In a shocking revelation, Thomas Randele, a car salesman and country club golf pro from Lynnfield, Massachusetts, confessed to his daughter that he was a fugitive who had been on the run for over five decades. The astonishing secret came to light during Randele's battle with lung cancer, as he disclosed that his true identity was Theodore Conrad, the mastermind behind a notorious bank heist in Ohio more than 50 years ago.

The story unfolded in March 2021, when Ashley Randele, Thomas' daughter, couldn't resist the curiosity of her father's secret past. Late at night, she Googled 'Ted Conrad missing' and was astounded by the flood of articles that appeared, linking her father to the daring bank robbery. With each click, Ashley delved deeper into her father's dark history.

While Thomas Randele's respected persona in Lynnfield portrayed a loving husband and doting father, his real identity as Ted Conrad painted a different picture. Conrad's audacious heist, inspired by his favorite movie "The Thomas Crown Affair," made headlines as he successfully absconded with $215,000 (equivalent to $1.7 million today). His boyish face graced wanted posters and featured on TV shows like "America's Most Wanted" and "Unsolved Mysteries." A determined father-and-son duo of U.S. marshals in Cleveland devoted their lives to apprehending him.

After Ashley confronted her father with her discoveries, they made the difficult decision not to involve the authorities, as Thomas's health deteriorated. Their primary concern was ensuring Thomas's final months were not spent behind bars. They chose to keep the secret within the family, but little did they know that fate had other plans.

In a twist of fate, Thomas Randele's passing in May 2021 led to a breakthrough in the long-standing case. A tipster sent an obituary to an Ohio crime reporter, indicating that the deceased individual could be Conrad. The obituary aligned with certain details of Conrad's life, including his birthdate and the names of his parents, albeit with Randele attached to them.

Investigators, led by U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, carefully examined additional evidence, including a 2014 bankruptcy filing by Randele that bore striking similarities to Conrad's earlier handwriting sample. With mounting certainty, they traveled from Cleveland to Lynnfield to confirm Thomas Randele's true identity as Theodore Conrad.

The revelation left Ashley Randele grappling with the complex reality of her father's dual personas. In her forthcoming podcast, "Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dad," she explores her personal journey of caring for a dying father while wrestling with the revelation of her unwitting life of lies. Through interviews with her father's old acquaintances, Ashley seeks to understand the motivations and driving forces behind Conrad's brazen robbery.

The investigation, which had once consumed the life of Marshal John Elliott, Pete Elliott's late father, finally reached a semblance of closure. The younger Elliott, now following in his father's footsteps as a U.S. marshal, felt a mixture of emotions upon finally solving a case that had eluded his dad for decades. Reflecting on Conrad's actions, he stated, "Some people portrayed Conrad as a Robin Hood. And my dad called him nothing but a thief."

As the Randele family navigates this new chapter, they grapple with the aftermath of Thomas Randele's shocking confession and the subsequent visit from U.S. Marshals. While they had initially planned to notify the authorities in June 2022, the federal agents arrived unannounced in November 2021, assuring the family that they would not face charges.

The legacy of Theodore Conrad, the elusive bank robber-turned-Massachusetts car salesman, will forever leave an indelible mark on the lives of the Randele family. Through their podcast, Ashley Randele aims to shed light on her father's complex identity and reconcile the two facets of his life that seemed so diametrically opposed.

As the truth unravels, the Randele family's hope is that their story serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that even the most seemingly ordinary lives can hide deep secrets and surprising pasts.