The Manager Who Robbed her Bank with Dynamite

In November 2000, 35-year-old bank manager Michelle Renée was forced to rob her own Bank of America branch after three masked intruders invaded her California home, held her 7-year-old daughter Breea and roommate Kimbra hostage, and strapped convincing fake bombs to their bodies. Michelle walked into her own vault, collected $360,000, and handed it to the kidnappers before returning home, where police eventually discovered the “dynamite” was nothing more than painted broom handles and wires. Investigators quickly identified ringleader Christopher Butler and his accomplices through fingerprints, physical evidence, confessions, and even a business card Butler had given Michelle before the crime. But the case took a disturbing turn when accomplice Lisa Ramirez claimed Michelle had secretly participated in the robbery, while Butler told jurors that he and Michelle had been having an affair and that she had planned the entire crime—claims prosecutors said lacked supporting evidence. Although Butler and two other men ultimately received multiple life sentences, Ramirez was acquitted, and doubts about Michelle’s innocence followed her for nearly two decades. Then, in 2020, Butler finally admitted during a parole hearing that his story was false: there had been no affair, and Michelle had never planned the robbery. Twenty-five years after the kidnapping, Michelle even sat down with former captor Robert Ortiz to discuss the crime and everything that had happened since—this time, entirely by her own choice. --- Dark Footage showcases the most unbelievable photos and videos from history while telling the stories behind the camera. Featuring military, space, aircraft and real-life historic events caught on tape.