18 charged by grand jury in alleged Synanon kidnap

An indictment handed down by the Marin County Grand Jury charges 18 present and former members of the Synanon Foundation with assault, kidnapping, and false imprisonment of a former member. The sealed indictment charges the individuals with participating in the 1978 kidnapping and beating of Kim Myers, a former member of the controversial drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization. The indictment alleged that Mr. Myers was held against his will at Synanon's ranch in western Marin County and later escaped as he was being taken to Synanon offices.