Contrary to public perception, bank robber Connie Packer was not killed in that Louisiana shoot-out in the 1930s. She was only severely wounded, and was nursed back to health in a federal penitentiary. She limped badly from the experience, but was bothered her the most was having to spend the rest of her life behind bars. But she knew the authorities would never parole her.
That is until 1938, when medical researchers from Johns Hopkins offered her the opportunity of a full pardon if only she'd participate in a medical experiment. Some doctors had discovered a rare bodily fluid that was found to regenerate body parts. With a simple operation, they could make the body produce this fluid in huge quantities, thus restoring to perfect health any body parts that had been injured but didn't heal completely. Her body still aching from taking 24 bullets, Connie jumped at the offer.
As she was administered a gas to make her sleep for the operation, a nurse reminded Connie that once she woke up, she would never have to look at the world through bars again. Connie fell asleep with a big grin on her face. She even dreamed about her freedom while under the gas. But when Connie awoke, she turned her head to the side as saw she was still behind bars. "Those @#*^&* liars," Connie thought. Her attempts to sit up were labored, probably due to the effects of the operation. She found that she was wearing nothing but a cloth pinned around her bottom. Crawling up to the bars, she grabbed them with her hands and shook them furiously. She shouted invective at those within eyesight of her cell.
"I see Connie is awake after three days, and is she making noise. I wonder what she's saying," the doctor said. "How should I know? I don't understand baby talk," the nurse said. "Then apparently, her mind regressed along with her body, once we altered it to produce 500 times more of that fluid than it normally does," the doctor noted. "I was surprised at how quickly her body rejuvenated. How old is she now?" the nurse asked. "In physical years, her body is 6-months-old. And as long as it produces that fluid, she'll stay that age almost forever," the doctor said. "But how long will she live?" the nurse asked. "We're not sure, but it's likely she could live a 1,000 years in that state," the doctor mused.
The nurse picked up the agitated Connie and cuddled her in her arms. Connie calmed down, until she saw the nurse maneuvering the nipple of a baby bottle toward her mouth. "Stop struggling. You need some nourishment after being asleep for three days," the nurse admonished the baby. Connie soon gave in and sucked the bottle dry in minutes. After being burped, the nurse put Connie in a playpen. She went berserk again, shaking the wooden bars, crying and trying to communicate with the medical people. "I was promised a pardon. Let me out! I don't wanna be behind bars any more," Connie tried to say.
But that was in 1938. Connie today lives in Ponca, Okla., with
her 29-year-old great-granddaughter and 8 and 6-year-old
great-great-granddaughters.
The girls like to bring their friends over to show off the baby
that never grows up. After one little boy watched Connie tug at
the bars of her crib and babble profusely, he observed, "If
I didn't know better, I'd swear that baby is stir crazy."