Tom Randele, Ashley’s dad, revealed a huge secret on his deathbed, shocking everyone. The dying 71-year-old admitted to hiding his true name and abandoning a troubled background.
Tom, who was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, broke the devastating news to his family that he had changed his identity before moving to their area. But what really caught them off guard was his suggestion that he might still be pursued by authorities.
Following this revelation, Ashley embarked on an online investigation. Her findings led her to a “Ted Conrad,” who, in 1969, at 20 years old, served as the vault teller at the Society National Bank in Cleveland, Ohio. Astonishingly, Conrad had vanished from his job on July 11, absconding with a paper bag packed with $219,000 in stolen cash from the bank vault. The audacious escape involved Conrad fleeing to Washington, D.C., while the bank’s leaders alerted the FBI, branding the young man a fugitive.
While doing research, Ashley voiced her dismay and shock, saying that her situation was so similar to a Lifetime movie.
The authorities were forced to reveal Conrad’s strategies for successfully evading capture after the discovery. Deputy US Marshall Pete Elliott was astounded by Conrad’s skill in maintaining his anonymity for so long and impressed at his diligent trail hiding.
The 1968 heist picture “The Thomas Crown Affair,” starring Steve McQueen, seemed to have had an influence on Conrad. In the wake of the events, Conrad began a fresh life in Boston using the alias Tom Randele.
But not even his closest relatives knew the truth. True crime writer stumbled found Conrad’s obituary and realized his elusive background after his passing in May 2021. Because of this finding, the riddle of the crime that Tom Randele had been hiding for decades was finally solved.
For the most part, Randele and his family resided in a picturesque Boston suburb. Both Randele and Kathy filed for bankruptcy in 2014. She spoke highly of her spouse in an interview she gave to Cleveland.com back in November. Regardless, she has consistently turned down offers to interviews.
