All language subtitles for A Crime to Remember S02E08 Baby Come Home

I NEED TO TELL YOU A STORY --

A PARABLE OF SORTS --

ABOUT LOVE AND LOSS,
DOUBT AND FAITH.

IN MY HEAD, I KNOW
IT HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO.

BUT IN MY HEART, IT'S AS IF
IT HAPPENED ONLY YESTERDAY.

I'M HERE TO PICK UP
BOBBY GREENLEASE.

SOMETHING TERRIBLE
HAS HAPPENED.

I WAS A FEW MONTHS AWAY
FROM TAKING MY FINAL VOWS

IN THE ORDER
OF NOTRE DAME DE SION.

UP UNTIL THEN,
EVERY PART OF MY LIFE

HAD BEEN
PREDICTABLE AND ORDERLY.

BUT THIS WAS THE DAY
THAT IT ALL CHANGED.

WE'RE JUST GONNA GO SEE
YOUR MOMMY AND YOUR DADDY.

I OFTEN ASK MYSELF, "COULD I
HAVE DONE SOMETHING MORE?

"COULD I HAVE MADE
THE DIFFERENCE?

"COULD I HAVE PREVENTED
THIS TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE THING

FROM HAPPENING?"

* ROSES LOVE SUNSHINE *

* VIOLETS LOVE DEW *

HELLO?

MRS. GREENLEASE.

BUT TO DWELL ON ONESELF
IS A SIN OF PRIDE.

AND WHAT I FELT THEN OR NOW

IS NOTHING COMPARED
TO WHAT MRS. GREENLEASE

MUST HAVE FELT WHEN SISTER
CALLED HER FROM OUR SCHOOL...

I'M SORRY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I...

...AND TOLD HER THAT SOMEONE
HAD JUST STOLEN HER SON.

SISTER MORAND?

THERE ARE SOME MEN HERE
TO SEE YOU.

PLEASE ANSWER
ALL THEIR QUESTIONS.

POLICE IMMEDIATELY
WENT TO NOTRE DAME DE SION.

SISTER MORAND,
I'M DETECTIVE BENNETT.

THIS IS DETECTIVE NESBITT.

WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU
A FEW QUESTIONS.

SISTER MORAND
WASN'T MUCH OLDER THAN I,

AND AT THIS POINT, SHE HAD
NO IDEA ANYTHING WAS AMISS.

AND THEN THAT ALL CHANGED.

WE'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU,
SISTER, ABOUT A WOMAN

THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SPOKEN TO
THIS MORNING.

I'M HERE TO PICK UP
BOBBY GREENLEASE.

SOMETHING TERRIBLE
HAS HAPPENED.

HIS MOTHER'S
IN THE HOSPITAL.

I NEED TO TAKE HIM TO HER
RIGHT AWAY.

I'M SORRY.
HOW ARE YOU RELATED TO MR. GREENLEASE?

I'M MRS. GREENLEASE'S SISTER
AND BOBBY'S AUNT.

PLEASE,
SHE'S HAD A HEART ATTACK.

IT'S VERY URGENT.

OF COURSE.

THE MOTHER SUPERIOR
WAS OUT OF THE SCHOOL

ON BUSINESS THAT DAY,

AND THE PRINCIPAL
WAS TEACHING A CLASS.

THOSE OF HIGHEST
AUTHORITY WEREN'T AVAILABLE,

SO SISTER MORAND, THE YOUNG NUN,
NEWLY ARRIVED FROM FRANCE,

WORKED THIS OUT ON HER OWN.

AND ON LEAVING,
THE LITTLE BOY SAID,

"CAN I TAKE MY JERUSALEM MEDAL?"

WHICH WAS GIVEN TO HIM
FOR SCORING WELL ON A TEST.

BOBBY,
YOU GO WITH YOUR AUNT.

QUICK, QUICK, QUICK.

WE'RE JUST GONNA GO SEE
YOUR MOMMY AND YOUR DADDY.

AND THE BOY TOOK THE HAND
OF THE LADY THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW

AND EXITED THE SCHOOL.

IF YOU'RE CATHOLIC,

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN A NUN
TELLS YOU TO DO SOMETHING,

YOU DID IT
AND NEVER QUESTIONED IT.

AND THEN
THEY DROVE OFF IN A TAXICAB.

CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE?

I THINK
SHE HAS MAYBE 40 YEARS.

SHE DESCRIBED THE LADY AS
BEING ABOUT 5'3", KIND OF PUDGY,

WEARING A BROWN DRESS
AND A BROWN HAT.

BUT SHE LOOKED
PERFECTLY RESPECTABLE,

CERTAINLY TO THE EYES
OF SISTER MORAND.

I'M SO SORRY.

I WOULD HAVE NEVER...

BACK IN 1953,

KANSAS CITY HAD
A FLAMBOYANT CRIMINAL HISTORY,

MOST NOTORIOUSLY
PRETTY BOY FLOYD.

