What were Leopold and Leob's motive?

Answer 1

Understanding their motive is to understand who they were. From wealthy families, both had very high IQ's and both fit the description of 'spoiled rich boys'. At the time of the murder they had embarked on their Ivy League college careers. It obviously was not enough to keep them busy. They wanted to experience murder. Their plan was to pull of the 'perfect' murder. As can happen with high intellect, the boys thought they were too smart to get caught. The victim, 14 year old Bobby Franks (a distant cousin to one of the killers) was a choice of convenience. Leob and Leopold picked up Franks in their car and he was never seen alive again. They may have had gifted brains but as killers they failed. A pair of prescription eyeglasses dropped at the murder scene was easily traced back to the guilty pair.

The ability of their wealthy parents to buy the best defense available saved Leopold and Leob from execution. Clarence Darrow earned his fee. Both were found guilty of first degree murder but were given life sentences instead of death. The murder of Bobby Franks was one of the most senseless crimes in American history.