Leopold & Loeb and the crime of the century

One hundred years ago, two affluent and academically-gifted young men - Nathan Leopold, 19, and Richard Loeb, 18 - decided to commit the perfect murder, when they abducted and killed 14-year-old Bobby Franks in Chicago. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports on how Leopold & Loeb's murder was solved, and why the crime that shocked the nation still haunts us today.
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[@d.capurro6112]

The speech Leopold gives after his release...if that isn't an exhibit A example of a narcissistic psychopath, I don't know what is.

[@jacobjones5269]

Don’t get me wrong, he deserved to die in jail.. But he was definitely the subservient in that relationship.. In other words, it’s hard for me to believe Leopold murders anyone, or even runs afoul of the law possibly, if he never meets Loeb..

[@poetcomic1]

Ira Levin who wrote 'Compulsion' talked with Leopold at his release. Levin was impressed at all those years of legal aide to other prisoners, medical work, serious studies, never making any trouble and overall just creating the flawless image of St. Leopold. Levin says as they talked, the mask slipped just a little bit and he saw that smirking Superman psychopath who was going to fool the world with this 'saintly creation' and Levin said it made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

[@stan4now]

Bingo

[@nonabliss]

Such an infuriating case because imprisonment was too good for these killers. And the nerve of Leopold saying that "I hope all of you feel that a third of a century spent in prison has been severe punishment, and are happy to see me free.".......spoken like a true sociopath.

[@jimmccord487]

leopold's words are those of a self centered coward

[@maryyoung6380]

No remorse at all as if he had just committed the crime.

[@EGChurchofChrist]

How sad such an harmless looking boy.

[@gotch09]

Leopold wrote a autobiography of his time in prison called LIFE PLUS 99 YEARS (that was the punishment the judge gave them). It came across as self serving.

[@shirleyashanti3031]

We lived in that community in the early 1950s, less than a block away. Even though a generation had passed, there was still an aura of sadness in the neighborhood, and people still talked about the sensational and disturbing crime.

[@kathydominick1582]

Yes it sure was

[@marytheresejacksonlutz2533]

So disturbing

[@matthewscopelite5303]

Similar to how one feels when driving past Wolf Lake

[@stan4now]

I loved going to Chicago on business. But Kenwood was one place I couldn't bring myself to visit after reading the case file and the commentary by Clarence Darrow. It seemed they lured young Bobby Franks under the pretense of wanting to show him a new tennis racquet Leopold had. It's revolting and terribly sad.

[@buffalochic1974]

Wow 100 years. RIP Bobby Franks.

[@Persephonie22]

My God and all the Saints. Can't believe it's been 100 years. Poor little kid. I hope his soul is happy and free reunited with his family.

[@matthewgliatto7339]

When my 8th grade history teacher taught us about that case, she had to pause before saying his name, because one of my classmates was named Robert Francks. She said something like, “Oh, Robert, I’m so sorry to tell you this, but the victim had the same name as you”. But he actually went by his full name, Robert. Nobody called him Bobby. However, that did not stop several boys from teasing Robert about it, following that day of history class.

[@J4sse]

Rip

[@kathyastrom1315]

I wrote my first ever term paper in 8th grade about this case. Definitely a disturbing story, made even more so in my opinion by the fact that the two actually considered choosing Dickie Loeb’s own brother as their victim.

[@winifredherman4214]

Shades of Myra Hindley!

[@curtisdaniel9294]

My father was seven at the time and my mother was five. This crime made their parents (they were living in Chicago at the time) turn very strict for several years after. And when I was growing in Denver in the 1950s, they were equally strict with me. Long scary memories for them.

[@marytheresejacksonlutz2533]

Understandable! But what makes people turn like this

[@ShirleyDeeDesigns]

So creepy. It reminds me of two young women I used to work with. On their own, they seemed nice enough but when they got together they became mean, sarcastic and horrid people.

[@DarqJestor]

Peer pressure can change weak people into monsters.

[@treborretsnom6186]

It should be pointed out that they are hardly alone in American history

[@burtburt2263]

But, "unique", to say the least. Their only speakable "motive", was out of pure greed, and a superiority complex: "We are better/smarter than all you other humans, and are going to prove it!" First recorded example of "instant karma"...

[@l.salisbury1253]

The inspiration for Hitchcock's "Rope" and Orson Welles' "Compulsion"...