BUT YOU JUST NEVER THOUGHT
YOU WOULD BE TOUCHED

BY ANY OF THE CRIME.

THE CHIEF OF POLICE,
BERNARD BRANNON,

WENT TO THE HOME
OF THE GREENLEASE FAMILY.

MR. AND MRS. GREENLEASE,

CAN YOU THINK OF ANYONE

WHO MIGHT HAVE WANTED
TO DO THIS TO BOBBY?

NO. NO ONE.

ANYONE WHO MIGHT WANT
TO DO THIS TO YOU, SIR?

MAYBE A BUSINESS COMPETITOR?

I DON'T THINK SO.
I...

ROBERT GREENLEASE
WAS IN HIS EARLY 70s

AND WAS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN THE MIDWEST.

HE OWNED
MOST OF THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIPS

BETWEEN TEXAS AND SOUTH DAKOTA.

HIS ESTIMATED
NET WORTH AT THE TIME

WAS $24 MILLION.

IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, THAT
WOULD BE WORTH $350 MILLION.

HIS EARLIER MARRIAGE
HAD ENDED IN DIVORCE.

VIRGINIA GREENLEASE
WAS HALF HER HUSBAND'S AGE.

EVERYBODY
WHO KNEW OF THE GREENLEASES

KNEW THAT BOBBY
WAS JUST LIKE A BLESSING.

BOBBY'S FATHER IS IN HIS 70s.

HE NEVER HAD
A BIOLOGICAL SON BEFORE.

IT WAS LIKE
SOMETHING FROM HEAVEN.

AND EVERYBODY KNEW
HOW THEY ADORED HIM.

EXCUSE ME, MISS.

YOU HAVE
ANY UNUSUAL PHONE CALLS

IN THE LAST FEW DAYS?

WELL...

10 DAYS EARLIER,
SHE HAD RECEIVED A PHONE CALL.

THE WOMAN SAID SHE WAS
FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

AND WAS ASKING QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN.

WHERE THEY WENT TO SCHOOL,

WHAT KIND OF PETS THEY HAD.

AND THE MAID SAID,
YES, BOBBY HAD A PET PARROT.

BUT I THOUGHT NOTHING
OF IT.

HEY.

YOU PICK UP A FAT LADY
AND A KID THIS MORNING?

WHO WANTS TO KNOW?

THE POLICE WERE QUICK
TO LOCATE THE CABDRIVER

WHO HAD TAKEN BOBBY
AND THE WOMAN AWAY.

BOBBY, YOU HAVE
THAT WONDERFUL PET PARROT STILL?

THE CABDRIVER
THOUGHT THAT SHE KNEW BOBBY

BECAUSE SHE ASKED HIM
ABOUT HIS PARROT.

HE THOUGHT THAT THE WOMAN

HAD GOTTEN INTO A BLUE FORD.

BUT THE DESCRIPTION WAS VAGUE.

HOW YOU DOING, KID?

NO LICENSE PLATE, NO NOTHING.

MY NAME IS
SPECIAL AGENT ROY MOORE

WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION.

ONE OF THE VERY
FIRST STEPS INVESTIGATORS TOOK

WAS TO ASK THE POSTAL SYSTEM
TO BE ON THE ALERT.

WITHIN HOURS OF THE KIDNAPPING,

AN ENVELOPE
WAS PUT INTO A MAILBOX,

AND TO THE POST OFFICE'S
GREAT CREDIT,

THEY IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED

THAT THIS HAD TO DO
WITH THE GREENLEASE KIDNAPPING

EVEN THOUGH THE ENVELOPE
WAS MISADDRESSED.

"YOUR BOY
HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED.

GET $600,000 IN $20s, $10s,
FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES."

"NO POLICE INVOLVEMENT,

"AND IF YOU FOLLOW
OUR INSTRUCTIONS,

YOU'LL GET HIM BACK SAFELY."

AND IT'S SIGNED
WITH THE LETTER "M."

BACK IN 1953, $600,000 WAS HUGE.

IT WAS $10 MILLION
IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.

AND TO THIS DAY,
NO KIDNAPPING RANSOM

HAS EVER EXCEEDED THAT AMOUNT.

THE SIZE OF THE RANSOM DEMAND
IMMEDIATELY LED POLICE

TO SUSPECT THAT THIS COULD
ONLY BE A MOB OPERATION.

MR. GREENLEASE SAID,
"WE'RE GONNA PAY THE MONEY.

NO DICKERING AROUND."

MONEY DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING
TO HIM.

HE WANTED TO GET HIS BOY BACK.

THEY BEGAN WORKING
REALLY ON 24-HOUR SHIFT

TO ASSEMBLE THE MONEY
FROM ALL 12 FEDERAL RESERVES

AND TO RECORD
THE SERIAL NUMBERS.

IN ADDITION TO THE POLICE,
ROBERT GREENLEASE

ASSEMBLES A COUPLE
OF CLOSE BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.

THE FIRST WAS MR. O'NEIL.

