Joe Melillo’s voice was energetic and enthusiastic: “Hey Mac, want to join us at the Dillinger Farm for K9 research?”

I started driving north before he finished his sentence. When I was eight years old, I became fascinated with John Dillinger. I was already a Bonnie and Clyde expert, so adding Dillinger to my catalog of knowledge came easily.

John Dillinger is the reason we have the FBI today. When J. Edgar Hoover labeled him Public Enemy No. 1, Dillinger’s legendary status was set in stone. But did the FBI really arrest him? Is Dillinger located in family plot 44 at Crown Hill Cemetery? I think of the Dillinger quote above and wonder if they actually got it?

The team I would meet includes Mike Thompson, John Dillinger’s nephew; Travis Thompson, Mike’s son; Joe Melillo from the podcast Digging up Dillinger; and Shane Williams, the owner of the farm. Mike and I had been talking since 2019 and had struck up a friendship.

This would be our first meeting in person and I couldn’t wait to finally meet him.

I decided to hike a few miles along the route Dillinger probably took from Indiana to Florida. The Dillinger gang shot and killed a police officer during a bank robbery in Chicago, Indiana, in 1933. Afterward, Dillinger fled to Florida. It seemed appropriate to take the same route: Highway 41. It was a beautiful fall day with a light, cool breeze, partly cloudy skies, and trees just beginning to change color.

When I was growing up, we didn’t have a highway, so trips to my grandparents’ house in South Georgia or vacations to Florida took much longer. During these long trips, my mother would tell us stories of gangsters, bank robberies, escapes and escapes.

I looked out the window as she shared the crimes, the escapes and the hiding places, looking for places that could have been part of these stories. At the time, there were few gas stations and restaurants, and none were open 24 hours a day. We had to plan our trips carefully.

Every now and then we passed a roadside stand run by a local resident selling fruits, vegetables and drinks. Sometimes they offered homemade items like birdhouses, quilts, or even fried chicken or barbecue. I imagine Dillinger met several locals who could have provided him with a bottle of Coca-Cola or a meal during his trip.

As I turned onto Highway 41 toward Indiana, I paid close attention to farms, barns, old courthouses, prisons, and churches. I drove through Dalton, Cartersville, and Calhoun, each with its own rich history, from Echota State Park and the Trail of Tears to rug mills and tufted quilts. Heading to Chattanooga, with its Rock City-painted barns and scenic attractions,

I thought of my grandparents, Raymond and Flora, who took all five of us girls to the mountains.

Most of the remaining scenic spots were places we stopped for a picnic. Arriving in Tennessee, Highway 41 followed the Red River. After crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky, the route became even more beautiful and historic. By the time I arrived in Indiana, the terrain was flat and farmland spread widely.

On some of the narrow two-lane roads, I could imagine Dillinger speeding in his Ford. It was clear that there were plenty of places to hide loot and weapons.

I arrived at my roadside motel, too excited to sleep, knowing what the morning would bring. I would be at the John Dillinger farm, watching the K9s search for a possible clandestine grave. Retired FBI agent Stewart Filmore, a member of the team leading the effort, summed it up perfectly: “It’s a search for the truth, it’s as simple as that. If it changes history, so be it.

I arrived at the farm a little early because I had a few landmarks to see and didn’t want to keep the experts and family members waiting. I noticed a K9 truck parked across the street at a local business. I pulled up behind her, introduced myself, and admired the two beautiful Dobermans in the back of her SUV.

We chatted briefly before returning to my vehicle to let my contacts know that I had arrived and was with the K9 team. As I waited for the team to meet me at the house at the top of the hill, five more K9 trucks pulled into the parking lot, all marked for search dogs. I had never worked on a scene with seven dogs and I knew it would be incredible to see.

As I was getting out of my vehicle, Mike spotted me and said, “I know who that is!” He was as warm and friendly as I hoped. His son, Travis, made me feel just as welcome. We chatted for a while, watching the K9s disembark and prepare for their search.

Then Shane Williams came over and offered to show me some interesting places on the property. As the dogs and their handlers began their work, Shane and I walked the grounds. Shane was informative and generous with his time.

