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Crime

He Said He Had 6 Months to Live and Nothing to Lose…but the Real Reason This 73-Year-Old Robbed a Bank May Surprise You

Feb. 14, 2013 7:44am

CHICAGO (AP) — After spending most of his adult life behind bars, 73-year-old Walter Unbehaun decided to rob another bank in hopes of getting caught. He felt more comfortable in prison, court documents allege, and wanted to spend his final years there.

So the balding, gray-haired South Carolina man leaned on a cane as he walked into a bank in suburban Chicago over the weekend and used a novel stickup line: He had just six months to live, so he had nothing left to lose, according to a federal complaint citing his post-arrest interrogation.

Unbehaun also allegedly lifted his coat to show a teller a silver revolver shoved into his waistband.

Elderly Man in Chicago Walter Unbehaun Robs Bank Becuase He Loved Living in Prison

This Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 surveillance photo provided by the FBI shows 73-year-old Walter Unbehaun, an ex-convict from Rock Hill., S.C., during a bank robbery in Niles, Ill. Unbehaun allegedly told investigators he became accustomed to life in prison and intended to get caught for a weekend bank robbery so he could live his final years behind bars. Credit: AP

Investigators say Unbehaun, of Rock Hill, S.C., walked out of the Harris Bank in Niles on Saturday with $4,178 in his pockets. He wore no disguises, so law enforcement quickly tracked him down using surveillance-camera photos of him holding up the bank, the complaint said.

When authorities stopped Unbehaun on Sunday outside a motel room where he was staying, he immediately threw down his cane and surrendered, saying he knew they were there because he robbed a bank the day before, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Unbehaun told investigators hours after his arrest that he had spent most of his adult life in prison and “felt more comfortable in prison than out.”

“He wanted to do something that would guarantee that he would spend the rest of his life in prison, and he knew that robbing a bank with a loaded gun would accomplish that,” according to the complaint, signed by FBI agent Chad Piontek.

Contacted on Tuesday, Unbehaun’s defense attorney, Richard McLeese, declined comment.

Unbehaun’s most recent stint behind bars ended in 2011, when he was released after serving 10 years for a 1998 bank robbery. His Illinois record alone includes multiple other felonies dating back decades.

Unbehaun made an initial court appearance Monday in Chicago and was ordered to remain in jail pending further court procedures. No additional hearing dates were set.

If he is eventually convicted on the new bank robbery charge, he could be sent to prison for up to 20 years.

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Comments (40)

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  • Patriot72
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 2:55pm

    The thought of no more free food, health care, television, library, education, Internet and workout facilities must have been overwhelming. What an absolute drag on the tax dollars these kinds of leeches are. Sadly, it’s not an isolated incident, happening all across the country at the taxpayers’ expense..

    Report this comment

    Patriot72  
    • Ghandi was a Republican
      Posted on February 14, 2013 at 4:04pm

      You can bet he was receiving ssi/ssdi. Oftentimes enough to live at a shelter with drug addicts, where of course you end up doing what the Romans do. Yes- 73 year old men can be druggies. Wouldn’t you?
      Most of them have to lock their tenants in just like prison due to this phenomena. Particularly the 3rd midnight of the Month when the deposits go in. So the guy lives without for the rest of the Month. He WAS at a motel, but can $700/mo pay for a motel all Month? No it can not. I’m not opposed to giving the guy a bare living wage so that he can live out his days, but for crying out loud- All the money is there but it is being abused and mal-distributed even worse than floating this soul.
      Why is this so? Endless ‘crisis’, malcontent, and progressive engineering of the dependent.
      This guy laid out a scream for help. He has no family, no money, no President. He would rather be in jail.

      Report this comment

      Ghandi was a Republican  
    • TotallyNotATroll
      Posted on February 14, 2013 at 7:27pm

      You left out higher odds of intercourse.

      Report this comment

      TotallyNotATroll  
  • Bamagal0007
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 2:24pm

    Poor fella…I guess he would rather know where his next meal is coming from rather than worry about it in the real world.
    Oh, of course it isn’t anyone fault…except maybe the repubs (sarc.)

    Report this comment

    Bamagal0007  
  • Conmaria
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 1:15pm

    This story of Mr. Walter Unbehaun moves me to compasion. At that age seniors do no like changes for they disrupt their well being. He misses his friends in jail, whom he has become to love and care. In jail he has food, medicine and company. My heart moves to him, even though I do not accept the means he took to go back to what he considers his home. May his soul rest in peace when he parts.

    Report this comment

    Conmaria  
    • Skrewedretiree
      Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:31pm

      Aw..I think I’m gonna bawl…..

      I wish you had as much empathy for the millions of the rest of us screwed retirees who worked our asses off for over 35 years only to see most of it taxed away and p**sed away in a bad economy trying to make ends meet on a fixed income under the Socialists!

      This slime ball, by inference of the article, probably never did a decent day’s work in his life, but we should feel sorry for him? No way. That is why in the State of Washington, we have the “Three Strikes” law. Three felonies and you get an autmatic life sentence. No more clogging up the expensive courts at taxpayer’s expense.

