Patty Hearst, heiress to the Hearst newspaper empire, was kidnapped by the radical Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) on February 4, 1974, in an event that shocked the nation.

Fifty years later, William "Bill" Harris, one of the kidnappers, has shared new insights into the circumstances surrounding Hearst's abduction and subsequent transformation into an urban guerrilla, as the Daily Mail reports.

Harris detailed how the kidnapping, initially intended as leverage to free imprisoned SLA members, led to Hearst’s eventual involvement in the group’s criminal activities, including bank robberies.

Hearst was taken violently from her Berkeley apartment, where her fiancé was assaulted, and she was stuffed into the trunk of a car. Harris played a key role in her abduction, and together, they spent the next year and a half on the run, moving between various safehouses to evade capture.

The SLA had intended to exchange Hearst for two of their members arrested for murder, but when that plan failed, her father paid $2 million in ransom to secure her release. The money, distributed through a chaotic food program in San Francisco, did little to alleviate tensions.

Patty Hearst’s Allegiance Shocks America

In a stunning turn of events, on April 3, 1975, Hearst declared her allegiance to the SLA and adopted the alias "Tania." This announcement was followed by her participation in a string of criminal activities alongside her captors.

One of the most infamous incidents was her involvement in a bank robbery, where she and the SLA stole over $10,000 from the Sunset branch of Hibernia Bank. This marked a dramatic shift in public perception, as Hearst, once considered a victim, was now seen as a willing participant.

Harris explained that while he initially tried to convince Hearst to leave the group, she appeared determined to stay. “She hated her mother... She didn’t want to go home,” Harris revealed, adding that Hearst's connection to her powerful family made her a target in their eyes.

The SLA viewed the Hearst family’s media empire as an arm of U.S. government propaganda, which further fueled their desire to keep her involved in their cause.

From Hostage to Urban Guerrilla

Hearst’s transformation from a kidnapped heiress to an armed revolutionary culminated in several violent encounters. In one incident, she fired shots during a standoff with police in Inglewood, though no one was injured.

Harris reflected on this period, expressing his confusion at her decision to remain with the group despite the dangers involved. “I thought, ‘Why would you want to go from being an heiress to being targeted for assassination by the government?’” Harris said.

The SLA suffered a significant blow when six of its members, including its leader, were killed during an LAPD raid on one of their safehouses. Despite this, Hearst and the remaining members carried out another bank robbery in Carmichael, California, where a bystander named Myrna Opsahl was tragically killed. Harris expressed remorse for the loss of life, stating, "I feel horrible about what happened to Myrna Opsahl."

Hearst's Capture and Legal Battle

On Sept. 18, 1975, Hearst was finally captured by the authorities, bringing her 19-month ordeal to an end. During her trial in 1976, Hearst claimed that she had been brainwashed by the SLA and had suffered sexual abuse at their hands.

This defense became a focal point of the trial, as it raised questions about the extent of her complicity in the group’s actions. Harris, too, reflected on this aspect, acknowledging the complex dynamics at play, saying, "What the Hearsts wanted to do more than anything is preserve the narrative that she didn’t do any of this on her own free will."

Harris was convicted of his role in the crimes and served approximately eight years in prison. In 2002, Jon Opsahl, the son of Myrna Opsahl, led a successful campaign to prosecute the remaining SLA members, including Harris, for their role in his mother’s death.

Opsahl expressed sympathy for Hearst, recognizing her as both a victim and a participant in the crimes. “She is probably as much a victim of the SLA as I am,” he said, adding, “She suffered big-time in the kidnapping, and the brutality and the rapes.”

Hearst's Redemption and Harris' Reflection

Hearst’s prison sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter, allowing her to move on with her life. She later lived quietly, largely staying out of the public eye. Meanwhile, Harris, after serving his prison sentence, worked as a private investigator before retiring in San Francisco. Reflecting on his past, Harris remarked, "You can be an ex-terrorist and be rehabilitated, and be appreciated, because s*** like that happens here."

The events surrounding Patty Hearst’s kidnapping and subsequent involvement with the SLA remain a haunting chapter in American history. While Hearst managed to rebuild her life after her commutation, the legacy of those turbulent years continues to evoke strong emotions, particularly for those like Jon Opsahl, whose lives were forever altered by the actions of the SLA.