WILLIAM LEDTERMAN BEING ANOTHER.

AND ANOTHER ADVISER
IS PAUL GREENLEASE,

WHO IS AN ADOPTED SON
SOME YEARS OLDER THAN BOBBY

FROM AN EARLIER MARRIAGE.

BOBBY JUST ADORED
HIS BIG BROTHER.

WHAT BOBBY DIDN'T KNOW --
AND WHY SHOULD HE HAVE --

WAS THAT WELL BEFORE
BOBBY WAS BORN,

PAUL HAD CAUSED HIS FATHER
SOME CONCERN.

PAUL WAS A TROUBLESOME BOY.

HE WAS SENT
TO KEMPER MILITARY ACADEMY.

A LOT OF TROUBLED TEENAGERS
WERE PUT IN THERE

KIND OF TO GET THEM
"STRAIGHTENED OUT."

PAUL STAYED VERY CLOSE
TO HIS FATHER,

AND HE WAS KIND OF
IN THE BACKGROUND

DURING ALL THE NEGOTIATIONS
AND SO FORTH.

IT WOULD TAKE FOUR DAYS
TO ASSEMBLE THE MONEY

THE WAY
THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO.

BUT THAT WAS TOO LONG
FOR THE KIDNAPPERS,

BECAUSE MR. AND MRS. GREENLEASE

GOT ANOTHER MESSAGE
FROM THE MYSTERIOUS M.

THEY GET ANOTHER
LETTER WITH HIS JERUSALEM MEDAL.

AND THIS LETTER SAID,
"IF YOU DON'T ACT FAST,

YOU WILL NEVER SEE
YOUR BOY AGAIN."

MEN.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP,

BUT FROM HERE ON OUT,
WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ALONE.

WE JUST CAN'T TAKE
ANY CHANCES

WITH GOING AGAINST
THE KIDNAPPERS' INSTRUCTIONS.

THEY MAKE A STRATEGIC DECISION

THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO DO THIS ON THEIR OWN.

THEY DID NOT WANT THE POLICE

TO MAKE ANY EFFORT THAT MIGHT
PUT BOBBY'S LIFE IN DANGER.

SIR,
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT --

MY COMPLIMENTS
TO THE DIRECTOR AND YOU

AND ALL YOUR BOYS,
SOME I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS.

PLEASE, WE'RE --
WE'RE DONE HERE.

THANK YOU.
PLEASE LEAVE THE HOUSE.

THE POLICE AND FBI

DECIDE THAT THEY'LL LET
THE FAMILY HANDLE THIS.

1953, THERE WAS NO SET PROCEDURE
HOW TO HANDLE THINGS.

MR. GREENLEASE
WAS USED TO MAKING DECISIONS,

USED TO BEING IN CHARGE.

AND HE MUST HAVE THOUGHT, "WHO
BETTER TO TAKE CARE OF BOBBY

THAN HIS OWN PARENTS?"

THE NEXT DAY,
THE GREENLEASE FAMILY

PUT AN AD IN THE KANSAS PAPERS

LETTING THE KIDNAPPERS KNOW
THAT THE MONEY IS READY.

AND THE DAY AFTER THAT, THEY
GOT WHAT THEY HAD HOPED FOR.

HELLO?

M GIVES INSTRUCTIONS.

THEY SET OFF
TO DELIVER THE MONEY.

THE POLICE DO NOT FOLLOW THEM.

AS A GIRL, I ONCE SAT
IN A HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM

AND PRAYED TO GOD THAT MY BABY
BROTHER WOULD SURVIVE SURGERY.

IT WAS A SIMPLE TRANSACTION,
I THOUGHT --

MY DEVOTION
IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS LIFE.

I IMAGINE IT WAS SIMILAR

FOR MR. AND MRS. GREENLEASE
OVER THOSE HOURS.

A BAG OF MONEY FOR THEIR SON.

A SIMPLE TRANSACTION.

AND BOBBY WOULD COME
RUNNING UP THE FRONT WALK.

I BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE
TRADED EVERYTHING THEY HAD

FOR BOBBY...

GIVEN THEIR VERY LIVES
TO HAVE THEIR BOY COME BACK.

BUT ALL THEY COULD DO
WAS SIT AND WAIT AND PRAY.

WHERE'S BOBBY?

BOBBY GREENLEASE HAD
BEEN AT THE HANDS OF KIDNAPPERS

FOR FOUR DAYS.

HIS PARENTS WERE WILLING TO PAY
ANYTHING TO GET HIM BACK

AND HAD EVEN ARRANGED
FOR THE ENORMOUS RANSOM

TO BE DELIVERED
TO THE APPOINTED SPOT.

BUT IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE.

THE NOTE SAID TO DROP THE BAG
AT THE CHURCH,

BUT THERE WERE
SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND,

WE WERE AFRAID TO LEAVE IT,
AND SOMEBODY WOULD TAKE IT.

THEY FAILED TO DELIVER
THE MONEY TO THE KIDNAPPERS.

