May 9, 2025 • 41 mins
Heres the link to watch Speedy's episode on "I Almost Got Away With It"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFINAb6sj70
Jess your host of The Cuttin Loose Chronicles is proud to announce The story of Speedy Raulerson and his journey about robbing a bank in Live Oak, fl. (amongst other things) featured on the television show " I Almost Got Away With It" also " "America's Most Wanted" and talks about his time being on the "Deadliest Catch" The biggest news is HBO's hit show " It's Florida, Man" will not only be featuring Speedy Raulerson on the show season 2 but also myself Jess! Cuttin Loose Chronicles podcast! #americasmostwanted #kennethspeedyraulerson #ialmostgotawaywithit #itsfloridaman #hbo #cuttinloosechronicles #deadliestcatch #theperfectstorm #podcast #viral
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:07):
What you're about to hear is a conversation from two years ago,
before I launched my current show, Cut and Loose Chronicles.
Speedy Rawlerson's journey from his outlaw days to the
remarkable man you're learning about today is exactly the kind
of authentic transformation story that drives my work now.
While our paths crossed during adifferent chapter of my
broadcasting journey, his story of redemption remains one of the
(00:30):
most powerful I've ever had the privilege to share.
I would like for you to listen to this show I'm about to
present to you to get a good feel of just exactly who Kenneth
Speedy Rawlerson is. Here's a glimpse of that
conversation. I hope you enjoy and remember
his criminal record became his comeback story.
(01:06):
Today we have a very special guest and live from our studio.
He was referred to as a Great American outlaw, also a
legendary criminal. I personally like to refer to
him as John Rambo, but we have Kenneth Speedy Rawlerson.
How you doing? Welcome.
Yes. Good to be here.
(01:27):
Good to be on this side of the bars, right?
Right on. Nine years now.
Good, I got to know. Where did you get the name
Speedy? Can you?
Tell us. Well, yeah, quite simply, I was
born in 30 seconds. And what?
Was your childhood like? The best diving turtles,
hunting, fishing, we all was basic.
How many were in your family? Four boys and we lived way back
(01:51):
in Gulf Hammock. We was raised back there and we
usually went to Patterson Pond just to take a bath twice a
week. Is it better than taking you
ever? You ever went there and took a
bath behind three brothers? Because I was the youngest and I
love going. I love going to the pond.
Well, I love going to the pond to take a bath because I didn't
(02:12):
have to get my brother's bath. Water, right?
Dirty water, Yeah. Where'd you go to school?
Yankee Town. Yay.
Same as yours. We bleed Xanats.
So what did you always want to be when you grew up?
What was your plan? Well, I don't really know.
I probably a fisherman. Just just what?
You nailed it. Yeah, that's all I ever want to
(02:35):
do. Our hometown Yankee town,
Florida, is a small fishing spoton the Gulf that most folks
don't know about. It's the kind of place where
fishing isn't just a job, it's pretty much everything.
(02:57):
Redfish are what we're known for, when we're known at all.
Look, it's got its problems. A lot of people are stuck there
because they're broke. Drugs have hit us hard, same as
they've hit a lot of small towns.
The sand gnats will eat you alive in the summer.
In case you don't know what those are, they're little flies
that fly around with the razor blades on their face and they
(03:18):
poke you every chance they can get.
But there's something about it that gets under your skin in a
good way. People look out for each other.
When someone's boat breaks down,neighbors show up.
When you catch more than you need, it drops them off down the
street. It's not fancy or pretty in the
tourist brochure way, however I think it is.
It's real. The sunsets over the water make
(03:38):
you forget all about the hard parts for a minute.
The seafood is so fresh it ruinsrestaurant fish for you forever.
Listen, no one's allowed to makefun of Yankee Town, Florida.
Unless you're from Yankee Town, Florida.
But then again, why would you? It's the kind of place that's
easy to make fun of until you'vesat on a dock there, had a beer
with the locals, and felt what it's like to be part of
(03:59):
something that's struggling but standing.
On January 14th, 1990, the Suncoast Casino cruise ship was
robbed in Inglis, FL and what became one of our area's most
notorious heist. My guest, Speedy Rawlerson was
accused but never convicted of this crime.
(04:21):
With a target on his back and pressure mounting, he made a
decision that would change his life forever.
Fleeing to the far reaches of Alaska while hiding out, he
found himself working at the Legendary's Crow's Nest, the
same bar that made Famous and the Perfect Storm.
His face even landed on America's Most Wanted, turning
him into a fugitive known acrossthe country.
(04:44):
Along the way, he describes how his journey being on The
Deadliest Catch also happened and how the locals once again
helped him try to escape. Listen how he shares his
unfiltered story and how it all went down, his time on the run,
and how certain people helped. This isn't just another Crime
Story. It's about survival, second
(05:05):
chances and the long road back from being a wanted man.
Listen to this. The thing about the American
most wanted that that program was October 14th, 2000.
You won't find that error on theair anywhere because they
actually featured me on that forthis Sun Cruise Casino boat that
(05:29):
was robbed in 2000. That's what I was featured.
They I was the main target, mainsuspect.
I'm not saying that I wasn't didn't saying that I didn't do
it. They featured me on America's
Most Wanted for that. And at the same time this FTLE
agent Bill Goody decided he was going to tell everybody.
Now this is an international show.
(05:50):
This is not everywhere. You know, this is John Walsh and
this guy Bill Goody, FTLE agent,later become the sheriff.
Columbia County in Lake City, decided he was going to tell
America that I had been charged and convicted with aggravated
battery and assault on the law enforcement officers.
Now that there in itself put a red target on my back all across
(06:15):
America. Another funny story to that.
I was in Gloucester, MA in the crow's nest.
If you ever watched the Perfect Storm.
I did. Marianne was my barmaid, and I
have a toothache, and I'm getting a shot of Jack Daniels
for my toothache. And they got the TV on behind
the bar and all of a sudden, there's my picture.
(06:36):
The girl sit beside me. She says, Bruce.
Yeah, that was. Yeah.
And my alias, it was given to meby my good brother, said Bruce,
that looks like you. And I'm just, and I'm swooshing
this whiskey around in my mouth looking at the TV just.
And there's 50 people in this bar, and they're all hardcore
fishermen. OK.
I'm like, swallow the the Jack Daniels.
(06:59):
And I'm like, well, it sure does.
And she looked at me and she said, damn, Bruce.
He's got your own same name. Oh, my God.
Keep in mind, George Clooney just come out with this movie.
Oh, wow. Yeah.
The perfect storm. All these people were flocking
to the crows nest in 2000. You can look it up.
October 2000. The movie was big on the
(07:22):
blockbusters and everybody was flocking to the crows nest.
I had just made deck boss on this big nice swordfish.
Didn't take me long to make deckboss.
Of course Mary Ann Shackleford the the very same one y'all see
in the movie in the the perfect storm.
She said well First off I said if y'all believe that shit right
there is the phone, the pay phone go down 911 and a buddy of
(07:45):
mine his name was tiny go figureand he is in his old white
shrimp boot or his fishing boots.
And he went over and he stood bythe phone with acoustic in his
hands. He said ain't nobody going to be
using this phone. So Mary Ann she said go pack
your stuff I'll get you a cab. I run upstairs pack my stuff all
in 5 minutes came back down to high fives the handshakes.
(08:07):
I said y'all know who I am we know you Bruce get out of here
because they're going to be coming.
So I went to my my captain's house and said Maddie.
As soon as he opened the door, Isaid, how you doing?
My name's Kenneth Scott Rawlers.He like, why Bruce?
He looked at me funny because hedidn't know me as Bruce and I
was just deck boss and shit. He said why?
I said I'm Kenneth Scott Rawlersand Maddie.
I said they just featured me on America's Most.
(08:29):
Well, he couldn't wrap his head around it.
You know, like what? And I'm like, yes.
So you did tell people that who you really were when you left.
Oh yeah, my captain. I left the $18,000 paycheck.
He had $18,000 of my money. I need Maddie, whatever you got
on the hand so I can get the hell out of Dodge.
(08:50):
Well, him between him and his wife, I had 3000, you know,
here's 3000. Bruce or Ken, whatever.
Good meeting. You a good man and I appreciate
it. And I said thank you, Maddie.
He said give me an address and I'll send you the other 15,000.
And so I give him an address. I'm not gonna say which, but I
give him an address and I'll be damned.
(09:11):
I'll tell you three months later, that man sent that money.
You've been very lucky with people.
I think you're obviously a likedman and you've been very lucky
throughout your journey. Wait till you hear this.
This story is beyond probably belief.
They had me featured on America's Most Wanted for this
casino boat. This guy, FDL, EA agent Bill
(09:32):
Goody, sat there and told peopleacross America and every law
enforcement agency that was watching this program that I had
been charged and convicted with assault on a law enforcement
officer. Now, if you're a law enforcement
officer and you hear this scumbag has assaulted another
law enforcement officer, that puts a red target on your back.
(09:54):
And that's when I went and got the money from Maggie to go in
straight to Amtrak, straight to Florida, straight to the woods,
because I could not chant someone recognizing me on the
street. So I went into those woods and I
stayed for two years. OK, so here's what the headlines
(10:15):
didn't capture correctly. The complicated truth, according
to Speedy, When most people hearabout bank robberies, they
picture violent confrontations and briefless criminals.