[@samiam619]

I’ve been wanting to watch Rope since I found it available on Amazon videos. Today is the day…

[@treyparker3775]

@@samiam619it’s an excellent movie

[@samiam619]

@@treyparker3775 Oh, I saw it 30 years ago when the Hitchcock family released it on VHS.

[@samiam619]

Maybe it was closer to 45 years ago. 30 years ago was only 1994

[@debbiehanson9201]

I do feel for the distant relative of Loeb who's interviewed in this piece. He shouldn't feel any guilt about just having been related to Loeb, which is hardly something he could choose or control. In addition, he is doing the best he can by donating the family papers to a university where, perhaps, some day, sufficient study of cases like this one might lead to better prevention of them.

[@Imissyoulou]

The Loeb's are still wealthy. The own some BEAUTIFUL property in Michigan.

[@burtburt2263]

Like it or not, a stigma would be forever attached to their sirname; Ex: Being a "Hatfield", or "Mckoy", today..."Any relation"??? "NO!"

[@Riley0509]

They were psychopaths and the one should never have been released.

[@burtburt2263]

Well, he not so much as looked at anyone crooked after release...They %100 watched him constantly, I assume...

[@Imissyoulou]

​@@burtburt2263 This man was WEALTHY and he received an inheritance after his father died. He had famous people to speak up for him at his parole hearing. He was able to travel, attend classes in Puerto Rico, taught, learned another language, got married and lived a normal life until his death.

[@cherylrleigh1912]

Folie à deux (French for "madness of two"), also known as shared psychosis or shared delusional disorder (SDD), is a rare psychiatric syndrome in which symptoms of a delusional belief, are "transmitted" from one individual to another. The disorder, first conceptualized in 19th century French psychiatry by Charles Lasègue and Jules Falret, is also known as Lasègue-Falret syndrome. Recent psychiatric classifications refer to the syndrome as shared psychotic disorder (DSM-4 - 297.3) and induced delusional disorder (ICD-10 - F24), although the research literature largely uses the original name. The same syndrome shared by more than two people may be called folie à trois ('three') or quatre ('four'); and further, folie en famille ('family madness') or even folie à plusieurs ('madness of several'). This disorder is not in the current, fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which considers the criteria to be insufficient or inadequate. DSM-5 does not consider Shared Psychotic Disorder (folie à deux) as a separate entity; rather, the physician should classify it as "Delusional Disorder" or in the "Other Specified Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorder" category. Source Wikipedia

[@claudetteholloway1126]

Very interesting.

[@JohnnyAngel8]

I read about this not too long ago. Thanks for bringing it up.

[@user-cc5bi4fv1q]

Stockholm Syndrome would also apply

[@nghtwtchmn129]

Folie a Deux is also the title of the upcoming sequel to Joker.

[@ME-gz8yi]

@cherylrleigh1912 -Thank you for your research and information. I wonder if "mob mentality" can be considered the same as "folie a plusieurs"? I saw a KZbin video yesterday about the re-enactment of a mob beating a young woman in a middle eastern country because she intervened in the illegal sale of religious iconography outside a mosque... rather than stop, the accused turned the tables and accused her of burning pages of Muslim holy text. Suddenly she was besieged by a mob of passrby [men and boys] beating her and throwing any means of heavy masonry materials at her head. Several men were later rounded up for a slap on the wrist. With that said, I realize the DSM-V may be a cultural artifact.

[@janelightning73]

I get the shivers to think how many more creeps act on this same notion today.

[@Persephonie22]

I know what you mean. This world is still full of sick people.

[@catlover34fl]

Glorifying these two monsters! Disgusting! My grandparents told me some of the details of what they did to this poor innocent boy, torturing him as he screamed and moaned inside some large canvas bag they put him in the back seat of the car. They thrilled as they heard him cry his last breath. These were spoiled rich kids who were never disciplined by their parents and allowed to do as they please. Read about some of the killers recently whose parents let them torture animals while growing up. It's in the news. Some people never learn and should never have children.

[@kcbh24]

You think parents "let" their kids torture animals?

[@burtburt2263]

Not "gloyifying", anyone!!! If anything, thieirs is a cautionary tale, if any kids are patient enough to finish watching...Obviously not, since this continies to this day...?

[@RebRoseland]

I was living near Houston and a similar story happened 15 years ago. They just wanted to know how it felt to take a life.

[@burtburt2263]

Same for that recent kid in FLA, who killed a girl "just to know how it felt"...NOT very good I would imagine at this point...?

