​‘The Day I Discovered My Dad Was A Bank Robber'
Marie Claire - UK|August 2017

After years of mysterious behaviour, writer Molly Brodak finally learned the truth about her father’s secret life when he was arrested. Here she shares her story…

​‘The Day I Discovered My Dad Was A Bank Robber'

I was 13 when I saw Dad’s face hovering over the TV newscaster’s shoulder, as she said his name in the same breath as the words ‘bank robbery’. I didn’t cry. I felt relieved, like I was truly seeing my father for the first time. His deception, manipulations and lies – it made total sense now that this puzzle piece had been snapped into place.

It was summer, and Mom and I had come home from a camping trip to find the answering machine full of desperate messages from my older sister, who’d been living with my dad at the time. The FBI had kicked in their door and were tearing their flat apart. Looking for money and evidence, they ripped open her mattress, emptied her drawers of clothes and even smashed her piggy bank. She was 15 and in complete shock. Officers questioned her and showed her grainy surveillance photos from a bank Dad had robbed. She wasn’t sure it was him at first – he’d been wearing a false moustache, glasses and a hat. But then she said, ‘That’s him. He’s wearing my hat.’

My dad had worked at a General Motors manufacturing plant for decades and had no criminal record. His story was reported as that of a mild-mannered man who had suddenly snapped and robbed ten banks over the course of one summer, perhaps influenced by untreated PTSD from the Vietnam War, or from having lost his job after he kept a company car without permission. The truth was more complex.

Denne historien er fra August 2017-utgaven av Marie Claire - UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra August 2017-utgaven av Marie Claire - UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA MARIE CLAIRE - UKSe alt
Uma Thurman
Marie Claire - UK

Uma Thurman

‘I Managed To Stay In The Business That I Love All My Life, And I Know That’s Not A Given. I Can’t Not Feel Lucky About It, No Matter What The Downsides Can Be’.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2019
Pollution Proof Your Life
Marie Claire - UK

Pollution Proof Your Life

From your daily commute to your wood-burning stove, you’re unwittingly inhaling a variety of toxic substances. But you can take action to reduce their impact, reveals Claire Thorp.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2019
We Love Lucy
Marie Claire - UK

We Love Lucy

From a star-making turn in Bohemian Rhapsody to a leading role in sassy new Netflix show The Politician, Lucy Boynton is ready for her close-up. Here, she tells Jane Mulkerrins about her life-changing year.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2019
Human Touch
Marie Claire - UK

Human Touch

Connecting with others can have a confidence-boosting effect, support skin health and help you live longer. Here’s why the wonders of physical contact really matter...

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2019
Facing The Floods
Marie Claire - UK

Facing The Floods

Photographer Gideon Mendel has spent 12 years capturing the extreme rise in flooding across the globe. Here, he tells Marie Claire about the devastating human impact.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2019
'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums
Marie Claire - UK

'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums

Three mothers and daughters explain how talking openly to each other about sex, identity and pleasure has strengthened their relationship and enriched their love lives

time-read
9 mins  |
September 2019
10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being
Marie Claire - UK

10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being

From cortisol-free fitness to stress-busting diets and calm skin, Fiona Embleton reveals ten mindful ways to approach health and well-being

time-read
6 mins  |
May 2019
Sex Crimes on Campus
Marie Claire - UK

Sex Crimes on Campus

This month, thousands of female students will head for university, but many will become the victims of sexual assault and harassment.Polly Dunbar investigates the alarming rise of college rape culture.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2016
Fight The Fear
Marie Claire - UK

Fight The Fear

Approximately ten million people in the UK suffer with a debilitating phobia. When Charlotte Haigh’s fear of flying threatened to damage her mental health, she took action…

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2017
Celine Dion
Marie Claire - UK

Celine Dion

‘Growing Up, I Used to Feel Awkward and Insecure. I Remember Not Feeling or Looking My Best’

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2017