ANNOUNCING A TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY

On Friday, February the 13th, 1970, explosions erupted in Danbury, Connecticut, during a coordinated attack on the Union Savings Bank. Two young brothers — John and James Pardue — were at the center of a two-year, multi-state crime wave tied together by a consistent method of operation. From Connecticut to Missouri, New York to Maryland, their criminal activities included bank robberies, bombings, disappearances, and murders. While the headlines may fade, history remains. 

For years, we’ve collected and examined microfilm, FBI files, court dockets, witness statements, and National Archives records to reconstruct this unbelievable true story. We’ll trace the case, following the detective work by the state police and the FBI that connected the dots. We will unpack the motives behind these crimes without excusing them — including narcissism, manipulation, and fractured loyalty. 

Where records fall silent, we’ll employ selective, grounded reenactments — hands, silhouettes, and textures — to clarify events without sensationalizing them. All sensitive material will be reviewed by legal counsel and, where possible, shared with survivors and families before release. Our aim is to prioritize accuracy over drama, faithfully reconstructing events to honor the victims and the investigators whose persistence led to the capture of the Pardue Brothers. 

Danbury and nearby towns, we need your help. Please send home movies, photos, or tips to info@thepardeubrothers.com. We’re actively seeking archival photos from Danbury, Union (MO), Pacific (MO), Georgetown (CT), Lewisboro (NY), and other towns impacted by this story. Local contributors will be credited. 

People remember the men, the chaos, and the rumors — we’re here to recover the record and tell the true story by making this crime documentary surrounding the Pardue Brothers. Back the Pardue Brothers and help us restore a forgotten piece of Danbury's history.