30: Lost and Found pt.3: Bail Out

Maia Warner-Langenbahn
Dec 6, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Apr 16

Patty Hearst, Part 2. After witnessing the death of your friends, what do you do next? And where do you go? How does tragedy and trauma shape and reshape Patty Hearst's life. And what does innocence, guilt, and justice look like when the crazy ride finally comes to an end? This episode covers everything after the house fire which tragically kills many of the members of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) through present day. We discuss the intricacies of the numerous trials of Patricia Hearst, Bill Harris, and Emily Harris and then see where everyone ends up in the years following.

Chapters/Key takeaways to listen for

[00:00:00] Catch-Up: Catching up on holiday plans, dips, unusual Midwestern food customs, and other personal chaos
[00:14:25] Holiday Feels & Midwest Food Culture: The comedic horror of “Midwestern sushi” and more
[00:20:54] Patty Hearst Narrative Begins: The aftermath of the FBI raid, including Patty Hearst's desire to retaliate
[00:37:40] Recapping the SLA Shootout & Aftermath: How the L.A. raid killed six SLA members, leaving Patty, Bill, and Emily on the run
[01:04:00] The Murder of Myrna Opsahl: The heartbreaking death of an innocent bystander and why it haunts former SLA members to this day
[01:14:45] Courtroom Chaos: Patty’s Hibernia Bank trial strategy and the “persuasive coercion” defense
[01:30:10] The Privilege Question: Commutations, presidential pardons, and the deep divide between “traumatized victim” and “willing accomplice”
[02:04:00] Jonestown’s Impact on Patty’s Case: How the 1978 tragedy shifted public perception on cults, control, and “brainwashing”
[02:55:00] Final Thoughts & Where Are They Now?: Patty’s post-prison life, marriage to her bodyguard, and pivot to breeding award-winning show dogs

Photos/Videos:

*Patty Hearst on trial - courtesy of the Associated Press*

Patty Hearst Eulogizing Fallen SLA Members - courtesy of the Smithsonian Channel via YouTube

*Patty Hearst wearing "Pardon Me" shirt standing with Bernard Shaw - courtesy of Fine Art America/Bettman*

*Patty Hearst posing with Bernard Shaw and her commutation - courtesy of the Associated Press*

Quotes:

“The most important thing to learn in your youth, regardless of your intention, to own the consequence of your action.”- Grant Thomas
"Not all gay people use they as a pronoun. You can be gay and not have they as a pronoun.”- Grant Thomas
“Privilege does a lot.”- Maia Warner
"We fully realize we cannot win a revolutionary war without armed struggle."
“On the day Patty Hearst was convicted, the message a lot of people took was no one is above the law, no matter how rich and powerful.”- Maia Warner

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