The transformation of Patty Hearst from kidnapped heiress to terrorist is a saga of privilege, celebrity and violence that gripped the nation. Over forty years later, firsthand accounts shed light on one of the most bizarre stories in modern American history. This six-part documentary series includes unprecedented access to Patty's comrades and confidants and explores who Patty Hearst really is: victim or villain?

Show Description

Catch up on the Patty Hearst saga 

  • The life and crimes of an American heiress

    On February 4, 1974, a kidnapping in Berkeley, California, became the catalyst for a two-year drama that would captivate the nation. More than four decades later, this crime and its resulting legal cases have left more questions than answers. Join CNN's chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin and Senior Media Correspondent Brian Stelter as they re-examine the evidence on the podcast "Patty Has a Gun: The Life and Crimes of Patricia Hearst." You can subscribe to this CNN podcast via your favorite podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn and iHeartRadio.

Patty Hearst speaks on ...  

Are you susceptible to brainwashing?

By Michael Nedelman, CNN
Steven Hassan was a college junior in the mid-1970s when he was recruited into the Unification Church, a cult also known as the "Moonies." Hassan said he quickly came to believe that Armageddon and World War III were imminent. The Moonies, he thought, were singularly tasked with saving the world.
Hearst was arrested in San Francisco on September 18, 1975, 18 months after the kidnapping.

Who is Patty Hearst?

Get an in-depth look at Patty Hearst, the victim of the most bizarre kidnapping in American history. For more, watch CNN's "The Radical Story of Patty Hearst" Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.