Murder They Wrote: The End of the Dream
Scott Scurlock had a colorful criminal career that started with dealing drugs and ended with robbing banks. He was known as “Hollywood” because of his flamboyant style and use of makeup, wigs and fake chins to disguise himself. He eluded capture for four years while successfully robbing 18 banks. "48 Hours" correspondent Susan Spencer reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 2/18/2002. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays and stream on demand on Paramount+.
- Duration
- 38m
- Broadcast on
- 14 Oct 2026
- Audio Format
- other
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(upbeat music) - He's like the pride piper. - Scott Skirlock, a free-spirited minister's son, athletic, good looking. - He's this incredible guy who built the tree house. - Took me about two weeks to build this whole thing. - When I first read about the main characters in the newspaper, I was immediately curious. - I pulled you into this magical world where it was fun and happy. - When he first came to you and said, look, we want you to help us rob a bank. - I thought he was crazy. (upbeat music) - This case is different from me that I have written about before. We love the story of Robin Hood. - A bank? - Robert who looked like Mel Gibson. - A bank robber Hollywood would be born. - Pancake makeup, false wig, false chin. - We were currently receiving a silent hold up alarm. - He was taking more amounts of money than any robber that I had ever seen. - We had planned to take five banks and one of these, it was a mind game with us. - I discovered that it was at the same time tragic and funny, terrifying and romantic. - Scott got out with this assault rifle. - And the gun shot went off and I thought I was dead. - I'm Ann Ruhl, the story you're about to watch is from my book, "The End of the Dream." (upbeat music) (gun firing) (upbeat music) - Seattle, Washington, 1996. - Just Thanksgiving Eve of course and everybody's anxious to get home and be with their families and such. I left the office about 5.30. - Almost precisely at that moment, the biggest bank robbery in American history got underway. The robbers fled with more than a million dollars. - We're currently receiving a silent hold up alarm from our C first in Lake City. - I knew it was Hollywood. - Hollywood as they called him was no stranger to the Seattle police or the FBI. - One of the best you've ever seen? - The best.
Transcription truncated.
Scott Scurlock had a colorful criminal career that started with dealing drugs and ended with robbing banks. He was known as “Hollywood” because of his flamboyant style and use of makeup, wigs and fake chins to disguise himself. He eluded capture for four years while successfully robbing 18 banks. "48 Hours" correspondent Susan Spencer reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 2/18/2002. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays and stream on demand on Paramount+.