Bonnie Parker entered the world on October 1, 1910, in the small town of Rowena, Texas. She was the middle child in a family of three children. Her father, Charles Robert Parker, worked as a bricklayer but passed away when Bonnie was just one year old. Left to raise the family on her own, Bonnie's mother, Emma (Krause) Parker, relocated them to the suburb of Cement City, where she earned a living as a seamstress.
During her sophomore year, Parker crossed paths with Roy Thornton. Though her 16th birthday was less than two months away, the pair left school on September 25, 1926 — a mere six days before their wedding. The marriage, however, proved to be short-lived, plagued by his erratic schedule and constant need to stay one step ahead of the law.
Texas was the setting for their first encounter in January 1930. At the time, Clyde was an unmarried 21-year-old, while Bonnie was 19 and still legally wed to an imprisoned murderer. Not long after they met, Clyde found himself arrested for burglary and thrown behind bars. Bonnie managed to smuggle a gun to him, which he used to break free — only to be recaptured and sent back to prison. When Clyde finally earned his parole in February 1932, he reunited with Bonnie, and together they launched into a criminal spree.
From 1931 through 1934 — a stretch sometimes referred to as the "public enemy era" — the American press gave extensive coverage to their exploits, captivating readers across the country. The deadly toll of their rampage was staggering: at least nine police officers and four civilians are believed to have been murdered by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.