I was forced to rob my own bank, part 2

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Many years after he’d held a gun to her daughter’s head, Michelle wrote to Robert Ortiz seeking closure. It took him years to write back – and then they met. In 2000, Michelle Renee was at home with her seven-year-old daughter Breea when armed men burst through the door. They held Breea hostage while they took Michelle to the bank where she worked. She was told to remove all the money from the vault or her daughter would die. The gang were later caught and imprisoned but the fallout from that day and the accusations hurled at her during the trial would leave a lasting scar. Ten years after the event Michelle and Breea chose to write one of the gunmen a letter. It was a way of bringing the story to a close, they weren’t expecting a response. It took him years but Robert Ortiz did write back – asking did she want to meet? This story is told in two episodes, in episode one Michelle tells the story of the day of the robbery and the impact of the trial when suddenly she stands accused. In episode two we bring in Robert and hear how two people have built a friendship from the most unlikely start. Growing up in Sweden, Patrik Svensson loved going fishing for eels with his father. As a young boy the eel was steeped in mystery for him, but the more he learnt about the fish, the more mysterious it became. This set Patrik on a scientific and personal journey of discovery, published in his book The Gospel of the Eels. (This item was first broadcast in 2023) Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder and Andrea Kennedy Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707 (Photo: Michelle Renee sitting on a sofa looking at the camera. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a white cowboy hat and brown top. Credit: Michelle Renee)