Episode 407: Leopold & Loeb – Committing the “Perfect” Crime

13 O'Clock

Leopold and Loeb, two wealthy and highly intelligent University of Chicago students, shocked the nation in 1924 with their murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks in what they claimed was an attempt to commit the “perfect crime.” Nathan Leopold, 19, and Richard Loeb, 18, both from affluent families, meticulously planned and executed the abduction and killing, believing their superior intellects would enable them to evade justice. However, a key piece of evidence, Leopold’s distinctive eyeglasses found near the body, led to their swift arrest. Their trial drew immense media attention, particularly due to the defense mounted by renowned attorney Clarence Darrow, who argued against the death penalty on grounds of their mental states and the influence of Nietzsche’s philosophy. Ultimately, the pair received life sentences plus 99 years, with Loeb dying in prison in 1936 and Leopold being released on parole in 1958. The case remains infamous for its chilling combination of privilege, intelligence, and amorality.

Audio version:

https://ia600400.us.archive.org/30/items/episode-407-leopold-loeb-committing-the-perfect-crime/Episode%20407_%20Leopold%20%26%20Loeb%20-%20Committing%20the%20_Perfect_%20Crime.mp3

Video version:

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