Mike and Travis joined us later and showed me the area where the map was found years ago. I told Mike I couldn’t believe we had talked about trying to remove the DNA from the card in December 2019, and now I was standing where the jar had been discovered. Joe was on his way and would arrive in two minutes.

Joe was clear from our first conversation: “The only way this will work is with a team, and we have four of the greatest Dillinger experts in the world on this case.” Our chances of solving this problem are better than ever. He was absolutely right.

A case of this scale and historical importance requires a team, and Joe had assembled one of the best. Today, I had the privilege of working personally with three of them.

Mike shared many family stories that painted a vivid picture of where the old barns and buildings once stood on this beautiful piece of land. In any scene, I’m drawn to natural landmarks like rocks, streams, and old trees. I had barely taken 15 steps with Shane when I spotted a rock.

I pointed it out and he said, “That’s where we first dug, years ago.” »

I knew then that I was with the right people. At that point, Joe joined us, energetic and motivated, ready to go! He made sure the entire event was well-documented, streaming it live on TikTok and filming every group and pair of people. I was on and off camera at various times. As I walked, I kept a close eye on the dogs. They were all beautiful and well trained.

Mike invited me to come back to his house later to see more family heirlooms and historical items. Upon entering “The Hideout,” I was overwhelmed by the volume of relics, artifacts, and decorations. Among the treasures were movie posters, wanted posters, family photos, a death mask and even John Dillinger’s derringer.

Mike and his family were extremely gracious, sharing their precious heirlooms and family stories with me. I had the honor of being part of this unique experience.

Then I saw an enlarged, poster-sized photograph of Dillinger holding guns, car tags, newspaper clippings, wanted posters, socks, family photos, and a death mask . There were tons of neon lit signs, tables, a couch, a refrigerator, a bar, and a beautiful rolling table with Mike’s mothers’ China on display.

Mike invited me to sit down. He offered me a coke. We waited a few minutes for Travis to meet us. Once Travis arrived, Mike walked over to a safe, punched in a code, and brought a few items over to the table where I was sitting. Mike and I both have ties to Bonnie and Clyde.

Bonnie’s mother met Mike’s mother, Frances, Clyde’s youngest sister. I got to know and became very close to Rhea, Bonnie’s niece. And Clyde’s nephew, Buddy.

Because of this shared connection, Mike showed me some links of a watch belonging to Bonnie that his mother had given to Mike’s mother. Then he gave me a beautiful postcard signed by the film actress Jean Harlow and addressed to Mike’s mother. She was a Dillinger fan.

Mike then brought a tissue that John Dillinger allegedly had with him the day he died. Then there were coins, two silver dollars, given as gifts, but he clearly stole them from somewhere. Surprisingly, then there was an address book.

Mike told me that some of the places marked on the map were in this address book. This map continues to add points to connect. The last item I will mention that Mike shared was the Dillinger derringer.

Mike was generous with his time but extremely gracious with his family heirlooms. These are irreplaceable and cherished by his family. Initially, I was just going to meet Mike and Joe made a big deal out of it. Travis and Shane wanted to take some time from their busy lives to join us and offer me their own articles.

The entire Digging Up Dillinger team then participated in a podcast episode. It was an honor for me to meet in person and work alongside all of these kind and caring men.

Joe will receive a formal report on what the dogs found or did not find. I believe the jar contains information, specifically the map that former FBI agent Stewart Filmore found at the farm. I think the card could contain fingerprints, DNA, and a hidden code or message, possibly regarding the buried loot.

Travis Thompson told me that “It’s been long enough, it’s time to find out the truth.” I talked with Travis about how he was the black sheep of the family because he went into law enforcement. He served for decades at the local and federal levels.

He plays hard on both sides of this investigation, but the family roots run deep. He is loyal to his father, Mike, and his great-uncle John. But the lawyer in him wants the truth. Waiting for results and reports is always difficult. But the truth is the goal.

In the meantime, there are things we can try and other places we can look. As I walked away from Mike Thompson’s “Dillinger Hideout,” his words echoed in my head as I passed the family farm one last time: “I just hope that one day soon I can prove if it’s John or not in this grave.