AND THE FAMILY FELT
THAT THEY HAD SIGNED

BOBBY'S DEATH WARRANT.

THE PANIC
EXPONENTIALLY INCREASES.

NOTHING IS GOING RIGHT.

OKAY.
PLEASE CALM DOWN.

WE WILL GET
TO EVERYBODY'S QUESTION TODAY.

SIR, CAN YOU TELL US
WHY THE POLICE PRESENCE

HAS DIMINISHED HERE
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS?

I REALLY CAN'T ANSWER THAT
AT THIS TIME, MA'AM. YES.

THE KIDNAPPING HAS
BECOME A NATIONWIDE SENSATION.

THERE ARE
OUTSIDE THE GREENLEASE HOME

SCORES AND SCORES
OF NEWSPAPER REPORTERS.

IT WAS A FRONT-PAGE STORY --

NEW YORK TIMES, TIME MAGAZINE.

A NATION STANDS AGHAST
AT THE KIDNAPPING

OF 6-YEAR-OLD BOBBY GREENLEASE
FROM KANSAS CITY.

EDWARD R. MURROW GAVE YOU
NIGHTLY BRIEFINGS AND UPDATES

ON THE CASE.

THAT WAS UNPRECEDENTED
AT THAT TIME.

THE PEOPLE THAT WE KNEW,

THAT'S ALL
THEY COULD TALK ABOUT.

OKAY, FOLKS.
THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HELLO?

YES.

I changed my mind.
I don't -- I-I don't want it.

SIR, YOU NEED TO SPEAK
MORE CLEARLY FOR ME.

FIVE DAYS AFTER THE KIDNAPPING,

IN THE EARLY HOURS
OF THE MORNING,

THE KIDNAPPER, M, CALLS AGAIN.

WE HAVE THE MONEY,

BUT WE NEED TO KNOW
THAT THE BOY'S ALIVE AND WELL.

Absolutely.
He's okay.

He's a hellcat.

We're gonna earn
this ransom money.

EVEN THOUGH HE MADE
A SERIES OF PHONE CALLS,

THEY NEVER TRIED
TO TRACE THE CALLS.

TRACING THE CALL WOULD HAVE BEEN
POLICE INVOLVEMENT.

HE SAID TO WAIT
FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

MEANWHILE AT THE SCHOOL,

THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY
ARE THUNDERSTRUCK.

WE ALL WENT TO MASS
EVERY DAY TO PRAY FOR BOBBY.

WE SAID
"HAIL MARYS" AND "OUR FATHERS."

WE WORE OUR ROSARY BEADS
TO DUST.

WE PRAYED TO ST. NICHOLAS,
WHO WATCHES OVER CHILDREN,

AND ST. ANNE,
WHO WATCHES OVER MOTHERS.

BUT WE FELT HELPLESS.

THEY WERE GOING THROUGH HELL.

* DOWN IN THE VALLEY *

* VALLEY SO LOW *

* HANG YOUR HEAD OVER *

* HEAR THE WIND BLOW *

* HEAR THE WIND BLOW...*

YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE
THE HORRIFIC TERROR

GOING ON IN HER MIND
AND IN HER IMAGINATION.

* DOWN IN THE VALLEY *

* HEAR THE WIND BLOW *

HELLO?

YES.

YES.

WE'RE READY.

PLEASE.

IT'S VERY DIFFI--

YOU LISTEN TO ME.

I AM BOBBY'S MOTHER.

TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO,
AND WE WILL DO IT.

WE KNOW HOW TO GET THERE.

WE WILL BRING YOU THE MONEY,
AND YOU BRING ME MY SON.

YOU BRING ME BACK MY SON.

YOU BRING ME BACK MY SON.

FINALLY, THE KIDNAPPER

GIVES THEM REAL INSTRUCTIONS.

WE'RE TOLD TO DROP IT OFF
A LITTLE BRIDGE

NEAR THE OLD HIGHWAY 40.

THE TWO
REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE FAMILY

COME TO THIS DARK, SECLUDED AREA
WHERE THERE'S A WOODEN BRIDGE.

THEY TOSS THE DUFFEL BAG OVER,
AND THEY HEAD OFF.

AND AS THEY DEPART,
THEY PASS BY ANOTHER CAR.

THEY WONDER,
"IS THAT THE KIDNAPPER?"

ALL THEY COULD DO WAS WONDER,

BECAUSE DESPITE
ALL THE PLANS AND PROMISES,

AFTER THAT MOMENT,

THE KIDNAPPER, THE RANSOM,
AND BOBBY GREENLEASE

ALL DISAPPEARED INTO THE NIGHT.

BOBBY GREENLEASE
HAD BEEN ABDUCTED A WEEK AGO.

HIS PARENTS HAD DELIVERED
AN ENORMOUS RANSOM

TO THE KIDNAPPERS,

BUT BOBBY
WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

AND THE WHOLE COUNTRY WAS
ON THE LOOKOUT, YOU MIGHT SAY,

FOR KIDNAPPERS.

