American Outlaws: The Barefoot Bandit

0:00 Speaker 1: Warning. Kind of Murdery contains adult themes, explicit language, and descriptions of violence. It is not suitable for anyone, and we recommend you stop listening. Now.

0:10 Speaker 2: I heard true crime with a dash of the paranormal, the garish, the strange in the darkly comic. I'm Zevan Odeleberg, host of kind of Murdery, a podcast that's about more than just murder. It's my very own pocket dimension, home to a curated collection of bizarre and compelling stories, the unsolved, the unsettling, and the unbelievable. I cover it all just so long as it's kind of murdery. That's right, folks. I said it then and I mean it now. I am Zevan Odelberg, and this is kind of Murdery, and I am so glad that you are here with me.

0:52 Speaker 2: I hope you found last week's season seven premiere episode about John Wayne Gasey, featuring his death row attorney Karen Kanti. If not entertaining, then compelling. But I don't know about you. After all the dark horror and frankly unthinkable corruption of humanity that Casey shows us, I felt like I needed a little bit of a palate cleanser this week, and so I'm bringing you a story that's much less killer clown and much more Catch me if you can. In the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington State, there's an island called Kamano.

1:30 Speaker 2: And there, in the shadowy corners of Kamano Island lived a young man named Colton Harris Moore, a young man whose reckless genius was quietly taking root. Colt was born in nineteen ninety one, and as he grew older, he would emerge as not merely a troubled teenager, but as a captivating figure who danced on the edge of legality. He became infamous as the Barefoot Bandit, a moniker earned from his habit of executing crimes shoeless, a predilection that added a certain mystique to his already audacious exploits.

2:07 Speaker 2: Today I bring you the story of the seemingly care free capers of a legendary adolescent criminal genius known as the Barefoot Bandit. Care Free is probably the wrong word, though, as it seems probable that Colton's mad dash romp through life and criminality was as much a trauma response as anything else. Please join me as we uncover what truths we can and solve what mysteries we may, kind of murderies, wild cult. The Barefoot Bandit starts now. The outlaw legend of the Barefoot Bandit, although it may sound like it does, in fact belonged to the American Old West.

3:02 Speaker 2: Colton Harris Moore's criminal career belongs in facts, to our own millennium. That story begins in two thousand and seven. Now, Harris Moore's crimes weren't pettiacts of vandalism, but rather a spree that captured the nation's imagination and law enforcements frustration. His escapades included stealing cars, boats, and even airplanes, an improbable feat for someone with no formal training, and his ability to evade capture became legendary, turning him into a media sensation and earning him a legion of online admirers who viewed him as a modern day folk hero, a sort of adolescent Robinhood or teenage Butch Cassidy.

3:48 Speaker 2: But not everyone was so enamored. Critics pointed to the trail of victims left in his wake, each one facing the reality of lost property and violated privacy. The debate raged was he in fact robin hood or simply a criminal. One thing is for sure. Though Colt was just a kid, the saga of Colton Harris Moore began long before his feet ever touched a crime scene, when he drew his first breath on March twenty second, nineteen ninety one, nestled in the humble surroundings of Skaggot Valley Hospital. Born to Pamela Cohler and Gordon Moore, Colton's life began under the shadow of his father's struggles with drugs and alcohol, a battle that led to his father, Gordon's swift departure from the family while Colton was still a toddler.

4:35 Speaker 2: Pamela Cohler, now a single parent, was left to navigate the rocky waters of raising a child alone on Camano Island. Their home, a worn single wide trailer, echoed with the challenges of financial hardship. It was a stark backdrop for Colton's formative years. The air in the cramped confines of that trailer was thick with tension and instability, as Pamela wrestled with he her own demons, seeking solace in alcohol, which she frequently abused. In this turbulent environment, young Colton began to show signs of behavioral issues, a testament to the chaos around him.

5:13 Speaker 2: His early years were marked by rebellion against the structure and constraints imposed upon him, setting the stage for the extraordinary life that lay ahead. Colton's story, in many ways, is one of survival and adaptation in a world that offered him few comforts or certainties. By the age of seven, Colton Harris Moore was already a ghost in his own life, slipping away from the chaos at home and vanishing into the wild embrace of the nearby forests. Running away became a ritual for Colt, a bid for freedom and a test of his wits against nature.

