On October 1, 1910, Bonnie Parker came into the world in Rowena, Texas. She was the middle child of three siblings. Her father, Charles Robert Parker, who worked as a bricklayer, passed away when Bonnie was just one year old. Left to raise the family alone, her 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 they tied the knot. The marriage, however, proved short-lived, plagued by his erratic schedule and constant need to stay one step ahead of the law.
The fateful first encounter between Bonnie and Clyde took place in January 1930 in Texas. At the time, Clyde was an unmarried 21-year-old, while Bonnie, just 19, was actually still married to an imprisoned murderer. Not long after they met, Clyde found himself arrested for burglary and thrown in jail. 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 received his parole in February 1932, he reunited with Bonnie, and together they launched into a criminal spree.
From 1931 through 1934 — a period sometimes referred to as the "public enemy era" — the American press poured extensive coverage into their exploits, captivating readers across the country. The toll of their crime wave was staggering: at least nine police officers and four civilians are believed to have been murdered by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.