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In Search of the Blonde Tigress, the Untold Story of Eleanor Jarmon episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 28, 2026 · 20 MIN

In Search of the Blonde Tigress, the Untold Story of Eleanor Jarmon

from Desideratum · host Theresa Bakken

This is the incredible true story of Eleanor Jarman, dubbed "the most dangerous woman alive" by 1930s newspapers — but was she really?In 1933, Eleanor was sentenced to 199 years as an accomplice to murder during a Chicago robbery gone wrong. The press sensationalized her as "The Blonde Tigress," leader of a dangerous gang. But the truth was far more complex.After seven years as a model prisoner, Eleanor escaped from the Oakdale Reformatory for Women in 1940 and vanished. The FBI hunted her for decades, but she was never found.Fast forward to the 2000s: Cold case researcher and author Silvia Pettem became fascinated by this unsolved mystery. Through meticulous research and collaboration with online sleuths, Silvia uncovered the shocking truth — Eleanor had been hiding in plain sight as "Marie Millman," working as a waitress at Pete's Diner in Denver for years.In this episode, host Theresa sits down with:• Silvia Pettem, author of "In Search of the Blonde Tigress"• Mary Combs, genealogy researcher who helped crack the case• Pat DeOliveira, Eleanor's granddaughter, who had been searching for the truth about her grandmother for yearsDiscover how Eleanor went from being portrayed as a vicious criminal to a woman who simply wanted to blend in and live a quiet life. This is a story about sensationalized media, the justice system of the 1930s, and a quest to humanize the woman behind the headlines.BOOK: "In Search of the Blonde Tigress: The Untold Story of Eleanor Jarman" by Silvia PettemLEARN MORE: www.silviapettem.comTrueCrime #ColdCase #BlondeTigress #UnsolvedMysteries #History #1930s #Chicago #Denver #Fugitive #Podcast #Desideratum

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 28, 2026

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