But Speedy's story challenges everything you think you know
about crime and motivation. After authorities took his dogs
and put them down, a devastatingblow to a pet owner, something
(10:36):
inside Speedy snapped. What followed was a series of
events, including an alleged Suncoast Casino cruise ship
heist that he never was charged for.
But the bank robbery that did land him behind bars, that's
where things got interesting. We call him the compassionate
criminal. While he was there robbing the
bank, he felt really, really badfor what he was doing.
(10:58):
He even whispered in the some ofthe lady's ears.
I'm not going to hurt you, just go with the flow.
Speedy chose not to wear a mask during the robbery, instead
sporting flares strapped to his chest that resembled a bomb.
This wasn't just reckless, it was a calculated move to get
federal time rather than state time.
He didn't want to serve state time because federal is probably
(11:18):
on the better side of prison time.
And I hear the food's better. It was his way of saying to
authorities, here I am. You have your reason to arrest
me now. But the media, particularly
shows like I Almost Got Away With It painted a different
picture, one that Speedy says was more Hollywood than reality.
They missed the nuance of his history and his story, the
(11:40):
circumstances that led his choices and the truth about the
infamous Snakes in the Barrel incident.
Wait to hear this one. Today we're giving Speedy the
chance to set the record straight about who he is and
what really happened and why he believes he's fundamentally a
good person who made some very bad choices.
The story behind the headlines and the journey of a man looking
(12:01):
for redemption by finally telling his side of the story.
Take it away, Speedy. When did you decide that robbing
a bank was your only option? Oh, OK, first on it was not an
option. I mean, it was not just the only
(12:21):
option. And I'm going to be really frank
and I'm going to make this quickand clear.
The only reason I robbed that damn bank was to get federal
time because if I was going to go away because which I was
already facing all this time that they.
For the casino. No, no.
Just I suppose. It was no.
Oh no. That's how you listen, you mean?
He was never charged with that. I've never even been questions
(12:43):
about that damn casino. You're getting questioned today,
buddy. I never set a rock.
I I just allegedly robbed that thing.
I can't help it. If they paid $32,000 for those
dogs they took, yeah, you know, that's on them.
You know, if they wouldn't, if they wouldn't have took damn
dogs, if they wouldn't have tookdogs and said they was going to,
which they did, put them to sleep in two weeks, that boat
(13:04):
might not have never got robbed.But not meaning that you're the
one that did it and whoever did it.
They shouldn't. Maybe I did do it.
Maybe. But they can't do a damn thing
about charges with statue of limitations is.
Were you charged with it? Negative.
Then you didn't do it, bud. Well, no, I mean.
But tell us about the bank. Robbing the bank.
(13:25):
OK, so from the time you said I'm going to rob a bank, in the
time that you actually robbed the bank, how much time was
that? Like, was it like morning and
then that evening or oh. No, not absolutely not.
I plan that. Just the bank alone, 30 days.
Believe me, I could never make aa career out of being a bank
(13:47):
robber because for one thing, the poor ladies, no matter how
you try to comfort them. You're a compassionate criminal.
You were. Oh, I, I I ask each and everyone
of them to forgive me. You did, Yeah.
But you're very, you're actuallyvery compassionate about it.
And then and then this big guy and then this big guy that was 6
(14:07):
foot 4 standing behind me that was 280 lbs out of bag of money.
I turned around and just snatched.
Give me that snatched this damn money.
Well, it's and. You also had the bomb strapped
to. That was not a real bomb.
No. Just player I would you think
I'd stick a bomb? That damn thing would be my look
and go off. Now I wasn't saying if someone
would want to get spiffy. I didn't have the means to deal
(14:30):
with what I had because I did have a 30 caliber sit in the car
and there was a few heroes that did try to follow us.
Were you the mastermind behind the bank robbery?
I was total, listen, I'm going to tell you this right now.
If anybody ever said they robbedthe bank with me, they're wrong.
Nobody never robbed no bank. I did that by myself and I'm not
saying I ever had any Co defendants.
(14:51):
Listen, so when I watched the show, OK, you had three
accomplices. OK, sure.
The one guy. That's all.
That's what they're saying. I'm not saying that.
OK, but the one. Guy, I told the judge I did it
on myself. That you want the one out of the
three that you guys had to talk in to go in in there the last
minute. He finally was on board with it.
And then that's the one that went into the bank with you.
Hold up, hold up. Hold up, hold up, hold up, back
(15:14):
up again. OK, so when I was watching the
show, I saw you had three accomplices, three other men and
one guy. They were like, come on.
And he he was kind of like wanting to back out on Rob and
the bank. But then he said, OK, let's do
it, let's do it. Am I wrong about that?
No, they never helped. They never robbed the listen to
what I'm telling. You, Jessica.
OK, tell me. Tell me.
(15:34):
One person helped me robbed thatbank not nobody else.
Did you? Mike Watson was my Co defendant
Joey Young and Jason Collins whodid not have participate in
robbing the bank whatsoever. OK, 100% it was me and Mike
Watson and he was my Co defendant.
These I don't know. On the show, though, that one
(15:57):
guy went in with you. Yeah, Mike.
Yeah. Yeah, Mike went with me.
Yeah, Mike. OK.
He's a trooper. He never said a word.
How come you didn't wear a mask when you went in?
I wasn't. I pointed at the camera and told
them now they had a reason to bechasing I.
Know you were so great about your escape and your clever mind
and then you went in without a mask.
I was like, why did he do that? Because that doesn't seem like
(16:19):
the speedy that. When I robbed that bank, I
didn't care. I mean, I wasn't trying to hide
nothing from the beginning. I figured it, you know, that the
gig was up anyhow. They was planning on putting me
away for life, which they didn't.
Thank God things turned out, which is a crazy story all the
way how I ended up with 10 yearsout of all this, which I should
have, and rightfully so, from the stomach things I've ever did
(16:43):
and never really been called for.
You know, I could probably do all y'all's life sentences.
That's one. Of my question is.
Hey, when you live that life, you live that Life, OK?
OK, so Speedy, listen, let's go back to the bank robbery.
You're in the bank. You want to get back to that?
Bank I do because I got lots of stuff.
I want to talk about that Isaac though, we was talking about and
(17:05):
I told this guy because. We're going back to the bank
robbery in Live Oak, FL. Stick to the subject.
So we're back to Live Oak, FL, OK?
Oh my God, you're in there. You got some people terrified
however you are. Wearing bank actually in the
bank and you. Were calming down a lady 'cause
you were so worried about her having a heart attack.
That is so. Sweet of you.
Look, I'm like, oh, what a nice guy.
(17:26):
That's why I could Hey, you saidI couldn't make a career out
rather, but in. Your heart to forgive me.
Yes, I ask him all that, not just her.
I ask all them that when they like, they like when they when
they showed you how you locked them in a safe or something like
that. It wasn't nothing, it was one.
It was had bars that was open. Did you or did you not say you
better look at each other's faces 'cause you'd be spending a
lot of time together? I know you better.
(17:48):
Get become good friends. What did you say to that?
No, I was, I was feeling like shit leaving them people in.
So you got the money, you bolted, you guys are?
Out No hold up now we got it back.
We got it back up. This is funny and you didn't
hear this on the show because they didn't add it in this that
(18:08):
show is just so edited and so Hollywood hours.
I give the money to Mike and he was going out the door and he
and he went and got in the car and I'm coming out behind him
because I'm making sure I'm justwant, you know, I'm letting him
go ahead. I mean, I'm watching everybody
and seeing who the heroes are going to be.
Now I've seen the two guys go over and get in the truck and
(18:29):
they was watching us. So I knew I'm watching these
guys out of the corner of my eye.
But at the same time, this lady this that's her heart.
This lady she stopped she's she's 60.
She stops me and she's got this application in her hand and
she's and I'm dressed in a suit and she thinks I'll work for the
bank. And she says something.
They must have turned her down for a loan.
(18:50):
And she was pissed and she was trying to show me this paper
about this loan and I'm trying to go to the car and she's just
not having none of it. She's going to talk to me and
I'm like, ma'am, I just robbed that bank, stay out of it.
And she looked at me, and by thetime I said that, that's when
the dive bomb went off. That's when the dive bomb went
(19:10):
off. I looked over at the car and
Mike, the dive bomb was going off and he was flipping and
instead of like immediately taking action and reaching in
the bag and getting rid of the damn dive bomb, he's just
flipping out. So I had to take control of
that. I had to run over there and get
the damn dive bomb. What did that feel like?
I was mad because I took the dive bomb and threw it.
(19:32):
To it, I thought it burns. Is it burn?
Is it gas? Oh, it's pepper gas and it's
burning me up and I grew reachedin and grabbed down and I walked
right back up to the bank and threw it against.
They didn't show you all that and and and you know on that,
that was bullcrap because I tookit and threw it back up.
I told him no dye packs and whenit went on, I was about that far
from going back in there. That's how mad I.
(19:52):
Was what drove you to actually rob the bank.
I didn't want to go do state time.
So you you're using state time, that's simple.
So you want to do federal time? Let's do the difference between
I'm going away for life. So as method of child support,
it was nothing about being behind in child support.
Let's go. OK, let's back up to the very
first thing that show said. Oh we way ahead of our self
(20:13):
field girls. Well, bring us back, Speedy.
