A Note, a Robbery, and a Chair in the Lobby
On September 2, 2016, 71-year-old Lawrence John Ripple walked into the Bank of Labor in Kansas City, Kansas. Carrying no weapon, he handed a teller a note that read, “I have a gun, give me money.”
After receiving $2,924 in cash, he didn’t flee. Instead, he sat calmly in the lobby and waited. The bank was located just a block from the police station. When officers arrived, Ripple immediately returned the money and surrendered.
Depression After Surgery
Ripple’s unusual motive emerged during the investigation. According to court documents, he had written the robbery note in front of his wife after an argument and told her he would rather be in jail than at home. In 2015, Ripple had undergone quadruple bypass surgery.
Following the operation, he experienced undiagnosed depression that manifested in irritability and emotional instability. His public defender, Chekasha Ramsey, explained that Ripple had no prior criminal record and had lived a quiet, law-abiding life.
Unusual Legal Support
Despite the seriousness of the crime, Ripple’s case drew support from unexpected sources. The bank’s vice president and even the teller he had frightened supported a request for leniency. Prosecutor Sheri Catania noted that Ripple had shown remorse and cooperated fully.
He had been diagnosed with depression, was receiving treatment, and had resumed counseling with his wife. In court, Ripple apologized and explained that his actions were not intended to cause fear. At the time of the robbery, the only items he had were nail clippers and a hair brush.
A Rare Sentence
On June 13, 2017, U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia sentenced Ripple to six months of home confinement, three years of supervised probation, 50 hours of community service, and restitution totaling $327.27. The sentence was unusual.
Catania told the court she had only twice in her career asked a judge to consider a non-prison sentence for bank robbery. Ripple’s case stood out not only for its motive but for its outcome — a robbery where the suspect never tried to escape and where the crime was committed less out of malice than desperation.
On September 2, 2016, 71-year-old Lawrence John Ripple walked into the Bank of Labor in Kansas City, Kansas, handed the teller a note that read, “I have a gun, give me money,” received $2,924, and then sat down in the lobby to wait for police to arrive.
He had his reason…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/BFhpDM4qOw
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) June 29, 2025