Episode 057: Eddie Freyer – Polly Klaas, Child Abduction Murder (Part 1)

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This is an updated, re-edited version of the original episode. Part 1 and Part 2 are now one episode.

Retired agent Eddie Freyer reviews the investigation launched during October 1993, to recover Polly Klaas, a twelve-year-old girl abducted from her bedroom by a stranger during a slumber party with two friends.

Eddie was the case agent who, working with his partners from the Petaluma Police Department, worked countless hours for over sixty days without a single day off, desperately trying to recover Polly and bring her home alive. Freyer was aware of the decreased possibility of finding her alive after the first 24 hours had passed.

The child abduction investigation became a major national story. All parents could relate to the fear that their children could be taken from their bedrooms during the night.

Eddie served 30 years with the FBI, four years as a clerical employee in the Pittsburgh Division and 26 years as a special agent serving in the San Francisco Division.

Freyer is currently an instructor with ICITAP, the International Criminal Investigation Training Assistance Program, and travels around the country and world conducting presentations about the Polly Klaas abduction case and the lessons he learned during the investigation.

Special Agent (Retired)

Edward L. Freyer

4/16/1972 – 3/31/2002

The following are links to resources providing additional information about the Polly Klaas abduction and murder investigation:

KlaasKids Foundation  Established in 1994 to give meaning to the death of twelve-year-old kidnap and murder victim Polly Hannah Klaas and to create a legacy in her name that would be protective of children for generations to come. The Foundation’s mission is to stop crimes against children.

ABC – 9/22/2023: Polly Klaas’ murder 30 years later: Investigators remember dogged work to crack case

The FBI Files, Season 1, Episode 1 “Polly Klaas: Kidnapped” (VIDEO)

Investigative Discovery  “Motives & Murders: Cracking the Case-  Who took Polly Klaas?” (VIDEO)

People Magazine – Taken in the Night, The Life and Death of Polly Klaas

To learn more about how the FBI investigates child abduction and Kidnapping cases, listen to these FBI Retired Case File Review episodes.