Bill Gates Pays $12 Million Ransom For Return Of Beloved Pet Fish; Suspect Remains At Large
In a bizarre kidnapping incident, billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, paid a reported $12 Million ransom for the safe return of his beloved pet, a 45-year-old Australian Lungfish named Buster. The suspect, who warned Gates not to contact police after stealthily kidnapping the fish, remains at large.After the fish was safely returned to his Medina, Washington residence, it was then that Gates contacted police. According to Medina Police Department spokesperson Lester McShay, Gates did not contact police during the incident out of fear that the suspect would go through with his threat to kill Buster.âMr. Gates made an emotional judgement call in not contacting police out of fear of retaliation, and decided that the twelve-million dollars meant nothing compared to the life of Buster, a fish he has owned since heÂ was a young boy,â McShay said in an early morning press briefing. âIt remains unclear whether or not the assailant acted alone, or with a team of bandits.âGates has stepped up security at his Medina estate by hiring off-duty police officers, as advised by Medina Police chief Leonardo Roscorelli, a close friend of his.McShay stated that Gates never actually saw the suspect on his property, and surveillance cameras captured images of a man wearingÂ a blackout suit, in which the entire body, including face and eyes, are covered.âIt is like something out of a movie, this guy really knew what he was doing. What we have not figured out is how he knew about the loving relationship between Buster and Bill Gates. This may have been an inside job, committed by someone he has befriended,â McShay explained. âSurveillance cameras located outside Mr. Gatesâ residence only showed the man running away while carrying a large plastic container of the Rubbermaid brand. No getaway vehicle was spotted on any of the video surveillance, unfortunately.âBuster is said to be healthy and in good spirits following the traumatic incident.Â