The Horrific Murder of Bobby Franks

Bobby Franks was a 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was tragically and brutally murdered in 1924. He was kidnapped and killed by two wealthy University of Chicago students, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, in what became known as the infamous Leopold and Loeb case. The motive for the murder was said to be a want to commit the “perfect crime” to show their intellectual superiority. The case shocked the nation and led to a highly publicized trial, where defense attorney Clarence Darrow argued against the death penalty for the young men. Leopold and Loeb were eventually sentenced to life in prison.

Nathanial Leopold

Nathan Freudenthal Leopold Jr. was born on November 19, 1904, in Chicago, Illinois, to a wealthy family of immigrant German Jews who had built a successful freight and transport business in the United States. From a young age, Leopold was known for his intellectual prowess, but his early years were marred by bullying at school and alleged sexual abuse by a governess when he was 12. Despite his intelligence, Leopold struggled to make friends due to his superior attitude stemming from his family’s wealth and his own intellect.

After the family moved to the upscale neighborhood of Kenwood in Chicago, Leopold attended the private Harvard School, where his academic progress accelerated. He entered college at the age of 15 and developed a keen interest in ornithology. It was at the University of Chicago in 1920 that Leopold crossed paths with another young prodigy, Richard Loeb, marking the beginning of a fateful and tragic partnership.

Richard Loeb

Richard Albert Loeb was born on June 11, 1905, in Chicago, Illinois, to a wealthy Jewish lawyer who rose to become a senior executive at Sears, Roebuck & Company. Blessed with exceptional intelligence, Loeb advanced through school quickly, skipping multiple grades with the help of a strict nanny who enforced discipline.

While outwardly charming and popular, Loeb harbored a darker side to his personality from a young age. He displayed early talent as a thief and often resorted to lying when caught. He also nurtured a vivid imagination of himself as a master criminal, engaging in activities ranging from petty theft to vandalism and arson.

Enrolling at the University of Chicago at just 14 years old, Loeb crossed paths with fellow prodigy Nathan Leopold, forging a close friendship. After transferring to the University of Michigan in 1921 and graduating at a record-breaking age of 17, Loeb returned to Chicago for graduate studies and reconnected with Leopold. The two complemented each other well: Leopold’s brilliance but social awkwardness was balanced by Loeb’s charisma, leading to a deep bond. Their relationship turned intimate, with Loeb introducing Leopold to various criminal pursuits and becoming fixated on executing the “perfect crime” that would capture public attention.

During a recent trip to Chicago, we visited some of the sites from this famous case including retracing the route that Leopold and Loeb drove the day of abducting and murdering Bobby Franks.