Busted ... (Pictures of 91 y.o. bankrobber Hunter "Red" Rountree)

The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | August 14, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Red robbing hood's 91

August 14, 2003 - 12:12PM

Busted ... Red Rountree puts up no resistance
after being nabbed by police in Abilene. Photo: AP

At 91, Hunter 'Red' Rountree is probably the world's oldest bank robber - telling US police he needed the cash and has a grudge against banks.

Rountree put up no resistance when he was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of stealing about $US2,000 ($A3,000), Abilene police said in Texas.

Police said Rountree, who was not armed, asked a teller to stuff money into a large envelop with the word "robbery" written on it.

A witness took down the licence number of his vehicle and he was arrested on a highway about 25 km outside Abilene.

If he is convicted, Rountree faces from two to 20 years in prison.

He told police he needed the money and he had a grudge against banks, said Abilene police Sgt Mike Perry.

According to the website thesmokinggun.com, Rountree, who once owned a successful manufacturing business, has been convicted on bank robbery charges twice in the past five years.

In a 2001 interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Rountree spoke of his long dislike for banks, ever since one in Texas "forced me into bankruptcy. I have never liked banks since."

The paper reported that Rountree was born in Texas, and his family's sole survivor. Fay, his wife of 50 years, died of cancer in the 1980s, it said, and his stepson died in a car accident shortly after graduating from college. All four of his brothers were dead.

A year after his wife died, when he was 76, he married a 31-year-old woman he met in a bar, but discovered later that she was a heroin and cocaine addict. He said he spent $US500,000 putting her through rehabilitation programs before divorcing her.

It was after marrying another younger woman, also an addict, that he turned to crime, according to the interview.

"I rob banks for the money," he told the paper. "Social Security is all I have, and I like to live good."

The Sentinel said Rountree used to wear his hair in a ponytail before it was shorn prison-style.

At the time of the interview, Rountree was the oldest inmate in the Florida prison system, where he landed following a conviction for the 1999 hold-up of a bank in Florida.

[yankeedame]

(grin) And I'll bet his getaway car was a '63 Buick duce & a quarter.

[Charles Henrickson]

If he is convicted, Rountree faces from two to 20 years in prison.

Twenty years is not so bad. At least they wouldn't give him life.

[ErnBatavia]

My Dad turned 90 today....he doesn't see so well, but he sure looks a whole lot better off than that old coot!

[Charles Henrickson]

A year after his wife died, when he was 76, he married a 31-year-old woman he met in a bar, but discovered later that she was a heroin and cocaine addict. He said he spent $US500,000 putting her through rehabilitation programs before divorcing her. It was after marrying another younger woman, also an addict. . . .

I sense a pattern here.

[Hodar]

According to the website thesmokinggun.com, Rountree, who once owned a successful manufacturing business, has been convicted on bank robbery charges twice in the past five years.

What the (foul, profane and moderator-unapproved expletive) is wrong with our justice system???

[mtbopfuyn]

Oh, this was so funny I'm still hacking up PBJ.

[Bars4Bill]

The old fool should have married a drug-free young bank teller.

[breakem]

apparently they gave him 2 years for each count and thought it would be life. LOL!

[txzman]

"I rob banks for the money," he told the paper. "Social Security is all I have, and I like to live good."

At least he says what he thinks....LOL!

[RightOnline]

Further proof that "dumbass" knows no age limit.

[polemikos]

Bad to the bone.

[4mycountry]

The dude is 91. 20 years IS life!! XD

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"At 91, Hunter 'Red' Rountree" Hmmmnnn? at that age I wonder if he might be a brother to the "Ned Rountree" that John "Pudgey" McCabe supposedly killed in the movie, "McCabe and Mrs, Miller"

[TexasBarak]

I know that cop in the pic (well, passing aquaintance). Next time I see him, I'll tell him he made an Australian newspaper- I'm sure he'll be tickled about it :)
It was a branch of my bank the guy robbed, too. Small world.

[SteamShovel]

And I'll bet his getaway car was a '63 Buick duce & a quarter.

Nah, it was a Dodge Dart!

[Lonesome]

All four of his brothers were dead.

No one proof reads anymore.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Hey...look at this! :-D

[Scenic Sounds]

"I rob banks for the money," he told the paper.

This is a man who understands himself. ;-)

[Tom Rountree]

WHAT TH.......Dad.....is that you?.......Holy cow, what are you thinking, man?