New Season of Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad Unveils the Story Behind a Bank Robber’s Deathbed Confession

Sony Music Entertainment today premiered Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad, the newest season of its hit investigative podcast series that explores the complex story behind Ted Conrad, an infamous bank robber who disappeared without a trace. He was never caught and only decades later did he reveal the truth to his daughter weeks from dying. My Fugitive Dad invites listeners to hear new sides of the Ted Conrad story, from his beloved daughter who was unwittingly living a lie and another family’s quest to bring Conrad to justice. Subscribers to The Binge can listen to all six episodes, all at once today.

Inspired by hot shot Steve McQueen and the 1968 movie The Thomas Crown Affair, 20-year-old vault teller Conrad stole a fortune from Society National Bank in Cleveland and disappeared without a trace. Deputy US Marshal John Elliott made it his life’s goal to track down Conrad. When he died, his son, US Marshal Pete Elliott, took up the torch. For over half a century, Conrad evaded them. Until one day, this Dad’s deathbed confession blew the case wide open. Conrad’s shocking revelation rocked the small community of Lynnfield MA, and brought answers to one of the country’s most infamous cold cases.

In this season of Smoke Screen, Ted’s daughter Ashley Randele and reporter Jonathan Hirsch go on a journey to unravel the mystery of Ted Conrad, why he stole all that money, and how he managed to get away with it.

“I’m thrilled to be telling the real story of my Dad, beyond the splashy headlines of a decades-old bank heist,” said host and daughter Ashley Randele. “Once I knew my Dad’s insane secret, I had to find why the incredible and loving Dad I knew walked away from his parents and siblings. When we started this journey, it didn’t make sense, but now it does. ” “Up until now, the headline was that Ted Conrad stole this money because he was inspired by his favorite movie The Thomas Crown Affair, but we were able to reveal the real WHY. This podcast is a unique blend of riveting true crime/heist storytelling and a deeply personal examination of one person’s life and story,” said host Jonathan Hirsch.

Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad is written and produced by Jonathan Hirsch. Catherine Saint Louis is the story editor. The podcast is executive produced by Ashley Randele and Jonathan Hirsch.

Listeners can subscribe to Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad on The Binge, as well as all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For more information on Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad and all other Sony Podcast shows, follow @SonyPodcasts on X/Twitter and Instagram.