Murder of Bobby Greenlease: Difference between revisions
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Robert Cosgrove "Bobby" Greenlease Jr, was born to Robert Greenlease Sr. (1882-1969) and Virginia Pollock, Greenlease Sr, waa a multi-millionaire Cadillac dealer and auto entrepreneur having made his fortune by introducing [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] vehicles to the [[Great Plains]] in the early 20th century, owning dealerships from [[Texas]] to [[South Dakota]]. He was 65 years old when Bobby was born in 1947. The Greenleases were said to have been devoted to Bobby. |
Robert Cosgrove "Bobby" Greenlease Jr, was born to Robert Greenlease Sr. (1882-1969) and Virginia Pollock, Greenlease Sr, waa a multi-millionaire Cadillac dealer and auto entrepreneur having made his fortune by introducing [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] vehicles to the [[Great Plains]] in the early 20th century, owning dealerships from [[Texas]] to [[South Dakota]]. He was 65 years old when Bobby was born in 1947. The Greenleases were said to have been devoted to Bobby. |
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According to author John Heidenry, whose book ''Zero at the Bone: The Playboy, the Prostitute, and the Murder of Bobby Greenlease'' is an account of the case, Bobby was said to be a trusting boy |
According to author John Heidenry, whose book ''Zero at the Bone: The Playboy, the Prostitute, and the Murder of Bobby Greenlease'' is an account of the case, Bobby was said to be a trusting boy, with kidnapper Bonnie Heady stating that from the moment she appeared at his school posing as his aunt to take him to his mother he just took her hand and did anything he was told to do.<ref name="DeadlyWomen">As described in an episode of ''[[Deadly Women]]'' entitled "Under His Control", originally aired in the United States on 2010-10-21 on Investigation Discovery cable channel.</ref> |
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with kidnapper Bonnie Heady stating that from the moment she appeared at his school posing as his aunt to take him to his mother he just took her hand and did anything he was told to do.<ref name="DeadlyWomen">As described in an episode of ''[[Deadly Women]]'' entitled "Under His Control", originally aired in the United States on 2010-10-21 on Investigation Discovery cable channel.</ref> |
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==Abduction and murder== |
==Abduction and murder== |
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| penalty = Death by gas inhalation |
| penalty = Death by gas inhalation |
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In September 1953, Carl Hall (34) and Bonnie Heady (41) , [[kidnapping|kidnapped]] Bobby [[Notre Dame de Sion School, Kansas City|Notre Dame de Sion]], a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] pre-school located in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Missouri]].<ref name=":0" /> The kidnappers were drug-addicted [[alcoholism|alcoholics]] then living together in nearby [[St. Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph]]. In the early 1930s, Hall had attended [[Kemper Military School]] in [[Boonville, Missouri|Boonville]] with Paul Robert Greenlease, Bobby's adopted older brother. Hall had planned for years to |
In September 1953, Carl Hall (34) and Bonnie Heady (41) , [[kidnapping|kidnapped]] Bobby [[Notre Dame de Sion School, Kansas City|Notre Dame de Sion]], a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] pre-school located in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Missouri]].<ref name=":0" /> The kidnappers were drug-addicted [[alcoholism|alcoholics]] then living together in nearby [[St. Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph]]. In the early 1930s, Hall had attended [[Kemper Military School]] in [[Boonville, Missouri|Boonville]] with Paul Robert Greenlease, Bobby's adopted older brother. Hall had planned for years to victimize his former classmate's wealthy family. |
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Heady went to Bobby's school, persuading a [[nun]], Sister Morand, that she was his aunt, telling her that his mother had suffered a heart attack and was in St. Mary's Hospital. She then took Bobby away in a taxicab driven by John Oliver Hager, of the Ace Cab Company, who would testify in court that he had picked up Bobby and Bonnie Heady, who stated she was the alleged aunt. When another Sister from the school rang to inquire about Mrs. Greenleases's condition, she discovered the truth and her husband contacted the FBI. The couple took Bobby across the state line to [[Johnson County, Kansas|Johnson County]], [[Kansas]], where Hall shot him dead with a [[revolver]]. They then took the child's body to St. Joseph and buried him in the backyard of Heady's house, at 1201 South 38th Street. |
Heady went to Bobby's school, persuading a [[nun]], Sister Morand, that she was his aunt, telling her that his mother had suffered a heart attack and was in St. Mary's Hospital. She then took Bobby away in a taxicab driven by John Oliver Hager, of the Ace Cab Company, who would testify in court that he had picked up Bobby and Bonnie Heady, who stated she was the alleged aunt. When another Sister from the school rang to inquire about Mrs. Greenleases's condition, she discovered the truth and her husband contacted the FBI. The couple took Bobby across the state line to [[Johnson County, Kansas|Johnson County]], [[Kansas]], where Hall shot him dead with a [[revolver]]. They then took the child's body to St. Joseph and buried him in the backyard of Heady's house, at 1201 South 38th Street. |
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==Ransom== |
==Ransom== |
