Vanessa Richardson

But before they left, George gave the women a chilling warning. If they called the cops, their men were as sure as dead. Then, George and Al hustled their captives outside and towards their getaway car. While neither kidnapper had been masked, they made sure to blindfold Charles and his friend before shoving them into the cramped back seat.

But before they left, George gave the women a chilling warning. If they called the cops, their men were as sure as dead. Then, George and Al hustled their captives outside and towards their getaway car. While neither kidnapper had been masked, they made sure to blindfold Charles and his friend before shoving them into the cramped back seat.

Once the car was out of the driveway, Bernice sprang into action. Despite the warning, she was smart enough to know the kidnappers wouldn't kill Charles, not before they got any money, at least. Even still, she took the extra precaution and locked herself in a room with a telephone. Then she called Oklahoma City PD, who promised to send officers. But Bernice wasn't content to just sit and wait.

Once the car was out of the driveway, Bernice sprang into action. Despite the warning, she was smart enough to know the kidnappers wouldn't kill Charles, not before they got any money, at least. Even still, she took the extra precaution and locked herself in a room with a telephone. Then she called Oklahoma City PD, who promised to send officers. But Bernice wasn't content to just sit and wait.

Her mind reeled with what had just happened. She felt like she had to do something, anything. That's when she remembered reading about Hoover's national hotline. Around 2 a.m. in Washington, D.C., the special line at J. Edgar Hoover's home started ringing. Within hours of the abduction, the FBI was hot on the Kellys' trail.

Her mind reeled with what had just happened. She felt like she had to do something, anything. That's when she remembered reading about Hoover's national hotline. Around 2 a.m. in Washington, D.C., the special line at J. Edgar Hoover's home started ringing. Within hours of the abduction, the FBI was hot on the Kellys' trail.

But by then, George had already put hundreds of miles between them and Oklahoma City. Charles had also finally identified himself, likely hoping that his captors would release his friend. Everything was going according to plan. But as pleased as George was with their progress, his accomplice seemed jumpy. Sure, things had gone fine, but not entirely to plan.

But by then, George had already put hundreds of miles between them and Oklahoma City. Charles had also finally identified himself, likely hoping that his captors would release his friend. Everything was going according to plan. But as pleased as George was with their progress, his accomplice seemed jumpy. Sure, things had gone fine, but not entirely to plan.

They had an extra hostage on their hands, and now the question was what to do with him. Al wanted to make sure the other man couldn't talk. He warned George that they shouldn't leave another witness behind, but George wouldn't hear of it. Despite the name and reputation that Catherine had built for him, Machine Gun Kelly wasn't as vicious as people believed.

They had an extra hostage on their hands, and now the question was what to do with him. Al wanted to make sure the other man couldn't talk. He warned George that they shouldn't leave another witness behind, but George wouldn't hear of it. Despite the name and reputation that Catherine had built for him, Machine Gun Kelly wasn't as vicious as people believed.

He certainly wouldn't just kill an innocent man. That's why he chose the middle of nowhere to drop their excess hostage on the side of the road and speed off. George, Al, and a blindfolded Charles spent the rest of the night and a good portion of the next day in the car.

He certainly wouldn't just kill an innocent man. That's why he chose the middle of nowhere to drop their excess hostage on the side of the road and speed off. George, Al, and a blindfolded Charles spent the rest of the night and a good portion of the next day in the car.

To throw potential pursuers off their trail and make sure their captive was disoriented, they took the least direct route possible. It was well over 12 hours after the kidnapping that they arrived at the Paradise Farmhouse in Texas, where Catherine was waiting for them. When the men climbed out, she directed George and Al to an empty bedroom to deposit Charles for the night.

To throw potential pursuers off their trail and make sure their captive was disoriented, they took the least direct route possible. It was well over 12 hours after the kidnapping that they arrived at the Paradise Farmhouse in Texas, where Catherine was waiting for them. When the men climbed out, she directed George and Al to an empty bedroom to deposit Charles for the night.

But while Charles was kept in quiet solitude, the rest of the farm was bustling with activity. The property belonged to Catherine's stepfather and bootlegger, Robert Boss Shannon. It's unclear if he and Catherine's mother, Ora Shannon, were in on the plan from the start, but when they heard of the score, they got on board and agreed to keep an eye on the prisoner.

But while Charles was kept in quiet solitude, the rest of the farm was bustling with activity. The property belonged to Catherine's stepfather and bootlegger, Robert Boss Shannon. It's unclear if he and Catherine's mother, Ora Shannon, were in on the plan from the start, but when they heard of the score, they got on board and agreed to keep an eye on the prisoner.

This allowed George to focus on things on the farm and Catherine to take her 13-year-old daughter, Pauline, to her home in Fort Worth. There, she contacted Detective Ed Weatherford, a crooked local cop she'd recently befriended. Or that's what she thought anyway.

This allowed George to focus on things on the farm and Catherine to take her 13-year-old daughter, Pauline, to her home in Fort Worth. There, she contacted Detective Ed Weatherford, a crooked local cop she'd recently befriended. Or that's what she thought anyway.

In reality, Weatherford was working Catherine in the hopes that she'd turn state's witness against anyone and everyone in the criminal world. So when she called him for a quick chat, he came right on by. But Weatherford wasn't the only one with an ulterior motive. Catherine knew the detective had connections and hoped he'd warn her if anyone was after them.

In reality, Weatherford was working Catherine in the hopes that she'd turn state's witness against anyone and everyone in the criminal world. So when she called him for a quick chat, he came right on by. But Weatherford wasn't the only one with an ulterior motive. Catherine knew the detective had connections and hoped he'd warn her if anyone was after them.