Morbid Podcast: The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst (Part 1) — Summary & Highlights

Podcast: Morbid
Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Episode: The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst (Part 1)
Date: September 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode marks the beginning of a multi-part deep dive into the infamous 1974 kidnapping of Patty Hearst by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). Ash and Alaina, blending their signature true crime research and dark comedy, set the stage for one of the most debated cases in American criminal history — exploring privilege, 1970s radical politics, and questions of agency vs. victimhood. Though the episode opens with some lighthearted banter about their own chaotic personal lives, the majority is dedicated to a comprehensive exploration of Patty Hearst's background, the origins and philosophy of the SLA, and the details of Patty’s abduction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hosts’ Personal Updates & Setting the Tone (00:00–07:00)

• Ash and Alaina share life updates: family illness, lack of sleep, and general chaos.
  • Notable for setting a "loosey goosey, crazy cuckoo" (00:20) atmosphere.
  • “It’s been like a literal shitshow over here. But you know what? We’re getting through it.” – Alaina (03:37)
• Brief mention of format transition and music recommendations as their coping mechanism.

2. Introducing Patty Hearst (07:35–15:28)

• Background: Patty Hearst, born 1954 into the renowned Hearst media dynasty.
  • Daughter of Catherine Campbell and Randolph Hearst, “heir to one of the nation’s largest fortunes” (09:16).
  • Description of Patty as rebellious, struggling against the constraints of a high-society, public life (“She just didn’t like any of this. She defied them over pretty much everything she could.” – Ash, 10:17)
• School life: Multiple boarding schools trying to “break her of these defiant tendencies;” Patty was fearless, even telling a nun to “go to hell” (11:44).
• Teenage years: Dissatisfaction, craving parental attention, and displays of independence.

3. Patty’s Early Romantic Relationship (13:23–15:28)

• Patty pursues a relationship with a young teacher, Steven Weed, described as “four years older than her” (13:41).
  • Relationship crosses appropriate boundaries; causes tension with her mother.
  • “It’s not inappropriate that she has a crush on a teacher... there should be no acting upon that... especially the teacher’s side.” – Alaina (13:47)
  • Reference to the Hearst family’s own history with age-disparate relationships.

4. Patty’s Quest for Independence & Social Awareness (15:28–17:06)

• Rebels against her family’s planned path, chooses UC Berkeley over Stanford, works a summer job, and is exposed to economic hardship.
  • “She saw people struggling to get by on minimum wage.” (16:54)
  • Begins to understand and relate to the 1960s/70s social and civil rights movements.

5. The Political Climate & Growth of Radical Groups (17:11–19:23)

• Overview of cultural shifts in the 1960s and 70s: civil rights, anti-war protests, and rise of underground radical groups.
  • Most activists started with peaceful protests but some splintered into violent actions (robberies, bombings).
  • Violent tactics gained attention, if not public support.

6. The Formation of the SLA (19:23–25:08)

• Donald DeFreeze (SLA’s leader) background: repeated incarceration, influence by revolutionary movements, eventual prison escape.
• SLA comprising ex-prisoners, radicalized students; poorly organized but committed to revolutionary violence.
• Notable anecdote highlighting SLA’s confusion: “one inmate... thought he was joining the Lebanese Liberation Army” (24:36) — demonstrating their chaotic recruitment.

7. First Violent SLA Acts & Repercussions (25:09–27:04)

• The ambush and murder of Oakland School Superintendent Marcus Foster (25:25), based on misinformation.
  • “They thought he was advocating for a student ID system... but he never advocated for that system. The local press mistakenly reported that he had.” (25:26)
• Two members are arrested leading the group to attempt a cover-up and preparation for further violence.

8. Patty’s Life Immediately Before the Kidnapping (27:08–30:30)

• Living with Steve Weed in Berkeley; relationship is showing cracks.
  • Patty characterized as dreamy, artistic; Steve as logical, “might have been an earth sign. Patty is a Pisces.” (27:49)
• Their engagement is announced without enthusiasm, major newspapers publish details — inadvertently revealing Patty’s location (“That’s private information... you’re giving away her location.” – Ash, 30:18)

9. The Kidnapping – Detailed Account (31:06–38:44)

• On February 4, 1974, Patty and Steve are attacked at home by SLA members.
  • “Steve told a reporter, ‘in seconds, they had me face down on the floor in the hallway... kept kicking me in the face.’” (32:14)
• Patty is forcibly abducted; witnesses recall screams, gunshots, and Patty being carried off, half-naked and blindfolded (“She was screaming, ‘please let me go.’” – Neighbor, 33:02)