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After the murder, Hall and Heady sent Bobby's father messages in the mail and phone calls |
After the murder, Hall and Heady sent Bobby's father messages in the mail and phone calls demanding a [[ransom]] of $600,000 (${{Inflation|US|0.6|1953|r=1|fmt=c}} million today). Greenlease, desperately trying to save his son, held off the police and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], paying the money. At that time it was the largest ransom ever paid in American history, and remained so until the 1972 kidnapping of [[Virginia Piper kidnapping|Virginia Piper]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-biggest-ransoms-ever-2012-9#|title=The 18 Largest Ransoms Ever Paid|work=Business Insider|access-date=2017-09-21|language=en}}</ref> Hall became convinced that police would trace them to St. Joseph, so he randomly decided to drive to [[St. Louis]]. The couple collected the ransom and fled. |
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Later at trial two police officers, Lieutenant Louis Ira Shoulders and patrolman Elmer Dolan were, stated the ransom money was presented in court. This statement was false and both officers were convicted of perjury. Shoulders was found guilty on April 15 1954 and sentenced to serve 3 years; she died on May 12 1962. Dolan was convicted on March 31 1954 and sentenced to 2 years; but much later received a pardon from President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]<ref name=":0" /> |
Later at trial two police officers, Lieutenant Louis Ira Shoulders, and patrolman Elmer Dolan were, stated the ransom money was presented in court. This statement was false and both officers were convicted of perjury. Shoulders was found guilty on April 15 1954 and sentenced to serve 3 years; she died on May 12 1962. Dolan was convicted on March 31 1954 and sentenced to 2 years; but much later received a pardon from President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Arrest== |
==Arrest== |
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Revision as of 16:16, 26 October 2020
Bobby Greenlease | |
|---|---|
 Bobby Greenlease and his father, 1953 | |
| Born | Robert Cosgrove Greenlease, Jr. February 3, 1947 |
| Died | (aged 6) |
| Cause of death | Homicide by .38 caliber snub nose Smith & Wesson revolver |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Known for | Kidnapping and Murder victim |
Robert Cosgrove "Bobby" Greenlease Jr. (February 3, 1947 – September 28, 1953) was a 6-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, who was the victim of a kidnapping and homicide on September 28, 1953, his father Robert Greenlease Sr was a multi-millionaire auto dealer, and the requested ransom payment was the largest ever in American history at the time.
Greenlease Jr's kidnappers despite the ransom had no intention of returning him to his family. Before the ransom demand was even issued, he had been murdered by Carl Hall and Bonnie Heady.[1] Heady and Hall were condemned to death and executed in Missouri's gas chamber in December 1953. Heady was the last woman executed by federal authorities in US history until Lisa Marie Montgomery, who is scheduled be executed via lethal injection on December 8, 2020.[2]
Background
Robert Cosgrove "Bobby" Greenlease Jr, was born to Robert Greenlease Sr. (1882-1969) and Virginia Pollock, Greenlease Sr, waa a multi-millionaire Cadillac dealer and auto entrepreneur having made his fortune by introducing General Motors vehicles to the Great Plains in the early 20th century, owning dealerships from Texas to South Dakota. He was 65 years old when Bobby was born in 1947. The Greenleases were said to have been devoted to Bobby.
According to author John Heidenry, whose book Zero at the Bone: The Playboy, the Prostitute, and the Murder of Bobby Greenlease is an account of the case, Bobby was said to be a trusting boy, with kidnapper Bonnie Heady stating that from the moment she appeared at his school posing as his aunt to take him to his mother he just took her hand and did anything he was told to do.[3]
Abduction and murder
 | This article may require copy editing for clarity. Catholic nuns do not marry; whose husband contacted the FBI is unclear. (October 2020) |
Carl Hall Bonnie Heady | |
|---|---|
 Carl Hall, one of the two perpetrators | |
| Born | Carl Austin Hall Bonnie Emily Brown Hall - July 1 1919 (aged 34) Brown - July 15 1912 (aged 41) |
| Conviction(s) | Murder, kidnapping |
| Criminal penalty | Death by gas inhalation |
| Details | |
| Date | September 1953 |
| Country | United States of America |
| State(s) | Missouri |
| Location(s) | Johnson County, Kansas |
In September 1953, Carl Hall (34) and Bonnie Heady (41) , kidnapped Bobby Notre Dame de Sion, a Catholic pre-school located in Kansas City, Missouri.[4] The kidnappers were drug-addicted alcoholics then living together in nearby St. Joseph. In the early 1930s, Hall had attended Kemper Military School in Boonville with Paul Robert Greenlease, Bobby's adopted older brother. Hall had planned for years to victimize his former classmate's wealthy family.
Heady went to Bobby's school, persuading a nun, Sister Morand, that she was his aunt, telling her that his mother had suffered a heart attack and was in St. Mary's Hospital. She then took Bobby away in a taxicab driven by John Oliver Hager, of the Ace Cab Company, who would testify in court that he had picked up Bobby and Bonnie Heady, who stated she was the alleged aunt. When another Sister from the school rang to inquire about Mrs. Greenleases's condition, she discovered the truth and her husband contacted the FBI. The couple took Bobby across the state line to Johnson County, Kansas, where Hall shot him dead with a revolver. They then took the child's body to St. Joseph and buried him in the backyard of Heady's house, at 1201 South 38th Street.
