Unveiling MGK: The Shocking Real-Life Crime Behind the Rap Icon's Name
The Sizzling Saga of Machine Gun Kelly: A Tale of Kidnapping, Ransom, and Betrayal
In the roaring twenties, America was gripped by a wave of criminal activity that would leave its mark on history. Between 1925 and 1934, kidnapping wealthy Americans for ransom became an epidemic, with the most notorious case being the abduction of Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of the famous aviator.
But amidst this sea of chaos, a new player emerged: Kathryn Kelly, a stunning 26-year-old socialite with a taste for luxury and a disregard for the law. Her beau, bootlegger Steven "Little Steve" Stephens, had already made a name for himself in Oklahoma's underground scene, but it was Kathryn who took their illicit careers to new heights.
Their partnership led them to meet George "Machine Gun" Kelly, a charismatic Irishman with a talent for writing his name on walls using bullets from his machine gun. The two couples formed an unholy alliance, bootlegging and bank-robbing their way across the country.
However, it was Kathryn's obsession with the finer things in life that led her to spot an opportunity too good to pass up. When she read about the marriage of widow Berenice Slick to widower Charles F Urschel, a wealthy oil tycoon, she knew exactly what to do. She convinced George that Urschel was the perfect target for their next kidnapping.
The Perfect Heist
After months of planning and reconnaissance, George and his partner Albert Bates forced their way into the Urschel residence on July 22, 1933. With a machine gun and pistol in hand, they snatched Charles Urschel during a game of bridge. The ransom demand: $200,000 – one of the largest demands ever made.
Berenice waited anxiously for news from her kidnapper, but it was four days before she received a ransom note written in her husband's own handwriting. As the nation held its breath, Berenice paid the ransom and her husband was eventually released.
The Manhunt
But Urschel's kidnapping had far-reaching consequences. The case led to a massive manhunt, with the FBI – still in its infancy – working tirelessly to track down George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his cohorts. The agency's determination paid off when they finally apprehended Kelly and brought him to justice.
In a stunning turn of events, Urschel himself became an unlikely hero. His cooperation with the authorities led to the arrest and conviction of over 15 people involved in the kidnapping, including those who laundered the ransom money and harbored the fugitives.
A Life Behind Bars
George "Machine Gun" Kelly was sentenced and sent to various institutions throughout the country. A year into his imprisonment, he wrote a letter to Charles Urschel, expressing regret for his actions but stopping short of apologizing for what he'd done to him. The note read: "These five words seem written in fire on the walls of my cell: Nothing can be worth this!"
Read more about the fascinating true story of Machine Gun Kelly and his moll Kathryn Thorne in Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne, available now.
