Cat Eyes Bank Robber Pikeville Kentucky - A Local Story
So, there are some stories, you know, that really stick with people, and the one about Special Agent Mark Putnam, a person named Susan Smith, and the fellow they called Carl “Cat Eyes” is, well, pretty much one of those. It’s a tale that left a really lasting mark on the FBI, like a deep impression, because of the sadness and the difficulties that came with it. This whole situation, it just sort of unfolded, quite dramatically, in a way, and it’s one of those things that people still talk about, especially when you think about the quiet towns where it all began.
It’s almost like a puzzle, this whole thing, with pieces that slowly came together, or perhaps, rather, fell apart. The story really centers around this time in 1987, when the FBI, they decided to, you know, really start looking into Carl Lockhart. He was a person who went by the nickname “Cat Eyes,” and he was known for being a career criminal, someone who had spent a good bit of his life doing things that weren't exactly on the up and up. He came from a small community, a place called Pikeville, which, in some respects, makes the whole thing feel a little more personal, a bit closer to home, you know?
And into this mix, you had Agent Mark Putnam, who was, basically, fresh out of the FBI Academy. He was just starting out, really, in his career, and he got assigned to this particular situation. His job, in a way, was to gather what was needed, to collect the bits and pieces of information that would help to prove what Carl Lockhart had done, and to make sure he was held accountable. It was a big task for someone new, and the details of how it all played out are, well, pretty complex, actually, involving a lot of different people and places, especially around the Pikeville, Kentucky area.
Table of Contents
- Who Was Carl "Cat Eyes" Lockhart?
- A Look at Carl Edward Lockhart's Background
- What Happened in Pikeville, Kentucky?
- The Incident and the Investigation's Start
- How Did Susan Smith Get Involved with the TCAT Eyes Bank Robber Case?
- The Informant's Role and the Unfolding Drama
- Were There Other Bank-Related Matters in Pikeville?
- A Wider View of Banking and Crime
Who Was Carl "Cat Eyes" Lockhart?
So, Carl Edward Lockhart, the person everyone seemed to know as “Cat Eyes,” was, basically, a figure who played a big part in a really unfortunate series of events. He was, apparently, pretty good at robbing banks, or at least, that’s what the records suggest. He had a way of doing things that made him a suspect in quite a few incidents, especially around the Pikeville, Kentucky, area, during the late 1980s. It’s like he had a particular knack for it, a certain skill, though it was, of course, used for very wrong purposes. People sometimes talk about criminals having a signature, and his actions, in a way, were certainly memorable for the authorities.
This individual, Carl "Cat Eyes" Lockhart, was someone who, you know, had a history. He was a career criminal, meaning this wasn't his first time getting into trouble with the law. In fact, in 1987, he had just gotten out of prison for a bank robbery he had done before. It’s like, he was released, and then, not too long after, his name came up again in connection with new crimes. He and his girlfriend, they rented a room from Susan, which, as a matter of fact, brought him into the orbit of people who would soon become very important to his story, and to the story of the law trying to catch him.
It’s worth mentioning, too, that while he was, you know, seemingly good at taking money from banks, he was, apparently, even better at spending it. The text suggests he could blow through a really large sum, like $100,000 in stolen money, in just a single month. That’s a pretty quick way to get rid of a lot of cash, which, in some respects, tells you a little bit about his habits and perhaps, his lack of concern for the future consequences of his actions. This fast spending, it’s almost like it was a part of his overall way of life, something that just went hand in hand with his criminal activities.
A Look at Carl Edward Lockhart's Background
When you think about Carl Edward Lockhart, the person known as “Cat Eyes,” it’s clear he was, essentially, a central figure in a story that would really stun a small community, particularly Pikeville, Kentucky. He was the bank robber who, you know, had committed several unlawful acts in and around that part of the state during the late 1980s. His actions were, basically, what set a lot of things in motion, bringing federal agents into a place that might not have seen such a level of intense investigation before. It’s like his presence, his very existence as a person who did these things, had a profound ripple effect on many lives.
The whole situation with Carl "Cat Eyes" Lockhart, it really started to pick up speed when the FBI, back in 1987, decided it was time to, well, really focus their efforts on him. He was, to be honest, a well-known person in the criminal world, at least in that area. A career criminal, as they say, from a rather small town like Pikeville. It’s a bit unusual, perhaps, for such a significant investigation to center on someone from a quiet place, but his deeds, apparently, were anything but quiet. His nickname, "Cat Eyes," also sort of adds a layer of mystery to his persona, making him sound, in a way, like someone who was always watching, always ready.
His story, the one about the person named Carl Edward “Cat Eyes” Lockhart, is, you know, deeply intertwined with the actions of others, and it’s almost like a complex web. The New York Post, for example, even wrote about how Mark, the agent, set his sights on this suspect after a good bit of cash, like $18,000, was taken from a bank in Kentucky. So, you see, his name, his reputation, it really traveled, reaching places far beyond his immediate surroundings. It’s a pretty clear indication that his activities were not just local news, but something that drew wider attention, and, as a matter of fact, caused a lot of concern.