Ransom
After the murder, Hall and Heady sent Bobby's father messages in the mail and phone calls demanding a ransom of $600,000 ($6.8 million today). Greenlease, desperately trying to save his son, held off the police and the FBI, paying the money. At that time it was the largest ransom ever paid in American history, and remained so until the 1972 kidnapping of Virginia Piper.[5] Hall became convinced that police would trace them to St. Joseph, so he randomly decided to drive to St. Louis. The couple collected the ransom and fled.
Later at trial two police officers, Lieutenant Louis Ira Shoulders, and patrolman Elmer Dolan were, stated the ransom money was presented in court. This statement was false and both officers were convicted of perjury. Shoulders was found guilty on April 15 1954 and sentenced to serve 3 years; she died on May 12 1962. Dolan was convicted on March 31 1954 and sentenced to 2 years; but much later received a pardon from President Lyndon B. Johnson[4]
Arrest
Once in St. Louis, Hall left Heady in the middle of the night in a rented room. He contacted criminal associates to enlist their help in diverting police attention. One of the associates, a former prostitute named Sandra O'Day, was supposed to fly to Los Angeles and mail a letter Hall had written. It was thought that this would divert police attention from St. Louis. However, O'Day caught a glimpse of the ransom money.[6] St. Louis police soon learned that Hall was flaunting a large sum of money, and they brought him in for questioning.
Hall eventually implicated Heady. The police found her at an apartment at 4504 Arsenal Street and discovered Bobby's body in a shallow grave in her back yard.[3] Bobby was later interred in a mausoleum at Forest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City.
Execution
Bobby's kidnapping and murder scandalized the nation and soon led to federal indictments for Hall and Heady. Both pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murder, and were executed together in the Missouri gas chamber on December 18, 1953.[7]
As of September 2020[update], Heady was one of only two women since 1865 to be executed by federal authorities, the other being Ethel Rosenberg, who, along with her husband Julius, was convicted of being a Soviet spy and executed by electric chair on June 19th the same year, 1953.
Since the federal government did not have any execution facilities, Missouri's state facilities - and thus the then-legal gas chamber - were used to carry out the executions. This was the case for all federal executions in the 20th century, before the first executions at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 2001. Heady was the most recent woman executed by the federal government, and the only one by gassing. Heady grew up and is buried in Clearmont, Missouri in Nodaway County, Missouri.[8] Clearmont is 20 miles north the Nodaway County community of Skidmore, Missouri where Lisa Montgomery was convicted on the federal charge of "kidnapping resulting in death" in the Murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett and is sentenced to be executed in December 2020.
Hall who grew up in Pleasanton, Kansas was buried at the family plot there.[9]
Only $288,000 of the ransom money was recovered. The missing $312,000 remained a subject of wide speculation. Some of the theories accounting for this were:
- A cab driver who took Hall to the Coral Court Motel had tipped off local mobster Joseph G. Costello.[10]
- Hall tried unsuccessfully to bury the cash near the Meramec River, though the FBI would later search that area in vain.
- Suitcases in Hall's possession upon his arrest were not brought to the 11th District Precinct Station (the arresting officers, Lieutenant Louis Ira Shoulders and Patrolman Elmer Dolan, were subsequently federally indicted for perjury).[4]
- The cash fell into the hands of mobsters or was hidden in the walls of the motel, though the 1995 demolition of the Coral Court Motel turned up nothing.[11]
Popular culture
The case was a subject of Investigation Discovery's in an episode of there series A Crime to Remember, during season 2, episode 8 , entitled Baby Come Home
See also
References
- ^ Cole, Suzanne P.; Engle, Tim; Winkler, Eric (April 23, 2012). "50 things every Kansas Citian should know". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/17/us/lisa-montgomery-execution.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes
- ^ a b As described in an episode of Deadly Women entitled "Under His Control", originally aired in the United States on 2010-10-21 on Investigation Discovery cable channel.
- ^ a b c "The Greenlease Kidnapping". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on January 22, 2016.
- ^ "The 18 Largest Ransoms Ever Paid". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- ^ Heidenry, John (2009). Zero at the Bone: The Playboy, the Prostitute, and the Murder of Bobby Greenlease. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-37679-0.
- ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/22721935/
- ^ http://1.droppdf.com/files/cy6Or/zero-at-the-bone-the-playboy-the-prostit-john-heidenry.pdf
- ^ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5859141/zella-c.-hall
- ^ John Heidenry (2009). Zero at the Bone: The Playboy, the Prostitute, and the Murder of Bobby Greenlease. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312376796.
- ^ James Hirsch (July 23, 1988). "St. Louis' Little Sin". NY Times News Service.
External links
- Federal Bureau of Investigation's case on Greenlease kidnapping
- Blood Money and the Death of a Child — The United States v. Hall and Heady
- Crime Library Article on Greenlease
- Biography on Greenlease family by longtime close friends of the family Maintained by Charles Elias Disney & Daniel H. Disney
- Greenlease kidnapping
- Murder of Bobby Greenlease at Find a Grave