AND THOUGH NONE OF US BACK
IN KANSAS CITY COULD KNOW IT,

A LONG WAY AWAY,

A MEETING BETWEEN
A TAXI DRIVER AND HIS FARE

WOULD BE THE KEY TO EVERYTHING.

THE LORD
MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

260 MILES AWAY FROM KANSAS CITY

IN ST. LOUIS...

A CABDRIVER NAMED JOHN HAGER...

TAXI!

...PICKS UP A FARE.

HEY, THE TRUNK OPEN?

YEP.

ABOUT 12 HOURS
AFTER THE RANSOM DROP.

SO, WHERE TO?

YOU KNOW WHERE A MAN
CAN FIND A GIRL TONIGHT?

AS LONG
AS YOU'RE NOT JOHNNY LAW.

IF YOU ONLY KNEW
THE HALF OF IT,

YOU'D GET
A REAL KICK OUT OF IT.

FELLA IDENTIFIES HIMSELF
AS STEVE STRAND.

HE SAYS
HE'S A PHARMACEUTICAL SALESMAN.

THE GUY'S FLASHING MONEY.

HE'S LOOKING FOR A FIXER,

AND JOHNNY HAGER
WAS THE RIGHT PERSON.

HE WAS THE GUY
THAT COULD GET ANYTHING FOR YOU,

LEGAL OR OTHERWISE.

HE DECIDES TO TAKE HIS FARE

TO A MOTEL ON ROUTE 66
CALLED THE CORAL COURT.

SO, MR. STRAND
HAS IN HIS POSSESSION

TWO VERY LARGE METAL CASES.

ONE'S A FOOTLOCKER,
AND ONE'S A METAL SUITCASE --

BOTH VERY HEFTY.

HEY, JUST PUT THOSE
ANYWHERE, OKAY?

STRAND TELLS HAGER THAT THESE
ARE PHARMACEUTICAL SAMPLES.

HEY, LET ME ASK YOU
A QUESTION.

YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET
A NICE NEW SUIT?

I'M GONNA NEED
A NICE NEW SUIT THIS WEEK.

CAN'T GO AROUND
WEARING THIS.

YEAH.
I KNOW A GUY DOWNTOWN.

PROBABLY GET SOMETHING
FOR YOU.

COSTS A PRETTY PENNY,
BUT, YOU KNOW.

THAT'D BE GREAT.
MONEY'S NO OBJECT.

I'M ABOUT A 40 REGULAR.

WHY DON'T YOU PICK ME OUT
A NICE SUIT?

STEVE STRAND OFFERS
MR. HAGER $2,500 AS A RETAINER.

OKAY.

I'LL GO GET THAT
FOR YOU, THEN?

OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS, HE ASKS,

"I NEED YOU TO DO
A FEW THINGS FOR ME.

"GET ME A NEW SET OF CLOTHES,
RENT A CAR,

GET ME SOMETHING TO DRINK,
SOME DRUGS."

ALL THESE THINGS,
HE ACCOMPLISHED.

YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET
AN I.D.?

I.D.?

AN IDENTIFICATION.

SURE. YEAH.
I-I KNOW A GUY.

VERY GOOD.
COME HERE.

LET'S HAVE A DRINK.

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES
THAT DANGEROUS THESE DAYS?

WELL, YOU NEVER KNOW.

SOMEONE MIGHT BE TRYING
TO ROB YOU.

HE'S SAYING TO HISSELF,
"WHO IS THIS GUY?"

CHEERS.

ME AND YOU, WE...

WE NEED TO HAVE, LIKE,
A SPECIAL KNOCK

SO THAT YOU KNOW IT'S ME.

YEAH, SPECIAL KNOCK.

RIGHT?
RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

RIGHT.
SO I'LL GO, UM...

JUST LIKE THAT.

THEN ONLY OPEN THE DOOR
IF YOU HEAR THAT FROM ME.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

SO, THEY DECIDED
THAT THEY NEEDED A SECRET KNOCK.

AND STRAND WAS LEFT ALONE
IN THE CORAL COURT MOTEL ROOM.

THAT EVENING, HE HEARS
THE PASSWORD KNOCK.

WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT?

HE OPENS THE DOOR, AND IN RUSHES
TWO ST. LOUIS COPS --

A DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT
NAMED LOU SHOULDERS

AND HIS DRIVER -- A YOUNGER COP
IN HIS 20s NAMED ELMER DOLAN.

WE GOT A REPORT OF A SUSPICIOUS
CHARACTER WITH A GUN.

HE KNEW AT THAT POINT
THE CABDRIVER GAVE HIM UP.

THEY FIND KEYS FOR THE LUGGAGE.

THE JIG IS UP.

LET'S GO.

NOW, I KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE THINKING --

"THANK GOODNESS.

THEY FOUND THE KIDNAPPER,
AND NOW THEY CAN FIND BOBBY."

