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Cindy Crawford is sent picture of her bound and gagged daughter in 'blackmail plot'
Kiran Randhawa13 Nov 2009
Supermodel Cindy Crawford and husband Rande Gerber have been the targets of an alleged blackmail plot involving a photo of their daughter bound and gagged.
The picture, depicting seven-year-old Kaia tied to a chair, was used to try to extort £60,000 from the couple, it is alleged.
Edis Kayalar, a German male model, has been charged in Los Angeles over the blackmail plot in which he is accused of repeatedly threatening to sell or release the photograph to the media if Crawford and Gerber, an entrepreneur, failed to pay up.
The 26-year-old is believed to have stolen the picture from the couple's nanny who had taken it during a "cops and robbers" game.
Kayalar, who has since been deported to Germany, was charged with one count of extortion, which carries a two-year maximum sentence.
The nanny, a former friend of Kayalar, claims the photo was taken as a "prank" and has not been charged.
Kayalar contacted Crawford on 13 July using a mobile number he took from the nanny's phone. According to the criminal complaint filed in LA, Kayalar initially said he wanted to return the photo because he was a good person and did not want to see it in the tabloids.
Mr Gerber later met him at a bar, where Kayalar showed him a copy of the picture and said he also took a handwritten note from the nanny's apartment that read: "The baby sitter went crazy and tied everyone up and they need your help! Please."
The nanny said she had taken the photo as a prank and was going to put it and the note on the front door of the family's house. The nanny never went through with the joke. Mr Gerber eventually got the photo from Kayalar and paid him $1,000 (£600) in cash but Kayalar is accused of demanding more money while saying he had another copy of the photo.
It is alleged he called Crawford and Mr Gerber again on 1 November and once more threatened to sell or release the photo to the media.
The US District Attorney's office are working with German authorities to track down Kayalar, who could now be extradited to the US.
Crawford and Gerber have been married since 1998 and also have a son, Presley, 10. Kaia is now eight.
