The Kidnapping of Bobby Greenlease

By Nathan Nixon

The story of Bobby Greenlease is that of a tragedy. This young boy was taken from the one place a child should always feel safe; a school. The heart of the collective world was shattered while witnessing the terrible, sickening events that were unfolding. Only monsters could do such terrible things. Who would do this? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201099800

Book preview

THE KIDNAPPING OF BOBBY GREENLEASE

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NATHAN NIXON 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BOBBY GREENLEASE

MISTY COPSEY

The Bobby Greenlease Kidnapping

The story of Bobby Greenlease is that of a tragedy.  This young boy was taken from the one place a child should always feel safe; a school.  The heart of the collective world was shattered while witnessing the terrible, sickening events that were unfolding.  Only monsters could do such terrible things.  Who would do this? How could someone stoop to this level? Most importantly, why would someone resort to this? In 1950's rural America, crimes like this just didn’t happen.  The turmoil that would ensue after this horrible act is one of confusion, betrayal, and heart sinking results.  An innocent boy was gone much too soon, and two senseless criminals were gone much too late.

The day was September 28, 1953.  A school for small children in Kansas City, Missouri was having a normal day.  Classrooms were filled with young children learning the basics for their futures.  Children filed in by the dozens, eagerly greeted by the smiling, caring faces of the teachers they all had learned to trust and love.  This was the essence of the French Institute of Notre Dame De Sion.  This was the place of learning for six year old Bobby Greenlease. 

In 1953, the level of school security was vastly lower than it is today.  Teachers and administration alike were much more trusting of the adults that would interact on a daily basis with children.  When a mysterious woman came through the front door of the school at 10:55 A.M. that morning, there was little more than a few questions of her intentions.  This mystery woman explained that she was there to pick up Robert Cosgrove Greenlease Jr.  In the routine of any school, teachers and office personnel quickly learn the family and caregivers of each of their students.  Needless to say, there was some suspicion of this woman who had never before been through the doors of this school and most certainly had never had any interactions with Bobby Greenlease. 

The mystery woman was very anxious.  She was described later as fidgety and nervous by school personnel.  She told them that the situation was dire.  She explained that she was Bobby’s aunt and that his mother had suffered a catastrophic heart attack.  Bobby’s mother was in the hospital and he needed to come with her at once.  While the school personnel were quite suspicious, it was Bobby who quelled their worry.  Bobby was pulled from class at approximately 11:05 A.M. and brought to the front of the school.  The mystery woman got down on a knee in front of Bobby and quickly explained that he needed to come with her. 

The innocence of Bobby Greenlease is ultimately what this woman was able to take advantage of.  Bobby was a trusting little boy.  He learned from his daily interactions to listen to the adults around him.  His parents would later explain how he was such an easygoing little boy who never gave them problems.  He was described by his teacher as happy and always striving to please.  For Bobby, when an adult told him to do something, he did it.  He trusted them, and he had learned at a young age that he was to do as he was told.  Little Bobby Greenlease always did what he was told, and he always did it with a beautiful, contagious smile on his face. 

Bobby took the hand of this mysterious woman quickly after she explained what had happened.  The worries of school personnel