What Happened in Pikeville, Kentucky?
Pikeville, Kentucky, became, essentially, the main stage for a really significant federal investigation. It was the place where, you know, a new FBI agent, Mark Putnam, was sent right after finishing his training. His assignment there was, basically, to look into a bank robbery. This particular crime involved the person we've been talking about, Carl Edward "Cat Eyes" Lockhart. So, for Mark, this was his first real job out in the field, and it put him right into the middle of a serious situation in a small community. It’s like, he was thrown into the deep end, so to speak, in a place that probably didn’t expect such high-stakes drama.
The events that unfolded in Pikeville, they really began to take shape on a specific day, September 10, 1987. On that day, a single person, a lone male robber, walked into the Ferrells Creek branch of the First National Bank of Pikeville, Kentucky. This act, this robbery, was, you know, a very direct challenge to the peace of the area, and it immediately put the authorities on high alert. It’s a very specific detail, the date and the location, that grounds the whole story in a real moment in time, making it feel, well, very immediate and impactful for the people who lived there.
The situation in Pikeville was, in some respects, a bit complicated for the agents. Mark Putnam, for example, had been given the job of finding the person who had taken $18,000 in cash from a bank that was nearby, in Meta, Kentucky. So, it wasn't just one robbery they were looking at, but a series of related incidents, all pointing to the need to identify and catch the person responsible. It’s like, they had a specific amount of money, and a specific place, and it was up to these local agents to put all the pieces together. This was, basically, a very pressing task, one that required careful attention to detail and a lot of legwork in the community.
The Incident and the Investigation's Start
The investigation in Pikeville, Kentucky, really got going with the arrival of Agent Mark Putnam. He was, as a matter of fact, assigned to this particular area to look into a bank robbery, and the person connected to it was the criminal named Carl Edward "Cat Eyes" Lockhart. It’s like, the FBI had a target, and Putnam’s job was to, you know, get the evidence needed to make sure Lockhart could be found guilty. This was, essentially, the starting point of a very intense period for everyone involved, a time when the focus was entirely on gathering information and building a case against this individual.
A few months before Putnam’s arrival, there had been another incident that set the stage. A person, a robber, had taken $18,000 in cash from a bank in Meta, Kentucky, which is, you know, pretty close by. It was, basically, up to the agents in the area to figure out who this person was and to bring them in. This earlier event, it’s almost like it created a sense of urgency, a pressing need to solve these crimes that were affecting the local community. So, when Putnam arrived, he was stepping into a situation that was already, in a way, quite active and demanding.
One person who quickly became a focus in the investigation of that Meta robbery was, you know, Carl Edwards Lockhart, the one known as "Cat Eyes." It’s like, his name just kept coming up. In 1987, after he had been released from prison for a previous bank robbery, he and his girlfriend had rented a room from Susan. This connection, this living situation, was, essentially, what brought him into contact with people who would later become central to the FBI’s efforts to catch him. It’s a detail that, in some respects, shows how seemingly small decisions can have very large consequences, pulling people into a story they never expected to be a part of.
How Did Susan Smith Get Involved with the TCAT Eyes Bank Robber Case?
Susan Daniels Smith, a person described as, you know, outspoken and a bit rebellious, but also polite, found herself in a very unusual and, ultimately, very difficult position. Her connection to the whole situation, particularly with the person known as "Cat Eyes," was, in some respects, what brought her into the orbit of the FBI investigation. It’s like, her life, in a way, just sort of intersected with this criminal story, and she became a really important part of how things unfolded. The presence of "Cat Eyes" in her life was, basically, what led her down a path she probably never anticipated, a path that would involve working with federal agents.
During Mark Putnam’s investigation, Susan became, as a matter of fact, an informant for him. She started providing information that was, you know, really important to the case. This role, being an informant, put her in a very sensitive spot, where she was helping the authorities gather details about the bank robber. It’s almost like she had a unique vantage point, a way of seeing things that others couldn't, which made her contributions very valuable to the law enforcement effort. Her involvement, in a way, was absolutely central to the progress of the investigation, and to the agent's understanding of what was going on.
The story also mentions that a film, "Above Suspicion," which came out in 2019, tells the real-life tale of a romance that, you know, turned into a crime. This movie primarily focuses on Susan’s very intense relationship with FBI Agent Mark Putnam after she started working for him as an informant. Her job was, essentially, to help catch the bank robber named Carl Edward “Cat Eyes.” So, you see, her role wasn't just about providing facts; it became something much more personal and complicated, a situation that drew her deeper into the lives of those involved, including the agent himself. It’s like, the professional lines got very, very blurry, which, as a matter of fact, led to a lot of heartbreak.
