Original subtitles

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 *