Shivangi Sinha
Larry and Connie Van Oosten were living a comfortable, quiet life in Erie, Illinois, after building successful businesses. However, in February 2017, their lives were turned upside down when they woke to find a masked intruder inside their home. At gunpoint, he abducted them and held them captive in a bunker, where they were chained and kept hostage. Through the ordeal, the couple leaned on each other and drew strength from their faith in God to endure the terrifying experience. Lifetime’s ‘Rescued by Faith: The Connie and Larry Van Oosten Story’ is based on their real-life experience and it highlights the emotional strength and resilience they showed.
Larry and Connie Van Oosten Were Taken to a Bunker in the Trunk of a Car
Larry D. and Constance “Connie” P. Van Oosten spent most of their lives in Erie, Illinois, where they raised their two children, Amy and Jeff, and built successful businesses. Larry owned a pest control company, while Connie ran a flooring business, which she later sold to her daughter upon retiring. Eventually, Larry also sold his business, and the couple chose to spend more time at their farmhouse. It became their peaceful retreat, where they enjoyed a quiet and comfortable life. With frequent visits from their children and grandchildren, they always felt safe and secure in their home.
Everything changed on February 7, 2017, when a man broke into their basement and woke them from their sleep. He held them at gunpoint, forced them outside, and made them get into the trunk of his car. They were then taken to Geneseo, Illinois, where they were held captive in a secured room designed like a bunker, complete with surveillance cameras and locked restraints. The kidnapper was later identified as Chad Schipper, someone they knew from Sunday school. According to reports, he wore a mask to hide his identity and used a voice-altering device. He kept them under constant threat with a handgun and even made violent threats against their children and grandchildren.
On February 8, 2017, Schipper drove Larry and Connie to First Trust and Savings Bank, about 30 miles away in Albany, Illinois, and instructed Connie to go inside. He told her to withdraw $350,000 in a cashier’s check and make it payable to his company, Store Edge. Despite the threat, Connie remained composed. She discreetly passed a note to the bank teller, explaining that she and her husband were being kidnapped and held at gunpoint, and asked the teller not to react immediately. Once Connie left the bank, the teller alerted the police. Authorities quickly traced Schipper’s license plate and arrested him. He then directed them to the location where Larry and Connie were being held, and the couple was safely rescued and reunited with their family.
Larry and Connie Van Oosten Are Published Authors Today
In 2018, Chad Schipper pleaded guilty to several charges against him and received a long sentence. He had known Larry and Connie Van Oosten prior to the crime, having met them through church. In fact, Larry had previously refused his request for money in 2015, after which Schipper began planning the abduction. During sentencing, the judge took into account the couple’s age and the deep emotional impact the ordeal had on them. In the years that followed, Larry and Connie spoke openly about their experience in interviews and public forums, often emphasizing how their faith helped them endure the trauma.
In January 2022, they released their book, ‘Rescued for a Reason: An Unbelievable True Story of Kidnapping, Theft, and the Power to Overcome,’ which later became the basis for the Lifetime film. Connie, a graduate of Western Illinois University, has since focused on moving forward. She and Larry have settled back into their home in Erie, Illinois, and taken to a quieter life. Their children remain very close to them, but it is their five grandchildren who bring them the greatest joy. The couple stays active in their community and church. They deeply cherish spending time with family and celebrating their many memorable moments together.
Read More: Kamiyah Mobley AKA Alexis Manigo: Where is the Kidnapping Survivor Now?
You must be logged in to post a comment.