In 1934, Carson Bradford rented his family’s lake house to a “sweet little old lady,” going by the name of Mrs. T.C. “Kate” Blackburn. Mrs. Blackburn was looking for a warm weather getaway for her and her sons, something where they could escape the harsh cold of the Northern winter. Carson denied their original request, but when presented with the offer that the entire season’s rent would be paid upfront and in cash, it became an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Two months later, the home was riddled with bullets and had become the site for the longest FBI shoot-out in history.
Little did Carson know, he had rented his family’s home to Public Enemy #1, the Barker-Karpis Gang.
At the time of the shooting, Ma Barker and her son Fred were the only members of the gang occupying the home. The FBI’s famous Flying Squad had zeroed in on their location and in the wee hours of January 16, 1935, surrounded the home and demanded that the members of the gang surrender. Fred Barker chose this moment to open fire on the federal agents and the shootout began.
Hours later the gunfire stopped. Both bodies were found in the same bedroom. The Flying Squad had successfully taken out two members of the notorious Barker-Karpis gang.