5:44 Speaker 2: Days would pass before he re emerged with a toughness and self confidence honed by the harsh lessons of survival. A classic tale of man versus nature, or in this case, boy versus nature, or perhaps not verses, as nature, it seems, provided a certain comfort, a shield against the emotional damage inflicted on a young man trapped in a tiny trailer with an alcoholic mother. The lush forests of Camano Island were Colt's companion, a friend, an escape, a reality that he could make his own challenges that he could choose and conquer, and in those woods, Colton became adept to the art of stealth.

6:28 Speaker 2: He began breaking into vacation homes, not out of malice but necessity, taking food and camping supplies to sustain himself. These acts born of desperation marked the beginning of his relationship with crime, a relationship that would grow more intricate and complex as he did. By the age of twelve, Colton faced the cold reality of his choices. His first conviction for stolen property was a stark reminder of the world he was navigating. Yet even as the legal system tightened its grip, Colton's spirit remained unyielding.

6:59 Speaker 2: Within a year, he found himself in juvenile detention centers, the consequences of a growing list of convictions. These institutions, designed to correct, only served to deepen his resolve and refine his skills. In the crucible of confinement, Colton Harris Moore was forging a path that would soon capture the nation's attention. Colt's academic journey was as turbulent as his home life. He began at Stanwood Middle School, where his pension for defiance quickly became evident. Discipline became a constant theme, leading to his transfer to Lincoln Hill Alternative School, also in Stanwood.

7:34 Speaker 2: The new environment did little to curb his rebellious streak. His time at Lincoln Hill mirrored his previous experiences, marked by a steady erosion of interest and attendance. By the time he'd reached ninth grade, school had become an afterthought. His presence in the classroom dwindled until he finally dropped out altogether, and eventually Child Protective Services took notice, making several visits to the Harris Moore residents. Concerns about the neglect and abuse loomed large, prompting the authorities to intervene.

8:04 Speaker 2: Colton was placed in temporary foster care, a move intended to shield him from the instability that plagued his upbringing. Yet even in foster care, the seeds of his independence and resilience continued to grow, setting the stage for the legendary escapades that would soon follow. With school no longer an anchor in his life, Colton Harris Moore drifted further into a world defined by his own rules. But the days when Colt would routinely outwit the law had not yet arrived. The legal system had him in its sights, and on July fourteenth, two thousand and six, a warrant for his arrest was issued.

8:39 Speaker 2: When he skipped a mandatory court date, the net was closing in, and Harris Moore, now acutely aware of his wonted status, vanished into the wilds of Camano Island, vanished into the forests that had always been his sanctuary, a place where the only laws were the laws of nature. And in those dense woods he carved out a life on the run, setting up hidden camp sites that served as temporary homes. His skills in evasion were matched only by his knack for survival, as he continued to burglarize homes for food and essentials.

9:13 Speaker 2: Each break in was a calculated risk, a test of his audacity and stealth. Some of the homes he targeted contained treasure troves of technology, computers that became his window to the wider world. He used them to dedicate himself in the dark arts of identity theft. Mastering this skill, Harris Moore began ordering credit cards in the names of the homeowners, a move that allowed him to procure not just food, but also cutting edge survival gear night vision goggles were among his acquisitions, giving him an edge over those who sought to capture him.

9:44 Speaker 2: With each successful operation, he stayed one step ahead of the law, deepening his legend as the Barefoot bandit. His exploits were a blend of ingenuity and desperation, marking him both as a criminal but also as a cunning survivalist. On February ninth, two thousand seven, the cat and mouse game that Colton Harris Moore had played with the law once again came to a temporary end. After more than six months of living on the edge, he was finally captured and arrested, bringing his run to a halt. The list of charges against him was long and varied, with twenty three criminal counts looming over his head, most stemming from his spree of residential burglaries.

