Symbionese Liberation Army Member Bill Harris Died at 81
The former SLA figure who participated in the 1974 Patty Hearst kidnapping passed away on September 10, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Financial Crime
Bill Harris, a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army and a Vietnam veteran, died from a heart attack in San Francisco on September 10, 2026. He was 81 years old at the time of his death.
Why it matters
Harris gained national notoriety for his role in the 1974 abduction of Patty Hearst and his subsequent involvement in the 1975 bank robbery in Carmichael, which resulted in the death of Myrna Opsahl.
Harris served two separate prison terms for his crimes, including a sentence for the Opsahl murder where he served 4 years of a 7-year term after pleading guilty in 2002.
The players
Bill Harris
He was a Marine veteran and member of the Symbionese Liberation Army who participated in high-profile kidnappings and robberies.
Patty Hearst
She was a media heiress kidnapped by the SLA in 1974 due to her family's control over a major media empire.
Myrna Opsahl
She was a victim killed during a 1975 bank robbery in Carmichael carried out by members of the Symbionese Liberation Army.
The details
During the 1974 kidnapping in Berkeley, Harris forced Patty Hearst into the trunk of a car. Following his initial prison release in 1983, he worked as a private investigator in the Bay Area before his later conviction for the 1975 bank robbery death.
Timeline
February 4, 1974: Harris kidnapped Patty Hearst in Berkeley.
April 1975: The SLA carried out a bank robbery in Carmichael.
1983: Harris was released from prison for the Hearst kidnapping.
September 10, 2026: Bill Harris died in a hospital.
Legal Context
This death closes a chapter on the long-term legal fallout from the 1974 kidnapping of Patty Hearst. The case remains a historical touchstone for domestic radicalization and the subsequent multi-decade pursuit of justice for the associated crimes.
The death of a figure involved in significant historical crimes carries little direct safety impact for modern residents of San Francisco. However, it serves as a reminder of the historical criminal cases that shaped local and regional security discussions for decades.
The takeaway
The passing of Bill Harris marks the end of a long-running legal and historical narrative surrounding the Symbionese Liberation Army. His life serves as a stark example of how 1970s radicalism resulted in decades of imprisonment and complex criminal justice processes.
Further reading
Learn more about local historical investigations in our Financial Crime section.
