PROSECUTORS FILE NEW CHARGE AGAINST KIDNAP SUSPECT Sept. 3, 2008 The parental kidnapping suspect whom prosecutors once described as a “mystery man” was charged today with providing a false name to police in court papers naming him Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced. “The charge reflects this defendant’s prevarication,” Conley said, “and the complaint reflects his true identity.” Furnishing a false name or social security number to police is a misdemeanor under Ch. 268, Sect. 34A of the Massachusetts General Laws and allows for up to one year in a House of Correction, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The complaint for that offense filed today is the first piece of court paperwork to be filed under the defendant’s birth name. “We identified Christian Gerhartsreiter after a comprehensive, multi-agency investigation,” Conley said. “We’re satisfied with that identification and certain that the Rockefeller alias he used was pure hokum.” Assistant District Attorney David Deakin asked the court to continue holding Gerhartsreiter without bail; Boston Municipal Court Judge Paul K. Leary granted that request and ordered the parties to return to court on Sept. 30, by which time Deakin said he expects a grand jury to return indictments. Gerhartsreiter is already charged with abduction of a minor by a relative, assault and battery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Those charges reflect the alleged abduction of his 7-year-old daughter in Boston’s Back Bay on July 27 and assaults on a social worker who was supervising their visit. A Suffolk County court granted the child’s mother sole legal custody of the child in 2007. Under the terms of that divorce decree, the defendant was allowed three supervised visits with his daughter per year and kidnapped her on the first. Gerhartsreiter was apprehended in Baltimore, Maryland, on Aug. 2 after a nationwide manhunt led by the FBI, Boston Police Department, and Massachusetts State Police. His daughter was physically unharmed. Defense attorney Stephen Hrones represented Gerhartsreiter at today’s proceedings. Return to the Press Releases page.