Eddie Dodson
Encyclopedia
Eddie Dodson was known as the New York Yankees Bandit. Before his death he was connected to 72 bank robberies
.
, on December 24, 1948. Shortly after he was born his father died, leaving his mother and grandmother to raise him. His mother and grandmother were devout Christians
, and they attended church regularly.
Dodson graduated from high school in 1967 and considered himself a hippie
. Shortly after graduating he started selling illegal drugs
and was eventually arrested in 1972.
, where he took a job at an antique store. Eventually, his lawyer back in South Carolina
managed to get his charges dropped. However, he continued his drug use.
In 1983, Dodson was unable to support his drug addiction financially, and he resorted to robbing banks. Within nine months, he had robbed 64 banks, which is the largest number of banks robbed by a single person. In 1984, Dodson was arrested, and convicted. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, he only served 10 years.
When Dodson was released, he resumed drug use. One of his friends tried to help him get into rehabilitation, but he failed. In 1999, Dodson robbed eight banks, which led to a conviction, and he was facing a penalty of 120 years. Due to his diagnosis of Hepatitis C
, the courts sentenced him to only 46 months (6 of those months were because of a drug charge), because they did not think he had much longer to live. In 2003, Dodson died at UCLA Medical Center
.
Bank robbery
Bank robbery is the crime of stealing from a bank during opening hours. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of...
.
Early life
Dodson was born in Shelby, North CarolinaShelby, North Carolina
Shelby is a city in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 19,477 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cleveland County.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....
, on December 24, 1948. Shortly after he was born his father died, leaving his mother and grandmother to raise him. His mother and grandmother were devout Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and they attended church regularly.
Dodson graduated from high school in 1967 and considered himself a hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
. Shortly after graduating he started selling illegal drugs
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
and was eventually arrested in 1972.
Criminal history
Running from a possible conviction from the 1972 drug arrest, Dodson ended up in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he took a job at an antique store. Eventually, his lawyer back in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
managed to get his charges dropped. However, he continued his drug use.
In 1983, Dodson was unable to support his drug addiction financially, and he resorted to robbing banks. Within nine months, he had robbed 64 banks, which is the largest number of banks robbed by a single person. In 1984, Dodson was arrested, and convicted. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, he only served 10 years.
When Dodson was released, he resumed drug use. One of his friends tried to help him get into rehabilitation, but he failed. In 1999, Dodson robbed eight banks, which led to a conviction, and he was facing a penalty of 120 years. Due to his diagnosis of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
, the courts sentenced him to only 46 months (6 of those months were because of a drug charge), because they did not think he had much longer to live. In 2003, Dodson died at UCLA Medical Center
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California....
.