10:25 Speaker 2: Faced with the weight of evidence and the prospect of a lengthy sentence, Harris Moore struck a deal with prosecutors. In exchange for pleading guilty to three other charges. He accepted a three year sentence. His new home would be Green Hill School, a high security juvenile detention facility located in Chehalis. It was a stark transition from the freedom of the forests to the confines of a cell green Hill appeared to be a serious setback in the life of our young fugitive. But even behind bars, the legend of the Barefoot bandit continued to grow.

10:57 Speaker 2: Fueled by the daring nature of his escape aides and the sheer audacity of his flight from the law, Colt quickly adapted to life at green Hill School, showing all the signs of a model inmate. His good behavior earned him a transfer on February fourteenth, two thousand and eight, to the Griffin Home residential treatment center in Renton. This facility was a minimum security halfway house designed to help troubled youths reintegrate into society, a place where second chances were the norm. But to some watching Colton, his transformation seemed too good to be true.

11:29 Speaker 2: Skeptics whispered that his impeccable conduct was nothing more than a clever facade, a calculated move to position himself for another escape. The skeptics proved prescient when just two months later, on April twenty ninth, Harris Moore skipped through an unlocked window at Griffin Home and vanished into the night, the authorities acted quickly, issuing a felony warrant for his arrest. Once again, Colt was on the run, and another chapter of the legend of the Barefoot Bandit was being written at breakneck speed.

11:59 Speaker 2: His knack for evading capture and his audacious escapes only fueled the intrigue around him, keeping him one step ahead of those determined to bring him back to justice. Colton Harris Moore's escape from the Griffinhoe marked the beginning of another thrilling chapter in his life. On the run, almost instinctively, he stole a car, hot wired it, and made his way back to familiar territory, come Ono Island. Here, he returned to his old habits, breaking into homes to steal food and supplies, living off the land while evading capture.

12:32 Speaker 2: This time, however, the authorities were ready for him. Local law enforcement mounted an aggressive campaign to capture the elusive teenager. Determined to put an end to his spree once and for all. They studied his patterns, anticipated his moves, and coordinated their efforts to close in on the young fugitive. Meanwhile, the local media had caught wind of Colt's exploits. News stories began to circulate, painting a picture of a mysterious teenage outlaw who continually slipped through the fingers of the law.

13:01 Speaker 2: His growing notoriety added fuel to the fire, transforming him into a folk legend and ensuring that his story reached a national audience. As the pressure mounted, Colton Harris Moore found himself in the center of a cat and mouse game, with the stakes higher than ever. On July eighteenth, two thousand and eight, his saga took a dramatic turn that catapulted his story into the national spotlight. It began with a high speed pursuit on Camano Island, as sheriff's deputies chased a black Mercedes careening down the road with reckless abandon but then the driver, in a bold and unexpected move, bailed out and vanished into the thick cover of the surrounding woods.

13:41 Speaker 2: Although if authorities had in fact been tracking the modus operendi of Colton Harris more, his choice to bolt to the woods and then the reality that he vanished inside them, probably should have been less of an unexpected move and more of a statistical certainty. If indeed its appropriate to apply statistics to psychology, and in this case, I think it is. When law enforcements searched the abandoned Mercedes, they uncovered a cache of stolen goods, credit cards, cell phones, and a digital camera.

14:13 Speaker 2: It was the camera that held the most revealing clues, a series of self portraits taken by the driver. Among them was an image that would become iconic, a photograph of Harris Moore lying on his back in a forest, staring defiantly into the lens. These photos left little doubt about the identity of the elusive driver, if indeed there had been any doubt to begin with. Colt was almost immediately identified as the face and the pictures, and the discovery sparked a media frenzy. The image of the young fugitive captured the public's imagination and spread like wildfire across the Internet.

14:48 Speaker 2: With it came a growing fan base, intrigued by Colton's audacity and skill, and enthralled by the helter skeltered nature of his seemingly impossible and ever elusive life on the run. Now seventeen, Colt had become more than just a criminal. He was a symbol of rebellion. It was at this point that he was officially dubbed the Barefoot Bandit for his penchant for leaving behind shoeless footprints at crime scenes. He became the stuff of legend, followed by fans who cheered his every escape and awaited the next twist in his story of daring and unconscionable freedom.