[@Twentythousandlps]

Loeb's 1957 statement is quite odd: "I hope all of you are happy to see me free." Wtf?

[@stan4now]

His family bribed the warden to get the killer released. Yes, it happens.

[@jenniferc218]

Richard Loeb's family owned Castle Farms mansion in Charlevoix MI, where I lived for almost 20 years. There's still a road with the name Loeb, there to this day.

[@Persephonie22]

They should change the name of that road.

[@blackbartthepoet3820]

@@Persephonie22what.. why? It’s not called Leopold Loeb Road or anything. The family did nothing wrong

[@1crimechronicles]

The Leopold and Loeb case remains a chilling reminder of the darkest corners of human nature and the allure of committing the "perfect crime." Despite their privileged upbringing and intelligence, their heinous act shook society to its core. It's a timeless tale of hubris, arrogance, and the terrifying consequences of unchecked ambition.

[@NoahBodze]

Far less complex - it just shows you what Semitism is at its rawest expression.

[@stan4now]

It's a power trip to take the life of another human being.

[@bthomson]

Two can be much more dangerous than one! They egg each other on to worse and worse deeds! Neither one feels they can back down because they will disappoint the other! Any hesitation is immediately pushed through!

[@user-ho9zz7wi7v]

Thus the Mean Girls BS!!! I knew one. Well. She’d beg me to babysit with her but if there was a third person she was MEAN!!! Can’t believe it took me years to get away from but we were raised two houses down much like family. Family can be just as bad sometimes!!! Just CRUEL!!! I hate the investigation channels stories on teens murdering other teens over boys just dumb stupid stuff. Luckily I had older brothers who were looking out for me constantly.

[@Jasonvination]

Congratulations to Aaron Warr & production crew on the release of AMERICAN CRIMINALS FILM! This is a monumental achievement, depicting this story. We attended the Chicago premiere just last weekend and we are incredibly proud of you. Your creativity, dedication, and hard work have culminated in something truly remarkable.

[@markbisi8407]

Wait, you’re telling me rich kids are horrible people? I’m shocked.

[@haintedhouse2990]

not all - some even realize the sun doesn't rise and set around them, unfortunately you never hear about those kids

[@markbisi8407]

@@haintedhouse2990 True. Those poor, poor rich kids.

[@hillbillychic8417]

Don't be hating your betters.

[@NoahBodze]

Jews.

[@robertjones8598]

Sounds like class envy to make such a generalization. And stupid.

[@marytheresejacksonlutz2533]

Chilling! Not much different from some of the murders that occur today. Poor Bobby Franks and his family.

[@margeshilling7983]

There's a great 1959 film, "Compulsion", based on this case.

[@maxmulsanne7054]

Yes, great movie. Saw it a year ago.

[@kcbh24]

Yes, we know.

[@Persephonie22]

👏🏼Terrific movie, but underrated. Glad you mentioned it @margeshilling7983

[@cindychristian1700]

Yes. It was a good movie! Bradford Dillman and Dean Stockwell were truly underated actors!

[@Csmale]

Also Orson Welles and Martin Milner

[@taylerholler1999]

So thankful I could be a part of the film American Criminals! It was put together so well. American Criminals is a beautiful movie depicting this exact story in an intimate, comedic, serious & in depth sense.

[@jakeschory4505]

There’s a movie called American Criminals coming soon to streaming. It’s based on the book 99 years plus life based on Leopold’s life. Can’t wait for it

[@gotch09]

It's title is Life Plus 99 Years.

[@anjiharrell6175]

I can appreciate the fact that we need to better understand these kinds of criminals. However, it’s almost like we’re honoring their memory, and celebrating them. I want to know more about the victim and less about these murderers. I find it utterly disgusting that they kept a pair of their eyeglasses. I mean for what? What are we doing here? Idk, maybe I’m wrong. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@anmnou]

You are not wrong, in my opinion--I think you are making a very good point.

[@winifredherman4214]

It’s fascinating crime history!

[@Imissyoulou]

They keep the glasses because it was the piece of evidence that helped the solve the case and for historical purposes. Have you ever been to a museum?

[@aimeeinkling]

I highly recommend that you read Clarence Darrow's closing remarks in this case. We remember them and this crime because of Darrow's profound defense. It is still discussed in philosophy classes today (free will versus pre-determinism). And those glasses? They are a classic piece of evidence and an excellent example of how investigation solves crimes.

