Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were the quintessential picture of privilege. Both brilliant and wealthy, the two University of Chicago graduate students had bright futures. But under the glossy veneer lurked something much more sinister. In 1924, after several months of meticulous planning, Leopold and Loeb kidnapped and murdered 14yearold Bobby Franks – Loeb’s second cousin – all for the thrill of committing a “perfect” crime. The men wanted to put their selfprofessed superior intellect to the test. The kidnapping and murder were quickly dubbed the “Crime of the Century” and provoked a media frenzy. In the sensational sentencing hearing that followed, they were defended by none other than Clarence Darrow, the most famous lawyer in America. This is the story of a crime that is no less compelling today than when it first captivated a horrified nation one hundred years ago.


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