15:26 Speaker 2: He was seen by many as a symbol of almost primal liberty, his cunning, his refusal to cowtow to the conventions of society, or the mechanical tyranny of laws that insist on confining us, molding us all into obedient little automatons. But whether or not, Colt was some kind of legitimate philosophical folk hero whose very existence was interpreted by some as a battle on behalf of the inherent freedom of all humans to determine their own destiny, with or without all that calle Jessa interpretation.

16:06 Speaker 2: The truth was, the law was closing in on Colt on Camano Island, and he decided it was time for a change of scenery, and so he commandeered a stolen boat and made his way to Orcas Island, seeking refuge from the intensifying pursuit, and perhaps unsurprisingly, his arrival on a new island heralded a new wave of crime. In August two thousand and eight, reports of burglaries began to surge, sending ripples of fear through the small, tight knit community. The sophistication of the break ins left the residents and authorities on edge, wondering who could be responsible.

16:42 Speaker 2: They should have known it was Colton Earis Moore. By October two, two thousand and eight, the burglaries had become rampant enough that the police considered the situation dire, and a special meeting by the Orca's Chamber of Commerce was held. Citizens were outraged, the island's piece had been chattered, and the community demanded action. Police efforts intensified, and as the locals demanded to know the identity of the serial burglar, all signs pointed to one notorious fugitive, The Barefoot bandit Colton Harris Moore was the mastermind behind the thefts.

17:22 Speaker 2: In a daring move to escape the tightening dragnet, on November twelfth, two thousand and eight, Colt decided to take to the skies. He broke into a hangar on the island, stolen hot wired a single engine airplane, a Cessna one eighty two, and despite lacking any formal aviation training, he managed to get the plane airborne. His journey took him three hundred miles east, culminating in a crash landing on the Yakama Indian Reservation. It then vanished into the landscape before the authorities could close in.

17:54 Speaker 2: The mystery of how he managed to pilot the aircraft was soon pieced together. Harris Moore had long been fastened by aviation, teaching himself to fly through a combination of reading aircraft manuals, watching instructional DVDs, and countless hours on Microsoft Flight Simulator, a pastime he had enjoyed since childhood. Inside the abandoned Cessna, investigators discovered a familiar calling card, barefoot footprints inside the cockpit. It was undeniable. Colt had once again slipped through their fingers, leaving behind a trail that was both bold and as untraceable as the contrails of the stolen plane he flew.

18:32 Speaker 2: Colt's legend grew, casting him as an unlikely aviator who defied both gravity and the law in equal measure. The fallout from his latest escapade was swift and far reaching. The stolen Cesna he'd used to make his escape belonged to none other than Bob Rivers, a well known radio host on Seattle's kz OK FM. Rivers learned of the theft right after wrapping up his morning show and broadcast his shock and disbelief to the list who tuned in. A year later, as Harris Moore remained elusive, Rivers spoke to his audience saying, I don't buy this folk hero stuff.

19:08 Speaker 2: I was furious that something like this could happen. I really want him caught. Unfazed by the uproar, Colt continued his life on the run, stealing cars and moving between cities like Reno, Sacramento, and eastern Washington. His trail of crimes expanded, and Island County prosecutors filed ten charges against him, including identity theft and illegal flight to avoid prosecution. In May of two thousand and nine, Colt returned to his old stomping grounds on Camano Island, once again engaging in a high stakes game of cat and mouse with the Island County Sheriff's Department.

19:41 Speaker 2: He was becoming a master at this and his confidence was growing with each successful evasion. In the early hours of June nineteenth, two thousand and nine, Harris Moore executed a bold break in of a Sheriff's patrol car parked in front of a deputy's house. His hall included police equipment, a cell phone and a Fi sci police rifle and ammunition. This audacious act spurred the Sheriff's department to intensify further their efforts to apprehend the teenage outlaw. But Cold now eighteen had grown more calculated, careful, and meticulous.