[@BrianUnderwood-eu6em]

My Father was a prison Guard at Statesville prison in Illinois and said Leopold was a model inmate

[@gerrydooley951]

of course he was, why wouldn't he be?

[@espressobongo9975]

For "model", read "passive".

[@debbiehanson9201]

That actually isn't unusual for a sociopath. Sociopaths can be smart about reading people and situations and using them to their best interests, since their own best interests are their focus. Leopold had to know his only shot at parole was exemplary behavior so that's what he thought to display to any authority figure who might have some say in whether or not he was paroled.

[@Imissyoulou]

@@debbiehanson9201 This is a case that REQUIRES RESEARCH. It wasn't that he was such a model prisoner (which he was,) it was the FACT that he took part in a malaria experiment during WW2. He still had influencial friends on the outside that assisted him in winning his parole, also. He lived a decent life once he got released and his father had left him an inheritance.

[@l.a.3479]

*influential ​@@Imissyoulou

[@Imissyoulou]

They (Bobby and Loeb) were second cousins. That is not distant and they lived across the street from each other. They played tennis together on the Loeb's property many times.

[@fmcevoy1]

I saw the play "Never the Sinner" some years ago. It was really a great show about a dreadful, senseless crime.

[@BullittMustang3121]

The motive has never been in question. They did it to prove that they were smarter than everyone else, inspired mostly by Nietzsche's "superman" theory.

[@Imissyoulou]

Thank you Bull. It is obvious that a lot of people on this site has never researched this case and I understand that. It has been 100 years since the case. I had to research it in under grad school, I live in Chicago and went to see the glasses when they were on display, then did more research on my own. (I like history.)

[@stan4now]

Thank You CBS and Erin Moriarity. This ecellent 100 year report should be part of the hx record at NU. I first read of this case 40 years ago when I read the commentary by Clarence Darrow. It was bone-chilling then as it is now, same as capitol punishment.

[@janeoleary8454]

The fool didn't realize his eyeglasses were missing ?? Gee, how BRILLIANT

[@2034916]

They fell out of his pocket.

[@clarklarsen1973]

What troubles me about high profile, true crime cases such as Leopold and Loeb is that the media and others spend so much time profiling the suspect that the victim or victims are virtually forgotten. Of course, this isn’t always the case. In recent times the murders of individuals such as George Floyd and Matthew Shepard placed the victim’s name front and center. But in many other cases, the suspect ends up getting more press attention than the victims. The danger with that is that the individuals who commit such horrible and senseless crimes become celebrities in their own way, with some even gaining a following. I have read that right up to his death, Charles Manson, for example continued to receive “fan mail” while in prison. And on more than one occasion, planners and perpetuators of mass shootings have stated they were “inspired” to commit their crimes from Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, the Columbine High shooters. We, as a society, are putting people up on a pedestal who don’t deserve it. Killing an innocent person or persons doesn’t make you a “cool” person. It simply means you’re a heartless killer and there should be nothing “cool” about that.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

That’s why I like Ann Rules true crime books, she always showcased the victims and their families.

[@kcbh24]

Bobby Franks isn't forgotten, but make your own content and talk about victims all you want. Crimes wouldn't happen without criminals and the criminal mind is fascinating.

[@Imissyoulou]

@@kcbh24 No Bobby is not forgotten. His sister died within the last 10 years. It was said, she never discussed the case. She had children but I don't know if they are in the Chicago area. People still visit his family burial crypts and leave pennies and small toys.

[@kcbh24]

@@Imissyoulou thank you for confirming my point.

[@STEVENKELLY-kz4vs]

This is so fascinating..

[@valerieladeda]

Back in the 90's I saw a chilling stage production (play) about these two murderers.

[@ronmcdonald4921]

The movie American Criminals just premiered in Chicago this past weekend that is based on the book Life Plus 99 Years by Nathan Leopold. It's Leopold's first hand account of the events characterized as the Crime of the Century. Looking forward to seeing it.

[@MS-oq3ne]

I grew up in Hyde Park, a few blocks away from the Franks house. I recall it being a daycare at some point. Then empty and dilapidated. This was in the late 70’s.

[@Imissyoulou]

It was sold in the early 2000's. Work had began on it and then it stopped. Work began again and stopped again. On the third go around, somebody completed the job. It is now condos and very nice. There has been changes on the outside but some of the orginial design is still there.