10. Aftermath of the Kidnapping (38:44–47:32)

• Patty is hidden at SLA safe house; she is initially terrified, recalling another high-profile abduction case (Barbara Jean Mackle).
  • Eventually realizes she’s in a regular San Francisco neighborhood.
• Police respond late, find few clues except a box of cyanide-filled bullets—“Donald DeFreeze wanted it to kind of be a calling card” (40:10).
• The SLA had stolen a mathematician’s car as part of the abduction, releasing him unharmed—a detail that offered the Hearsts hope Patty would be used for ransom, not killed.

11. SLA Communiques and Ransom Demands (47:33–57:12)

• SLA sends elaborate, pseudo-legal letters to radio and press, referring to Patty as a “prisoner of war” and the Hearst family as “corporate enemy of the people.”
  • “Should any attempt be made by authorities to rescue the prisoner... the prisoner is to be executed.” (47:33)
• A less coherent, menacing ransom letter is sent to the Hearsts (“we're going to kill her the same way... and keep on killing...” – Ransom letter, 49:13).
• Patty’s first recorded message: claims not to have been harmed, references to “press distortions.” The tape includes the SLA’s sweeping, nearly impossible ransom demand: The Hearst family must provide every food-assistance recipient in California with $70 in groceries (54:13).

12. Efforts to Satisfy the SLA & Public Reaction (57:12–61:44)

• Randolph Hearst scrambles to meet demands; creates "People In Need" (PIN) and raises $2 million (later increased to $4 million) for food distribution across California.
  • The logistical horror unfolds as chaos erupts at distribution sites (60:08), but process stabilizes over time.
• Public sympathy grows: “If this is the only way to save your daughter, I want to help you meet such a high demand. I feel sick in my heart to think that money or the lack of it would take such a lovely treasure from you.” (56:38)
• Despite immense effort, SLA demands escalate (“amount...increased from 2 million to 6 million.” — 59:18).

13. Cliffhanger/Preview for Part 2 (61:44–62:09)

• Having laid the groundwork—the Hearst family’s dilemma, the SLA’s radical goals and incoherent demands—the hosts leave listeners anticipating deeper exploration of Patty’s captivity, psychological turmoil, and the Stockholm Syndrome debate.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the chaos of their personal lives: “It’s been like a literal shitshow over here. But you know what? We’re getting through it.” – Alaina (03:37)
• On the SLA’s poor messaging: “One inmate... thought he was joining the Lebanese Liberation Army.” – Ash (24:36)
• Patty’s letter home: “Mom, Dad, I’m okay... I’m not being starved or beaten or unnecessarily frightened... these people aren’t just a bunch of nuts. They’ve been really honest with me. They’re perfectly willing to die for what they’re doing.” – Patty Hearst (tape, 53:22)
• On the ransom demand: “The SLA demanded that every person in California who was receiving federal food assistance be given $70 worth of food...” – Ash (54:13)
• On public support: “I feel sick in my heart to think that money or the lack of it would take such a lovely treasure from you.” – Letter writer (56:38)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–07:00 – Hosts’ banter and set-up
• 07:35–15:28 – Patty Hearst’s background & defiant youth
• 17:11–19:23 – U.S. political climate and rise of radical groups
• 19:23–25:08 – Donald DeFreeze & formation of the SLA
• 25:09–27:04 – SLA’s first murder (Marcus Foster)
• 31:06–38:44 – The night of Patty Hearst’s kidnapping, detailed account
• 47:33–53:22 – SLA letters and ransom note transcripts
• 53:22–54:13 – Patty's recorded message home
• 57:12–61:44 – Food program rollout, public reaction, SLA escalates demands

Tone & Approach

• The hosts maintain their signature blend of thorough research and dark, relatable humor.
• They offer empathy to victims, skepticism toward the SLA, and candid reflections on privilege and power.
• As always, banter and pop culture references lighten the mood without undercutting the gravity of the story.

Next Time...

The episode concludes with Ash and Alaina previewing even more disturbing developments in Patty’s ordeal: her life with the SLA, the origins of her controversial allegiance, and the ongoing debate around brainwashing and agency.

Recommended For:
Listeners interested in true crime, American history, and the intersection of privilege, politics, and criminal psychology.

To Be Continued in Part 2...