BUT BE PATIENT AND BEWARE,

BECAUSE THE STORY
GETS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED

AND A LOT MORE TERRIFYING.

FOR SEVEN DAYS,
WE'D ALL BEEN PRAYING

FOR THE SAFE RETURN
OF BOBBY GREENLEASE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IT THEN,
BUT HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY,

A MAN HAD JUST BEEN
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY,

AND HE WOULD HAVE
ALL THE ANSWERS.

STEVE STRAND.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YES.

LOUIS SHOULDERS
WAS A 25-TO-30-YEAR VETERAN

OF THE ST. LOUIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

VERY STREET-SMART.

HE HAD A NUMBER OF INFORMANTS.

HE WAS A FEARED MAN
ON THE STREET.

THAT WAS AN AWFUL BIG TRUNK

WE FOUND IN YOUR ROOM THERE,
STEVE.

LOTS AND LOTS
AND LOTS OF MONEY.

WHAT IS IT YOU SAY YOU DO?

STEVE STRAND

IS GOING THROUGH
SEVERE ALCOHOLIC WITHDRAWAL.

HE HADN'T HAD A DRINK
FOR A NUMBER OF HOURS.

FOUND THIS
IN YOUR ROOM, TOO.

"CARL AUSTIN HALL,
INSURANCE AGENT."

IS THAT YOU?

HIS SYMPTOMS
OF WITHDRAWAL BECAME SO SEVERE

THAT THEY BROUGHT IN A NURSE

AND INJECTED HIM
WITH AN AMPHETAMINE.

THIS WAS BACK IN THE DAYS OF
THE THIRD-DEGREE INTERROGATIONS.

THERE WAS NO SUCH THING
AS MIRANDA WARNINGS.

LOOKING
A LITTLE BETTER THERE.

YOU READY TO TELL ME
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED? BOBBY?

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING.

COME ON, CARL.

BOBBY GREENLEASE.

YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

WE KNOW YOU DID IT, CARL.

HE KNEW IT WAS ALL OVER.

HE ADMITS
THAT HE'S CARL AUSTIN HALL

AND THAT HE IS THE KIDNAPPER.

CARL AUSTIN HALL
IS BORN INTO A WEALTHY FAMILY

IN PLEASANTON, KANSAS, ABOUT
50 MILES SOUTH OF KANSAS CITY.

HE WAS A RICH KID.

HE WAS SENT AWAY
TO MILITARY SCHOOL.

HE WAS A STANDOUT STUDENT
FOR HIS FIRST TWO YEARS.

BY HIS THIRD YEAR, THOUGH,
HE HAD DISCOVERED ALCOHOL,

AND HIS LIFE
REALLY TURNED ON THAT.

HE WAS A BIT OF A TROUBLEMAKER.

EVALUATIONS
SAID THAT HE WAS DISHONEST,

AND, IN FACT, EVENTUALLY
WAS KICKED OUT OF THE SCHOOL.

HIS MOTHER
WAS SO DISAPPOINTED WITH HIM

THAT SHE DISINHERITED HIM.

HOWEVER, HE INHERITED $200,000,

THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT $3
MILLION, FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER.

SO HE HAD ENOUGH MONEY

BASICALLY TO SET HIM UP
FOR LIFE.

HE WENT TO KANSAS CITY

AND ENJOYED ALL THE VICES
OF THE BIG CITY --

DRUGS, BOOZE, WOMEN, GAMBLING.

AND IN FIVE SHORT YEARS,
THE MONEY WAS GONE.

HE WAS REDUCED
TO ROBBING TAXICABS.

GOES TO THE PENITENTIARY
A FIRST-CLASS, 14-CARAT LOSER.

THIS KID'S PARENTS
WANT THEIR SON BACK.

SO WE'RE GONNA GET YOU,

AND WE'RE GONNA GET
YOUR PARTNER.

WHAT'S HER NAME?

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

COME ON, CARL.

EVERYBODY KNEW THAT A WOMAN
HAD PICKED UP BOBBY.

WHERE IS THAT WOMAN?

JUST GIVE ME HER NAME.

COME ON, CARL.

BONNIE.

BONNIE WHO?

HEADY.

BONNIE HEADY
WAS LIVING IN AN APARTMENT,

FURNISHED-ROOM TYPE
IN SOUTH ST. LOUIS.

SO, THE POLICE
GO TO THE APARTMENT.

THEY FIND HER
BONKERS DRUNK IN BED.

SHE'S GOT A BLACK EYE,

AND SHE'S GOT 2,500 BUCKS
AND NOT ANOTHER DIME.

WELL, I HOPE YOU
DON'T MIND THAT I SAT DOWN,

- BUT...
- PLEASE.

...I SEE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

SITTING ACROSS THE ROOM
BY HERSELF,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE
I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.

ME?
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

BONNIE'S SEVEN YEARS
OLDER THAN CARL HALL,

AND SHE HAS GONE THROUGH
A DIVORCE.

SHE WAS ABUSED IN HER MARRIAGE.

