On January 27, 1970, two professional bank robbers entered the Central Valley National Bank in Hughson, CA at closing time (3:00 pm) and ordered 17 hostages inside the bank's vault. The employees were able to push a silent alarm and send a coded message to a Sheriff dispatcher alerting them to their situation. While the robbers collected money a dispatcher at the Sheriff's station alerted two Sheriff Detectives in the area to the crime.

Above: Pic of the Mural inside the bank in Hughson

Below: Map of the route that the two robbers took to leave town, via google maps

The Vault at the Hughson Bank (we agreed it's the size of a walk in closet)

Leonard Ellsworth Miller was born on December 29, 1925 in Sunnyside, Washington. He spent much of his youth in California with his mother who was in the rodeo. When he was 6 years old he was abandoned by his mother and went to live in many foster homes. Eventually, he would spend most of his teen years at the Preston School of Industry in Ione, CA. Once a teenager, Ellsworth started his criminal career by stealing cars. He spent time in San Quentin before breaking out of jail and escaping to Utah.

In Utah, Miller stole a gun and shot a police officer in a shootout at a hotel. After getting out of jail in Utah, he moved to several different states and committing crimes. In 1953, he kidnapped a patrol officer in Oregon and was later apprehended and put into jail.

Miller continued his criminality when he was let out of jail and, with several others, robbed two different stores in Oregon. He was apprehended and again put in prison. This time he would be released in 1970 and immediately married a woman in Oregon, meet up with Porter, and head to California where he and Porter committed several robberies, including the one in Hughson, CA.

Ross Neal Porter has a shorter and less violent criminal history than his partner Leonard Ellsworth Miller. Porter is from Oregon and a married father of three children was a member of the National Guard and an owner of an upholstery business called "Super Top Shop" in West Linn.

His known criminal history begins in 1957, when he robbed the Sherwood branch of the U.S. National Bank and a grocery store in Jenning Lodge. It appears he chose to commit this crime because his financial life fell into disrepair. He was caught after a tip from someone who was suspicious that he was able to pay off his debts so quickly.

Porter is captured and put into prison. Once he is released he violated his parole and was put back into prison where it is believed he met Leonard Ellsworth Miller. When Miller was released in 1970, the two drove to California under the pretense that they were buying cars to use in an upholstery business in Oregon. As well as looking at vehicles, the two would rob several locations around Northern California including a bank and a Safeway. They would then set their sights on the bank in Hughson, CA.

When the robbers left Hughson they went to an area near Don Pedro Dam where they had a second vehicle stashed. They torched the Sheriff's vehicle and escaped in their car.

The area where the car was stashed is on Los Nogales Rd. This area is very rural and has very little homes or people around. This pic is from google earth in 2021, but it gives you an idea of where the car was stashed.

This map shows the road taken from the bank on Charles street, to the location where the 2nd vehicle was stashed, to the town of Altaville where they were to meet their friend to get blankets and medicine.

Altaville is a very small incorporated town with a population of just over 600 people.

Once Porter and Miller escaped the shootout in Altaville they sped off towards Comanche Lake. It was in this area, near Campo Seco that they chose to make their last stand with police. Miller was arrested after being shot 14 times, over the entire day. Porter ran into the hills, taking a hostage and eventually losing his life in a shootout with police.

The area where 150+ officers, on foot, in helicopters, and with dogs, searched for Ross Neal Porter.