Tony Kiritsis Archive Videos
The Tony Kiritsis hostage crisis of February 1977 unfolded live in front of television cameras and radio microphones, creating one of the most surreal news events in American history. This archive brings together rare video footage from those three days and their aftermath — the dramatic press conference, the televised verdict, and news reports that captured the shock and debate across Indiana and beyond. More than just recordings, these videos reveal how a city, its media, and its justice system responded in real time to an unprecedented hostage standoff.
Kiritsis 911 Tape Uncensored
Tony Kiritsis’ 25-minute call to the Indianapolis Police Department that started the 3-day ordeal
On Tuesday, February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis took Dick Hall hostage in Indianapolis, Indiana. After walking into the building at 129 East Market Street, he went up to the 4th floor where the Meridian Mortgage offices were located. There he tied his dead man’s line around Richard Hall and dialed 911. This video is the entire 911 call made that day by Kiritsis. Please be warned this video has a lot of expletives.
The Tony Kiritsis Live Press Conference
One of the most insane things ever seen on live TV
As you’ll see in Dead Man’s Line, Tony Kiritsis held court before local media and law enforcement for an incredibly intense amount of time while he read off his demands and shoved his hostage Dick Hall around in front of the cameras. What you see in Dead Man’s Line is an abbreviated version of the spectacle. The footage in its entirety is significant for many reasons, not the least of which is that you will never see anything like it on TV today.
The Live Press Conference video you see here comprises the first 8 consecutive minutes of the event like you’ve never seen them before. That’s because this version never existed. We had to create it from scratch using multiple audio and video sources.
Kiritsis' Live Verdict
Pre-empting local prime time TV, the Kiritsis verdict was broadcast live — a highly unusual occurrence
The jury had been out for two and a half days, struggling to come to a conclusion on the question of whether or not Kiritsis was “insane” at the time of the crime. Several times, the jury foreman came to Judge Michael Dugan saying they could not reach a unanimous decision, and each time Judge Dugan sent them back to deliberate further.
By the night of October 21, 1977, no one really thought the jury would reach a decision before calling it a day. Court officials and attorneys had gone to dinner or retired for the evening when they were suddenly called back into the City-County Building. The proceedings were broadcast live on local Indianapolis TV, and when the verdict was announced at a Checkers minor-league hockey game in Market Square Arena that evening, the crowd cheered in support of Kiritsis.
After the Verdict Interviews
Hear reactions to the verdict from the defense, Jimmie Kiritsis, and the prosecution
After the Kiritsis verdict had been read, the media swarmed the defense and prosecution for their reactions. In the video, we hear from Tony’s attorney Nile Stanton, then Tony’s brother Jimmie Kiritsis, and lastly prosecutor George Montgomery. Please note this all raw unedited footage. Unfortunately, Montgomery’s audio is a bit noisy and could not be fixed. Also seen in the video is Tony’s other lawyer Richard Kiefer.
Stephen Kiritsis Interview After the Press Conference
“I’m so glad that it happened again and it ended good.”
Just after Tony was arrested, his older brother Stephen Kiritsis was interviewed by local TV reporters. Few people even knew he’d been on the Crestwood Village property throughout the live press conference.
In the interview, Stephen refers to a previous incident where Tony had fired shots at him and his brother Thomas Kiritsis. According to Stephen, he knew back then that there would be similar problems with Tony in the future. Regarding Tony, Stephen said, “He’s a fantastic man, smart, everything, but his intelligence goes haywire.”
Prosecutor Interview After Kiritsis' Arrest
The acting prosecutor in charge, David Rimstidt, gives his reaction to Kiritsis’ arrest
After Tony Kiritsis disassembled his dead man’s line, Tony was arrested and put into a police cruiser, and sheriff’s deputies escorted Dick Hall out on a gurney. Back inside the apartment complex, local journalists wanted answers from an exhausted rookie Deputy Prosecutor David Rimstidt. Along with Deputy Prosecutor George Martz, Rimstidt handled the incident as it was happening because Marion County Prosecutor James Kelley was out of town.
Tony Kiritsis Salutes America
“I may be a flag waver, but I wave it a hell of a lot better than John Wayne.”
“We all live in the greatest country on Earth.”
Witness Tony Kiritsis at his least violent as he waxes patriotic about how great the United States is.
Follow the Money
WRTV trial reporter Linda Lupear looks into where Tony got the money to buy his land
Long before Kiritsis took Dick Hall hostage, there had been a similar incident. For two and a half days, Tony held his own sister hostage, demanding that he be paid for nearly a decade’s worth of work in the family-owned trailer park.
In the video, you’ll see reporter Linda Lupear who covered the trial for local TV station WRTV. As you’ll see in the video, Lupear delivers a summary report on one of the most intriguing parts of the Kiritsis case, the major events in his life that had led him to kidnap Hall.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞-𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟕
Kiritsis wasn’t the only one holding people at gunpoint in ’77
Though the Kiritsis incident was unique for Indianapolis, it was by no means isolated. This archival video features an ABC News report from July 5, 1977 just one day after Luis Robinson took two dozen people hostage on a bus in New York. From Kiritsis in early February 1977 to Robinson on July 4, there were at least five cases in the U.S. where armed assailants held hostages for some period of time while trying to negotiate with law enforcement. In one case, just a month after Kiritsis took Dick Hall hostage, the hostage-taker also held a press conference for the media.
Thanks to Badge 737
IPD Officer David Coffman takes questions from the media right after escorting Kiritsis through downtown Indianapolis
Among the many members of law enforcement that we interviewed, David Coffman of the Indianapolis Police Department gave us so much valuable information that the film would simply not be as strong without him. Coffman was one of the first policemen to make contact with Kiritsis, confronting him in the fourth-floor office of Meridian Mortgage.
Here is the interview that David Coffman gave to the media the morning of February 8, 1977. Note: You’ll never see police interviewed like this nowadays. Thank you, Dave, for all you brought to the film!
Where Did Kiritsis Get the Idea From?
You’ll never believe the origin of the dead man’s line!
Curious about where Tony Kiritsis got the idea for his version of the dead man’s line? Watch the video to find out.