Bonnie Parker and Clyde Borrow, a pair of violent lovers, wreaked havoc on their victims and became perhaps one of the most widely known criminal couples of all time. During a two-year period, Bonnie and Clyde went on a legendary crime spree and oddly captured the attention and admiration of the American public.
Their crime spree occurred following the great depression, a time when the American public was at odds with the U.S. government. Let's take a look at the short-lived crime spree of the famous couple and look at some of the few rare pictures of the romanticized couple.
They Met By Happenstance
A mutual friend of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Borrow broke their arm in 1930. The couple both visited that mutual friend on the same day. The couple quickly hit it off
When the soon-to-be couple first met, Bonnie, only 19 years old at the time, was already married to another man. Bonnie's husband, however, was imprisoned for murder. Her husband's life of crime would soon mimic Bonnie's own life on the run from U.S. lawmakers. Clyde, in the meantime, was already a criminal living a life that involved constantly skirting law enforcement.
Clyde's Life Of Crime Started Small
While we know Clyde Borrow as a violent and ruthless criminal these days, his life of crime actually started with some very small infractions. Clyde's first brush with the law came when he failed to return a rental car on time, something that today would just result in additional fees.
Clyde's second clash with police occurred when he stole a turkey. It wouldn't be long before he moved onto more violent and lucrative forms of criminal activity.
Clyde Was Arrested After They Met
The new romance between Bonnie and Clyde would hit a snag just three months into their courtship. Clyde, a lifetime criminal, was caught by police following a series of robberies. Clyde would be sentenced and serve two years in prison.
In 1932, Clyde Borrow was released from prison. It would be the start of a crime spree that captivated the country. It would also be the first time that a now 22-year-old Bonnie was involved in any type of criminal activity. When Clyde was released from prison, it was Bonnie waiting outside the prison's gates to greet her lover.
The Start Of The 'Barrow Gang'
When Bonnie and Clyde started the "Barrow Gang" it was a small outfit that engaged in typical criminal activities around little towns located in north-central Texas.
The gang would steal weapons and then use them to rob gas stations, earning them some quick but mediocre cash. At one point, the gang tried to bust their fellow criminal friends out of prison. It was the start of a romanticized relationship that would captivate the country for two years.
Bonnie Is Arrested For Attempted Theft
The Barrow Gang was only engaging in typical gas station burglaries at first but that was enough to see Bonnie get arrested. She was caught while trying to steal weapons from a hardware store.
Because it was her first offense, Bonnie Parker was released from prison after only spending a few months behind bars. Almost the second she was released the couple began engaging in additional criminal activities that would earn them the attention of a captivated America.
The Gang's Criminal Activities Became More Violent
What started as an attempt to make some extra cash through typical gas station robberies soon turned more violent. It wasn't long before Bonnie, Clyde, and the rest of the Barrow Gang started attacking sheriffs and other officers of the law.
The gang engaged in murder and there was no turning back. They also started to expand their operation, moving from Texas to other outlying areas as their life on the lam started to become a larger part of their lives. They made it as far as Minnesota during their crime spree.
Family Eventually Joined In After Hearing About The Gang's Success
Clyde Borrow was not the only criminal-minded person in his family. As his gang of criminals continued to grow, his own family would get in on the action, hoping to reap the rewards from a life of crime.
Buck, Clyde's brother, along with Buck's wife, Blanche, soon joined the Barrow gang. Together, Bonnie and Clyde's gang, along with their family members, continued to take part in dangerous robberies and murder.
Fleeing Their Hideout In Missouri
This photo was confiscated by law enforcement who tracked down Bonnie and Clyde's hideout in Joplin, Missouri. The raid forced the notorious couple to flee their home in 1933, leaving behind most of their possessions.
Two rolls of film were confiscated during the raid, providing most of the only known photographs of the couple that still exist. Despite the raid, Bonnie and Clyde would continue to commit additional crimes for another year.
Photos Were Used To Alert The Public
The confiscation of photos from Bonnie and Clyde's hideout in Joplin, Missouri would be a crucial component in eventually bringing the couple to justice. Without a TV in every home, law enforcement needed a way to show the public what the couple looked like.
