Jeanne and Stephen Trantel
A SUCCESSFUL NEW YORKER SHOCKS HIS FAMILY WHEN HIS SECRET LIFE IS REVEALED –
HOW DID HIS PICTURE PERFECT LIFE SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL?
“48 HOURS MYSTERY” — SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2008
When Stephen Trantel didn’t return home from a fishing trip, his wife Jeanne began to fear the worst. But when she received the dreaded call from authorities, what she found out was nothing she could’ve expected. Her husband was not dead, he was a bank robber.
The Trantels lived a picturesque life in a New York City suburb. Stephen was a commodities trader and Jeanne was a stay-at-home mother. But while Jeanne was at home with the kids, Stephen was not going to work. Dressed in his suit, Stephen would leave the house every morning, but instead of going to his Wall Street job, he would scope out banks and eventually rob them.
Stephen was so good at his new “job,” that even authorities were in the dark — until one day and one mistake that would unravel Stephen’s entire secret.
What drove this man to his secret life? How did he manage to evade police so well? And what does his family do now?
Richard Schlesinger reports on 48 HOURS MYSTERY: “Stolen Dreams,” on Saturday, March 15 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. This broadcast is produced by Patti Aronofsky, Mead Stone and Mary Noonan. Judy Tygard is the senior producer and Al Briganti is the executive editor. Susan Zirinsky is the executive producer.
Editors’ Note: Click here to watch a preview of the broadcast. CBS News 48 HOURS MYSTERY broadcasts are now available on iTunes.com.
I feel really bad for the guy. I can’t imagine the pressure he had. In fact, it’s the wife who annoys the heck out of me. Get off your pampered ass and find a job, …itch! She then decides to divorce the man? Unless it’s to keep title to her property for the sake of the kids, she really showed what a devoted wife she is. The show portrayed the man as a really bad guy when he did not deserve it, in my view.
By: Vale on March 15, 2008
at 8:31 pm
Sadly, to have the “American Dream”. it takes robbing a bank. My heart goes out to Mr. Trantel and his family. He only acted on thoughts we have all had. It`s not as if he took the money and sent it out of the country. He paid his bills with it. Is`nt that called….. stimulating the economy? You might be able to call him a criminal… But, you cant call him a, bum.
God Bless Brother.
By: JIm on March 16, 2008
at 12:35 am
unfortunately, i tivod the program, however, the cbs basketball games went over in time which threw off my recording. I was unable to catch the last 20 mins, which i was really upset about. I wanted to know what ended up happening. Was he convicted, and how much time did he receive. Thank you
By: joyce allison on March 16, 2008
at 10:12 am
I, like a lot of other people who DVR’d the 48 Hrs. Mystery entitled “Stolen Dreams” missed the last 20 minutes because of a basketball game. I would like to know how the show ended. Please print it on the CBS/48hrs mystery website. Thank you.
note from blog owner:
Linda, how am I supposed to print it on the CBS website?
By: Linda Bookless on March 16, 2008
at 11:36 am
what prison is steven in??? I wonder if he needs a pen-pal..I feel sorry for him…=(
By: Lisa on March 16, 2008
at 11:38 am
Stephen Trantel is in Fishkil prison.
Lisa, why on earth do you feel sorry for him? He was an adult and chose to rob banks to get money. Prison is the normal punishment for this crime, that he needs to take responsibility for. So, why do you feel sorry for him? Do you feel sorry for all other criminals that get caught?
By: mylifeofcrime on March 16, 2008
at 12:09 pm
I can understand why Lisa feels sorry for him. Trying to “keep up with the Jones” is destructive cycle to get into. Stephen was trying to keep his wife happy. He got caught up in a lifestyle he couldn’t afford! His wife was happy as long as she was living like a princess. She holds some blame as well, if for nothing else…just being clueless! Everything has a price, he is paying it.
I too, am curious which prison he is housed. I don’t feel “sorry” for him, but I can understand how his life when so wrong!
By: anne on March 16, 2008
at 12:27 pm
The show ended with Stephen taking a 9-year deal. The prosecutor could only link him to 3 bank robberies, so by admitting to the 7 others and giving details, he avoided the risk of up to 25 years in prison. He will be released in 2012. His wife divorced him, got a college degree, is writing a book, working as a real estate agent and a massage therapist. Her parents paid the mortgage; his parents help with the two boys. It is amazing to me that Jeanne was so unaware of their money problems. To her credit, though, she has paid some of the court-ordered restitution, even though she apparently did not waste time in heading to divorce court to shed someone she claimed was the “love of her life.” It is too bad that Stephen got caught up in the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality as it surely cost him dearly.
By: Andrea on March 16, 2008
at 4:28 pm
there are folks who fall in that threshold of being caugt no matter what, and he fell in tht threshold. I do believe he should have spoken to his wife and made better decisions. His wife however does not believe in the marital vows, since she was very quick to divorce her husband. I pray that mr. trantrel finds it in his heart to forgive his wife and grwo from his mistakes and not fall back in his fault.
By: Mervin John on March 16, 2008
at 9:29 pm
You know what the most powerful part of your day is; when the alarm clock goes off. That’s the moment, that’s the make it or break it “NY Minute”.
Talk about the game of life, no office Christmas Parties, no golf benefits, no Company picnics; how did she sign the tax return each year – was she sleep walking?
Not at all surprised that the marriage didn’t work; there once was a Boston Cop who sold drugs to keep up with the Jones’, he got caught, federal crime for a cop, federal prison doing federal time – lost the house in the “Burbs” – lost the townhouse – after the divorce. No marriage, no partnership, no friendship works, when one of the “players” is lying their ass off; come on you want to partner with a lier.
As for love, love is a dicision; as in loving an unborn baby. Adults pick a partner and they say vows, if one breaks the vow the partner no longer bound by those vows, who broke the vow ? ? ?
By: Karen StJohn on March 22, 2008
at 4:45 pm
Sociopaths have NO FEELINGS, and no sense of “being sorry for what they do”. The only time that they are “sorry” is when they are caught, and have to face being locked up, or being executed for their crimes. Then they can cry like a baby. But all the time that they are crying, they are thinking ” how can I get out of here”?
By: metroguy on September 13, 2008
at 10:18 pm
I believe that Steven’s story rings a clear sign that each and everyone of us at one time in our lives had been in such desperate despairing straits that we could possibly find the solution that he chose. I feel for him because I’m sure he didn’t consider all the aspects. I am sure his wife was willingly ignorant. She tells all who listen how much she loved him. If she really did she would stand by her man. When the goin gets tough, the tough get goin. She was gone like a shot. I hope when he gets out he can become a productive human and that he chooses his mate better.
By: Teri on July 11, 2009
at 6:43 pm
Reading these comments from others about his wife not keeping her vows and then others about how she shouldn’t stay with a liar infuriate me. What do they know about what was really going on and have they ever lived through such a tragedy? Who are they to say what she should or shouldn’t do? My husband is waiting to be sentenced for a “white collared” crime and this story was almost exactly like my own, only my husband didn’t rob a bank at gun point, just the backhanded way. Try to be in these shoes and THEN give your opinion.
By: Beth Moore on July 11, 2009
at 7:50 pm