Grisly Crimes From Past 11: Murder For Kicks

Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold were members of wealthy Chicago families. Both were intelligent; neither needed the money. Yet on 21 May 1924 they committed a stupid and brutal murder. The ostensible motive was $10,000 ransom — the truth was they did it for kicks.

Fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks son of a millionaire Chicago businessman, became their victim. It turned out to be a far from perfect crime. The trial took place in July 1924.

The great Clarence Darrow asked for mitigation on grounds of reduced responsibility and mental illness. How, he asked, could an act so bad not be mad? By what standards could the crime of Leopold and Loeb be described as the work of sane young men?

It is a paradox that has often been raised since in the cases of infamous murderers.

[grislycrimesfrompast]

If you have enjoyed this content, please give this video a thumbs-up; I regularly upload new story, so subscribe and turn on notifications (🔔) to make sure you don't miss any of my new videos.