Vanessa Richardson

And although Patty's father, Randolph, appreciated his daughter's verve, her teachers weren't as amused. Patty quickly wore out her welcome at the various upper-class schools she went to, and by the time she graduated high school, she'd gone to five different institutions. Her final one proved to have the biggest impact on her. It was there that she met her soon-to-be fiancé, Steve.

And although Patty's father, Randolph, appreciated his daughter's verve, her teachers weren't as amused. Patty quickly wore out her welcome at the various upper-class schools she went to, and by the time she graduated high school, she'd gone to five different institutions. Her final one proved to have the biggest impact on her. It was there that she met her soon-to-be fiancé, Steve.

Like the rest of Patty's life so far, the match wasn't without controversy. Steve wasn't a fellow student, He was Patty's math teacher and seven years her elder. Safe to say Patty's parents didn't approve of their relationship, but she didn't seem to care what her parents thought because she and Steve moved in together and enrolled at nearby UC Berkeley.

Like the rest of Patty's life so far, the match wasn't without controversy. Steve wasn't a fellow student, He was Patty's math teacher and seven years her elder. Safe to say Patty's parents didn't approve of their relationship, but she didn't seem to care what her parents thought because she and Steve moved in together and enrolled at nearby UC Berkeley.

Like the rest of Patty's life so far, the match wasn't without controversy. Steve wasn't a fellow student, He was Patty's math teacher and seven years her elder. Safe to say Patty's parents didn't approve of their relationship, but she didn't seem to care what her parents thought because she and Steve moved in together and enrolled at nearby UC Berkeley.

And then they got engaged in December 1973 when Patty was 19. Even though Randolph and Catherine weren't thrilled, they still printed an engagement announcement in the San Francisco papers. That's where 29-year-old Bill Harris first saw the name Patty Hearst. Bill was a postal worker and member of a Bay Area militant group called the Symbionese Liberation Army, or SLA.

And then they got engaged in December 1973 when Patty was 19. Even though Randolph and Catherine weren't thrilled, they still printed an engagement announcement in the San Francisco papers. That's where 29-year-old Bill Harris first saw the name Patty Hearst. Bill was a postal worker and member of a Bay Area militant group called the Symbionese Liberation Army, or SLA.

And then they got engaged in December 1973 when Patty was 19. Even though Randolph and Catherine weren't thrilled, they still printed an engagement announcement in the San Francisco papers. That's where 29-year-old Bill Harris first saw the name Patty Hearst. Bill was a postal worker and member of a Bay Area militant group called the Symbionese Liberation Army, or SLA.

They considered themselves guerrilla warriors and wanted to get rid of capitalism and start a war with the government. Their motto was, quote, "...death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people." After Bill saw the engagement announcement, he had an idea. Two members of the SLA had recently been arrested for a shooting in Oakland.

They considered themselves guerrilla warriors and wanted to get rid of capitalism and start a war with the government. Their motto was, quote, "...death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people." After Bill saw the engagement announcement, he had an idea. Two members of the SLA had recently been arrested for a shooting in Oakland.

They considered themselves guerrilla warriors and wanted to get rid of capitalism and start a war with the government. Their motto was, quote, "...death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people." After Bill saw the engagement announcement, he had an idea. Two members of the SLA had recently been arrested for a shooting in Oakland.

Bill thought the group could use a high-profile captive like Patty to negotiate a prisoner swap. As an added bonus, Patty would be a great metaphor for their cause. An absurdly wealthy family like the Hursts were the epitome of capitalism. By kidnapping one of their daughters, the SLA would make headlines and, presumably, a lot of money.

Bill thought the group could use a high-profile captive like Patty to negotiate a prisoner swap. As an added bonus, Patty would be a great metaphor for their cause. An absurdly wealthy family like the Hursts were the epitome of capitalism. By kidnapping one of their daughters, the SLA would make headlines and, presumably, a lot of money.

Bill thought the group could use a high-profile captive like Patty to negotiate a prisoner swap. As an added bonus, Patty would be a great metaphor for their cause. An absurdly wealthy family like the Hursts were the epitome of capitalism. By kidnapping one of their daughters, the SLA would make headlines and, presumably, a lot of money.

After reading the engagement announcement, Bill went to the Berkeley campus and was able to find Patty's address. Over the next month or two, Bill and the SLA found out that despite being from an important, well-known family, Patty didn't have any security. So, on the night of February 4th, 1974, Bill and two other SLA members abducted Patty from her apartment.

After reading the engagement announcement, Bill went to the Berkeley campus and was able to find Patty's address. Over the next month or two, Bill and the SLA found out that despite being from an important, well-known family, Patty didn't have any security. So, on the night of February 4th, 1974, Bill and two other SLA members abducted Patty from her apartment.

After reading the engagement announcement, Bill went to the Berkeley campus and was able to find Patty's address. Over the next month or two, Bill and the SLA found out that despite being from an important, well-known family, Patty didn't have any security. So, on the night of February 4th, 1974, Bill and two other SLA members abducted Patty from her apartment.

After shoving her in their car, they drove to their safe house and locked her in a closet. Like Bill predicted, the kidnapping made headlines immediately. Along with Steve, multiple people around the apartment complex had witnessed the kidnapping. They went to the authorities, and it wasn't long before the media found out about it.

After shoving her in their car, they drove to their safe house and locked her in a closet. Like Bill predicted, the kidnapping made headlines immediately. Along with Steve, multiple people around the apartment complex had witnessed the kidnapping. They went to the authorities, and it wasn't long before the media found out about it.

After shoving her in their car, they drove to their safe house and locked her in a closet. Like Bill predicted, the kidnapping made headlines immediately. Along with Steve, multiple people around the apartment complex had witnessed the kidnapping. They went to the authorities, and it wasn't long before the media found out about it.