Did you know the infamous crime duo, Bonnie and Clyde, met their end in Louisiana?

Shea Duplechain
·3 min read
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Did you know the infamous crime duo, Bonnie and Clyde, met their end in Louisiana?

LOUISIANA (KLFY) — Considered the most notorious crime couple in American history by the FBI, the story of Bonnie and Clyde came to an end here in Louisiana.

America has tradition of romanticize infamous criminals and engraining them into our popular culture. Whether it be gangsters like Al Capone or serial killers like Ted Bundy, their stories and legacies continue to live on long after their death for better or for worse. In particular, Bonnie and Clyde have become immortalized in pop culture around the world, not just for their notorious crimes but also their love story. People have grown fond of the criminal couple, using them as a benchmark for love in various films, songs, tv series and even slang. Whether it be their crime or love, here’s the story of how it all came to an end in Louisiana.

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The first meeting between Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow has many interpretations, but the most credible version has the two meeting on Jan. 5, 1930. They were both Texas natives, and met at a mutual friend’s house at the ages of 19 and 20. Legend has it the two fell in love right away and became inseparable from that moment.

Clyde would be sent to Eastham Prison Farm in April of 1930 for auto theft, and remained there for two years. In this time Bonnie remained loyal to him and even smuggled a weapon in for Clyde, which he used to escape for a short time before being recaptured. After Clyde’s release, the couple would begin their streak of crimes along side other members of the Barrow gang.

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Over a span of two years, Bonnie, Clyde and the rest of the gang would commit several robberies, murders and a jail break from Eastham Prison. The crime duo is said to have killed at least 12 people during this two year crime spree, nine of which were law enforcement officers.

In 1934, the Texas Department of Corrections contacted former Texas Ranger Captain Frank Hamer and persuaded him to attempt to bring an end to the Barrow Gang. Hamer was able to determine that Clyde led the gang in a circular pattern and was centered on family visits. Hamer predicted they were due to stop in Louisiana next.

On May 21, 1934, the posse of four Texas officers and Louisiana officers Henderson Jordan and Prentis Morel Oakley, got word that Bonnie and Clyde would be heading to Bienville Parish to meet gang member Henry Methvin‘s family. The officers set up an ambush along Louisiana State Highway 154, where they waited for the couple to pass.

At approximately 9:15 a.m. on May 23, the posse was almost ready to give up after a day of waiting when the heard a vehicle approaching. In the official report, they stated Henry Methvin’s father had parked his truck on the shoulder of the road that morning. Methvin’s father had been persuaded to do so by Louisiana officer Henderson Jordan, in exchange for not giving the death penalty to Henry, who killed two Texas patrol men alongside Clyde two months earlier.

As they hoped, Clyde recognized the vehicle and slowed down to speak to Henry’s father. The posse awaited in a nearby bush, and as Clyde slowed his vehicle they opened fire on the couple. Clyde was shot in the head and died instantly. 130 rounds were fired in total, and riddled both the car and couple with bullet holes. After two years on the run and numerous crimes, the story of Bonnie and Clyde came to an end.

Today you can find the car and a shirt Clyde was wearing behind a glass panel at the Primm Valley Resort and Casino in Nevada. A mile maker can also be found at the site of the ambush on State Highway 154 near Gibsland, La.

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