SHE BEGAN DRINKING,
AND SHE BECAME A HOOKER.

HALL WAS BROKE
AND SAW AN OPPORTUNITY.

SHE OWNED
HER OWN HOUSE IN ST. JOSEPH.

I SEE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN,

AND NOT ONLY IS SHE AS BEAUTIFUL
AS SHE IS ON THE OUTSIDE,

SHE'S JUST AS BEAUTIFUL
ON THE INSIDE.

AND SHE CAN DRINK ME UNDER
THE TABLE AND IS FUN AS A WHIP.

SO, NOW I'M FEELING
ALL THESE THINGS.

WHAT IS THAT?

TELL ME WHAT THAT IS.

IT'S LOVE.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL LOVE.

WELL, YOU'RE VERY CHARMING.

SO, I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU,
BONNIE HEADY.

YOU'RE A SWEET MAN.

STOP.

THEY LEFT THE BAR
THAT DAY TOGETHER.

THEY WENT TO HER HOUSE.

AND CARL HALL
BASICALLY NEVER LEFT.

JUST JOKING.

WHERE'S BOBBY?

THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT.

YOU LEFT ME.

WHAT DID YOU DO
WITH THE BOY?

COME ON.

WHAT DID YOU DO
WITH THE BOY?

WHERE?

THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY
IN THAT FAMILY.

A LOT OF MONEY.

COULDN'T SPEND
THAT MUCH MONEY

IN THREE LIFETIMES.

HE FIGURED THAT THE EASIEST WAY
TO MAKE A BUNCH OF MONEY

WAS TO KIDNAP A RICH KID.

HE CAME FROM A SILVER-SPOON
BACKGROUND HIMSELF,

SO HE KNEW SOMETHING
ABOUT PEOPLE WITH MONEY.

SHOULD I POUR YOU
A SINGLE OR A DOUBLE?

DON'T JOKE WITH ME.

LOOK, I HAVE
THIS GREAT IDEA

THAT I'VE BEEN MEANING
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

IT'S LIKE THE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
IDEA THAT SOMEONE GETS.

IT COULD BE OUR -- OUR TICKET
TO THE GOOD LIFE.

REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD YOU
ABOUT THE GREENLEASE FAMILY?

THE FAMILY

THAT'S GOT MORE MONEY
THAN GOD HIMSELF.

WELL, I THINK WE COULD PICK UP
ONE OF THE GREENLEASE KIDS,

HOLD HIM FOR RANSOM,
SEND A NOTE,

PICK UP THE MONEY,
AND WE'RE GONE.

SOUNDS GREAT.
I'M IN.

NO, I'M SERIOUS
ABOUT THIS!

I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS THE PLAN, AND I'VE
BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT

OVER AND OVER AND OVER
IN MY MIND.

I'VE SEEN EVERY DETAIL.

ALL OUR DREAMS
WILL COME TRUE.

HONEY, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT SOUNDS REALLY --

UM, A LOT
COULD GO WRONG WITH THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING
THAT'S GONNA GO WRONG.

I'VE THOUGHT IT ALL THROUGH.

A MONTH AFTER THEY MET

AND THREE MONTHS
BEFORE THE KIDNAPPING,

CARL HALL TOLD BONNIE
ABOUT HIS PLAN.

BONNIE'S REACTION, NATURALLY
ENOUGH, WAS, "THAT'S CRAZY.

IF WE NEED MONEY,
I'LL SELL MY HOUSE."

DO YOU LOVE ME?

YES.

I WANT TO SPEND MY LIFE
WITH YOU.

THEN YOU'LL GO WITH ME
ON THIS ONE.

SHE WAS A WOMAN
WHO HAD LOST EVERYTHING.

YOU TRUST ME?

I THINK SHE WANTED TO BELONG

AND BE CARED FOR BY SOMEONE
SO BADLY

THAT SHE WAS WILLING
TO DO ANYTHING THAT HE ASKED.

I LOVE YOU, CARL.

I LOVE YOU, BONNIE.

SO, WHAT'D YOU DO?

SO...

SO, WE SET UP A PLAN.

THE DAY OF THE KIDNAPPING,

EARLY IN THE MORNING,

THEY DROVE
OUTSIDE THE GREENLEASE HOUSE

AND WAITED UNTIL THEY SAW
ROBERT GREENLEASE AND BOBBY

DRIVE OFF TO NOTRE DAME DE SION.

AND STEP TWO
WAS TO KIDNAP BOBBY.

ONCE BOBBY AND HEADY
RETURNED TO THE PARKING LOT,

THEY GOT INTO THE CAR.

CARL SAID, "HI, BOBBY.
HOW ARE YOU?"

AND HE REPORTED, "I'M FINE."

THEY DROVE OUTSIDE MISSOURI
INTO KANSAS.

AND OUT INTO THE COUNTRY
FOR ABOUT 5 MILES.

