UPDATE: Today marks the 92nd anniversary of the infamous bank robbery by John Dillinger and his gang in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On March 6, 1934, just before 10:00 a.m., Dillinger and his accomplices, including Babyface Nelson, executed a daring heist at the former Security National Bank, leaving a lasting mark on the city.
This anniversary is not just a reminder of a historic crime; it brings to light the eerie legacy left behind in the form of mysterious handprints on the bank’s vault door. Scott Abdallah, the current caretaker of this historical site, has shared captivating insights about the bank’s past. “I distinctly remember as a little kid my dad pointing out this building and telling me this story about what happened here,” Abdallah recalled, emphasizing the building’s importance in local lore.
During the robbery, the gang managed to access a vault that had been fortified with multiple locking mechanisms. Abdallah revealed, “To my knowledge, this is the only vault that they got into.” The vault, weighing an astounding 28,000 lbs, is still present, with its heavy door capable of swinging shut, a haunting reminder of that fateful day.
The mystery deepens with handprints that resemble blood on the vault door. Abdallah posed a question that has puzzled many: “What has really kind of fascinated all of us for years is you can see these handprints that almost look like blood on the front of this door. Isn’t that bizarre?” Local podcaster Lori Kent expressed her fascination, noting the chilling connection to the crime scene.
The robbery was notably violent, with gunfire erupting, but miraculously, no fatalities occurred. Kent recounted, “The first officer on the scene just happened to be nearby. He heard the alarms and immediately started coming towards the bank. He gets shot 8 times but lives.” This harrowing detail adds to the dramatic history surrounding the heist, which has captivated the community for nearly a century.
As Sioux Falls commemorates this event, locals are encouraged to share their connections to the robbery. Abdallah expressed a desire to connect with descendants of those who lived through the robbery or worked at the bank. “We feel like caretakers of a museum when we come to work here,” he said, inviting anyone with stories to reach out.
This anniversary not only serves as a reminder of a thrilling chapter in Sioux Falls history but also engages the community in preserving and sharing their narratives. If you have a story related to the Dillinger gang heist, you can contact Beth Warden at [email protected].
Stay tuned for further developments as this story continues to unfold.