20:14 Speaker 2: Each move was planned, every detail considered. He remained a step ahead, a shadow slipping through the fingers of those who pursued him. His legend continued to grow, fueled by the sheer audacity, some might even say arrogance of his crimes, and his uncanny ability to stay just beyond the reach of the proverbial long arm of the law. The summer of two thousand and nine saw Colton Harris More moving seamlessly between the islands of the Pacific Northwest. On September eleventh of that year, he executed another brazen heist by stealing a Cirrus SR twenty two from a public airport on San Juan Island.

20:54 Speaker 2: Again, he hot wired the plane and piloted it to Orcas Island, landing it neatly on the public runway, but he didn't linger. From orc As. He took a boat and sailed to Point Roberts, leaving a trail of burglaries across British Columbia that stretched down into Bonner's Ferry in northern Idaho. It was there, on September twenty nine, two thousand nine, that Colt made his next bold move. He broke into the Bonner's Ferry airplane hangar and stole his third plane, another Cesina one eighty two. With remarkable self taught skill, he flew the plane two hundred and sixty miles westward.

21:28 Speaker 2: His destination was his original stomping grounds, his home, Camano Island, but fate this time had other plans for our young anti hero. As the plane's fuel dwindled, he was forced to crash land near Granite Falls. The landing was a testament to his growing confidence and instinct and frankly, his flight skills, and he was able to walk away from it unscathed. In the aftermath, investigators found the telltale sign of Harris Moore's presence in the Idaho airplane hangar barefoot footprints that confirmed his involvement.

22:02 Speaker 2: When reporters questioned his mother, Pamela Coler, about the theft and her son's exploits, she responded with unexpected pride. I'm proud of him, she said, I was going to send him to flight school, but I guess I don't have to. By October two, two thousand and nine, the law further intensified its pursuit of Colton. A felony warrant for forced injury burglary was issued, soon followed by a federal arrest warrant linked to the Bonners Ferry airplane theft. Culture reputation as the Barefoot Bandit had grown, with authorities across Washington, Idaho, and Canada attributing around one hundred thefts to him, spanning cars, airplanes, and speedboats.

22:41 Speaker 2: Undaunted by the mounting charges, the Barefoot Bandit continued his audacious spree. On February tenth, twenty ten, he commandeered another Cirrus SR twenty two from Anacortas Airport, flying it skillfully to Orchis Island. The very next day, he set his sights on homegrown grocery, breaking in and making off with more than one thousand dollars in cash. In a move that further cemented his infamous moniker, Colt left behind a trail of chalk footprints throughout the store's aisles. These cartoonish feet ended with a simple taunting message, Siya spelled c dash capital ya.

23:17 Speaker 2: It was a bold declaration of his continued defiance, a signature from the fugitive who had become a folk legend. The footprints were playful yet audacious, a reminder of his ability to evade capture, thumbing his nose at those who chased him while capturing the public's imagination with every caper he successfully pulled off. The pursuit of Colton Harris Moore had reached a fever pitch. With the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security now in the mix, the hunt became an all out federal manhunt.

23:48 Speaker 2: Agents descended upon Orches Island while Coastguard cutters prowled the surrounding waters, vigilant for any sign of suspicious activity. The deployment of black Hawk helicopters underscored the seriousness of the situation, scouring the island from above in hopes of finally capturing the elusive fugitive. Despite the increased pressure, Colt once again slipped through the net. He made his way to nearby San Juan Island and from there piloted a stolen boat back to the familiar grounds of Camano Island.

24:19 Speaker 2: His uncanny ability to evade capture continued to frustrate law enforcement. In response, the FBI offered a ten thousand dollars reward for information leading to his arrest, hoping to entice someone to help bring the young outlaw to justice. Then, in a surprising twist, a handwritten note and one hundred dollars in cash were discovered on May thirty first, twenty ten, at a veterinary clinic in Raymond. The note read, drove by had some extra cash. Please use this money for the care of animals. Colton Harris Moore, aka the Barefoot Bandit.

24:50 Speaker 2: This gesture added another layer to Harris Moore's complex persona, hinting at a sense of compassion amidst his criminal exploits. The note only further fear fueled the public's fascination with the young fugitive who had become a modern legend in his own right. In June of twenty ten, with the net closing in on him. In Washington, Colton, Harris Moore embarked on a cross country journey. Fueled by his signature brand of audacity and theft. He commandeered a series of stolen vehicles, making his way eastward as far as Illinois, and his remarkable run was far from over.