They took this photo and others from the collection they had retrieved and circulated the photos in newspapers across the country. The manhunt for the famous couple was starting to heat up.
Bonnie Was Romanticized For Her Ability To Run With The Boys
Perhaps one of the most iconic photos from the escapades of Bonnie and Clyde is this one featuring Bonnie with a cigar held firmly in her mouth. While she was a dangerous criminal, that's not how the media always portrayed her.
Perhaps as a sign of the times, Bonnie was romanticized as a tough southern woman who was capable of holding her own against some of the worst criminals in America.
Law Enforcement Scores A Big Victory
Now on the FBI's 'Most Wanted' list, the Barrow gang was nearing the end of its successful run as criminals. While they were hunkered down in Platte City, Missouri, Highway Patrol officers discovered the gang.
Officers, rolling up in an armored car, ambushed the gang, killing Buck and arresting Blanche. As they had done many times before, Bonnie and Clyde managed to escape during the ambush. Still, it was a big win that would foreshadow Bonnie and Clyde's eventual end.
A Police Death Changes The Public's Mind
On January 6, 1933, the Grapevine Home Bank was robbed by two of Clyde's gang members. Police quickly started an investigation and they were led to a Dallas home where Bonnie and Clyde were believed to be in hiding.
When Grapevine Sheriff Malcolm Davis arrived at the home, he was killed by Clyde Borrow. Local newspapers soon printed exaggerated reports of the couple reveling in the killing of the officer. As all four major Dallas newspapers printed stories full of false reports that were later discredited, those stories served to turn the public against Bonnie and Clyde.
Bonnie And Clyde Both Suffered Debilitating Injuries
Despite their outlaw reputation, Bonnie and Clyde were actually growing weak well before they met their last days on earth. Clyde, hoping to be transferred out of Eastham prison, had a fellow prisoner cut off several of his toes using an ax, which created a lasting impact on his ability to walk. It was a needless event since, unbeknownst to Clyde, he was set to be paroled six days later.
Bonnie suffered a leg injury in June 1933 when Clyde crashed their car, and battery acid poured all over her right leg. At least part of the acid ate down to her bone. Bonnie couldn't go to the hospital and never walked normally again.
They Had Fun Kidnapping People, Even Police Officers
It's believed that Clyde killed a total of 10 people. While later portrayed as completely ruthless, most of those killings occurred when someone tried to stop their escape following a robbery. Instead, the couple took joy in kidnapping people, driving around with them, and then releasing them.
The couple managed to capture a police officer who asked if there was anything the couple wanted the public to know once they released him. Bonnie told the officer she didn't really smoke cigars. On several occasions, the couple even gave their kidnapping victims money so they could get back home.
Their Crime Spree Comes To An End In Gruesome Fashion
After two years of non-stop crime, Bonnie and Clyde's criminal enterprise came crashing down on May 23, 1934. Police officers ambushed the famous couple as Clyde drove in a stolen Ford V8.
The police, taking no chances, completely emptied their ammunition into the vehicle. Both Bonnie and Clyde were pronounced dead. The ambush was the result of one police officer who had spent four months hunting down the criminal couple.
The Police Officer Who Brought Down Bonnie And Clyde
Texas police officer Frank Hamer was determined to be the man responsible for bringing down America's most well-known criminal couple. Starting on February 12, Hamer started following Bonnie and Clyde's every movement. He soon realized the couple was moving in a circular pattern throughout five Midwestern states.
Along with his fellow officers Alcorn and B.M. "Maney" Gault, and Louisiana officers Henderson Jordan and Prentiss Morel, Hamer set up the ambush that would end the couple's criminal run. He formed his posse (pictured) with the Midwestern officers because it was illegal to pursue criminals across state lines at the time.
Bonnie Parker's Funeral Was A Spectacle
Bonnie and Clyde told family members they wanted to be buried next to each other, a request Bonnie Parker's family would not allow. Bonnie's mothers asked that her daughter be brought home but a mob of people made that impossible.
