Forrest Tucker (criminal)
Encyclopedia
Forrest Tucker is an American career criminal first imprisoned at age 15 and most recently at age 79. He is best known as an escape artist, having escaped from prison 18 times successfully and 12 times unsuccessfully. A former inmate of Alcatraz (from which he escaped), his most famous escape was in the summer of 1979 from San Quentin, when he and two confederates built a kayak and paddled away in full view of the guards. He was not apprehended for four years, during which he and a gang went on a crime spree. Tucker's crimes of choice were bank robberies and it is estimated he stole over 4 million dollars during his career. Tucker married three times and had two children, a boy and a girl; none of his wives knew of his criminal career until they were informed by police. Tucker wrote a number of books about his life including Alcatraz: The True Story and The Can Opener, although it is unclear if they have ever been published.
Tucker was profiled by David Grann
in The New Yorker
in 2003 in a piece titled "The Old Man and the Gun" which describes Tucker's most recent bank robbery. Living in a retirement community in Florida, at the age of 79 and married for the third time, he robbed an estimated four banks by himself in the local community. He was finally caught in 2000 and sentenced to 13 years in jail, making him eligible for release in 2013. "The Old Man and the Gun" has been optioned by Anthony Mastromauro of Identity Films with exec Stephanie Striegel. It had previously been in development at Warners.
Tucker was profiled by David Grann
David Grann
David Grann is an American literary journalist and best-selling author. He has written about a range of subjects, from New York City's antiquated water supply system to the hunt for giant squid to the U.S...
in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
in 2003 in a piece titled "The Old Man and the Gun" which describes Tucker's most recent bank robbery. Living in a retirement community in Florida, at the age of 79 and married for the third time, he robbed an estimated four banks by himself in the local community. He was finally caught in 2000 and sentenced to 13 years in jail, making him eligible for release in 2013. "The Old Man and the Gun" has been optioned by Anthony Mastromauro of Identity Films with exec Stephanie Striegel. It had previously been in development at Warners.
External links
- Mike Geary. "79 Years Old and His Life of Crime Appears to Be Going Strong", LA Times, July 27, 1999.
- David GrannDavid GrannDavid Grann is an American literary journalist and best-selling author. He has written about a range of subjects, from New York City's antiquated water supply system to the hunt for giant squid to the U.S...
. "The Old Man and the Gun" (abstract), The New Yorker, January 27, 2003.