25:24 Speaker 2: On June fourth, twenty ten, a Cessna was reported stolen from an airport in Bloomington, Indiana. All signs pointed to Harris Moore as the culprit behind the theft. His plan was bold to reach Cuba, a country without extradition treaties with the United States. This would be the ultimate escape, a flight from which he hoped he might never return. Leveraging his self taught piloting skills, Colt flew the Cesna toward his intended destination, but the journey was fraught with challenges. He managed to navigate as far as the Bahamas, where his luck ran thin.

25:56 Speaker 2: Forced to crash land the plain near Great Abaco Island. Harris Moore emerged from the wreckage unscathed. Once again stranded, yet as ever unbowed and undeterred, he made his way to a nearby fishing village. There he survived by stealthily stealing food from local stores and restaurants, and continuing to lift by his wits, as he had done so many times before. His legendary run had taken him thousands of miles, but the ind game was rapidly approaching. In the early hours of July eleventh, twenty ten, Colt's incredible run came to a dramatic end on Harbor Island in the Bahamas.

26:31 Speaker 2: After weeks of eluding capture, his luck finally ran out. Thanks to a series of tips from local residents. The Bahamian police, determined to apprehend the notorious fugitive, closed in on him after he ran a stolen boat aground on a sandbar just off the shore. The authorities would be taking no chances with the capture of the infamous Barefoot bandit. They disabled the boat's indian with gunfire and ordered Colt to surrender. Cornered and facing the inevitability of capture, Harrismore made one final desperate gesture.

27:03 Speaker 2: He put a gun to his head, threatening to end his life rather than to face arrest. In a tense standoff, officers talked him down, persuading him to drop the weapon. Realizing the futility of his situation, Colt surrendered to the authorities, bringing an end to a two year saga that had captured the imagination of people across the globe. His arrest marked the conclusion of a remarkable tale that had transformed him from a troubled teenager into a legendary fugitive whose exploits would be recounted for years to come.

27:35 Speaker 2: Two days after his capture, Colton Harris Moore was extradited from Nassau, Bahamas, to Miami, marking the end of his international flight. He was held in Miami until July twenty first, when he was transferred to the Federal Detention Center in Sea Tac, Washington. Over the next two years, he faced a litany of charges at county, state, and federal levels, reflecting the breadth and depth of his criminal activity. In state court, Colt was sentenced to seven years in prison, with an additional six years handed down by the Island County court.

28:07 Speaker 2: The legal process culminated in a federal district court in Seattle, where he faced federal charges. On January twenty seventh, twenty twelve, a U. S District court advised harris More that it was quote time for a new life flight plan. Underscoring the need for a fresh start, the judge sentenced him to six years in prison. Addressing the court, Colt expressed genuine remorse for his crimes. He spoke of his plans to become an aeronautical engineer upon his release, hoping to channel his fascination with flight into a productive career.

28:38 Speaker 2: His county, state, and federal sentences were consolidated and he was transferred to Stafford Creek Correction Center in Aberdeen to begin serving his six year term. Shortly after entering prison, Harrismore sold the rights to his life story to twentieth Century Fox for one point four million per the terms of his sentencing, The entire sum was directed toward restitution, ensuring that his visitctims received compensation for their losses. In twenty sixteen, Colt's mother faced a personal tragedy that would test his result in a new way.

29:08 Speaker 2: She was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and the prognosis was grim. Faced with the impending moss of his mom, Harrismore turned to the public for help. He set up a go Fundme page, hoping to raise two hundred and thirty thousand dollars to have his mother's body cryogenically frozen. In his appeal, he wrote, cryonic preservation is the only solution to save Pam, clinging to the hope that in the future, medical advancements might one day cure her cancer. Despite his efforts, the campaign fell short, raising only two thousand, one hundred seventy dollars.