[@DeniseBeattie]

Had the most memorable time attending the premiere of American Criminals, the story based on Leopold and Loeb, last weekend in Chicago. All cast and crew attended, including myself as I had a two small parts in the movie. Met everyone involved and was honored to be among some very fine talent. Soon to stream. #americancriminalsmovie

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

The distance between the Harvard School for Boys and Bobby Franks' home is at least three blocks, possibly 3 and 1/2 blocks, depending on how you figure it, how extensive the playground area adjacent to it was, and above all, where exactly the baseball game that Bobby was umpiring took place (since he departed for home directly from the game, before it was finished). The place where the killers tried to hide Bobby's body was not a trainyard, but an undeveloped area near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana, where Leopold had led bird-watching expeditions. A single set of railroad tracks crossed the area, running above the culvert (drainpipe) in which they placed his body.

[@saulchapnick1566]

My eighth grade teacher during the late sixties told us about the case and urged us to read Compulsion. Compulsion was a page turner, but I could not continue reading it. The Leopold and Lieb characters in the book were just too evil. Sixty years later, I still have the desire to finish reading the book.

[@JojoMiller-lj6oi]

I hear there is a movie called American Criminals coming out this summer about this the trailer looks good.

[@Persephonie22]

Need to check that out

[@joyceklowden]

I saw American Criminals, the indie feature. Very impressive. You get to understand (not sympathize with) the main characters. Excellent performances.

[@martinmk33]

"American Criminals" is an excellent film. It tells the story of Leopold and Loeb. The two young college students who in 1924 murdered a 14 year old boy with the idea that they would never be caught. The film is compelling, very well done and absolutely worth seeing.

[@creolelady182]

Pyschopaths

[@daneblack2593]

Did I hear that right he said people want to be like them I don't want to be like that

[@MS-nj9le]

I went to Northwestern University. I h8t3d the school. It was cold and mean, overpriced, fiercely competitive, yet poorly geared to teaching... or learning... anything. My girlfriend at the time worked babysitting one of those little university libraries. As an A+ student, I became so homesick and depressed by the place, I hotwired an abandoned car, making several trips across town to fetch tools all through the night from my girfriend's apartment... fixed the car and got it running, and that morning we left and drove cross country in a stolen car ala Thelma and Louis. It was epic. Later that summer we went to Europe on her Guranteed Student Loan. I never went back, and refused ever to return to any college. Northwestern is truly truly the worst school ever, and Chicago is a cold, unfriendly, dirty city.

[@timothycampbell9762]

There is a radio play of Rope with Alan Rickman that I believe you can find on KZbin. Rope is a good movie, underrated in my opinion. But it based on the English play of the same name.

[@mistervacation23]

I never seen anybody with a unibrow like that

[@wotan10950]

By sheer coincidence, I watched Hitchcock’s “Rope” last week. Of course, it’s a marvel of filmmaking, but the story (based on this story) is sick and psychopathic. It’s disconcerting to see James Stewart among the fine cast. And please, this isn’t a forum for film reviews.

[@norabongiorno6197]

Wealth privilege and Brylcreem

[@aimeeinkling]

When they showed us the box on the table I gasped. I knew immediately it was the glasses. I am shocked the glasses still exist.

[@WVgirl1959]

Not only were Richard Loeb and Bobby Franks cousins but their fathers were or had been vice president of Sears Roebuck and Company.

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

Loeb's father was the vice president of Sears, Roebuck & Company. Bobby's father was in a different business.

[@crabbyd]

Omg .. just seen the NEW Movie Premier of this in Chicago: American Criminals , directed by Aron Warr. A MUST SEE. *Great cast.. intrigues you into this complex tragidy.

[@daisypagan3635]

One of them went to Puerto Rico,his father was rich,so no problem,for him,he stay there until his dead.. shame

[@treborretsnom6186]

Watch the PBS documentary, stories

[@jillianalekna3576]

Go figure...I found out about one of my thespian friends starring in the upcoming film, and then Sunday Morning covers it! 🎉

[@aaronwarr5454]

American Criminals is the new film about the crime and it is the first to address the men by their real names of Leopold and Loeb and it is based on the book written by Nathan Leopold Life Plus 99 Years

[@red4666]

Your reporter’s name is Erin Moriarty?

[@maxmulsanne7054]

_'Compulsion'_ (1959) movie

[@Persephonie22]

Excellent movie. Luckily people could watch it online since its hardly played in television.

