The Binge Cases: Denise Didn't Come Home - Introducing: My Fugitive Dad

Episode Date: November 17, 2023

Ashley’s Dad was her favorite person in the world. He drove fast cars and sold them for a living. He was a scratch golfer and the love of her Mum’s life. Ashley thought she knew him better than anyone. But at 38, she found out he wasn’t who he said he was. Inspired by his favorite movie the Thomas Crown Affair, he had pulled off a robbery in Cleveland then disappeared. It turns out he evaded the authorities for half a century, living in their sleepy Massachusetts town. His secret upended his family’s life, but another family’s too. Because from the moment this 20-year-old vault teller escaped with $215,000 in 1969, Deputy U.S. Marshal John Elliott made it his life’s mission to bring him to justice. After he retired, his son even took up his mantle. For this six episode podcast, host Jonathan Hirsch teams up with Ashley Randele to unravel the mystery of how her Dad got away with it, and ultimately, why he left behind everyone and everything to start over. Subscribe now to unlock all shows on The Binge and you’ll be the first to access Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad as soon as it drops on December 1st. A Neon Hum Media & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, Ashley. Hi, Jonathan. Tell me about your dad. Well, my dad's name is Tom. He's one of the most charming men you'll ever meet. All the way. Good morning. He's a car salesman, a scratch golfer. You wanted Tom on your team because he's a ringer.

He was unreal. The love of my mom's life and my best friend. But Ashley's dad had a massive secret. And he said, if I tell you, you have to promise you will not look into it. I don't want you telling anybody. A secret he kept for more than half a century, not just from his family. And she looked at me like I'd hit her in the face with a brick. But from the world.

Ted Conrad walked out of the bank he worked at. He disappeared with a paper bag containing $215,000. He'd evaded authorities for 52 years. So where is Teddy Conrad today? Who knows? The Conrad Trail is cold as marshals look to generate some kind of heat. A father and son duo made catching him their life's mission. Some people portrayed Conrad as a Robin Hood, and my dad called him nothing but a thief. This is the story about trying to make sense of a wonderful life based on a terrible lie.

My dad wasn't Tom Randall. I mean, he was Ted Conrad. He was a wanted fugitive, hiding in plain sight. I'm Jonathan Hirsch. Join me and Ashley together as we tell the real story of her dad, Ohio's most infamous fugitive for the first time. We'll not only reveal how he did it, but why. From Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment,

this is Season 7 of Smokescreen, My Fugitive Dad, coming December 1st.