Joseph Franklin Bent Explained

Joseph Franklin Bent
Alias:Charles Rayborn, Hap
Coal Frederick Raymond
Charge:Robbery, attempted murder
Birth Date:30 November 1927
Birth Place:Clay County, Missouri
Birth Name:Joseph Franklin Bent Jr.
Death Place:California, U.S.
Nationality:American
Gender:M
Height:6 ft 1 in
Weight:175 to 185 lbs
Occupation:Fireman, fisherman, railway switch man, truck driver
Added Date:January 9, 1951
Caught Date:August 29, 1952
Number:18
Status:Caught

Joseph Franklin Bent Jr. (November 30, 1927 – May 7, 2004) was a robber who was on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 1951.[1]

Background

He was also known by the aliases Charles "Hap" Rayborn and Coal Frederick Raymond (among others); the FBI had not tied these names to Bent, a veteran robber, until 16 months after his addition to the Ten Most Wanted list on January 9, 1951. He was added under the charges of robbery, attempted murder, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution after escaping jail in Gretna, Louisiana.[2] [3]

On March 6, 1946, he enlisted in the United States Army at San Antonio, Texas, but was discharged after less than one month service.[3]

Capture and aftermath

Bent was captured in Texas City, Texas, on August 29, 1952, on the advice of a tip from Alaska that had placed him in Monterrey, Mexico. When two agents attempted to arrest him in his apartment, Bent began to run and appeared to attempt to draw a weapon (he later turned out to be unarmed) and was shot once and wounded in the leg. He was tackled by the agents and eventually apprehended.[4] Bent previously served time at United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth and Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary for his heists. His previous occupations included a fireman, fisherman, railway switch man, and truck driver.[5] He died in 2004 in California.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 18. Joseph Franklin Bent, Jr.. 2020-06-24. Federal Bureau of Investigation. en-us.
  2. News: Second Change Made in 'Most Wanted' list. Albany New York Knickerbocker News. January 11, 1951. B-13.
  3. Web site: The Tipton Daily Tribune from Tipton, Indiana on January 9, 1951 · Page 2.
  4. Book: Swierczynski, Duane. The Encyclopedia of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List: Over Fifty Years of Convicts, Robbers, Terrorists, and Other Rogues. 4 February 2014. Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.. 9781628739060. Google Books.
  5. Web site: Roundup Record-Tribune and Winnett Times June 5 Page 6.
  6. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpostonline/obituary.aspx?n=howard-f-bent&pid=131055914 Howard Bent Obituary - Cherry Hill, New Jersey Courier Post