I was forced to rob my own bank, part 1

I was forced to rob my own bank, part 1

From Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

May 25, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

Michelle Renee recounts the harrowing experience of being forced to rob her own bank while her daughter was held hostage.

In 2000, armed men burst into Michelle Renee's home and held her child hostage while she was forced to rob her own bank. None of them could have predicted what happened next. Michelle Renee was at home with her seven-year-old daughter Breea when armed men burst through the door. They held Breea hostage while they took Michelle to the bank where she worked. She was told to remove all the money from the vault or her daughter would die. The gang were later caught and imprisoned but the fallout from that day and the accusations hurled at her during the trial would leave a lasting scar. Ten years after the event Michelle and Breea chose to write one of the gunmen a letter. It was a way of bringing the story to a close, they weren’t expecting a response. It took him years but Robert Ortiz did write back – asking did she want to meet? This story is told in two episodes, in episode one Michelle tells the story of the day of the robbery and the impact of the trial when suddenly she stands accused. In episode two we bring in Robert and hear how two people have built a friendship from the most unlikely start. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder and Andrea Kennedy Lives…

People in this episode

Host: Jo Fidgen

Guest: Michelle Renee

Topics covered

  • bank robbery
  • hostage situation
  • personal trauma
  • trial
  • forgiveness
  • friendship

Keywords

  • bank robbery
  • hostage
  • trial
  • forgiveness
  • personal story
  • trauma
  • friendship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC World Service

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