When Parker was finally buried, nearly 20,000 people showed up for her final farewell, making it nearly impossible for her family to reach her gravesite. There are even rumors that Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillinger sent the family cards offering their condolences.
The Barrow Brothers Share A Single Gravestone Marker
With his last wish unfulfilled, Clyde Barrow was buried in a private funeral on May 25, 1934. The famous outlaw was buried next to his brother, Marvin, at Western Heights Cemetary in Dallas, Texas.
The two brothers share a single granite marker that bears both of their names along with an epitaph that reads: "Gone but not forgotten." Thousands of people also attempted to attend the funeral in the hopes of getting one last glimpse at the slain outlaw.
The Couple Had Once Captured The Man Who Embalmed Them
Bonnie and Clyde, as previously noted, loved to kidnap people and then set them free after driving around with their victims. In 1933 the couple stole a new Ford and they were pursued by Dillard Darby and a female friend.
The couple eventually captured the couple and held them as hostages. Bonnie spoke with Darby and he claims she found it funny that he was a mortician. Bonnie even joked that maybe one day soon he would prepare the couple's bodies for burial. Her joke eventually became reality.
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway Revive The Couple's Outlaw Legacy
While the entire country seemed enthralled with Bonnie and Clyde's criminal escapades, after their death the famous couple all but disappeared from the public consciousness. In 1967 their famous exploits were thrust back into the spotlight.
That was the year that Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway portrayed the famous couple in the movie Bonnie and Clyde. The film would go on to receive critical acclaim and become an iconic Hollywood movie.
Is It Possible That An Alcatraz Escapee Is Still Alive?
Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay, Calif., operated for 29 years — from 1934 to 1963. During that time, 36 inmates attempted to escape. According to officials, every single escape failed because the prisoners were either captured or shot.
However, five inmates in the December 1937 and June 1962 escape attempts were never found. While most experts believe they died of drowning, family members think at least one man survived and successfully managed to escape the "escape proof" facility.
John Anglin's Family Believes He Got Away And Is In His 80s
John Anglin and his brother Clarence escaped with fellow inmate Frank Morris by tunneling through their cells. The three of them wound up in the bitter cold water and were never heard from again. The Anglin family discovered in 2016 that police received a strange note in 2013 purporting to be from John.
The letter read: "My name is John Anglin. I escaped from Alcatraz in June 1962 with my brother Clarence and Frank Morris. I'm 83 years old and in bad shape. I have cancer… Yes we all made it that night but barely. This is no joke."
John & His Brother Teamed Up To Rob Banks In The '50s
Before getting into more details about the letter, let's review some information about John and his conspirators. John and his older brother Clarence were born in Georgia. Their parents were farm workers who relocated the family to Florida in the early 1940s. They spent summers picking cherries in Michigan, and the boys often showed off their swimming skills in the cold water of Lake Michigan.
They turned to a life of crime in their 20s (in the 1950s) by robbing banks and other facilities. They made sure the businesses were closed at the time so no one would get hurt.
The Brothers Were Imprisoned & Transferred To Alcatraz After Several Escape Attempts
John and Clarence may have been burglars, but they weren't armed and dangerous. They reportedly only used a gun one time, and it was a toy gun. The pair was arrested in 1956 and were given 15- to 20-year sentences. They served their time in various prisons across the country: Florida State Prison, Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas, and Atlanta Penitentiary.
Unhappy with their confinement, the siblings made numerous attempts to escape the prison in Georgia. This led to their transfer to Alcatraz. John went first, arriving on Oct. 21, 1960. He was followed by Clarence on Jan. 10, 1961.
They Conspired With Two Other Men To Break Out Of Alcatraz
John and Clarence got to know a couple other inmates at Alcatraz with the same goal: escape. Frank Lee Morris, who was orphaned at a young age, was first arrested at age 13. He was involved in everything from narcotics possession to armed robbery. He was also extremely intelligent and scored very high on IQ tests.
Like the Anglin brothers, he served time in several prisons in Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. He escaped from the Louisiana State Penitentiary but was recaptured one year later for burglary. He arrived at Alcatraz in 1960. The Anglin brothers also met a man named Allen West.
