Family arrested in Texas being investigated for local bank heists
MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – A McMinnville family accused in a string of bank robberies in Texas is now being investigated for two bank robberies in McMinnville.
Police in Texas said when the father, son and daughter were arrested, the father admitted to five robberies in Oregon, but that was the extent of the information.
But on Wednesday, McMinnville police said there's a "strong possibility that they're the suspects" in their two unsolved bank robberies.
This came to light when sheriff's deputies near Houston, Texas arrested Ronald Scott Catt, 50, and his children, Hayden, 20, and Abby, 18, last week.
Detectives said the father and son wore construction vests and guns. Hayden had a fake mustache while Abby drove the getaway car.
Back in McMinnville, where the family used to live, and the kids had been honor students and competitive swimmers at McMinnville High School, police said they’re looking at whether the father is the masked man who robbed the First Federal Bank on Baker Creek Road in August 2006.
The man didn't show a gun.
A year later, a masked man robbed the Washington Mutual Bank on Highway 99 in McMinnville. Police said it looked like he had a gun. The man got away with a few thousand dollars.
It is unknown if the children were involved in the local robberies.
"It's kind of surreal. I didn't want to believe it," said Jericho Kizer, Abby's roommate.
"If it were anybody else asking her to do that she would never have done it. I think out of loyalty, she felt like she had to," she said.
Detectives believe the trio pulled off seven bank heists in two states while wearing disguises.
Federal court records show Ronald Scott Catt had declared bankruptcy in 2003 and 2005. But the bankruptcies were dismissed.
If you have something you'd like the On Your Side investigators to look into, email them at investigators@katu.com.
Hopefully someone will do some research, and find out what is happening with the family. Why did they perhaps turn to robbing banks. Not good at all, especially with the young kids. Their life may have some major issues in the years to come
this guy isn't even worthy of a "world's best bank robber" mug
These people have the narrowest heads I've ever seen.
Catts -- finicky, aloof, and they stink up the place.
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 @HarryJuku Didn't notice their last name?Â
Gone are the days when bank robbers stole real money. This fiat currency is just that. It's fake Monopoly money that holds no real value.. and it's insured.
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The charges should be dropped again the kids, and the father should really get some kind of counseling.
 @Jamie Your comment makes the most sense of anything I've read all day, Jamie.
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>"If it were anybody else asking her to do that she would never have done it. I think out of loyalty, she felt like she had to,"Â
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Bingo. That's the lions share of the reason I feel such venomous anger towards a paternal figure who gets his (or her) children involved in crime.Â
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As a parent, one of your most important roles in your childs life is to be self-aware enough to avoid teaching them (by example or lesson) behaviors that have stunted or retarded your own progress in life. Be it smoking, drinking, drugs, or behavioral patterns that will simply not serve them well in life. This is, unfortunately, where (IMO) so many parents fail so miserably. From ideological extremes to behavioral patterns, I see so much loss of potential around me every day that stems directly from some young adults programmed behaviors that are simply counter-productive. These behaviors will, inevitably, have to be realized and then de-programmed before that child has any hope of becoming a well adjusted and functioning member of society. To me, there's little difference between such behaviors and someone who beats their children. In effect, the end result in the childs life is the same.Â
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(to appease my stalker) IF HE'S FOUND GUILTY, at the very least  he should serve a life sentence for the two lives he's ruined through his complete and utter failure in his role as a parent.
@MarkKpic thank you! i don't think my best friend should have to sit in prison for a long period of time for a crime she was manipulated into by her own blood, the man who raised her. its just not fair and i am hoping that the judge/jury, whoever decides their verdict will look at all of the circumstances.
 @MarkKpic I mostly agree. I don't think parents have to be perfect, but they sure need to have some lines they won't cross. Allowing/or soliciting their children to commit crimes of any kind is absolutely one of them. There's just so much to this story that hasn't come out. When it first aired, people were close to having sympathy, after learning the guy had lost two jobs and the family home. But, there was nothing to indicate that he hadn't lost those jobs due to poor performance. Also, the bullet holes in the house. ??? And lastly, fleeing to Texas. Six years of robbing banks? That's not situational. That's a lifestyle choice.Â
 @Lips  @MarkKpic True. The fact of the matter is that there simply is no 'perfect parent'. We all have, and will continue to, make mistakes. Owning up to those mistakes, and being corrective in both our reaction to, and resolutions of, those mistakes is what sets apart the 'good' from the 'bad' parents.Â
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I couldn't agree more with your statement regarding 'lines' that simply cannot be crossed in parenting.
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 It's one thing if a parent were to find out that their kid 5 fingered a pack of gum and 'dealt with it themselves' vs forcing the child to return to the store. IMO, the correct response would be to make them take it back, but I'm not self-riteous enough to believe that is the only "right" way to deal with it. It's something completely different when a parent actively recruits their own children to commit crimes. Fundamentally disturbing to me to say the least.Â
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And, yes, there is a tinge of sympathy regarding the hardships that this family has had to endure. But, that too offers some character building opportunities for parents. I wont go into specifics, but the last 5 years around my house have been incredibly challenging both financially and personally. What the situation has offered me is the opportunity to show my kids what perseverance, steadfastness and steady persistence mean.Â
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I sincerely hope that it can be proved that this meat stick began his crimes while at least one of the children was under the age of 18. I strongly believe that there needs to be some criminal negligence component, or child abuse charges included in his docket at the very least.
 @Lips  @MarkKpic Thank you for your encouragement. I'm a firm believer in a line of thinking that is so eloquently stated in a quote from Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.;
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'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and conveniences, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.'
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Our family will get through the tough times, and be better for it. I will have been given the opportunity to teach my kids, by example, what it is that Dr King was referring to in his statement.Â
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And, I'm with you in reference to Mr Catts children. Unfortunately for the son, he will likely end up with the same relative sentence as his male genetic donar. But, again, there will come a time when both he and his sister will again be offered an opportunity to make some decisions for themselves. I hope and pray that they can 'erase' the bad programming they've had, and begin the (unfortunate) process of developing skills that obviously have been lacking thus far in their development.Â
 @MarkKpic Sorry you're facing hard times. Things will turn around, they always do. Your kids will respect you more when you work through them as a family, which it sounds like you are.
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As for this case.. I sure hope these kids catch a break. Sounds like they were exposed to this long before they reached adulthood. Where's mom?