Ted Conrad Missing, What Happened to Ted Conrad? Who was Ted Conrad? 

Ted Conrad, a former bank vault teller, vanished in 1969 after a daring $215,000 heist in Cleveland. For 52 years, he lived a hidden life as Tom Randele, skillfully deceiving even his daughter. Before his death in 2021, he revealed his true identity, exposing a remarkable tale of evasion and reinvention.

by S Samayanka

Updated Dec 07, 2023

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Ted Conrad Missing, What Happened to Ted Conrad? Who was Ted Conrad? 
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Ted Conrad Missing 

Ted Conrad, a former bank vault teller, vanished in 1969 after orchestrating a daring $215,000 heist from Society National Bank in Cleveland. Working on a Friday, he left without a trace, and by Monday, the missing funds and Conrad were discovered. The fugitive embarked on a new life in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, adopting the alias Tom Randele. 

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For 52 years, he skillfully maintained this deception, even to his daughter Ashley Randele. In a surprising revelation before his death in May 2021, Conrad confessed his true identity and the elaborate ruse, divulging that he had been living under a false birthdate. The shocking disclosure not only unveiled a hidden criminal past but also exposed a remarkable tale of evasion and reinvention that spanned decades.

What Happened to Ted Conrad? 

In 1969, Theodore Conrad, a bank vault teller, orchestrated a daring $215,000 heist in Cleveland, disappearing without a trace. Adopting the identity of Thomas Randele, he built a new life in Massachusetts, maintaining a façade as a devoted family man. For over five decades, Conrad's secret remained buried until, on his deathbed in March 2021, he confessed to his daughter, Ashley. 

The revelation unveiled a tale of deception, with Ashley discovering her father's criminal past through online searches. Despite living openly in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, as Randele, Conrad's former life as a fugitive played out on crime shows and wanted posters. After Conrad's death in May 2021, US Marshals, tipped off by an obituary, confirmed his true identity, closing the chapter on a captivating and complex mystery. The story highlights the intricate balance between the ordinary and extraordinary in Conrad's dual existence, offering a glimpse into the enduring impact of a decades-long secret.

Who was Ted Conrad? 

Ted Conrad, born Theodore John Conrad in 1949, orchestrated a remarkable bank heist in 1969, vanishing without a trace. Working as a bank teller in Cleveland, he stole $215,000, equivalent to $2 million today, and assumed the identity of Thomas Randele. Living in Massachusetts, he portrayed himself as a devoted family man, car salesman, and golf enthusiast. 

His daughter, Ashley Randele, discovered his secret after his confession in March 2021, unraveling a complex tale of deception. Conrad, influenced by the movie "The Thomas Crown Affair," successfully avoided capture for over 50 years. Following his death in May 2021, US Marshals, tipped off by an obituary, confirmed his true identity, providing closure to a captivating and mysterious life lived under an alias.

Ted Conrad Early Life

In the early chapters of Ted Conrad's life, he emerged in Denver, Colorado, born to Edward and Ruthabeth Conrad. The trajectory of his childhood took a turn when his parents divorced during his elementary school years. Relocating to Lakewood, Ohio, with his mother and sister, Conrad graduated from Lakewood High School in 1967. Notable for his popularity and intellect, he secured a spot on the student council and boasted an impressive IQ of 135. 

Following his high school success, Conrad embarked on higher education at New England College, where his father, a retired Navy captain, held a role as an assistant professor of political science. Despite this promising start, Conrad's academic journey was brief, as he left after one semester, opting for a different path at Cuyahoga Community College.

Ted Conrad Bank Heist

In 1969, Ted Conrad, a trusted bank teller at Society National Bank in Cleveland, executed a daring heist, disappearing with $215,000. Despite working at the cash vault, Conrad's theft went unnoticed until Monday, providing him a two-day head start. Obsessed with the movie "The Thomas Crown Affair," he confessed in a letter to his girlfriend, then vanished, assuming the alias Thomas Randele. For over five decades, law enforcement sought him, unaware he lived a law-abiding life in Massachusetts. Conrad's postmortem discovery in 2021 marked the end of a captivating mystery surrounding one of Ohio's largest unsolved bank robberies.

Ted Conrad Obituary

Ted Conrad, the man behind a daring 1969 bank heist, passed away in May 2021 at the age of 71, succumbing to lung cancer. However, his death unveiled a lifetime of deception. Born Theodore John Conrad on July 10, 1949, in Denver, Colorado.  Hiding in plain sight, Conrad assumed the identity of Thomas Randele, marrying and raising a family in Massachusetts for over five decades. 

Unbeknownst to his loved ones, he maintained a law-abiding facade, working as a golf pro and automotive dealership employee. His obituary, with a fabricated birthdate and details mirroring his false life, sparked the postmortem revelation of his true identity, leaving his daughter to unravel the astonishing legacy of her fugitive father.

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Ted Conrad Missing - FAQs

1. How did Ted Conrad manage to evade capture for over 50 years after the bank heist?  

Ted Conrad assumed a new identity as Thomas Randele, living a law-abiding life in Massachusetts, and skillfully avoided suspicion by law enforcement.

2. When did Ted Conrad reveal his true identity, and how did his daughter find out?

Ted confessed to being the fugitive Ted Conrad on his deathbed in March 2021. His daughter, Ashley Randele, discovered the truth through online searches after his death.

3. What motivated Ted Conrad to commit the bank heist in 1969?

Inspired by the movie "The Thomas Crown Affair," Conrad was fascinated by the idea of a daring bank heist as a challenge and adventure.

4. How did law enforcement finally uncover Ted Conrad's true identity after his death?

US Marshals were tipped off by an obituary for Thomas Randele, noting inconsistencies that led them to confirm Conrad's real identity.

5. What was the impact on Ted Conrad's family after the revelation of his criminal past?  

Ted Conrad's daughter, Ashley Randele, struggled to reconcile the image of her relaxed and easy-going father with the revelation that he had been a fugitive mastermind for decades.

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