They Dug Holes At Night While Morris Covered Up The Noise With Accordion Music
The four of them lived in adjacent cells in 1961. It's possible they knew each other previously from the time they served at the Atlanta penitentiary. Morris was the mastermind behind the escape plans. Over the course of six months, they spent their nights digging around their cells’ ventilation duct openings.
They had acquired saw blades they found on prison grounds as well as spoons they stole from the commissary and a drill they made from vacuum cleaner parts. The four men hid the holes using cardboard and paint. Morris would play the accordion in order to muffle the sound of their work.
They Got Advice From Whitey Bulger
In 2014, Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger wrote a letter to the Algin's nephew, Ken Widner, about the escapees. Bulger had met the Anglins while serving time at Alcatraz. Bulger reportedly gave John and Clarence some advice about navigating the currents in San Fransisco Bay. He also gave them some insight about life on the run.
Widner explained, "He taught them that when you disappear, you have to cut all ties. He told me in a letter, 'This is the mistake that I made.’ He told me, ‘These brothers undoubtedly had done exactly what I told them to do.'"
The Inmates Used Handmade Mannequins To Fool The Guards
The men dug holes in their cells that were big enough to lead into a utility corridor. They then climbed to the top of their building where they created a workshop to prepare their escape supplies. They also came up with an ingenious way of working outside their cells undetected.
They mixed together soap and toilet paper to create a papier-mâché-like substance that they sculpted into dummy heads. They made them appear more realistic using paint from the maintenance shop and clippings from the barbershop floor. The men stuffed towels and clothing under the blankets so it looked as though they were asleep.
The Men Made A Raft & Life Preservers Out Of Rain Coats
The holes in their cells led to the utility corridor. West was the only one of the four who was unable to escape because the ventilator grill in his cell got stuck. The Anglins and Morris climbed to an area inside their building where they created life preservers and a rubber raft, using more than 50 raincoats they had managed to acquire. They made paddles from scrap wood.
The trio climbed the ventilation shaft to the roof, slid 50 feet to the ground down a vent pipe, climbed over two barbed wire fences, and inflated the raft using a concertina they stole from another inmate.
Authorities Found Evidence Of Their Escape But No Human Remains
They inflated the raft at the northeast shoreline in an area that was out of view of the prison's searchlights and gun towers. It’s believed they escaped around 10 p.m. No one knew they were gone until the following morning because their dummies made it appear as though they were asleep in their bunks. Law enforcement officials and military men spent the next 10 days searching for the escapees. They found a paddle and a wallet containing the Anglins’ personal information and mementos.
Authorities also found one of their makeshift life jackets, which was deflated. However, they never found any remains or physical evidence indicating the inmates’ whereabouts.
Most Believe The Men Died In The Frigid Water
West, who was left behind, cooperated with investigators. He explained that the men planned to steal clothing and a car once they got to land. FBI investigators believed that the extremely cold water temperature and strong currents would have made it very unlikely for the inmates to reach land.
Still, the case remained open for 17 years. On Dec. 31, 1979, investigators closed the case, noting that the Anglins and Morris probably died in the freezing cold water while trying to reach Angel Island. The U.S. Marshals Service never closed its investigation and still receives occasional leads about the case.
In His Letter, "John" Claims His Brother & Morris Lived Long Lives After Their Escape
Is it possible that John, Clarence, and their fellow inmate Morris survived? Let's return to that letter that was sent to a San Francisco Police department in 2013. The writer, purporting to be John, noted: "If you announce on TV that I’ll be promised to first go to jail for no more than a year and get medical attention, I will write back to let you know exactly where I am."
He added that Morris “passed away” in 2008, while Clarence died in 2011. John’s nephew Ken Widner was angry that he didn’t learn about the letter until 2016.
John's Nephews Are Mad Authorities Kept The Letter Secret
Ken told The Sun: "I believe John is still alive, I do not believe Clarence is still alive, I have no idea clue about Frank Morris. I know Frank Morris was with them in 1975. I have a pretty good idea of where they're at… (but) that I’m not going to say."
