[Plummz]

If the family was in financial trouble -- bad real estate deals, blackmail by sex ring participants, etc. -- the death of the father-in-law and resultant estate issues might be a time when such troubles surface, come to a crux and the need for ransom money may become apparent.

[John Jamieson]

Family in this case is probably close to 40 adults (from the grandparents down. Could the ransomer be from extended family, I say yes, that's possible, but I don't see what the immediate family has to gain. Maybe we should be looking for the family black sheep.

[John Jamieson]

PS, probably on the mother's side, because her father just died. Who go left out of the will?