The Informant's Role and the Unfolding Drama
Susan Daniels Smith, as we know, became a key person in the investigation, serving as Putnam’s informant on the case. Her help was, you know, absolutely vital for him as he tried to put together the pieces against Carl Edward "Cat Eyes" Lockhart in Pikeville, Kentucky. It’s like, she had access to information that was really hard to get otherwise, and she shared it with the agent. This kind of arrangement, where someone from the outside helps law enforcement, can be very, very tricky, and it often comes with a lot of personal risk for the informant. Her willingness to step into this role was, basically, a huge part of the story, and it had profound consequences for her own life.
To try and catch the person who had taken $18,000 in cash from a bank in Kentucky, Putnam, you know, made himself familiar with Susan and Kenneth Smith. They were, apparently, a married couple, though they were separated. It’s like, he needed to get close to the people who might have information, and this couple was a good place to start. The details of how he approached them, and how Susan specifically came to trust him enough to become an informant, are, in some respects, what makes the human side of this story so compelling. It’s not just about the crime, but about the connections, the relationships that form, sometimes under very difficult circumstances.
The situation involving Susan and Kenneth Smith, and their mutual acquaintance, Carl Edward “Cat Eyes,” was, basically, the doorway through which Susan entered this dangerous world. It’s like, because she knew him, because she had this connection, she became a person of interest, and then, a source of information. This chain of events, you know, from a casual acquaintance to becoming an informant in a major bank robbery case, shows how quickly lives can change when they brush up against crime and law enforcement. Her decision to help, or perhaps, her circumstances that led her to help, were, as a matter of fact, a turning point in the entire investigation, and for her own personal story.
Were There Other Bank-Related Matters in Pikeville?
Beyond the main story of Carl "Cat Eyes" Lockhart, the Pikeville, Kentucky, area had, you know, other connections to the world of banking and, sadly, to other criminal activities involving banks. It’s like, the presence of financial institutions naturally draws attention, and sometimes, that attention is not for good reasons. The area had, apparently, a number of different banks, and each of them, in a way, played a part in the daily lives of the people there. This wider context of banking services in the community is, basically, important to remember, as it shows that the specific robberies we’ve talked about were part of a larger financial landscape.
For example, the text mentions that there are, you know, currently 13 branches of 7 different banks right there in Pikeville, Kentucky. That’s a pretty good number for a town, showing that it’s a place with active financial services. Community Trust Bank, apparently, has the most branches in Pikeville, which suggests it’s a very prominent presence there. The top 5 banks in Pikeville, when you count their branches, also show a good spread of financial institutions. It’s like, these banks are a core part of the community’s economic life, providing services for personal, business, and mortgage needs, and they are, as a matter of fact, committed to things like secure online banking and local customer support.
And then, there’s a completely separate, but interesting, piece of information that, you know, touches on another aspect of the broader topic. The Tennessee College of Applied Technology, or TCAT, is mentioned as a place that does not discriminate based on things like race, color, religion, or sex. This is, in some respects, a very different kind of detail from the bank robberies, but it’s part of the wider context of institutions in the area, or at least, institutions mentioned in connection to the general topic of "tcat eyes bank robber pikeville kentucky." It’s like, the world is full of many different kinds of organizations, each with their own rules and purposes, and this particular college is one of them, existing alongside the stories of crime and investigation.
A Wider View of Banking and Crime
The story of bank-related crime in the broader region extends, you know, beyond just "Cat Eyes." There was, for instance, a man who was arrested for holding up a Floyd County bank not too long ago, and he has now been charged with a federal bank robbery. This person, Jeffrey Mullins, who is 62 and from Hager Hill, is, apparently, another example of the kind of criminal activity that happens in these areas. It’s like, the issue of bank robbery isn't confined to one person or one time; it’s a recurring challenge for law enforcement, and for the financial institutions themselves, which, as a matter of fact, are always working to keep things safe.
Another interesting detail that comes up is about a person from Pikeville who was, you know, given the nickname "the traveling bandit" by the FBI. This individual was arrested in Colorado after, apparently, a series of bank robberies that took place in various states, including Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, and Alabama. It’s like, this person didn’t just stick to one area, but moved around quite a bit, making them a very difficult target to catch. This kind of wider scope of criminal activity shows that while the story of "Cat Eyes" is specific to Pikeville, the problem of bank robbery is, in some respects, a much broader concern, affecting many different places across the country.
Pinnacle Bank is also mentioned, and it’s, basically, committed to its website, which, you know, suggests a focus on digital presence and customer access. Community Trust Bank, as well, is presented as a trusted partner for various banking needs. These mentions of actual banks in the area, like Community Trust Bank with its 230 South Mayo Trail address in Pikeville, KY, give a real sense of the physical locations where financial transactions