I'm coming out of prison with $17,000 in debt and child
support. So I get a loan from my father
$1800 to get my driver's licenserenewed because I done had so
many fines and blah blah blah. This is in 94.
This is the first time I was a fugitive and then getting out to
(20:33):
make a fresh start with nine years probation figure.
But anyhow, my father helps me got $1800 traffic fines, Val
kinds of fines to get my I got, I got my driver's license
straight OK. Shortly thereafter I paid that
$1800. Well, one of the first ones to
have their license suspended fornon child support.
(20:54):
Now you look it up, that's when they come up with that law was
about that time. And I was one of the first, I
was one of the first ones in thestate of Florida to have my
license actually suspended. But after I paid the $1800, you
know I'm out getting out of prison.
I want a statue of you. I think we should have a statue
of you because you. I'm getting out of prison and so
I get $1800 I pay the fines off and then all the sudden bam 2
(21:19):
weeks later they're suspended for non supported child payment.
So I get a court date So I go tocourt now this is good.
Y'all going to love this becauseyou don't hear this very often.
I went to court my daughter she's 13 years old Sonny I had
trying to spend catch up time with my children after being out
(21:39):
of prison and 13 year olds a little bitch.
I mean, I mean that's just the bottom line and every 3rd.
I mean, it's a tough year for a woman.
I mean, that's just true. That's just the truth.
And she hated her blah, blah, blah.
You know, she might have, she might have cleaned the damn
toilet with my toothbrush. I'm not sure.
(22:00):
I know she did. I know she did piss in the
Cologne and she feed me and she gave me them damn little Slim
Jim doggy snacks instead of SO. She's got a mind like her daddy.
Begging strips. That right, you know the slim
Jims, they're all they look justlike the real ones.
But anyhow. You slap into a Slim Jim less.
But so she comes and tells me she's like that and I'm you
(22:21):
know, I've been home for like 3 months out of prison trying you
know after I've done gotten my license re suspended.
So I'm really down. I'm like well 1800 bucks down
the drain and I'm still back to square one.
No license. So sunny.
She's like, well, my Mamie, her grandmother needs somebody to
run her shrimp boat. I'm like, I don't want to go
(22:42):
shrimp and I don't want to do none of that.
I just don't want to shrimp Sonny.
I don't want to get involved in all that.
So time goes by and then I get this summons to go to court for
for child support. So I go to child, you know, this
child support court and it's over in D land and there she is,
Sonny's there's rain. Her mother Rainey is there and
(23:03):
two people are defendants beforeme and they get up there the
judge ones like 6000 and ones like 9000.
A judge gave them both 180 days.Bam, you know, their their exes
got out there all that son of a bitch, blah, blah, blah.
I mean they just talk trash. I mean, of course they will
(23:23):
probably shit and come time for me to get up there and I was 17.
My my shit was combined both of theirs together.
And the judge was like, well, what do you got?
And then and the prosecutor says, well, let's let the X we,
my ex got out there and spoke and she says, you know what, I
want to have this annulled. I don't like what you're doing.
(23:45):
I don't like what you're doing to him and.
That says a lot. The prosecutor.
Now that part on the show is is bullshit.
The dye pack part is bullshit. What else is bullshit?
Oh, the newspaper. The newspaper, OK, they said I
made this newspaper in 2004, right?
He come out and taunt the police.
I made that damn newspaper. I.
(24:06):
Was wondering did this you had anewspaper lady meet you at?
Your that was in 19 Woods in 1997.
Yeah, that made no sense to me. And they say in 2004, he come to
taunt the police. And OK, you want to talk?
You just talk about the barrels.Wait, wait, before you do that.
So you robbed the bank? The ink exploded.
(24:26):
Oh. Yes, let's talk.
About everybody. You guys are at the trailer and
then you have the conversation with the guys.
They want to bolt on you, No? Let's talk about the getaway,
because that's the greatest story of all.
The hell? OK, well, I had to scan her in
my ear and had stolen Grand Am and we're getting away.
We're going down and I had stolen.
(24:46):
The good news a week two weeks earlier with a 25 horse motor on
the back of it on the Swanee River and I had had that stashed
on the river that was my toop toyour coupe de grace.
You know, I'm then that's how I'm getting the hell out of
Dodge because they and, and it worked just like I thought.
So anyhow, I come in running down River Road and, and the
(25:08):
cops were following, you know, they're going down the town,
he's going down River Rd. We got it now.
It's a daddy and everybody converged on River Rd.
River Rd. So they were all converging on
this River Road and I know they're coming.
I know they're coming behind me,a bunch of them.
So they're all coming and coming.
And I just drove that car, you know, just drove it right off
the edge of the river, right into the bank.
(25:29):
This is a movie. You got to do it.
You got to write your story. This is a great Has anyone ever
brought opted coming you and have you ever been approached?
Yes. OK.
Have you not the same people? By the same people?
Indigo. Indigo Films, Yeah.
We Steven Spielberg, OK. I drive to Grand am off right
onto the down into the riverbank.
(25:49):
Mike's like you crazy, you crazy.
I'm just hold on, just hold on right.
So we we hit down near by the bythe river and the canoes like
right there. So we get out.
I might see right there it is. We jump into canoe first, pull
it cranks and we're gone 20 milean hour already hauling down
down the Swanee and about the time we get around 2 bends, I'm
(26:09):
listening in my my because I gotmy ear buddy in my scanner and
he was saying we got him, we gothim.
He's down River Rd. everybody. And then all of a sudden he's
like that little son of a bet. He said.
He said that son of a bitch is in the river.
That's all he said. And then another one come across
on the radio and said, oh, I think a canoe was sold and on
the river two weeks ago. And then they would say call
(26:32):
Lake City, get aviation in the air.
And I'm like, man, this copper'sgot to come all the way from.
So they said they got to go downthere and get loaded and go.
So I'll go. And all I did was went straight
to Interstate 10, right up underneath Interstate 10.
I dropped the motor from the right overboard, right under,
it's probably still there. Dropped it right underneath the
(26:52):
bridge, right there, right off the boat.
Pulled the canoe out in the palmettos and that could
possibly still be there. And I walked and I walked from
there by foot. OK, so Rambo, I need to know
this. So I want to talk about when
you're in the trailer and the law enforcement came in and you
escaped 'cause you dug tunnel, you dug A50 foot tunnel.
(27:14):
Yes, absolutely. OK, talk about that.
The snakes are not. I mean, the snakes were.
There are. The snakes there for like, say,
boots. Tell us from them.
Tell us was a minute you opened up the opening on the floor and
you jumped in in there in the drums and tell us from there on.
That there's really nothing to tell it I Well, actually, let me
Let's talk about the snakes. Did you intend to hurt?
(27:34):
No, that's, that's what I want to point out.
The snakes were only put in thatbarrel because when I was
digging that tunnel, I caught those snakes building that
tunnel. Police.
Speedy Rollerson. Odd Snakes.
I didn't want to kill them. I could have killed them, or to
kill them I would. Have thought you'd have a pair
of boots by now. No, I don't do.
I don't know. I don't need.
(27:56):
No, no, I'm not with all. Speedy When I was watching that
on, I almost got away with it. I am a huge Sylvester Stallone
fan. I'm a FEAR First Blood fan.
OK, I was watching the movie. I don't have no animosity.
I didn't want to hurt these guys.
I knew they were just doing. Their job.
You had mentioned prior that you're for law enforcement.
You. Yeah.
Yeah, and I even was then. I mean, you don't even believe
(28:19):
what I did, you know, after 911.I mean, there's stuff untold.
After the May 18th, 1998 robberyof Barnett Bank in Live Oak, FL,
Speedy didn't just disappear, hereinvented himself.
Taking on the alias of Bruce Clayter, Speedy Rawlerson made
(28:39):
the ultimate escape to North Alaska, where he found himself
battling the merciless Bering Sea on the deadliest catch.
Working in punishing conditions that he described as 100 below
0, Speedy was literally about asfar from his crime scene as
possible. But even with thousands of miles
between him and that bank vault,Speedy couldn't outrun the
(29:01):
critical piece of evidence. The red dyed cash he had taken
during the heist. Well, almost got away with it.
Got many details wrong. Speedy wants to set the record
straight about how that ink actually exploded on the money
and followed him to Alaska. When local authorities
eventually questioned him about the suspicious red stained bills
he was spending, Speedy quickly fabricated a story about
(29:23):
notebook die accidents. I can't believe they fall for
that. By the way, what began as a bank
robbery involving a fake bomb strap and a hastily dug escape
hole beneath the trailer floor, not a deliberate snake filled
booby trap as authorities claimed, it evolved into a multi
year saga of survival in America's last frontier.
(29:45):
But even successful criminals have heart.
Speedy did not use the bank robbery money, but he used his
hard earned money from The Deadliest Catch to buy his
daughter her first car. Listen has Speedy explains and
gets emotional about the situation.
Eventually, homesickness would do what law enforcement
initially couldn't, draw him back to Florida and ultimately
(30:07):
into custody. You said to me that you caught
those snakes along the way. Big in that 50 foot.
Oh, I'm sorry, we got. Off No, no, it's OK.
And you said to me that wasn't to put down in the tunnel for
Laud. Right, right who?
In the Hell's gonna do that? Let me tell you something.
(30:29):
Let me get it real straight. Dem cop too much of bitches to
go in that tunnel. Bitches.
That's true. And those particular costs
because they, they're the ones who who glorify their shit and
make me look like I'm the scumbag that they want me to be.