[@janeoleary8454]

Pure evil....that's what it was

[@Maliceless100]

*They did it for love.* Leopold and Loeb wanted a lifelong bond that would last through marriage and life's trajectories, and of course - they could never reveal this motive _(their ages and good looks say it all)._ One or both longingly gaze at the other in every image.

[@luigiperrone8169]

Should be made into a movie!!! This is a crazy story of narcissist psychopathy.

[@aimeeinkling]

It has been.

[@luigiperrone8169]

New one.

[@ThomasGidley-kv2uj]

Good forensics for 100 years ago.

[@rr7firefly]

Both Leopold and Loeb came from wealthy Jewish families. This is shocking because of the proscriptions that their religion placed on crimes of a cold-blooded nature. But Leopold was fascinated by Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of "supermen" (Übermenschen), seeing them as advanced individuals with extraordinary capabilities, whose superior intellects allowed them to rise above the rules that bound the average populace. This attitude was clearly a part of the boys' indifference to the immorality of their action. Why is this not mentioned?

[@BearingMySeoul]

Well neither was a religious Jew so as athiests, this wouldn't be out of scope unfortunately.

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

​@@BearingMySeoulThank god for Atheists! Amen!

[@derekhough-jm9gc]

@@MisfitsFiendClub138 Yes the communists were warm and cuddly except for their 100 million victims

[@Imissyoulou]

Fire fly, it is because they have not researched the case.

[@christinacascadilla4473]

How could they possibly parole that guy?

[@warrenlewis3977]

Im surprised they didn't blame a Black person.

[@UnCreativeDeconstructionism]

06:11 "sex weaker than Loeb" *Boom, roasted*

[@helpyourcattodrive]

Crazy.

[@edubois31]

The marketing comments about “American Criminalsl” are very obvious

[@gerrydooley951]

Regarding the relationship between Leopold and Loeb it's curious how the word homosexual is avoided, clearly they are concerned about offending people which is sort of ridiculous.

[@liamblakey4879]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who picked up on that. I’m getting so tired of some of these stations walking on eggshells when it comes to the queer aspects of certain stories instead of exploring all avenues of a historical or contemporary story. It alienates a younger audience, and makes them not want to tune in. Thank you for commenting!

[@Susannenc]

Would the word heterosexual be used in a story about Bonny and Clyde? They don’t use the word because it just doesn’t matter, not because they are afraid of offending anyone. Two people are criminals and the only ridiculous thing is that bigots expect that their sexual lives should be mentioned at every opportunity.

[@tj4pirates]

They didn't call them homosexuals because it's not established that they were. They were only suspected as such, so they weren't being "PC" in the story by not describing them as homosexual. It was sound reporting.

[@Imissyoulou]

@@tj4pirates It was WELL established that they were lovers. There is still a lot of material pertaining to this case.

[@gotch09]

Back in the 20's homosexuality was very closeted. That's why in Compulsion they made up the story about the girl.

[@DM-lc2cf]

Evil in the world. The young men were on a trip to hell...

[@pjscho8161]

So how old was Leopold when he died ? The report didn't say.

[@georgiabutka3770]

Leopold 1904-1971 ! Also Bobby was a distant cousin of Loeb....

[@Imissyoulou]

@@georgiabutka3770 second cousin AND they lived across the street from each other.

[@tinamagnuson2]

Didn’t they both read Nietzsche?

[@kcbh24]

Relevance?

[@tinamagnuson2]

@@kcbh24 Nietzsche’s philosophy of a “superman” (Übermensch) led them to believe they were above the law.

[@kcbh24]

@@tinamagnuson2 cool.

[@user-jl8mp6lg4i]

8:40pm

[@WytZox1]

* Movie COMPULSION dramatized this true story but with fictional names. The 2 killers in Alfred Hitchcock's ROPE were inspired by Leopold & Loeb.

[@NoirAngel921]

The story that inspired Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope"

[@barbarafrazier61]

What happened to Leopold after he was released from prison

[@WenD1908]

He stayed out of trouble. He didn’t move back to Chicagoland (this I do remember) but Florida, as I recall. He married and lived a long life.

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

@@WenD1908 Leopold moved not to Florida, but to Puerto Rico. I believe it was part of the conditions of his release that he was not to return to Chicago.

[@WenD1908]

@@oliverbrownlow5615 Thank you for that correction.