HE PULLED IN A SPOT
THAT HE HAD PICKED OUT

BECAUSE IT WAS HIDDEN
BY SOME HEDGES AND A TREE LINE.

SHE TOOK THE DOG OUT FOR A WALK.

SHE KNEW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT.

AFTER DARK THAT NIGHT,

HE PUT THE BODY IN THE HOLE
THAT HE'D DUG IN THE BACKYARD,

COVERED IT WITH DIRT AND LIME,
AND THEY PLANTED CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

TO THINK THAT ANYONE
COULD EVER DO THAT TO ANY CHILD,

WHAT THAT MONSTER DID.

THEY KIDNAPPED THE BOY,

AND BEFORE THEY ASK
FOR A RANSOM, THEY KILL HIM.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
PEOPLE ARE HORRIFIED.

IT'S AN UNSPEAKABLE ACT.

IT'S SO IMPROBABLE
FOR A COUPLE OF BARFLIES

WHO DRANK THE WAY THEY DID
ON A DAILY BASIS

TO HAVE PULLED THIS OFF.

THESE WERE REAL AMATEURS.

IN FACT, HALL
HAD A PERSONAL CONNECTION

TO THE GREENLEASE FAMILY

GOING BACK TO HIS DAYS
AT KEMPER MILITARY ACADEMY,

WHERE ONE OF HIS CLASSMATES
WAS PAUL GREENLEASE.

AND THIS IS APPARENTLY
WHAT PLANTED THE IDEA

FOR THE KIDNAPPING.

AFTER THEY GOT THE MONEY
AND THE CAR...

...CARL HALL WAS WORRIED THAT
THEY'D SEEN HIS LICENSE PLATE,

AND THIS IS WHAT PROMPTED THEM

TO HIGHTAIL IT ACROSS THE STATE
TO ST. LOUIS.

THEY RENTED A CHEAP APARTMENT.

BONNIE HEADY RESENTED
THAT IT WAS A CHEAP APARTMENT,

SO THEY ARGUED ABOUT IT.

AND CARL HALL
PUNCHED HER IN THE EYE.

SHE PASSED OUT.

CARL HALL LEFT $2,500 IN CASH,
AND HE TOOK THE REST.

I DON'T THINK EITHER OF THEM

REALLY WERE CAPABLE
OF REAL MORAL SORROW.

THEY ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH,
BOTH OF THEM...

...IN THE MISSOURI GAS CHAMBER.

OKAY, HALL.
ON YOUR FEET.

CARL HALL WAS AFRAID OF DEATH.

POSSIBLE FOR BONNIE,

DEATH IS A WAY OUT
FROM HER DEPRESSED EXISTENCE.

SHE SEEMED RESIGNED TO HER FATE.

BONNIE HEADY AND CARL HALL

PAY FOR THEIR SINS
WITH THEIR LIVES.

THEIR BODIES WERE IN THE GROUND
JUST 30 DAYS AFTER THE VERDICT.

BUT THERE'S AN EPILOGUE
TO THIS STORY

THAT, TO THIS DAY,
I FIND DISTURBING.

HALF THE RANSOM MONEY
DISAPPEARED...

$312,000 MISSING.

...AND, TO THIS DAY,
HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND.

JOHNNY HAGER WAS ON THE PAYROLL
OF JOE COSTELLO, THE MOBSTER.

ALSO ON THE PAYROLL
OF JOE COSTELLO, THE MOBSTER,

WAS LIEUTENANT SHOULDERS.

IN FACT, JOE COSTELLO
WAS OUTSIDE THE MOTEL ROOM

AS CARL HALL WAS BEING LED OUT.

THERE ARE VIRTUALLY
NO GOOD GUYS,

AND THE BAD GUYS
ARE EXCEPTIONALLY BAD.

WHAT THE GREENLEASES LOST
WAS INFINITE.

IT WAS A PAIN
THAT ENDURED UNRELENTING

LONG AFTER BOBBY'S KILLERS
WERE PUT TO DEATH.

NO AMOUNT OF JUSTICE WOULD EVER
FILL THE HOLE IN THEIR LIVES.

* DOWN IN THE VALLEY *

* VALLEY SO LOW *

* HANG YOUR HEAD OVER *

* HEAR THE WIND BLOW *

YOU THINK OF THE '50s
AS BEING A HAPPY TIME,

BUT THIS IS THE DARKEST CLOUD

THAT EVER FLOATED
OVER THE '50s SKY.

AND THESE MANY YEARS LATER
WHEN I THINK OF BOBBY --

AND I OFTEN DO --

I SAY A PRAYER
FOR WHAT WE LOST --

A LITTLE BOY
AND A LITTLE OF OUR INNOCENCE.

* DOWN IN THE VALLEY *

* VALLEY SO LOW *

* HANG YOUR HEAD OVER *

* HEAR THE WIND BLOW *

* HEAR THE WIND BLOW, DEAR *

* HEAR THE WIND BLOW *

* HANG YOUR HEAD OVER *

* HEAR THE WIND BLOW *