So that's why I'm saying what I am.
(30:49):
They were too much of bitches togo down in that time, but I
wouldn't go down in that time. I mean, if I was them, I went
down in it because I knew what the hell where it would.
I built it. You didn't do that.
First of all, you didn't do thatto hurt the law enforcement.
No, no. No, I would never do that
because. We're not about hurting the law
enforcement. You build it prior to the bank
(31:10):
robbery. Yes.
So you knew you were? Absolutely.
I had a feeling they were going to be coming for me.
But he didn't set up the snake booby trap.
The booby trap, See, I had to rob the bank all quicker than
one that was suspected. Man.
I had to leave the trake, the snakes in the barrel and I just
couldn't let him go right there on the spot.
(31:31):
Right, he was going. To.
You're working there. No, in case I, No, in case I
come. Yeah, in case I come up out that
tunnel. I'm like you just snapped in the
head. OK, so listen, let's Fast
forward a little bit. I want to talk about the when
you went to Alaska. I'm intrigued by it, the.
Bering Sea? Really.
Let's talk about that. That is amazing.
(31:54):
OK, it wasn't the first trip forme.
Yeah, Bender, Bruce. No, I wasn't Bruce then.
Bruce Clater. Yes, I was Bruce.
So you were out on the Bering Sea, you were fishing, you made
it, you said crabbing. On a boat called the Ferrara
Sea. Let's get it right.
And I never said that to nobody.Everybody wanted to know the
boat that I fished on. Captain Mike Tobel, Chris Branch
(32:15):
and the boys on the Ferrara Sea.Oh, it's amazing.
That's probably the hardest job in the world.
OK. You said you were out there in
100. Loved it.
You were there in 100° below 0. Actually that year I seen a
newspaper that came from Nome, Alaska somewhere up there that
was 102 below 0. What was that like?
(32:40):
I didn't. I didn't.
I don't think it got 102 below out in Saint Paul in Saint
George that year, but that was like 102 below 0 that year in
Alaska. You can look it up.
It was in 1990 the 1999 OPC. How do you even survive
something like that? Doing physical work and then
being in torrential temperatures.
Picture this. OK you can.
(33:01):
You can stack most crab pots 3 high on your boat.
Now picture my crazy ass up on top of those.
I see you. A minimum of 20 foot seas and
you're in probably 1015 below average.
They was like, man, I was fucking loving it.
Yeah, I got the job as a cook and ended up slash deckhand
because it didn't take seven days before deckhand was hurt
(33:24):
and then I took his job. So now I had slash deckhand
cook, so I got to share in a hand.
I made 63 grand in 60 days. So.
I bet it was difficult when you started missing your family and
you decided to come back to Inglis and.
I have to say something right here.
(33:44):
I went out there, I, I had plenty of bank robbery money.
I went out there, I went into the Bering Sea and I use that
money to buy my daughter her carfor her 16th birthday.
Wasn't bank robbing money that man a lot it's.
(34:04):
Like great, that's awesome. Eat.
It right there. You know, yeah, it is.
And I know you love your family and that's why you took the
chance to come back to Inglis. Well, I went out there and made
that money hard. I didn't steal it from the bank.
Oh. Heck, we realize that because I
don't know about you, but I watch the show.
I mean, yeah, that's that's yourbest their lives every time they
go out. Well that's that's also
(34:26):
Hollywood lives. I've seen David.
I was on the 1st episode below. Do you know of all that
bullshit? Yeah, I was there.
That that was the first year. That was the first year that
they so. You're on this show too.
There's three shows. What?
Freaking luck. No no no.
I've refused to sign. I refused to sign the.
The waiver. To show my picture, yeah.
(34:49):
Sorry about that. No, it's all right.
To show my picture on freaking air, to air my picture.
And then that's when David Rowe.David Rowe was a greenhorn.
Yeah, but they were. They were.
What the hell is? His name?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, he was like, I wouldn't I
wouldn't sign the, the, the, the, the non disclosure, the
(35:11):
agreement, whatever it was to 1st show him my image on TV and
he's like what you're running from.
And I looked at him, I'm like Mr. and I really didn't know who
the hell he was. I'm like Mr. I said, everybody
in Alaska's running from something.
What you running from? And, you know, I just asked him
like that, and everybody just laughed.
And we laughed at all, but they really didn't know.
(35:32):
Oh, and I was also accused of being a bank robber in Alaska.
I know. OK, so listen, so on the show it
showed that they got a lead because you had money with with
the red dye on it, but you played it off that it was your
little tablet that had red. I should have.
Brought that tablet with me. I should have brought.
Did you wing? That did you wing that?
(35:54):
Yeah, I winged it. I winged it at the time, but I.
What he said to every ladies andgentlemen is that on the show,
they the cops came to his littletrailer and it said that he's
going to know if he was Kenneth Raulerson.
You said no. I'm Bruce Clayter and they said,
well, we you had some money withsome red dye on it and you
winged it and said you had a little notebook.
(36:16):
I still have the I still have it, I mean, and you, you can
look at it and look at, you can look at it and look at any kind
of red money that has and it wasidentified dollar bill that was
originally from. The bank.
Oh I know you're talking about well I was out fishing and my
notebook got wet so the ink where the red address book from
drop on the money and they bought that shit.
(36:38):
Well, I was. Well, here's something else.
The Bruce Clater ID that I give him was a known alias.
Yeah, because that you were. That was the first time.
Go figure. So I thought the gig was up
anyway. Oh my God.
Because he looked at me. Because that's what I thought.
I thought. Hiding the money in your dirty
(36:58):
underwear. Was oh, that was great.
But he well. First look.
At. When do we talk all that one?
He looked at me and said, Bruce,have you robbed any banks in
Florida lately? And when he said that I thought
the gig was up. I just looked at him and said no
Sir, not lately. And I was dead ass serious.
(37:19):
But he thought I was joking. Oh my God.
You had 9 lives. Seven years later, my dad seen
that same Alaska State Trooper in a Barber shop in Dunnellon,
FL. He heard my dad talking about it
at the Barber shop, and he was just turning white.
And the Barber said, Sir, is something wrong?
And he said, Sir, let me introduce myself.
(37:40):
He said I'm so and so. And he said I'm a retired Alaska
State trooper. And he said I'm the man who
stepped over that pile of. Would that be Big Fred's
Barbershop in Dunellen? Somewhere.
Yeah, it. Was big Fred's.
Barber crazy. It was crazy.
Holy moly. It was like, what a cool.
Yeah, that that that. OK, so.
After that notebook thing, they left and you were fine.
(38:00):
And then that's when you decidedto head back to English.
There was a rumor. No, no, no, no.
It got better. Better than this?
Oh. My God, I did you ever.
Share with any of those other deckhands or anything about who
you really were back in Florida.On in my Swordfish Entuna days,
(38:21):
yes. Did they they they kept it
under? The a buddy of mine named Jeff
Cole, one of the best friends I've ever had on hush hush, yes,
but the Alaskan fishing license.This is important because when
that cop and he said Bruce, he said you got to get a new
license. When he come back and said,
Bruce, you got to get a new license, your license expired.
I fell out about had a heart attack right there.
(38:42):
I wasn't going to jail. I mean, he was, no, he was
serious. And I thought was like, man, Oh
my, I'm I might freaking pull this off.
And he's like, you need to get your license, you know, renewed.
And I said, Sir, can you please write an incident about this, an
incident report? Because I can't have nobody else
(39:04):
to having me thinking I'm a bankrobber from Florida and I had to
come home. Yeah, to come home.
Then 911 screwed me up from going back.
Well, I haven't really told my story really publicly to nobody.
Not a true story. I can tell you all those guys
that come up there with that, that come up there with with
that almost gone away with that shit.
No Mike Burns. It was on the the OH.
(39:25):
I like Mike Burns. The one that said, yeah, you're
Speedy is the only one that I know they can send into the
woods with a lighter and a knife.
And he come for nine years, he comes out gaining weight.
That Mike Burns, he'll, I mean, he'll tell.
You the one that says I saw speed jump on the back of a 12
foot alligator and wrestle him to his he's.
The one, yeah, I've known him for over 40 years and he can.
He's the one. He's the one that said you gave
(39:47):
him all his Gray hairs. Probably.
But. I can tell you this.
He can validate how they took mydogs and put them to sleep.
They did actually put those dogs.
Yeah. Bill Goody.
What a shitty thing to do if I didn't turn myself in.
They even went and put my fatherin handcuffs, too.
(40:08):
And that's another thing that pissed me off.
And Mitchie and Tommy told them do not.
Put his fathers in handcuffs. If you put his fathers in
handcuffs, you're going to make that boy go over the edge.
Them, the local, the locals thatI originally had the problem
with, we worked our shit out. I feel like you were respect.
You're very respected so amongstthe the people in.
(40:30):
Our town. I got mayors, I got
commissioners, I've got the whole board of chamber.
And there's a reason because yougot a lot of good to you what
happened which? Brings me, which brings me back
to the America's Most Wanted andthem slandering my name about
being charged and can I can bring you a paper from the
Department of Justice and I'm going to bring it the next time
I come and I'll show it to you from the Department of Justice.
(40:52):
That shows that I've been charged and convicted with
aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.
And that's a wrap on the wild ride of Speedy Rawlerson.