[@terrifromm5085]

@@WenD1908 Who the hell would marry a cold-blooded murderer? Sickening.

[@WenD1908]

@@terrifromm5085 Good question. I saw a picture. They made a nice looking couple, despite his crime.

[@cosmosrunner2468]

Folie a deux.

[@jimmyv6703]

What was the manner of homicide?

[@winston_smith311]

a chisel.

[@slacktoryrecords4193]

The “crime of the century”?! By which metrics was this determination made?

[@Imissyoulou]

You have to consider the era.

[@amac6483]

God how we, society, can make a mountain out of a mole hill......compared to say children killed in Iraq or Afghanistan or in Gaza. Will anyone be held to account for their deaths ?

[@johannedillworth7413]

Eventually there is justice for these fiends. At least I hope so

[@RevLeigh55]

I have read a lot about this case and have seen the movies. “Compulsion,”made in the late 50s, is the best telling of the story. They escaped the death penalty simply because they came from wealthy families.

[@Imissyoulou]

All families DID NOT WANT THE DEATH PENALTY and they had Clarence Darrow, an opponent of the death penalty. Additionally, Bobby Franks, had just written a paper or made a speech opposing the death penalty. The public wanted them to die because at that time, there was a belief that the rich got away with everything.

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

@@Imissyoulou Bobby Franks was a member of the Debate Team at the Harvard School, and he had participated in a formal debate on capital punishment, taking the opposing side. None of the Franks family expressed the wish to see Leopold & Loeb executed.

[@Imissyoulou]

@@oliverbrownlow5615 Correct.

[@gotch09]

And their ages played a huge part in it.

[@gartwilliams3347]

Is that the original reporter doing the interviews?

[@bethclark9319]

No, the crime happened over 100 yrs. ago. The original reporter would have to be over 100.

[@SOLOHeyman]

Her voice sounds like she’s over 100.

[@JohnBock-nq9lr]

The movie Compulsion.

[@JohnBock-nq9lr]

Compulsion with Dean Stockwell and Orson Welles....best movie about this incident; although an adaptation. Excellent film.

[@PYTU]

When this happened?

[@carolyncarter2615]

May 21, 1924.

[@PYTU]

@@carolyncarter2615 thanks

[@antonius_006]

It is not a mistery, it is Psychopathy.

[@l.a.3479]

*mystery

[@antonius_006]

@@l.a.3479 3 kinds of Psychopathy: Psychological (cultural disorder) Psychiatric (brain disorder) Psychic (soul disorder) They can lead to correspondent death. It is a Natural Philosophy subject.

[@AnimalLover-dw2wu]

Northwestern! Go Cats! 💜

[@NoamPitlick-bg8kw]

4:17 this doofus is touch these letters without gloves?

[@roneastman4457]

Too many things to say. I feel horrible for the young victim Bobby. I wish more of this story was about him. Yes, rich people do horrible things to this very day. Jan 6 coup attempt is the first thing that comes to mind.

[@josephfloyd4217]

Freddy Nachos

[@Johnnyjingles87]

They look old af to be teenagers

[@DoubleMrE]

My Great-Grandmother was the Leopold family’s maid. 😉

[@bzh7648]

So we’re they sociopaths?

[@l.a.3479]

*were

[@l.a.3479]

Either that or psychopaths.

[@audreydaleski1067]

They couldn't find a random child, so they settled for ones relative.

[@el7jake]

The crime of the century? That would the LIndburgh kidnapping.

[@superhet7281]

No. That would be JFK’s assassination.

[@gotch09]

@@superhet7281 Lindbergh kidnapping was considered a crime of the century. Very interesting tale. Like the JFK assassination there a thousand & one theorys about who did what. It's a real rabbit hole.

[@vivelaresistance3239]

Another pair of geniuses who got caught because they couldn’t keep track of their belongings.

[@patricias5122]

A blameless 14 year old boy. Wow. One aspect of the crime that's never discussed...because people are afraid of being called antisemitic...is how these two wealthy Jewish men felt this young boy, from a Christian Science family, was just not their equal. These revoltingly snobbish men. They should never have been given their freedom.

[@gotch09]

Does it bother you that Bobby Franks was also Jewish?

[@user-yo5lf8nr3v]

It remains a mystery, only because you are too frickin sensitive to tead the full confession.

[@Polyphemus47]

Baffled by empathy?

[@mnmdisney]

Was the victim S.a'd?

[@gotch09]

It was never said, I don't think.