      I betcha I can guess who you voted for….!

      Report this comment

      Skrewedretiree  
  • bobfrommosinee
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 1:09pm

    When I worked fro Texas Department of Corrections, We had a old gentleman like this on our Unit, They would parole him out, and we would start the pool on when He would return, He would go outside for a couple of weeks or a month, Then commit a crime that would break His parole, and He would be back until he came up for parole again.

    He would tell the board he didn’t want out, The world outside had changed so much from when He first went in, He couldn’t function with the lack of civility He perceived among civilians.

    Report this comment

    bobfrommosinee  
  • AmericaMustBeFree
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 1:06pm

    Heck, prisoners get better treatment than our senior citizens. Free housing, free groceries, free medical.. free exercise club… free free free! While all American’s struggle to put food on the table and gas in their cars the prisoner only misses one thing and that is freedom.. but apparently that didn’t matter for this senior citizen.. he knows the gravy train is much better on the inside than the outside.

    Report this comment

    AmericaMustBeFree  
  • 5th generation american
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:33pm

    Wait a minute! This is Chicago, tough gun laws. He was a criminal, spent most of his life in prison, yet able to get a GUN to rob a bank. Where are the LAWS?

    Report this comment

    5th generation american  
  • MrKnowItAll
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:06pm

    Conditioned.

    Report this comment

    MrKnowItAll  
  • bartjoebob
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:37am

    Poor old Brooks, he’s just institutionalized. Oh wait, I am thinking of Shawshank Redemption

    Report this comment

    bartjoebob  
  • BarneyFyfe
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:06am

    The new Obama retirement plan for senior citizens.

    Report this comment

    BarneyFyfe  
  • Saff SGT
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 10:56am

    each man has to do what he thinks is best, wait until the feds start to collect Guns, many will die quick on both sides I hope the citizens win this one

    Report this comment

    Saff SGT  
  • Saff SGT
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 10:53am

    Chicago has Gun laws it is impossible to get a Gun, how can this be????????????????????????????????/

    Report this comment

    Saff SGT  
  • richauthor
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 10:43am

    This kind of thing happens more often than most people could imagine. The man has become totally institutionalized and simply cannot live without the regimentation of prison life.

    Report this comment

    richauthor  
  • bitterestclingerofthemall
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 9:28am

    This is really no different from voting democrat, the results are the same, as you continue to live on a plantation under your masters rule. A master which you have freely chosen against your instincts. You deserve to die in bondage. The sad part is you’re taking me and everyone else down with you.

    Report this comment

    bitterestclingerofthemall  
  • I Aint PC
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 9:02am

    Did he discharge the fire arm, to get sent to Fox River, to help his brother escape from death row?

    Report this comment

    I Aint PC  
  • cvs334
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:54am

    I use to deliver papers to the jail in Carlisle, PA … old guy came up asking for them to let him stay there, the jailer refused and said he had not broken a law. The old man walked out and smashed his cane through the window … came back into an open door and an invite to stay!!

    Report this comment

    cvs334  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on February 14, 2013 at 9:33am

      Three hots and cot, health care, dental care, exercise time…pfft they are much better off than some in poverty.

      Report this comment

      SamIamTwo  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:48am

    Make him suffer and leave him out here with us…I blame Obama.

    Report this comment

    SamIamTwo  
  • Jon
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:45am

    Red: “These walls are funny. First you hate ‘em, then you get used to ‘em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That’s institutionalized.”
    “Shawshank Redemption” 1994

    Report this comment

    Jon  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:32am

    Happy Valentines Day for everyone out there.

    From your friend that you don’t know or appreciate very much…..

    …..but might soon. LOL : )

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:29am

    institutionalized man

    Report this comment

    Mr.Fitnah  
  • sndrman
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:26am

    when you become dependent as opposed to independent YOU DO END UP IN A PRISON CREATED BY OTHERS……if you look for the easy way out this is what happens

    Report this comment

    sndrman  
  • 50211bs
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:21am

    Wow! a felon in chicago has a gun…….huh, go figure.

    Report this comment

    50211bs  
  • Chromo200
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:08am

    I thought Obamacare was to take care of people like this?

    Report this comment

    Chromo200  
    • KoolAidDrinker
      Posted on February 14, 2013 at 8:27am

      He will probably get better care in prison, then an elderly man subject to the care provided by the ‘Death Panels’.

      Report this comment

      KoolAidDrinker  
  • willbedone
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 7:58am

    Why is this man remaining in jail until his trial? I would think that a guilty plea and an immediate 20 year sentence would satisfy both the state and the robber. I guess being in Chicago the government has more money to spend than they know what to do with.

    Report this comment

    willbedone  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 7:54am

    Well,he is an honest crook,the people should hold him to a politician’s level.

    Report this comment

    bikerdogred1  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on February 14, 2013 at 7:52am

    Goes to show the state of our nation when jail is preferred over freedom.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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