Look, the guy robbed a bank. Yeah, but now he's turned things
around in a way nobody saw coming.
Speedy's going to spill all the beans in his book Cursed at
(41:13):
Birth on Halloween night. And stay tuned for his
appearance on the HBO series TheFlorida Man.
It just goes to show you people can mess up, but they turn
themselves around just as easy. You're listening to Jess, your
host of Cut Loose Chronicles podcast.
Thanks for listening.
What you're about to hear is a conversation from two years ago,
before I launched my current show, Cut and Loose Chronicles.
Speedy Rawlerson's journey from his outlaw days to the
remarkable man you're learning about today is exactly the kind
of authentic transformation story that drives my work now.
While our paths crossed during adifferent chapter of my
broadcasting journey, his story of redemption remains one of the
(00:30):
most powerful I've ever had the privilege to share.
I would like for you to listen to this show I'm about to
present to you to get a good feel of just exactly who Kenneth
Speedy Rawlerson is. Here's a glimpse of that
conversation. I hope you enjoy and remember
his criminal record became his comeback story.
(01:06):
Today we have a very special guest and live from our studio.
He was referred to as a Great American outlaw, also a
legendary criminal. I personally like to refer to
him as John Rambo, but we have Kenneth Speedy Rawlerson.
How you doing? Welcome.
Yes. Good to be here.
(01:27):
Good to be on this side of the bars, right?
Right on. Nine years now.
Good, I got to know. Where did you get the name
Speedy? Can you?
Tell us. Well, yeah, quite simply, I was
born in 30 seconds. And what?
Was your childhood like? The best diving turtles,
hunting, fishing, we all was basic.
How many were in your family? Four boys and we lived way back
(01:51):
in Gulf Hammock. We was raised back there and we
usually went to Patterson Pond just to take a bath twice a
week. Is it better than taking you
ever? You ever went there and took a
bath behind three brothers? Because I was the youngest and I
love going. I love going to the pond.
Well, I love going to the pond to take a bath because I didn't
(02:12):
have to get my brother's bath. Water, right?
Dirty water, Yeah. Where'd you go to school?
Yankee Town. Yay.
Same as yours. We bleed Xanats.
So what did you always want to be when you grew up?
What was your plan? Well, I don't really know.
I probably a fisherman. Just just what?
You nailed it. Yeah, that's all I ever want to
(02:35):
do. Our hometown Yankee town,
Florida, is a small fishing spoton the Gulf that most folks
don't know about. It's the kind of place where
fishing isn't just a job, it's pretty much everything.
(02:57):
Redfish are what we're known for, when we're known at all.
Look, it's got its problems. A lot of people are stuck there
because they're broke. Drugs have hit us hard, same as
they've hit a lot of small towns.
The sand gnats will eat you alive in the summer.
In case you don't know what those are, they're little flies
that fly around with the razor blades on their face and they
(03:18):
poke you every chance they can get.
But there's something about it that gets under your skin in a
good way. People look out for each other.
When someone's boat breaks down,neighbors show up.
When you catch more than you need, it drops them off down the
street. It's not fancy or pretty in the
tourist brochure way, however I think it is.
It's real. The sunsets over the water make
(03:38):
you forget all about the hard parts for a minute.
The seafood is so fresh it ruinsrestaurant fish for you forever.
Listen, no one's allowed to makefun of Yankee Town, Florida.
Unless you're from Yankee Town, Florida.
But then again, why would you? It's the kind of place that's
easy to make fun of until you'vesat on a dock there, had a beer
with the locals, and felt what it's like to be part of
(03:59):
something that's struggling but standing.
On January 14th, 1990, the Suncoast Casino cruise ship was
robbed in Inglis, FL and what became one of our area's most
notorious heist. My guest, Speedy Rawlerson was
accused but never convicted of this crime.
(04:21):
With a target on his back and pressure mounting, he made a
decision that would change his life forever.
Fleeing to the far reaches of Alaska while hiding out, he
found himself working at the Legendary's Crow's Nest, the
same bar that made Famous and the Perfect Storm.
His face even landed on America's Most Wanted, turning
him into a fugitive known acrossthe country.
(04:44):
Along the way, he describes how his journey being on The
Deadliest Catch also happened and how the locals once again
helped him try to escape. Listen how he shares his
unfiltered story and how it all went down, his time on the run,
and how certain people helped. This isn't just another Crime
Story. It's about survival, second
(05:05):
chances and the long road back from being a wanted man.
Listen to this. The thing about the American
most wanted that that program was October 14th, 2000.
You won't find that error on theair anywhere because they
actually featured me on that forthis Sun Cruise Casino boat that
(05:29):
was robbed in 2000. That's what I was featured.
They I was the main target, mainsuspect.
I'm not saying that I wasn't didn't saying that I didn't do
it. They featured me on America's
Most Wanted for that. And at the same time this FTLE
agent Bill Goody decided he was going to tell everybody.
Now this is an international show.
(05:50):
This is not everywhere. You know, this is John Walsh and
this guy Bill Goody, FTLE agent,later become the sheriff.
Columbia County in Lake City, decided he was going to tell
America that I had been charged and convicted with aggravated
battery and assault on the law enforcement officers.
Now that there in itself put a red target on my back all across
(06:15):
America. Another funny story to that.
I was in Gloucester, MA in the crow's nest.
If you ever watched the Perfect Storm.
I did. Marianne was my barmaid, and I
have a toothache, and I'm getting a shot of Jack Daniels
for my toothache. And they got the TV on behind
the bar and all of a sudden, there's my picture.
(06:36):
The girl sit beside me. She says, Bruce.
Yeah, that was. Yeah.
And my alias, it was given to meby my good brother, said Bruce,
that looks like you. And I'm just, and I'm swooshing
this whiskey around in my mouth looking at the TV just.
And there's 50 people in this bar, and they're all hardcore
fishermen. OK.
I'm like, swallow the the Jack Daniels.
(06:59):
And I'm like, well, it sure does.
And she looked at me and she said, damn, Bruce.
He's got your own same name. Oh, my God.
Keep in mind, George Clooney just come out with this movie.
Oh, wow. Yeah.
The perfect storm. All these people were flocking
to the crows nest in 2000. You can look it up.
October 2000. The movie was big on the
(07:22):
blockbusters and everybody was flocking to the crows nest.
I had just made deck boss on this big nice swordfish.
Didn't take me long to make deckboss.
Of course Mary Ann Shackleford the the very same one y'all see
in the movie in the the perfect storm.
She said well First off I said if y'all believe that shit right
there is the phone, the pay phone go down 911 and a buddy of
(07:45):
mine his name was tiny go figureand he is in his old white
shrimp boot or his fishing boots.
And he went over and he stood bythe phone with acoustic in his
hands. He said ain't nobody going to be
using this phone. So Mary Ann she said go pack
your stuff I'll get you a cab. I run upstairs pack my stuff all
in 5 minutes came back down to high fives the handshakes.
(08:07):
I said y'all know who I am we know you Bruce get out of here
because they're going to be coming.
So I went to my my captain's house and said Maddie.
As soon as he opened the door, Isaid, how you doing?
My name's Kenneth Scott Rawlers.He like, why Bruce?
He looked at me funny because hedidn't know me as Bruce and I
was just deck boss and shit. He said why?
I said I'm Kenneth Scott Rawlersand Maddie.
I said they just featured me on America's Most.
(08:29):
Well, he couldn't wrap his head around it.
You know, like what? And I'm like, yes.
So you did tell people that who you really were when you left.
Oh yeah, my captain. I left the $18,000 paycheck.
He had $18,000 of my money. I need Maddie, whatever you got
on the hand so I can get the hell out of Dodge.
(08:50):
Well, him between him and his wife, I had 3000, you know,
here's 3000. Bruce or Ken, whatever.
Good meeting. You a good man and I appreciate
it. And I said thank you, Maddie.
He said give me an address and I'll send you the other 15,000.
And so I give him an address. I'm not gonna say which, but I
give him an address and I'll be damned.
(09:11):
I'll tell you three months later, that man sent that money.
You've been very lucky with people.
I think you're obviously a likedman and you've been very lucky
throughout your journey. Wait till you hear this.
This story is beyond probably belief.
They had me featured on America's Most Wanted for this
casino boat. This guy, FDL, EA agent Bill
(09:32):
Goody, sat there and told peopleacross America and every law
enforcement agency that was watching this program that I had
been charged and convicted with assault on a law enforcement
officer. Now, if you're a law enforcement
officer and you hear this scumbag has assaulted another
law enforcement officer, that puts a red target on your back.
(09:54):
And that's when I went and got the money from Maggie to go in
straight to Amtrak, straight to Florida, straight to the woods,
because I could not chant someone recognizing me on the
street. So I went into those woods and I
stayed for two years. OK, so here's what the headlines
(10:15):
didn't capture correctly. The complicated truth, according
to Speedy, When most people hearabout bank robberies, they
picture violent confrontations and briefless criminals.
But Speedy's story challenges everything you think you know
about crime and motivation. After authorities took his dogs
and put them down, a devastatingblow to a pet owner, something
(10:36):
inside Speedy snapped. What followed was a series of
events, including an alleged Suncoast Casino cruise ship
heist that he never was charged for.
But the bank robbery that did land him behind bars, that's
where things got interesting. We call him the compassionate
criminal. While he was there robbing the
bank, he felt really, really badfor what he was doing.
