Morbid Podcast: "The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst (Part 3)"

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and characteristically comedic installment, Ash and Alaina continue their in-depth exploration into the Patty Hearst saga, specifically focusing on the chaotic aftermath following Hearst’s high-profile kidnapping and descent into revolutionary activity. Part three of four, the episode covers the immediate fallout from the infamous bank robbery, a farcical series of failed getaways, and the catastrophic police raid that left most of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) dead. With signature banter, the hosts balance heavy research, dark humor, and memorable asides, making the madness of 1974 both accessible and compelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Tone and Season (02:11–05:00)

• The hosts usher in “spooky season” with infectious excitement, hinting at fun upcoming projects and teasing bonus monthly episodes featuring true crime documentaries and spooky content.
  • Notable Quote: “It's motherfucking spooky season up in here.” – Ash (02:15)
• They clarify recent podcast updates—new show dates, ad-free listening options, and platforms.

The Current State of Patty Hearst & the SLA (09:11–13:20)

• Context Recap: Patty Hearst’s role within the SLA grows increasingly complex after her participation in a bank robbery—her iconic “revolutionary chic” attire becomes pop culture fodder.

  • Memorable Exchange:
    • Ash: “Damn, that's a good outfit.” (09:45)
    • Elena: “Revolutionary outfits tend to be pretty awesome.” (09:50)

• SLA Struggles: The crew, led by Donald DeFreeze, faces mounting pressure: money is running out, paranoia is up, and the realities of fugitive life sink in.

  • Elena: “It's not giving logical… It's giving scary. It's giving on the run.” (13:04–13:17)

The Mel’s Sporting Goods Disaster (14:49–22:04)

• Failed Errands: Bill and Emily Harris, with Patty squatting behind groceries and a pile of guns in the car, run errands that escalate from shoplifting to violence.

  • Life Advice: “Hot tip of the day. If you're on the run, don't shoplift.” – Ash (18:38)

• Shoplifting Gone Wrong: Bill is caught stealing a bandolier; a dramatic confrontation leads to a brawl with store staff.

• Patty’s Reckless Intervention: Hearing the commotion, Patty opts not to flee but instead opens fire into the store with a submachine gun, nearly striking friend and foe alike.

  • Ash: “She pointed the gun out the window of the car… firing about 30 rounds into the front of this sporting goods store.” (20:36)
  • Elena (aghast): “With no regard.” (20:56)

• Aftermath: Miraculously, a store manager survives a bullet to the chest, thanks to a pen in his pocket.

  • Ash: “That pen should be framed.” (21:31)

• Hero Clerk Tony: As Bill drives off handcuffed, Tony the clerk gives chase, displaying remarkable pluck:

  • “Tony, our guy, a criminal justice student who had an eye on the police academy, fired two shots at them from his own gun, jumped in his own car, and started tearing after them.” – Ash (22:23)

Carjacking Mayhem & the Saga of Grandpa Tom (25:40–34:19)

• String of Carjackings:
  • An attempted car theft from a “fuck you” Trans-Am driver (26:10–26:27).
  • Stalled escapes and further botched attempts, including a failed theft from a sobbing hippie, and then from Tom Matthews, a high school baseball player.
• Grandpa Tom Legend: The hosts delight in the story of Tom, kidnapped for a “test drive,” whose only request is to make his baseball game.
  • Elena: “I have tears running down my face because I love that Bill was just like, totally get it. We'll get you back.” (31:39)
  • Tom even hacks off Bill’s handcuff and requests it as a souvenir!
  • Ash: “He said, hell yeah, brother, you asked me. Had the souvenir. To prove what he'd been through.” (32:43)

The Police Raid & House Siege (35:05–47:35)

