the basement and assaulted him with chloroform. After a brief struggle, he bound and gagged his father. He then went to his mother’s home on Shepherds Glen, brought her back to his father’s home and handcuffed her and tied her to a support post in the basement.

He then left for his aunt’s house in Willowick, brought her back to his father’s house. He handcuffed her to a support post with his mother.

His aunt was able to escape a short time later. She told him she called 911, and he fled from the scene. She locked the doors and called 911.

Ribaudo was found a few hours later by Eastlake police sleeping in his car in the city’s Walmart parking lot.

An investigation is still ongoing, according to police.

On Feb. 20, Willoughby police were called to the Regal Cinemas for the report of a suspicious male. That man had asked employees when the busiest time was at the theater and what time the most popular movie was showing. That man left the scene in a similarly described vehicle to the one Ribaudo was found in by Eastlake police. Willoughby detectives had reason to believe after the kidnapping incident, Ribaudo was the suspicious male at the theater.

Police are not anticipating any charges to arise from this incident.

Ribaudo has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 2 in Willoughby Municipal Court.

Ribaudo