(10:58):
He even whispered in the some ofthe lady's ears.
I'm not going to hurt you, just go with the flow.
Speedy chose not to wear a mask during the robbery, instead
sporting flares strapped to his chest that resembled a bomb.
This wasn't just reckless, it was a calculated move to get
federal time rather than state time.
He didn't want to serve state time because federal is probably
(11:18):
on the better side of prison time.
And I hear the food's better. It was his way of saying to
authorities, here I am. You have your reason to arrest
me now. But the media, particularly
shows like I Almost Got Away With It painted a different
picture, one that Speedy says was more Hollywood than reality.
They missed the nuance of his history and his story, the
(11:40):
circumstances that led his choices and the truth about the
infamous Snakes in the Barrel incident.
Wait to hear this one. Today we're giving Speedy the
chance to set the record straight about who he is and
what really happened and why he believes he's fundamentally a
good person who made some very bad choices.
The story behind the headlines and the journey of a man looking
(12:01):
for redemption by finally telling his side of the story.
Take it away, Speedy. When did you decide that robbing
a bank was your only option? Oh, OK, first on it was not an
option. I mean, it was not just the only
(12:21):
option. And I'm going to be really frank
and I'm going to make this quickand clear.
The only reason I robbed that damn bank was to get federal
time because if I was going to go away because which I was
already facing all this time that they.
For the casino. No, no.
Just I suppose. It was no.
Oh no. That's how you listen, you mean?
He was never charged with that. I've never even been questions
(12:43):
about that damn casino. You're getting questioned today,
buddy. I never set a rock.
I I just allegedly robbed that thing.
I can't help it. If they paid $32,000 for those
dogs they took, yeah, you know, that's on them.
You know, if they wouldn't, if they wouldn't have took damn
dogs, if they wouldn't have tookdogs and said they was going to,
which they did, put them to sleep in two weeks, that boat
(13:04):
might not have never got robbed.But not meaning that you're the
one that did it and whoever did it.
They shouldn't. Maybe I did do it.
Maybe. But they can't do a damn thing
about charges with statue of limitations is.
Were you charged with it? Negative.
Then you didn't do it, bud. Well, no, I mean.
But tell us about the bank. Robbing the bank.
(13:25):
OK, so from the time you said I'm going to rob a bank, in the
time that you actually robbed the bank, how much time was
that? Like, was it like morning and
then that evening or oh. No, not absolutely not.
I plan that. Just the bank alone, 30 days.
Believe me, I could never make aa career out of being a bank
(13:47):
robber because for one thing, the poor ladies, no matter how
you try to comfort them. You're a compassionate criminal.
You were. Oh, I, I I ask each and everyone
of them to forgive me. You did, Yeah.
But you're very, you're actuallyvery compassionate about it.
And then and then this big guy and then this big guy that was 6
(14:07):
foot 4 standing behind me that was 280 lbs out of bag of money.
I turned around and just snatched.
Give me that snatched this damn money.
Well, it's and. You also had the bomb strapped
to. That was not a real bomb.
No. Just player I would you think
I'd stick a bomb? That damn thing would be my look
and go off. Now I wasn't saying if someone
would want to get spiffy. I didn't have the means to deal
(14:30):
with what I had because I did have a 30 caliber sit in the car
and there was a few heroes that did try to follow us.
Were you the mastermind behind the bank robbery?
I was total, listen, I'm going to tell you this right now.
If anybody ever said they robbedthe bank with me, they're wrong.
Nobody never robbed no bank. I did that by myself and I'm not
saying I ever had any Co defendants.
(14:51):
Listen, so when I watched the show, OK, you had three
accomplices. OK, sure.
The one guy. That's all.
That's what they're saying. I'm not saying that.
OK, but the one. Guy, I told the judge I did it
on myself. That you want the one out of the
three that you guys had to talk in to go in in there the last
minute. He finally was on board with it.
And then that's the one that went into the bank with you.
Hold up, hold up. Hold up, hold up, hold up, back
(15:14):
up again. OK, so when I was watching the
show, I saw you had three accomplices, three other men and
one guy. They were like, come on.
And he he was kind of like wanting to back out on Rob and
the bank. But then he said, OK, let's do
it, let's do it. Am I wrong about that?
No, they never helped. They never robbed the listen to
what I'm telling. You, Jessica.
OK, tell me. Tell me.
(15:34):
One person helped me robbed thatbank not nobody else.
Did you? Mike Watson was my Co defendant
Joey Young and Jason Collins whodid not have participate in
robbing the bank whatsoever. OK, 100% it was me and Mike
Watson and he was my Co defendant.
These I don't know. On the show, though, that one
(15:57):
guy went in with you. Yeah, Mike.
Yeah. Yeah, Mike went with me.
Yeah, Mike. OK.
He's a trooper. He never said a word.
How come you didn't wear a mask when you went in?
I wasn't. I pointed at the camera and told
them now they had a reason to bechasing I.
Know you were so great about your escape and your clever mind
and then you went in without a mask.
I was like, why did he do that? Because that doesn't seem like
(16:19):
the speedy that. When I robbed that bank, I
didn't care. I mean, I wasn't trying to hide
nothing from the beginning. I figured it, you know, that the
gig was up anyhow. They was planning on putting me
away for life, which they didn't.
Thank God things turned out, which is a crazy story all the
way how I ended up with 10 yearsout of all this, which I should
have, and rightfully so, from the stomach things I've ever did
(16:43):
and never really been called for.
You know, I could probably do all y'all's life sentences.
That's one. Of my question is.
Hey, when you live that life, you live that Life, OK?
OK, so Speedy, listen, let's go back to the bank robbery.
You're in the bank. You want to get back to that?
Bank I do because I got lots of stuff.
I want to talk about that Isaac though, we was talking about and
(17:05):
I told this guy because. We're going back to the bank
robbery in Live Oak, FL. Stick to the subject.
So we're back to Live Oak, FL, OK?
Oh my God, you're in there. You got some people terrified
however you are. Wearing bank actually in the
bank and you. Were calming down a lady 'cause
you were so worried about her having a heart attack.
That is so. Sweet of you.
Look, I'm like, oh, what a nice guy.
(17:26):
That's why I could Hey, you saidI couldn't make a career out
rather, but in. Your heart to forgive me.
Yes, I ask him all that, not just her.
I ask all them that when they like, they like when they when
they showed you how you locked them in a safe or something like
that. It wasn't nothing, it was one.
It was had bars that was open. Did you or did you not say you
better look at each other's faces 'cause you'd be spending a
lot of time together? I know you better.
(17:48):
Get become good friends. What did you say to that?
No, I was, I was feeling like shit leaving them people in.
So you got the money, you bolted, you guys are?
Out No hold up now we got it back.
We got it back up. This is funny and you didn't
hear this on the show because they didn't add it in this that
(18:08):
show is just so edited and so Hollywood hours.
I give the money to Mike and he was going out the door and he
and he went and got in the car and I'm coming out behind him
because I'm making sure I'm justwant, you know, I'm letting him
go ahead. I mean, I'm watching everybody
and seeing who the heroes are going to be.
Now I've seen the two guys go over and get in the truck and
(18:29):
they was watching us. So I knew I'm watching these
guys out of the corner of my eye.
But at the same time, this lady this that's her heart.
This lady she stopped she's she's 60.
She stops me and she's got this application in her hand and
she's and I'm dressed in a suit and she thinks I'll work for the
bank. And she says something.
They must have turned her down for a loan.
(18:50):
And she was pissed and she was trying to show me this paper
about this loan and I'm trying to go to the car and she's just
not having none of it. She's going to talk to me and
I'm like, ma'am, I just robbed that bank, stay out of it.
And she looked at me, and by thetime I said that, that's when
the dive bomb went off. That's when the dive bomb went
(19:10):
off. I looked over at the car and
Mike, the dive bomb was going off and he was flipping and
instead of like immediately taking action and reaching in
the bag and getting rid of the damn dive bomb, he's just
flipping out. So I had to take control of
that. I had to run over there and get
the damn dive bomb. What did that feel like?
I was mad because I took the dive bomb and threw it.
(19:32):
To it, I thought it burns. Is it burn?
Is it gas? Oh, it's pepper gas and it's
burning me up and I grew reachedin and grabbed down and I walked
right back up to the bank and threw it against.
They didn't show you all that and and and you know on that,
that was bullcrap because I tookit and threw it back up.
I told him no dye packs and whenit went on, I was about that far
from going back in there. That's how mad I.
(19:52):
Was what drove you to actually rob the bank.
I didn't want to go do state time.
So you you're using state time, that's simple.
So you want to do federal time? Let's do the difference between
I'm going away for life. So as method of child support,
it was nothing about being behind in child support.
Let's go. OK, let's back up to the very
first thing that show said. Oh we way ahead of our self
(20:13):
field girls. Well, bring us back, Speedy.
I'm coming out of prison with $17,000 in debt and child
support. So I get a loan from my father
$1800 to get my driver's licenserenewed because I done had so
many fines and blah blah blah. This is in 94.
This is the first time I was a fugitive and then getting out to
(20:33):
make a fresh start with nine years probation figure.
But anyhow, my father helps me got $1800 traffic fines, Val
kinds of fines to get my I got, I got my driver's license
straight OK. Shortly thereafter I paid that
$1800. Well, one of the first ones to
have their license suspended fornon child support.