• Tracks Lead Home: The SLA’s abandoned car (complete with a parking ticket) leads hundreds of law enforcement to their LA safe house.
• Botched Hideout: DeFreeze and the remainder of the SLA seek refuge in an unsuspecting family’s home, offering $100 for shelter. Neighbors and locals (surprisingly) flock to the house for a glimpse of the infamous SLA.
  • Ash: “The house started to just fill with curious friends and neighbors.” (39:09)
• Motherly Intervention: The homeowner’s mother confronts DeFreeze and then promptly reports the group’s location to police.
  • Ash: “She went up to Donald DeFreeze and was like, what are you doing? This is incredibly dangerous, and you're disrupting our community.” (41:08–41:15)
• The Siege:
  • Repeated police demands for surrender are refused; tear gas is deployed; a protracted gun battle follows, the largest shootout (in rounds fired) in US history.
    • Ash: “…expending what was to that point, the most rounds fired in a single incident in USA history.” (43:43)
  • The house is eventually set ablaze, the SLA continue to resist with gunfire, and ultimately perish in the inferno.
  • Legendary cameo: “It was only then that the last remaining civilian, Christine Johnson, emerged from the house. She had been inside and so drunk that she slept through the entire fight.” (44:59)
    • Elena: “Christine's a legend. Christine is a legend.” (45:49)

The Fallout: Patty, the SLA, and Public Reaction (47:35–54:35)

• Patty’s Emotional Spiral: Watching raid coverage from afar, Patty blames Bill’s “bad at errands” shoplifting for the catastrophe, and, in a rage, demands retribution against police. Bill and Emily Harris manage to calm her.

  • Ash, with gallows humor: “He thought it was his fault for being so bad at errands, he said, I'm the worst.” (47:53)

• Mythmaking & Martyrdom:

  • The deaths of the six SLA members galvanize support among some radical groups, leading to new recruitment and the formation of the “Malcolm X Combat Unit of the Simba Liberation Army” under the “New World Liberation Front” umbrella.
  • Patty’s Eulogy on Tape:
    • “Greetings to the people. This is Tanya. I want to talk about the way I knew our six murdered comrades. Because the fascist pig media have, of course, been painting a typically distorted picture…” (51:32–52:51)
    • “I died in that fire on 54th Street. But out of the ashes, I was reborn. I know what I have to do.” – Patty Hearst, tape recording (53:19)
  • The hosts are taken aback:
    • Elena: “You okay, Patty?” (53:19)

• Chaos After DeFreeze: The leadership void sets the stage for even more disorder and violence, to be covered in part four.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 02:15 | "It's motherfucking spooky season up in here." | Ash | | 09:45 | "Damn, that's a good outfit." | Ash | | 13:17 | "It's giving scary. It's giving on the run." | Elena | | 18:38 | "Hot tip of the day. If you're on the run, don't shoplift." | Ash | | 20:36 | "She pointed the gun out the window of the car… firing about 30 rounds into the front of this sporting goods store." | Ash | | 21:31 | "That pen should be framed." | Ash | | 22:23 | "Tony, our guy, a criminal justice student who had an eye on the police academy, fired two shots at them from his own gun, jumped in his own car, and started tearing after them." | Ash | | 26:10 | "'We're the sla. We need your car.' And the man did not care. He looked up at Bill and just said, fuck you." | Ash | | 31:39 | "I have tears running down my face because I love that Bill was just like, totally get it. We'll get you back." | Elena | | 44:59 | "It was only then that the last remaining civilian, Christine Johnson, emerged from the house. She had been inside and so drunk that she slept through the entire fight." | Ash |

Major Segment Timestamps

• Intro & Spooky Season Vibes: 02:11–05:00
• Recap and SLA Update: 09:11–13:20
• Events at Mel’s Sporting Goods: 14:49–22:04
• Carjackings & “Grandpa Tom”: 25:40–34:19
• Police Raid & Siege: 35:05–47:35
• Aftermath, Martyrdom & Closing: 47:35–54:35

Tone and Style

Ash and Alaina maintain their signature mix of heavily-researched storytelling and playful, irreverent banter. They expertly use comic relief to offset the intense subject matter, humanizing the minor players (“Grandpa Tom,” Christine Johnson) and deftly weaving pop culture references and life tips into the narrative. Yet, they don’t shy away from the gravity of violence and trauma, offering sharp commentary on reckless behavior and the ripple effects of radicalization.

Conclusion

This episode manages to traverse multiple genres—chaotic action, dark comedy, and true crime tragedy—while faithfully recounting the historical events that marked one of America’s most infamous kidnapping cases. Listeners walk away with a clear picture of both the absurdity and horror of the SLA’s final days, capped by anticipation for the dramatic fallout that awaits in part four.

Next up: Part 4 promises to deliver the serious aftermath of these catastrophic events, addressing the legal, psychological, and social ramifications of the Patty Hearst saga. Stay tuned, “keep it weird,” and don’t run errands like the SLA.