Bank Robbery 44 Years Ago in Moorhead: Unforgettable Stories from the Victims and Robbers

MOORHEAD — It was a bank robbery that featured armed gunmen, locked up workers, an employee’s vehicle used as a getaway car, and hypnosis. It took place 44 years ago in Moorhead. Those working at the bank will never forget it. Neither will one of the bank robbers. They have never publicly told their stories before. Until now.

On December 5, 1979, the quiet morning at the branch location of the American Bank and Trust Company in Moorhead was shattered when two men wearing ski masks entered the bank. The employees, Margaret Messerschmidt, Elaine “Cookie” Ebsen, Marsha, and Stacey Foss were taken by surprise as the robbers brandished their guns and declared it a robbery.

Fearful for their lives, the employees complied with the robbers’ demands. They were taken into the office of branch manager Margaret, where they were interrogated about the vault’s combination. The robbers accused them of triggering the alarm and blamed them for the arrival of a passing police car. Guns were pointed at them, intensifying their fear.

Eventually, the robbers forced Marsha to open the vault and began emptying the money into a bag. They then requested the keys to one of the employees’ cars, and Cookie reluctantly handed over the keys to her damaged Fiat. The robbers locked the employees in the bank’s mechanical room and left with $28,000 and Cookie’s car.

Locked in the mechanical room, the employees anxiously wondered if they would be found. Margaret, resourceful and brave, managed to set off a silent alarm by tampering with the electrical panel. The police were alerted, and Officer Mel Zepper rushed to the scene. Although he arrived just minutes after the robbers had fled, he was able to free the employees from the mechanical room.

Now, more than four decades later, the bank employees and one of the bank robbers have come forward to share their experiences. The employees recall their fear and uncertainty during the ordeal, while the bank robber expresses remorse for the fear he caused.

The bank robbery in Moorhead remains a significant event in the town’s history. It serves as a reminder of the bravery and resilience of the bank employees, as well as the impact that such traumatic events can have on individuals and communities.