Imagine if Paris Hilton was kidnapped back when she was just a teenager – and that nobody, not even the FBI, could find her. Now imagine that, ten weeks later, she finally reemerges – waving a gun and robbing a bank alongside the people who kidnapped her.

It sounds too far-fetched to be true, but a version of this story really did happen. Back in 1974, left-wing terrorists abducted nineteen-year-old heiress Patty Hearst, the granddaughter of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst. And two months later, Patty publicly joined their cause.

But was Patty a participant or a victim? Was she a teenage girl who did what she had to do to survive, or a rich young woman who loved the thrill of being on the other side?

Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/eventherich

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Conversation with Derek Schuurman