Ted Conrad missing case was a long-standing mystery in the city, spanning generations of Clevelanders who could never forget the young man who had vanished with such ease.
He was just 20 years old when he allegedly pulled off one of Cleveland’s most daring bank heists.
Working as a teller at the Society National Bank on Public Square, he disappeared with $215,000 in stolen cash.
Subsequently, he vanished from sight, leading to one of the most enduring mysteries in the city’s history.
Unfortunately, the mystery of his sudden disappearance remained unsolved for 52 years.
However, a breakthrough in the case has recently revealed some long-awaited answers.
According to U.S Marshal Peter Elliott, his office has uncovered that Theodore Conrad had been leading another life under the alias of Thomas Randele for many years.
The Beginning of the Case
Before 1969, Ted Conrad was leading an unassuming life in Cleveland.
The family moved around the country when his father was in the Navy, and he was born in Denver.
After his parents’ divorce, he relocated to the Cleveland exurb of Lakewood with his mama and family, where he also participated in casing with his stepfather.
His father taught political sagacity at New England College, where he went after graduating from Lakewood High School.
Conrad sounded well-liked and appeared to be an each-American boy whose character wasn’t questioned.
The aspiring young man began working at Society National Bank and soon got access to the bank’s vault. Conrad could work with hundreds of thousands of dollars every day.
The Heist
The movie “The Thomas Crown Affair” apparently motivated Conrad to take action.
Conrad became obsessed with the movie and was fascinated by Steve McQueen’s character, a wealthy bank executive who carried out a $2.6 million heist.
Conrad began miming McQueen’s character, living an extravagant and high-end lifestyle, boasting expensive cars, golfing, and alcohol preferences.
As paranoia and restlessness took hold, Conrad had the idea to steal money from the bank.
He preyed on his friend Russell Metcalf, stating that the bank’s security was lax and that he could get away with it.
He announced his plan over lunch on the day of the heist.
Without his supervisor present, Conrad left the bank with $215,000, a paper bag filled with cigarettes, and Canadian Club Whiskey.
However, the plutocrat he stole would now be worth around$ 1, If acclimated for affectation.7 million.
After the trick, he took off, leaving no trace of his whereabouts and leaving behind a megacity he couldn’t forget.
The Search for Ted Conrad
For years, investigators and federal agents from across the country searched for Conrad, and some believed he had fled to California or settled in Europe.
The FBI even approached Conrad’s acquaintances in their work environments and talked to them to see if they could provide any leads.
However, they have yet to find Conrad.
The Breakthrough in Ted Conrad Missing case
In the end, a tip from a family member of Conrad’s pushed the investigation in another direction.
The tip led the investigators to Boston, where a new life for Ted Conrad had taken shape.
For over 50 years, Conrad changed his identity to Thomas Randle and lived a new life as a local golf pro and luxury car salesman.
He settled in a small town, eventually married, and had a family.
As the investigation moved forward, the investigators were finally able to solve the long-standing mystery that had gripped a city for over 50 years.
The marshals discovered that Theodore Conrad had changed his name and redirected his life.
And become a different person in a suburban town north of Boston, leaving behind a life that had proved too difficult to sustain.
Bank Robber Theodore Conrad Reveals Secret on Deathbed
In the podcast “Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad,” Ashley Randele shares her recollection of discovering her father’s secret identity and previous life.
She explores the reasons behind his decision to rob the bank where he worked and abandon everything he once knew.
A bank robber named Theodore Conrad, who stole $215,000 in 1969 and changed his identity, evaded justice for 52 years until he revealed his true name to his daughter on his deathbed.
The confession came as Conrad was battling lung cancer in a Boston hospital earlier this year.
His daughter, Ashley Randele, was shocked by the revelation and began researching her father’s secret past.
She discovered that he had been a bank teller in Cleveland, Ohio, and pulled off one of the biggest bank robberies in the city’s history.
Despite being a fugitive, Conrad lived an unassuming life in a Boston suburb, never leaving the country and even participating in his daughter’s school activities.
After his death, his identity was finally confirmed when someone sent his obituary to a crime reporter in Ohio.
The family chose to delay informing authorities to allow for a period of mourning.
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