Leopold and Loeb

Leopold and Loeb were Nathan Freudenthal Leopold, Jr. (November 19, 1904 – August 29, 1971)[1] and Richard Albert Loeb (June 11, 1905 – January 28, 1936).

Nathan Leopold
BornNathan Freudenthal Leopold Jr.
(1904-11-19)November 19, 1904
Chicago, Illinois, United States
DiedAugust 29, 1971(1971-08-29) (aged 66)
Puerto Rico
CauseHeart attack
Charge(s)Murder, kidnapping
PenaltyLife + 99 years' imprisonment
StatusDeceased
Richard Loeb
BornRichard Albert Loeb
(1905-06-11)June 11, 1905
Chicago, Illinois, United States
DiedJanuary 28, 1936(1936-01-28) (aged 30)
Joliet, Illinois, United States
CauseHomicide
Charge(s)Murder, kidnapping
PenaltyLife + 99 years' imprisonment
StatusDeceased

They were two wealthy University of Chicago law students who kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Robert "Bobby" Franks in 1924 in Chicago.[2]

The duo was motivated to murder Franks by their desire to commit a perfect crime.

Once arrested, Leopold and Loeb hired Clarence Darrow as counsel for the defense. Darrow’s summation in their trial criticized capital punishment as retribution, rather than rehabilitation. Leopold and Loeb were sentenced to life imprisonment. Loeb was killed by a fellow prisoner in 1936; Leopold was released on parole in 1958.

The Leopold and Loeb crime has been the inspiration for several works in film, theatre, and fiction, such as the 1929 play Rope by Patrick Hamilton, and Alfred Hitchcock's take on the play in the 1948 film of the same name. Later movies such as Compulsion and Swoon were more accurate portrayals of the Leopold and Loeb case.

Leopold And Loeb Media

References

  1. "Nathan Leoplold (1904-1971), Social Security Death Index". Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  2. Homicide in Chicago 1924 Leopold & Loeb Archived 2012-02-25 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved May 2, 2014.