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| Image: Paramount Pictures |
Seen in FBDO
The name Ruth Wilson is very briefly seen on a “WANTED BY THE FBI” poster at approximately 01:16:54 in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Description
As FBDO transitions to the scene in the police station where Mrs. Bueller has come to pick up Jeanie, a few brief shots from around the station are shown as the scene opens. We see a Shermer Police badge, a holstered weapon, and a poster issued by the FBI sharing information about a fugitive named Ruth Wilson. The poster features fingerprints and a very limited amount of information about the case.
What Do We Know?
In addition to a visual of her fingerprints, what more do we know about Ruth Wilson from these few seconds from the film?
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| Image: Paramount Pictures |
At the top, we clearly see that Wilson is wanted for unlawful flight and manslaughter so we know that someone died as a result of her actions and she’s currently on the run.
Her fingerprint classification is shown just above the top right corner of the fingerprint images but this information has little relevance here.
Wilson’s classification as a member of the FBI’s most wanted list was issued on April 7, 1969 as can be seen in the top left corner.
Finally, we also see the FBI file number for this case – 219.380 C – which proves to be the key piece of information in learning more about Ruth Wilson.
The File Number Twist
Using this specific file number, I assumed that tracking down more detail about Ruth Wilson would be a breeze. But I assumed wrong.
Meticulously combing through everything from the official FBI online archive to historical crime databases to basic Google searches, I continued to come up empty. There seemed to be no reference to this file number anywhere.
Until one day, I changed up my search just a bit (I honestly don’t even remember how) and stumbled upon an archived copy of the December 1969 edition of The Sheriff’s Star – a publication by the Florida Sheriffs Association. This resource was matched based on the file number itself so, considering the year of the publication coinciding with the issue date of the FBI poster, I knew I was finally on to something.
I downloaded the PDF document and a quick CTRL+F later, using the FBI file number, I found myself looking at Page 12 – the “Wanted Persons” section of The Sheriff’s Star. There in the very first paragraph were the details for FBI case 219 380 C – a woman wanted for the crimes of “unlawful interstate flight” as well as “murder in the first degree and manslaughter.”
But wait. There was no mention of “Ruth Wilson” here.
This case number was assigned to crimes committed by a woman named Marie Dean Arrington.
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| Image: Florida Sheriffs Association |
Marie Dean Arrington
Marie Dean Arrington was born in Leesburg, Florida in 1933. Her criminal activities began during her teenage years when she was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to prison; however, she managed to escape custody while awaiting appeal. This escape marked the beginning of a life on the run.
In 1969, Arrington was arrested for the murder of a legal secretary and was subsequently sentenced to death. While awaiting execution, she once again escaped from prison. Her daring escape made her a national figure and named her as the second female ever to be included on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.
“Mean Marie” remained on the run for two years before she was finally captured in New Orleans, Louisiana in March of 1972. She was subsequently sentenced to life in prison, a sentence that was later commuted due to changes in the law regarding capital punishment.
Two Posters. One Case.
Now having extensive information about Arrington to work with, finding her FBI poster was quite easy.
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| Image: Southern Mysteries |
Mystery solved, right?
Arrington’s poster was used in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and her name was simply replaced with “Ruth Wilson.”
Easy enough.
But not quite.
Full Screen Version
It occurred to me to take a look at the full-screen version of the film for final confirmation that we were looking at nothing more than a copy of Arrington’s FBI poster with a slight change to the text. Skipping forward to that scene, as expected, I found that the expanded shot of the poster included mugshots and personal information.
But wait.
That’s not Marie Arrington.
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| Image: Paramount Pictures |
The text in the lower right portion on the Ruth Wilson poster is blurry and illegible unless you know what you’re looking for; however, with the Marie Arrington poster for comparison, it becomes evident that the blurred text from the film is an identical match with the original Arrington poster.
It should be noted that the only variation in this text is the indication of race which is covered in the film. This could be special attention paid to detail since the photos in the film show a Caucasian woman or possibly because the original poster uses an outdated term for a person of African-American descent. Either way, the rest of the text is identical as can be seen when placing one poster over the other. Even the fingerprints line up perfectly.
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| Image: Paramount Pictures & Southern Mysteries |
Clearly, the entire FBI poster for Marie Dean Arrington was used in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with the name and photos changed.
But that leaves one huge question still unanswered.
Who is Ruth Wilson?
My response to that question is quite simple: I have no idea.
Is Ruth Wilson even the name of the woman in the photographs? Or is this just an arbitrary name matched with a random pair of photos to give the Arrington poster a bit of anonymity in the film?
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| Image: Paramount Pictures |
Having searched every resource imaginable, I’ve still come up empty with the exception of one intriguing response generated through a last ditch effort to gain some information through AI.
Requesting information through a popular AI tool, the responses were mostly vague, lacking any substance at all, or just plain bizarre. But after multiple adjustments to the words I was using to ask questions, one response was quite interesting:
Ruth Wilson was a notorious bank robber who gained notoriety in the United States during the Great Depression. Known for her daring heists and uncanny ability to evade capture, she became a folk hero of sorts, particularly among those who sympathized with the struggles of the working class.
Key points about Ruth Wilson:
- Early Life: While details about her early life are scarce, it is believed that she grew up in poverty and faced hardships.
- Bank Robberies: Wilson and her gang were responsible for a series of bank robberies across the country. Her methods were often described as daring and calculated, often involving disguises and elaborate plans.
- Public Image: Despite her criminal activities, Wilson often portrayed herself as a Robin Hood-like figure, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. This image resonated with many during the economically difficult times of the Great Depression.
- Elusive Nature: Wilson was remarkably elusive, managing to evade capture for years. Her ability to disappear without a trace made her a legend among law enforcement.
- Capture and Imprisonment: Eventually, Wilson was captured and sentenced to life in prison. However, her legacy as a daring and charismatic bank robber continued to live on.
While Ruth Wilson’s actions were undoubtedly illegal, her story remains a fascinating glimpse into a tumultuous era in American history. Her ability to capture the public imagination and become a symbol of defiance against authority has ensured her place in the annals of crime history.
”Uncanny ability to evade capture”?
”Daring and calculated” methods?
”A symbol of defiance against authority”?
Are you kidding me?!?!
I think the point I’m about to make is pretty obvious … but we could easily be describing Ferris Bueller with these words!
The challenge has since become finding any information about this infamous bank robber named Ruth Wilson. Unfortunately, that task has been met with absolutely no success of any kind.
Was Ruth Wilson even a real person who robbed banks as suggested by the AI narrative? Or was this just a bunch of nonsense pulled together by artificial intelligence software? If that’s the case, the generated response is somehow wildly believable. But so far, I’ve found nothing at all to back up this story.
Ferris File Contribution
This is where I need your help. I’ve tried everything from photo recognition software to searches of academic databases. If you have access to any reliable resources that might be helpful in wrapping up this mystery, I’d love to hear from you!
Can you confirm the Ruth Wilson story?
Can you identify the woman in the photos?
I’m officially grasping at straws at this point when it comes to the Ruth Wilson FBI poster in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Feel free to reach out if you’re able to help put this thing to rest once and for all!
Learn More
- Episode 107 of the Southern Mysteries Podcast provides extensive detail about the crimes of Marie Dean Arrington.
- View copies of court documents related to Marie Dean Arrington on the website Murderpedia.
- Another podcast – Murder Broads – features an episode about the “Life and Crimes of Marie Dean Arrington.”