29:41 Speaker 2: When Colt's mom passed away on May seventeen, twenty sixteen, the funds were refunded to the donors because the goal was not meant. It was a poignant moment in Harris Moore's journey, highlighting the challenges of facing personal loss amidst the life of public scrutiny. Later that year, on September second, twenty sixteen, twenty five year old Colton Harris Moore was released from prison on probation. He transitioned to a halfway house near Seattle, where he began to rebuild his life outside the confines of incarceration.

30:12 Speaker 2: Embracing a more grounded lifestyle, he took a part time clerical job with John Henry Brown, a Seattle attorney who had represented him in court. The job marked a new chapter for Colt Harris Moore, where he sought stability and redemption. After years of being defined by daring escapades and high profile run ins with the law, he now faced the challenge of navigating a life that, while perhaps less thrilling, offered the possibility of genuine rehabilitation and growth. In December twenty sixteen, Colt took another step toward his dream of flying by launching a new go Fundme page.

30:46 Speaker 2: His goal was to raise over one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars for flight school training, a legitimate path to the sky that he had so often longed for. On his page, he wrote passionately, now I'm twenty five years old, free and ready to do it illegally. I love airplanes, but I will never steal one or break the law again. I broke the law big league when I was younger, but now it's time to focus on my career and life in the free world. However, despite having received one point four million from twentieth Century Fox for the rights to his story, a sum that went entirely as I mentioned, to restitution, Colt still owed his victims one hundred and twenty nine thousand dollars.

31:23 Speaker 2: Because of this outstanding debt, he was ordered to cease his fundraising efforts until the balance was paid in full. The GoFundMe page had raised sixteen hundred before it was shut down, and those funds were directed toward his court ordered restitution. Feeling the weight of this setback, Harris Moore took to Twitter expressing his disappointment. I feel like my dream has been crushed, he said, What a terrible feeling. His words reflected the frustration of a man trying to turn his life around, yet still shackled by the consequences of his past actions.

31:54 Speaker 2: As of September twenty twenty two, Colton Harris Moore had largely retreated from the public eye, with his last notable appearance occurring in May twenty nineteen. During this time, he was interviewed by Jason Rantz on ktt H seven seventy in Seattle, where he reflected on the journey that had shaped his life. Colt spoke candidly about his obsession with airplanes, describing the exhilaration of his first flight in two thousand and eight when he took off in a stolen Cessna. It's this uncontrollable obsession that's really what it is, he mused.

32:25 Speaker 2: It's something that you've dreamt about and waited for for your entire life, and out of all the possibilities of that moment, no matter what the scenario or situation you find yourself in, in that one moment, you were exactly where you were supposed to be. And I wonder if I'll ever feel that again. It's one of those moments that I think you only get once or twice in your entire life. Despite the thrill of his past adventures, Colt expressed uncertainty about his future. I think it's going to be difficult to have a normal life.

32:54 Speaker 2: I really do. In fact, I don't think I'm ever going to have a normal life, he admitted, acknowledging the shadows of his past that continued to loom over him, but also the thrill of being a world famous outlaw. Since that interview, Colton Harris Moore the Barefoot Bandit has completed his probation and chosen to deliver reclusive life, erasing his presence from social media and leaving his current whereabouts unknown. His story remains a cautionary tale of youthful audacity and the long road to redemption.

33:26 Speaker 2: As I and the rest of the world wonder just exactly what lies ahead for the boy who became the man who was once known as the Barefoot Bandit. Personally, I've had a lifelong fascination with D. B. Cooper, whom my family and friends used to toast every Thanksgiving when I was young. This, of course, was some fifteen or more years before the terrible tragedy that was nine to eleven, And so the idea of the airplane hijacker that didn't harm anyone and got away for good seemed romantic because the horrors that airplane hijacking could cause were not yet really in our consciousness.

34:08 Speaker 2: So D. B. Cooper was always a romantic figure to me, and I can't help but think of Colton Harris Moore as a sort of D. B. Cooper junior, And whether he deserves it or not, I wish Colt the Boy, the Man the Barefoot Bandit all the best. I'm Zevan Odleberg and this has been kind of Murdery.

34:32 Speaker 1: Would you like the show? Please subscribe, review and tell your friends. You can find us on social media at kind of Murdery or email at kind of Murdery at gmail dot com.