Patty Hearst : From Kidnapped Heiress to America’s Most Wanted Fugitive

In the mid-1970s, America was captivated by the shocking story of Patty Hearst who was a young heiress who was kidnapped by a radical group of leftist Marxist bor out of the prestigious Berkley University. Subsequently even though she was the victim found herself becoming one of the country’s most notorious most wanted fugitives. This is not just a story about crime, it's a tale that blurs the lines between victimhood and complicity, set against a backdrop of political turmoil and social unrest.

The 1970s: A Nation in Turmoil

The 1970s in America was the era of chaos. The country was grappling with the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal had deeply eroded public trust in government, and economic struggles were rife. Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco were experiencing significant civil unrest, with political bombings and radical ideologies becoming alarmingly common.

It was amidst this chaos that the story of Patty Hearst unfolded

The Heiress: Patricia "Patty" Hearst

Patty Hearst was born into the lap of luxury. Her grandfather was William Randolph Hearst and was was the founder of one of the largest media empires in the world. The Hearst family weren’t just rich, they were Richie Rich Rich with not only their wealth but also their influence being immense.

Patty herself was the third of five daughters, growing up in an environment of privilege, attending the finest schools and living in affluent neighborhoods. Yet, despite her gilded upbringing, Patty was not content to fit the mold expected of her. She had a rebellious streak, particularly in her relationship with her mother, Catherine. 

This rebellion manifested early in life where going against her mother was a sport for Patty, who intentionally got herself expelled from an elite Catholic school, much to her mother’s dismay. This defiance continued into her teenage years when she pursued a relationship with her disturbingly much older high school teacher, Stephen Weed.

The Hearst family mansion, symbolizing Patty Hearst’s privileged upbringing

The Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)

And this is where we leave Patty just for a moment, because this is a story of two worlds coliding and so to under stand the events of how patty became the most wanted fugative dispite being the initial victim of a randsom kidnapping, we have to first introduce you to the people we kidnapped Patty in the first place. 

pattys kidnappers were the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) who were a radical leftist group formed in the early 1970s out of Berkley University. The SLA was led by prison escapee Donald DeFreeze, who assumed the name "Cinque Mtume." The SLA, though small, was highly vocal in its opposition to what it perceived as societal injustices in america at the time, in particular injustices against Black African Americans. Think the Black Panthers, but on a micro scale and much less refined!

I say less refined because the their manifesto was a confused amalgamation of leftist ideologies, with little coherence or strategic direction.

Despite their lack of a clear agenda, the SLA was serious about their revolutionary aims, and they believed in using violence to achieve them. Their first major act was the assassination of Marcus Foster, the first Black superintendent of a major public school in the United States. This brutal killing brought them instant notoriety, but also led to the arrest of two key SLA members when they were recognised after picking up some of promotional pamphlet from the printers, pushing the group to hatch a desperate plan to free them.

A picture of Donald Defreeze the leader of the SLA

The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst

On February 4, 1974, the SLA executed a daring plan: they kidnapped Patty Hearst from her apartment in Berkeley, California. The kidnapping was meticulously planned. The group had scouted her home, noting the lack of security and the ease of access. On the night of the kidnapping, SLA members stormed Patty’s apartment, overpowering her fiancé, Stephen Weed, and forcibly abducted her.

Patty was then taken to a small hideout and confined in a dark closet. For nearly two months, she was kept there, blindfolded and terrorized, while the SLA figured out their next move. The group's initial demands were simple, they wanted the release of their imprisoned comrades. However, when this proved impossible, they shifted their focus to a more complex demand: $400 million worth of food to be distributed to the poor in California.

News coverage of Patty Hearst's kidnapping, capturing the nation’s attention.

The Transformation: From Victim to Revolutionary

As Patty’s captivity dragged on, something unexpected happened. Initially, she was defiant, but over time, her attitude began to change. She started to show signs of aligning with her captors' ideology, expressing frustration with her family’s inability to secure her release. 

The nation was stunned when, on April 3, 1974, Patty released a recorded message announcing that she had "chosen" to join the SLA, adopting the name "Tania," after a revolutionary associate of Che Guevara.

To prove her commitment, Patty participated in a bank robbery in San Francisco just days after her announcement. She was caught on camera wielding a machine gun and shouting threats, clear evidence that she had become an active member of the SLA. This event marked a significant turning point in the public's perception of Patty Hearst. Was she a victim, brainwashed into submission, or had she willingly embraced the radical ideology of her captors? That was the question the world was itching to answer.

Patty Hearst during the Hibernia Bank robbery, brandishing a machine gun

The SLA's Downfall

The bank robbery marked the beginning of the end for the SLA. The FBI ramped up its efforts to capture the group, and the SLA, now even more infamous, found it increasingly difficult to stay under the radar. 

They decided to flee to Los Angeles, where they set up a temporary hideout. However, their presence was soon discovered, leading to a massive shootout with the police on May 17, 1974. This confrontation, which was broadcast live on national television, ended with the deaths of several SLA members, though Patty Hearst was not among them.

For a time, Patty and the surviving SLA members evaded capture, moving across the country and continuing their criminal activities. However, their luck ran out in September 1975, when Patty was finally apprehended in San Francisco. Her arrest brought an end to the SLA’s reign of terror, but the nation was left with lingering questions about Patty’s true role in the group.

The SLA shootout in Los Angeles, broadcast live on national television.

The Trial: Victim or Accomplice?

Patty Hearst’s trial was a media circus, with the central question being whether she was a victim of brainwashing or a willing participant in the SLA’s crimes. The defense argued that Patty had been coerced, suffering from "traumatic neurosis" and unable to make decisions of her own free will. 

However, the prosecution pointed to numerous instances where Patty had opportunities to escape but chose not to, suggesting a deeper level of complicity.

Despite the high-profile defense, Patty was convicted of several charges, including armed robbery. She was initially sentenced to 35 years in prison, though this was later reduced to 7 years. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter intervened, commuting her sentence to time served, and in 2001, President Bill Clinton granted her a full pardon, effectively closing the case on one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century.

Patty Hearst during her trial, with defense attorneys arguing her brainwashing defense

The Legacy of Patty Hearst

Patty Hearst’s story remains a potent symbol of the tumultuous 1970s, a time when the lines between right and wrong were often blurred. Her case introduced terms like "Stockholm Syndrome" into the public lexicon and sparked debates about the limits of personal agency under duress. Whether Patty was a victim or a willing participant is a question that still divides opinion today.

After her release from prison, Patty attempted to rebuild her life, starring in several films and even walking the runway for a fashion show. She married her bodyguard, had children, and settled into a quieter, more conventional life, far removed from the revolutionary rhetoric of the SLA【4†source】.


Patty Hearst in her later years, leading a quieter life after her controversial past

Conclusion

The saga of Patty Hearst is a cautionary tale about the extremes of human behavior and the complex interplay between power, influence, and personal choice. Whether she was a brainwashed victim or a rebellious young woman caught up in the thrill of revolution, Patty’s story is one that continues to fascinate and provoke discussion.

We give you the Compendium, but if you want more, then check out these great resources:

  1. “American Heiress” by Jeffrey Toobin

  2. “The Patty Hearst Story” – Documentary on Amazon Prime

  3. “Every Secret Thing” by Patricia Campbell Hearst

  4. “Revolution’s End:” by Brad Schreiber

  5. “The Radical Story of Patty Hearst” – CNN Series