Leopold and Loeb spent seven months planning out the crime and everything that was sure to follow. May 21, 1924 was the day that the men decided to put their plan into action.
The Murder of Bobby FranksLeopold and Loeb had already chosen their victim, however on the day of the murder, he had been picked up by his chauffeur because he had a dental appointment earlier on. Although their original victim was not accessible, Leopold and Loeb continued on with the plan and chose their new victim, Robert (Bobby) Franks. Bobby was the son of a Chicago millionaire, Jacob Franks. 14-year-old Bobby Franks was also the neighbor and second cousin of Richard Loeb.
|
Franks was walking home from school, Harvard School For Boys, when he was lured into the passenger seat of Leopold and Loeb's rental car. One of the adults was driving the car while the other was sitting in the backseat holding a chisel. A sock was stuffed into Bobby's mouth, however, it is not known who struck the first blow to his head. Bobby Franks died very soon after the attack.
The men covered the body and then proceeded to drive to a remote area near Wolf Lake in Indiana. Leopold and Loeb removed Bobby's body from the car and removed his clothing where they proceeded to pour hydrochloric acid over him, making identification more difficult. The men had dinner at a hot dog stand and then concealed the body in a culvert at the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks near 118th street (north of Wolf Lake). After returning to Chicago, Leopold and Loeb burned their bloody clothing and attempted to clean all bloodstains from the rental car.