Biography: Ma Barker (DVD)

When the FBI riddled the body of a plump, matronly woman with bullets in the late 1930's, they claimed that one of the nation's most vicious criminals was finally stopped. But today, many feel that J. Edgar Hoover created her criminal image to cover up his agency's error. Kate Ma Barker is one of the most enigmatic figures in the history of American crime. Her four sons were all vicious criminals on the FBI's most wanted list. But there is no evidence that Ma planned or committed any of the crimes her sons went to prison for. What is clear is that she was blindly devoted to her four boys, travelling with them as they terrorized the Midwest, making sure they ate well and were taken care of. BIOGRAPHY retraces the steps of the Barker Boys and interviews witnesses to their crimes and family acquaintances to shape a picture of the woman who was central to their lives. A veritable beast of prey or a simple-minded, fiercely loyal parent MA BARKER invites you to decide for yourself.

• Biography: Ma Barker
• Drama
• A&E
• Not Rated