Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold planned the shocking 1924 “crime of the century” – the abduction and murder of Bobby Franks. They belonged to wealthy German Jewish immigrant families in Chicago. The teen duo aimed for “the perfect crime,” driven by intellectual curiosity and a sense of superiority. Their story captivated the public, sparking debates on capital punishment. True-crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson and Smithsonian editor Meilan Solly dissect the case’s societal implications and media frenzy, shedding light on how Leopold and Loeb’s actions influenced the true crime genre and societal perceptions of crime and punishment.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-crime-of-the-century-a-century-later-180984586/