(20:54):
Now you look it up, that's when they come up with that law was
about that time. And I was one of the first, I
was one of the first ones in thestate of Florida to have my
license actually suspended. But after I paid the $1800, you
know I'm out getting out of prison.
I want a statue of you. I think we should have a statue
of you because you. I'm getting out of prison and so
I get $1800 I pay the fines off and then all the sudden bam 2
(21:19):
weeks later they're suspended for non supported child payment.
So I get a court date So I go tocourt now this is good.
Y'all going to love this becauseyou don't hear this very often.
I went to court my daughter she's 13 years old Sonny I had
trying to spend catch up time with my children after being out
(21:39):
of prison and 13 year olds a little bitch.
I mean, I mean that's just the bottom line and every 3rd.
I mean, it's a tough year for a woman.
I mean, that's just true. That's just the truth.
And she hated her blah, blah, blah.
You know, she might have, she might have cleaned the damn
toilet with my toothbrush. I'm not sure.
(22:00):
I know she did. I know she did piss in the
Cologne and she feed me and she gave me them damn little Slim
Jim doggy snacks instead of SO. She's got a mind like her daddy.
Begging strips. That right, you know the slim
Jims, they're all they look justlike the real ones.
But anyhow. You slap into a Slim Jim less.
But so she comes and tells me she's like that and I'm you
(22:21):
know, I've been home for like 3 months out of prison trying you
know after I've done gotten my license re suspended.
So I'm really down. I'm like well 1800 bucks down
the drain and I'm still back to square one.
No license. So sunny.
She's like, well, my Mamie, her grandmother needs somebody to
run her shrimp boat. I'm like, I don't want to go
(22:42):
shrimp and I don't want to do none of that.
I just don't want to shrimp Sonny.
I don't want to get involved in all that.
So time goes by and then I get this summons to go to court for
for child support. So I go to child, you know, this
child support court and it's over in D land and there she is,
Sonny's there's rain. Her mother Rainey is there and
(23:03):
two people are defendants beforeme and they get up there the
judge ones like 6000 and ones like 9000.
A judge gave them both 180 days.Bam, you know, their their exes
got out there all that son of a bitch, blah, blah, blah.
I mean they just talk trash. I mean, of course they will
(23:23):
probably shit and come time for me to get up there and I was 17.
My my shit was combined both of theirs together.
And the judge was like, well, what do you got?
And then and the prosecutor says, well, let's let the X we,
my ex got out there and spoke and she says, you know what, I
want to have this annulled. I don't like what you're doing.
(23:45):
I don't like what you're doing to him and.
That says a lot. The prosecutor.
Now that part on the show is is bullshit.
The dye pack part is bullshit. What else is bullshit?
Oh, the newspaper. The newspaper, OK, they said I
made this newspaper in 2004, right?
He come out and taunt the police.
I made that damn newspaper. I.
(24:06):
Was wondering did this you had anewspaper lady meet you at?
Your that was in 19 Woods in 1997.
Yeah, that made no sense to me. And they say in 2004, he come to
taunt the police. And OK, you want to talk?
You just talk about the barrels.Wait, wait, before you do that.
So you robbed the bank? The ink exploded.
(24:26):
Oh. Yes, let's talk.
About everybody. You guys are at the trailer and
then you have the conversation with the guys.
They want to bolt on you, No? Let's talk about the getaway,
because that's the greatest story of all.
The hell? OK, well, I had to scan her in
my ear and had stolen Grand Am and we're getting away.
We're going down and I had stolen.
(24:46):
The good news a week two weeks earlier with a 25 horse motor on
the back of it on the Swanee River and I had had that stashed
on the river that was my toop toyour coupe de grace.
You know, I'm then that's how I'm getting the hell out of
Dodge because they and, and it worked just like I thought.
So anyhow, I come in running down River Road and, and the
(25:08):
cops were following, you know, they're going down the town,
he's going down River Rd. We got it now.
It's a daddy and everybody converged on River Rd.
River Rd. So they were all converging on
this River Road and I know they're coming.
I know they're coming behind me,a bunch of them.
So they're all coming and coming.
And I just drove that car, you know, just drove it right off
the edge of the river, right into the bank.
(25:29):
This is a movie. You got to do it.
You got to write your story. This is a great Has anyone ever
brought opted coming you and have you ever been approached?
Yes. OK.
Have you not the same people? By the same people?
Indigo. Indigo Films, Yeah.
We Steven Spielberg, OK. I drive to Grand am off right
onto the down into the riverbank.
(25:49):
Mike's like you crazy, you crazy.
I'm just hold on, just hold on right.
So we we hit down near by the bythe river and the canoes like
right there. So we get out.
I might see right there it is. We jump into canoe first, pull
it cranks and we're gone 20 milean hour already hauling down
down the Swanee and about the time we get around 2 bends, I'm
(26:09):
listening in my my because I gotmy ear buddy in my scanner and
he was saying we got him, we gothim.
He's down River Rd. everybody. And then all of a sudden he's
like that little son of a bet. He said.
He said that son of a bitch is in the river.
That's all he said. And then another one come across
on the radio and said, oh, I think a canoe was sold and on
the river two weeks ago. And then they would say call
(26:32):
Lake City, get aviation in the air.
And I'm like, man, this copper'sgot to come all the way from.
So they said they got to go downthere and get loaded and go.
So I'll go. And all I did was went straight
to Interstate 10, right up underneath Interstate 10.
I dropped the motor from the right overboard, right under,
it's probably still there. Dropped it right underneath the
(26:52):
bridge, right there, right off the boat.
Pulled the canoe out in the palmettos and that could
possibly still be there. And I walked and I walked from
there by foot. OK, so Rambo, I need to know
this. So I want to talk about when
you're in the trailer and the law enforcement came in and you
escaped 'cause you dug tunnel, you dug A50 foot tunnel.
(27:14):
Yes, absolutely. OK, talk about that.
The snakes are not. I mean, the snakes were.
There are. The snakes there for like, say,
boots. Tell us from them.
Tell us was a minute you opened up the opening on the floor and
you jumped in in there in the drums and tell us from there on.
That there's really nothing to tell it I Well, actually, let me
Let's talk about the snakes. Did you intend to hurt?
(27:34):
No, that's, that's what I want to point out.
The snakes were only put in thatbarrel because when I was
digging that tunnel, I caught those snakes building that
tunnel. Police.
Speedy Rollerson. Odd Snakes.
I didn't want to kill them. I could have killed them, or to
kill them I would. Have thought you'd have a pair
of boots by now. No, I don't do.
I don't know. I don't need.
(27:56):
No, no, I'm not with all. Speedy When I was watching that
on, I almost got away with it. I am a huge Sylvester Stallone
fan. I'm a FEAR First Blood fan.
OK, I was watching the movie. I don't have no animosity.
I didn't want to hurt these guys.
I knew they were just doing. Their job.
You had mentioned prior that you're for law enforcement.
You. Yeah.
Yeah, and I even was then. I mean, you don't even believe
(28:19):
what I did, you know, after 911.I mean, there's stuff untold.
After the May 18th, 1998 robberyof Barnett Bank in Live Oak, FL,
Speedy didn't just disappear, hereinvented himself.
Taking on the alias of Bruce Clayter, Speedy Rawlerson made
(28:39):
the ultimate escape to North Alaska, where he found himself
battling the merciless Bering Sea on the deadliest catch.
Working in punishing conditions that he described as 100 below
0, Speedy was literally about asfar from his crime scene as
possible. But even with thousands of miles
between him and that bank vault,Speedy couldn't outrun the
(29:01):
critical piece of evidence. The red dyed cash he had taken
during the heist. Well, almost got away with it.
Got many details wrong. Speedy wants to set the record
straight about how that ink actually exploded on the money
and followed him to Alaska. When local authorities
eventually questioned him about the suspicious red stained bills
he was spending, Speedy quickly fabricated a story about
(29:23):
notebook die accidents. I can't believe they fall for
that. By the way, what began as a bank
robbery involving a fake bomb strap and a hastily dug escape
hole beneath the trailer floor, not a deliberate snake filled
booby trap as authorities claimed, it evolved into a multi
year saga of survival in America's last frontier.
(29:45):
But even successful criminals have heart.
Speedy did not use the bank robbery money, but he used his
hard earned money from The Deadliest Catch to buy his
daughter her first car. Listen has Speedy explains and
gets emotional about the situation.
Eventually, homesickness would do what law enforcement
initially couldn't, draw him back to Florida and ultimately
(30:07):
into custody. You said to me that you caught
those snakes along the way. Big in that 50 foot.
Oh, I'm sorry, we got. Off No, no, it's OK.
And you said to me that wasn't to put down in the tunnel for
Laud. Right, right who?
In the Hell's gonna do that? Let me tell you something.
(30:29):
Let me get it real straight. Dem cop too much of bitches to
go in that tunnel. Bitches.
That's true. And those particular costs
because they, they're the ones who who glorify their shit and
make me look like I'm the scumbag that they want me to be.
So that's why I'm saying what I am.
(30:49):
They were too much of bitches togo down in that time, but I
wouldn't go down in that time. I mean, if I was them, I went
down in it because I knew what the hell where it would.
I built it. You didn't do that.
First of all, you didn't do thatto hurt the law enforcement.
No, no. No, I would never do that
because. We're not about hurting the law
enforcement. You build it prior to the bank
(31:10):
robbery. Yes.