Ken’s brother David Widner added that he thought it was “very possible” John was still alive because the inmates were “very, very smart guys” and capable of surviving the elements. David also added that he thought it was “inhumane” that authorities didn’t tell the family about the letter back in 2013.
The Family Has "Proof" That John & Clarence Headed To Brazil Following The Escape
The nephews submitted a photo to authorities in 2016 they think proves the brothers survived the escape. The photo reportedly shows John and Clarence in Brazil in 1975. The nephews, who live in Georgia, told a documentary crew that their uncles met up with a criminal associate who took them to the South American country.
The photo was reportedly taken on a Brazilian farm that John and Clarence owned. If you look closely, you may see the resemblance to the inmates. Ex-US marshal Art Roderick, who spent 20 years researching the escape, believes the photo was taken by family friend Fred Brizzi.
John & Clarence Reportedly Sent Christmas Cards To Their Sister
A forensic expert examined John and Clarence Anglins' mugshots and compared them to the photo of the men from Brazil, noting that it’s "very likely" they were the same men. The Widners also have other evidence that their uncles survived. They showed authorities Christmas cards that were sent to their mother, Marie Anglin Widner. The cards were signed by Clarence and John but had no postage. Their mother received the cards for three years following the escape.
As for the 2013 letter, FBI analysts checked it for DNA and fingerprints but were unable to conclusively prove that it was indeed from John Anglin.
Bones Found On San Francisco Shore Didn't Match The Anglin Brothers
While making the 2015 History channel documentary Alcatraz: Search for the Truth, the Widners allowed investigators to dig up the remains of John and Clarence's older brother Alfred. He attempted to escape from an Alabama prison and was electrocuted. Authorities wanted access to Alfred’s DNA to compare it to bones they found on the shore of San Fransisco in 1963.
Thinking the bones belonged to one of the Anglins or Morris, they conducted some tests. The DNA did not match the Anglin family, bolstering support that the brothers survived. However, the bones could belong to Morris. Since Morris has no living family members, it’s unclear if they are his.
The Currents In The Bay Would Have Been A Major Factor In Their Survival
In 2003, the crew from the television show MythBusters tried to determine whether people could escape from Alcatraz island using a man-made raft built using the same materials the inmates had access to. The TV stars concluded an escape was, in fact, feasible. In 2014, researchers at Delft University also tried to determine if the three men could have escaped and survived.
Using a computer model, they specifically examined the timing of the escape. If the men left near midnight, the currents would have been favorable for their passage. If they left in the hours before or after 12 a.m., the currents would likely have made it difficult for them to survive.
If John Is Still In Brazil, He May Never Return Home
It's possible that John and his brother wound up in Brazil where they lived for many years. But if John is still living, he may never leave the country because Brazil may not allow him to be extradited to the United States. The former marshal Roderick wants to learn how they managed to escape.
He told the New York Post in 2015: "When you work these types of cases, there’s a feeling you get when stuff starts to fall into place. I’m getting this feeling now." As for Ken and David, they want closure and the ability to bury their uncles at their family plot in Florida.
The 1979 Film Escape From Alcatraz Was Based On Their Story
The 1979 film Escape From Alcatraz starred Clint Eastwood, Jack Thibeau and Fred Ward as Frank Morris, Clarence Anglin and John Anglin. The filmmakers alluded that the escape was successful. The movie was praised by critics and is often considered one of the best films of the year. It has a 95 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned $43 million at the box office.
Filmed at Alcatraz, Eastwood, Ward, and Thibeau did not use stunt doubles to escape down the prison wall and into the water. Director Don Siegel believed they had been lost in the currents on two separate occasions.
A 1937 Escape Also Never Turned Up Any Remains
In 1937, inmates Theodore "Ted" Cole and Ralph Roe were working in a tire repair shop on Alcatraz when a thick fog entered the bay. They made a hole through a window in the shop and escaped, hiding in the fog. Using a wrench, they opened up a lock in the gate and dropped 20 feet down on the to beach. Later evidence showed the pair had planned the escape in advance but did not use a raft.
Authorities believe they drowned and were swept out into the Pacific Ocean. However, no one ever found their remains, and the incident marred the prison's reputation as being “escape-proof.”