Thomas Randele, a man who lived a seemingly ordinary life as a devoted father, husband, and friend, shocked his family and community in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, with a stunning confession on his deathbed. He revealed to his daughter, Ashley Randele, that he was one of “America’s Most Wanted” fugitives and had been on the run for over five decades. This revelation is now the focus of a new true-crime podcast called “Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad,” hosted by Ashley Randele.
Ashley, now 38, describes her father as an amazing man and aims to share his story with the world. Despite her initial disbelief, Ashley discovered numerous articles linking her father to a notorious bank robbery. This realization made her realize that her father’s secret past was indeed true, and the authorities were still searching for him.
As Ashley recounts her childhood, she describes a loving and open family. Her parents were always present at her activities and events, and her father even wrote a lullaby for her. However, looking back, Ashley recalls moments that didn’t make sense at the time. Her father’s refusal to travel to France with the family and his skepticism towards DNA tests now seem connected to his hidden identity.
Thomas Randele, whose real name was Theodore John Conrad, executed one of Cleveland’s biggest bank robberies in 1969. As a 20-year-old bank teller, he walked out of the Society National Bank with $215,000, equivalent to over $1.7 million today. Conrad disappeared without a trace, leaving authorities searching for him for decades. It is revealed that Conrad was inspired by the movie “The Thomas Crown Affair” and saw the robbery as a means to start fresh.
The podcast, “Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad,” delves into the motive behind Conrad’s actions and reveals the extent of his planning. He had even explored obtaining a new Social Security card, which was relatively easy at the time. Ashley and her team tracked down people who knew her father, shedding light on his motivations and the circumstances surrounding the robbery.
Sadly, Thomas Randele passed away in 2021 from aggressive lung cancer. Before his death, he felt compelled to share his secret with his family, fearing they would be blindsided if it ever came to light. His obituary caught the attention of a true-crime writer in Cleveland, who then forwarded it to Peter Elliott, a U.S. Marshal. Elliott’s father had been searching for Conrad during his time as a U.S. Marshal in Cleveland. Although Conrad’s father died without closure, Elliott was able to confirm Conrad’s identity using documents from his college days.
Ashley and her family were visited by Elliott, who sought to understand how someone could disappear for over five decades and live a seemingly normal life. Despite the initial shock, Ashley and her family have developed a friendship with Elliott. As for the stolen money, it appears that by the time Thomas Randele settled down and started a family, the funds were depleted.
Ashley hopes that the podcast will provide a true understanding of who her father was and shed light on the complexities of his actions. She wants the world to recognize the genuine and special person her father was, despite his past as a fugitive. The shocking story of Thomas Randele, “America’s Most Wanted” fugitive, serves as a reminder that secrets can be hidden in plain sight for decades.
