Terror in the Heartland: The Bobby Greenlease Kidnapping
November 12, 2019 | | 1 min read
It remains one of the most famous crimes in Kansas City history – the horrendous kidnapping and murder of young Bobby Greenlease.
Yet much of the twisty, grizzly story has never been fully told. And one key element of the crime remains tantalizingly unresolved.
So says Anthony Ladesich, a Kansas City-based director and screenwriter who has been researching the case for 18 years. The curiousKC team turned to Ladesich seeking answers for an inquiry from a loyal Flatland reader.
“The kidnappers were inept at best…,’’ Ladesich says. “They were far too drunk and drugged out to really live up to their criminal potential.”
Yet the 1953 crime committed by Carl Austin Hall and Bonnie Heady still echoes in Kansas City history.
“Every single child that grew up in this era knew the names Carl and Bonnie,” Ladesich says. “They were the boogie men.”
See much more in the attached video.
Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.
Related Stories
Nick’s Picks | Roads, Bathrooms, Costco and More …
New Toll Road Opens Kansas City’s first toll road opens this week. Starting Saturday, you’ll pay up to $3.50 to travel the new express lanes on U.S. Highway 69 from 103rd to 151st streets in Overland Park. There are no toll booths — cameras scan your license plate, and a bill arrives by mail. KTAG…
Up From the Ashes: Warwick Theatre Revival Draws Applause
Two years ago, John Cleary met a fellow Kansas City actor for drinks. Their conversation centered on the fate of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. A large portion of the ensemble’s home, the Warwick Theatre, was ash, charred timbers and soot-saturated costumes and props — remnants from a recent massive fire. The destruction was so great…
Nick’s Picks | Baseball, Drones, Romance and More …
Royals Reveal Next week, the Kansas City Royals head to Arizona for Spring Training. And that’s the mayor’s self-imposed deadline to lock in a stadium deal. So, is this finally the week owner John Sherman steps to the plate and unveils where the Royals will build their next home? At last week’s council meeting, Mayor…