Patricia Hearst Captured by FBI After 19 Months

Salt Lake City, UT, September 18, 2026 —

San Francisco, CA – On September 18, 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was apprehended by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents in San Francisco. Her capture occurred 19 months after she was kidnapped from her Berkeley, California residence by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA).

The disappearance of Hearst, granddaughter of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, on February 4, 1974, and her subsequent involvement with the radical group captivated and shocked the nation. The 19-month period between her abduction and capture was marked by a series of dramatic events and evolving public perception.

During her captivity, Hearst issued communiques and appeared in photographs with the SLA, notably one where she was seen holding a rifle and an armband bearing the group’s symbol. She later participated in a bank robbery in San Francisco, an act for which she was eventually convicted.

The FBI’s long search culminated in her arrest in San Francisco. The circumstances surrounding her alleged participation in criminal activities with the SLA, including her defense that she acted under duress, became a central focus of the ensuing legal proceedings.

Following her capture and trial, Patricia Hearst was convicted of armed bank robbery. Her case drew widespread attention to the complex issues of political radicalism, kidnapping, and the psychological impact of prolonged captivity.

Story summarized from the original created by Chris Miller on www.deseret.com, see more information here.

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