So you knew you were? Absolutely.
I had a feeling they were going to be coming for me.
But he didn't set up the snake booby trap.
The booby trap, See, I had to rob the bank all quicker than
one that was suspected. Man.
I had to leave the trake, the snakes in the barrel and I just
couldn't let him go right there on the spot.
(31:31):
Right, he was going. To.
You're working there. No, in case I, No, in case I
come. Yeah, in case I come up out that
tunnel. I'm like you just snapped in the
head. OK, so listen, let's Fast
forward a little bit. I want to talk about the when
you went to Alaska. I'm intrigued by it, the.
Bering Sea? Really.
Let's talk about that. That is amazing.
(31:54):
OK, it wasn't the first trip forme.
Yeah, Bender, Bruce. No, I wasn't Bruce then.
Bruce Clater. Yes, I was Bruce.
So you were out on the Bering Sea, you were fishing, you made
it, you said crabbing. On a boat called the Ferrara
Sea. Let's get it right.
And I never said that to nobody.Everybody wanted to know the
boat that I fished on. Captain Mike Tobel, Chris Branch
(32:15):
and the boys on the Ferrara Sea.Oh, it's amazing.
That's probably the hardest job in the world.
OK. You said you were out there in
100. Loved it.
You were there in 100° below 0. Actually that year I seen a
newspaper that came from Nome, Alaska somewhere up there that
was 102 below 0. What was that like?
(32:40):
I didn't. I didn't.
I don't think it got 102 below out in Saint Paul in Saint
George that year, but that was like 102 below 0 that year in
Alaska. You can look it up.
It was in 1990 the 1999 OPC. How do you even survive
something like that? Doing physical work and then
being in torrential temperatures.
Picture this. OK you can.
(33:01):
You can stack most crab pots 3 high on your boat.
Now picture my crazy ass up on top of those.
I see you. A minimum of 20 foot seas and
you're in probably 1015 below average.
They was like, man, I was fucking loving it.
Yeah, I got the job as a cook and ended up slash deckhand
because it didn't take seven days before deckhand was hurt
(33:24):
and then I took his job. So now I had slash deckhand
cook, so I got to share in a hand.
I made 63 grand in 60 days. So.
I bet it was difficult when you started missing your family and
you decided to come back to Inglis and.
I have to say something right here.
(33:44):
I went out there, I, I had plenty of bank robbery money.
I went out there, I went into the Bering Sea and I use that
money to buy my daughter her carfor her 16th birthday.
Wasn't bank robbing money that man a lot it's.
(34:04):
Like great, that's awesome. Eat.
It right there. You know, yeah, it is.
And I know you love your family and that's why you took the
chance to come back to Inglis. Well, I went out there and made
that money hard. I didn't steal it from the bank.
Oh. Heck, we realize that because I
don't know about you, but I watch the show.
I mean, yeah, that's that's yourbest their lives every time they
go out. Well that's that's also
(34:26):
Hollywood lives. I've seen David.
I was on the 1st episode below. Do you know of all that
bullshit? Yeah, I was there.
That that was the first year. That was the first year that
they so. You're on this show too.
There's three shows. What?
Freaking luck. No no no.
I've refused to sign. I refused to sign the.
The waiver. To show my picture, yeah.
(34:49):
Sorry about that. No, it's all right.
To show my picture on freaking air, to air my picture.
And then that's when David Rowe.David Rowe was a greenhorn.
Yeah, but they were. They were.
What the hell is? His name?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, he was like, I wouldn't I
wouldn't sign the, the, the, the, the non disclosure, the
(35:11):
agreement, whatever it was to 1st show him my image on TV and
he's like what you're running from.
And I looked at him, I'm like Mr. and I really didn't know who
the hell he was. I'm like Mr. I said, everybody
in Alaska's running from something.
What you running from? And, you know, I just asked him
like that, and everybody just laughed.
And we laughed at all, but they really didn't know.
(35:32):
Oh, and I was also accused of being a bank robber in Alaska.
I know. OK, so listen, so on the show it
showed that they got a lead because you had money with with
the red dye on it, but you played it off that it was your
little tablet that had red. I should have.
Brought that tablet with me. I should have brought.
Did you wing? That did you wing that?
(35:54):
Yeah, I winged it. I winged it at the time, but I.
What he said to every ladies andgentlemen is that on the show,
they the cops came to his littletrailer and it said that he's
going to know if he was Kenneth Raulerson.
You said no. I'm Bruce Clayter and they said,
well, we you had some money withsome red dye on it and you
winged it and said you had a little notebook.
(36:16):
I still have the I still have it, I mean, and you, you can
look at it and look at, you can look at it and look at any kind
of red money that has and it wasidentified dollar bill that was
originally from. The bank.
Oh I know you're talking about well I was out fishing and my
notebook got wet so the ink where the red address book from
drop on the money and they bought that shit.
(36:38):
Well, I was. Well, here's something else.
The Bruce Clater ID that I give him was a known alias.
Yeah, because that you were. That was the first time.
Go figure. So I thought the gig was up
anyway. Oh my God.
Because he looked at me. Because that's what I thought.
I thought. Hiding the money in your dirty
(36:58):
underwear. Was oh, that was great.
But he well. First look.
At. When do we talk all that one?
He looked at me and said, Bruce,have you robbed any banks in
Florida lately? And when he said that I thought
the gig was up. I just looked at him and said no
Sir, not lately. And I was dead ass serious.
(37:19):
But he thought I was joking. Oh my God.
You had 9 lives. Seven years later, my dad seen
that same Alaska State Trooper in a Barber shop in Dunnellon,
FL. He heard my dad talking about it
at the Barber shop, and he was just turning white.
And the Barber said, Sir, is something wrong?
And he said, Sir, let me introduce myself.
(37:40):
He said I'm so and so. And he said I'm a retired Alaska
State trooper. And he said I'm the man who
stepped over that pile of. Would that be Big Fred's
Barbershop in Dunellen? Somewhere.
Yeah, it. Was big Fred's.
Barber crazy. It was crazy.
Holy moly. It was like, what a cool.
Yeah, that that that. OK, so.
After that notebook thing, they left and you were fine.
(38:00):
And then that's when you decidedto head back to English.
There was a rumor. No, no, no, no.
It got better. Better than this?
Oh. My God, I did you ever.
Share with any of those other deckhands or anything about who
you really were back in Florida.On in my Swordfish Entuna days,
(38:21):
yes. Did they they they kept it
under? The a buddy of mine named Jeff
Cole, one of the best friends I've ever had on hush hush, yes,
but the Alaskan fishing license.This is important because when
that cop and he said Bruce, he said you got to get a new
license. When he come back and said,
Bruce, you got to get a new license, your license expired.
I fell out about had a heart attack right there.
(38:42):
I wasn't going to jail. I mean, he was, no, he was
serious. And I thought was like, man, Oh
my, I'm I might freaking pull this off.
And he's like, you need to get your license, you know, renewed.
And I said, Sir, can you please write an incident about this, an
incident report? Because I can't have nobody else
(39:04):
to having me thinking I'm a bankrobber from Florida and I had to
come home. Yeah, to come home.
Then 911 screwed me up from going back.
Well, I haven't really told my story really publicly to nobody.
Not a true story. I can tell you all those guys
that come up there with that, that come up there with with
that almost gone away with that shit.
No Mike Burns. It was on the the OH.
(39:25):
I like Mike Burns. The one that said, yeah, you're
Speedy is the only one that I know they can send into the
woods with a lighter and a knife.
And he come for nine years, he comes out gaining weight.
That Mike Burns, he'll, I mean, he'll tell.
You the one that says I saw speed jump on the back of a 12
foot alligator and wrestle him to his he's.
The one, yeah, I've known him for over 40 years and he can.
He's the one. He's the one that said you gave
(39:47):
him all his Gray hairs. Probably.
But. I can tell you this.
He can validate how they took mydogs and put them to sleep.
They did actually put those dogs.
Yeah. Bill Goody.
What a shitty thing to do if I didn't turn myself in.
They even went and put my fatherin handcuffs, too.
(40:08):
And that's another thing that pissed me off.
And Mitchie and Tommy told them do not.
Put his fathers in handcuffs. If you put his fathers in
handcuffs, you're going to make that boy go over the edge.
Them, the local, the locals thatI originally had the problem
with, we worked our shit out. I feel like you were respect.
You're very respected so amongstthe the people in.
(40:30):
Our town. I got mayors, I got
commissioners, I've got the whole board of chamber.
And there's a reason because yougot a lot of good to you what
happened which? Brings me, which brings me back
to the America's Most Wanted andthem slandering my name about
being charged and can I can bring you a paper from the
Department of Justice and I'm going to bring it the next time
I come and I'll show it to you from the Department of Justice.
(40:52):
That shows that I've been charged and convicted with
aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.
And that's a wrap on the wild ride of Speedy Rawlerson.
Look, the guy robbed a bank. Yeah, but now he's turned things
around in a way nobody saw coming.
Speedy's going to spill all the beans in his book Cursed at
(41:13):
Birth on Halloween night. And stay tuned for his
appearance on the HBO series TheFlorida Man.
It just goes to show you people can mess up, but they turn
themselves around just as easy. You're listening to Jess, your
host of Cut Loose Chronicles podcast.
Thanks for listening.
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