Vanessa Richardson

The LAPD didn't know the SLA was there until a few of them attracted some unwanted attention. In May 1974, about a month after the bank robbery, Patty went on a supply run with one of her kidnappers, Bill Harris, and his wife, Emily. Bill and Emily headed into a Mel's Sporting Goods store while Patty waited in the group's van.

The LAPD didn't know the SLA was there until a few of them attracted some unwanted attention. In May 1974, about a month after the bank robbery, Patty went on a supply run with one of her kidnappers, Bill Harris, and his wife, Emily. Bill and Emily headed into a Mel's Sporting Goods store while Patty waited in the group's van.

Apparently, Bill and Emily tried to shoplift, or at least the store clerk thought they did, and chased them outside. Patty could see the confrontation from her vantage point in the van. She decided to help Bill and Emily out by grabbing a gun and firing 10 rounds into the storefront. The distraction worked. Amidst the chaos, Bill and Emily were able to get away and jump into the van.

Apparently, Bill and Emily tried to shoplift, or at least the store clerk thought they did, and chased them outside. Patty could see the confrontation from her vantage point in the van. She decided to help Bill and Emily out by grabbing a gun and firing 10 rounds into the storefront. The distraction worked. Amidst the chaos, Bill and Emily were able to get away and jump into the van.

Apparently, Bill and Emily tried to shoplift, or at least the store clerk thought they did, and chased them outside. Patty could see the confrontation from her vantage point in the van. She decided to help Bill and Emily out by grabbing a gun and firing 10 rounds into the storefront. The distraction worked. Amidst the chaos, Bill and Emily were able to get away and jump into the van.

If anyone still had hope that Patty was just playing along with the SLA, this incident all but squashed it. If Patty had let Bill and Emily be arrested, she would have become a free woman. She could have even made a run for it while they went into the store. Instead, she decided to prove her loyalty to the SLA, and now the authorities would definitely be after her.

If anyone still had hope that Patty was just playing along with the SLA, this incident all but squashed it. If Patty had let Bill and Emily be arrested, she would have become a free woman. She could have even made a run for it while they went into the store. Instead, she decided to prove her loyalty to the SLA, and now the authorities would definitely be after her.

If anyone still had hope that Patty was just playing along with the SLA, this incident all but squashed it. If Patty had let Bill and Emily be arrested, she would have become a free woman. She could have even made a run for it while they went into the store. Instead, she decided to prove her loyalty to the SLA, and now the authorities would definitely be after her.

After Patty, Bill, and Emily made their getaway, they ditched the van and stole a couple different cars to cover their tracks. But just in case the police were onto them, they decided to lay low at a motel near Disneyland. That decision saved their lives. They didn't know it at the time, but the LAPD had found the SLA's hideout.

After Patty, Bill, and Emily made their getaway, they ditched the van and stole a couple different cars to cover their tracks. But just in case the police were onto them, they decided to lay low at a motel near Disneyland. That decision saved their lives. They didn't know it at the time, but the LAPD had found the SLA's hideout.

After Patty, Bill, and Emily made their getaway, they ditched the van and stole a couple different cars to cover their tracks. But just in case the police were onto them, they decided to lay low at a motel near Disneyland. That decision saved their lives. They didn't know it at the time, but the LAPD had found the SLA's hideout.

One day after the Mel's Sporting Goods debacle, the police surrounded the safe house. The standoff ended in a gunfight and the house caught fire. All six SLA members who were inside were killed. Patty, Bill, and Emily watched the destruction live on television from their motel. After that, the three of them went even further underground.

One day after the Mel's Sporting Goods debacle, the police surrounded the safe house. The standoff ended in a gunfight and the house caught fire. All six SLA members who were inside were killed. Patty, Bill, and Emily watched the destruction live on television from their motel. After that, the three of them went even further underground.

One day after the Mel's Sporting Goods debacle, the police surrounded the safe house. The standoff ended in a gunfight and the house caught fire. All six SLA members who were inside were killed. Patty, Bill, and Emily watched the destruction live on television from their motel. After that, the three of them went even further underground.

By November 1974, about five months after the SLA's safe house was burned down, Katherine and Randolph Hearst hadn't heard any news from their daughter. It seems like they may have given up on ever getting her back. Around that time, the Hursts withdrew their $50,000 reward for Patty's safe return.

By November 1974, about five months after the SLA's safe house was burned down, Katherine and Randolph Hearst hadn't heard any news from their daughter. It seems like they may have given up on ever getting her back. Around that time, the Hursts withdrew their $50,000 reward for Patty's safe return.

By November 1974, about five months after the SLA's safe house was burned down, Katherine and Randolph Hearst hadn't heard any news from their daughter. It seems like they may have given up on ever getting her back. Around that time, the Hursts withdrew their $50,000 reward for Patty's safe return.

Meanwhile, Patty, Bill, and Emily were quietly rebuilding the SLA, raising funds and recruiting new members. By the following April, they were running out of resources, so they turned back to a tried-and-true method of getting some cash, a bank robbery. On April 21, 1975, Patty, Bill, Emily, and another SLA comrade held up a bank in Carmichael, California.

Meanwhile, Patty, Bill, and Emily were quietly rebuilding the SLA, raising funds and recruiting new members. By the following April, they were running out of resources, so they turned back to a tried-and-true method of getting some cash, a bank robbery. On April 21, 1975, Patty, Bill, Emily, and another SLA comrade held up a bank in Carmichael, California.

Meanwhile, Patty, Bill, and Emily were quietly rebuilding the SLA, raising funds and recruiting new members. By the following April, they were running out of resources, so they turned back to a tried-and-true method of getting some cash, a bank robbery. On April 21, 1975, Patty, Bill, Emily, and another SLA comrade held up a bank in Carmichael, California.