How do two people with the same upbringing turn out so different? That is the question author Cecile Wehrman set out to discover when she began writing "The Brothers Krimm."
Wehrman was in Weyburn on April 23 during one stop of a book tour with co-author H. Rob Krimm, the younger brother of notorious bank robber James "Jimmy" Edward Krimm. The brothers are the focus of the book, playing the parts of hero and villain.
Despite being a book about a serial bank robber from Michigan, USA, the book does have a Weyburn connection - Jimmy robbed the Weyburn TD Trust Bank in June of 2007.
Wehrman said she also wrote the book to provide answers to the many bank tellers that Jimmy victimized in his 14-year bank robbing spree.
"The tellers that I've talked to all say 'why me?' It's very traumatizing to have a gun pointed at you," said Wehrman.
She said that when Jimmy walked into a bank he was about to rob, he was self-assured and calm.
"He only took a few minutes and he was gone," said Wehrman. "No one knew which way he went or what car he was in."
Jimmy is suspected of robbing approximately 35 banks in his lifetime, including 20 in Canada, however he was only convicted of 17 in this country.
Wehrman said that the story of Jimmy Krimm fell into her lap on September 14, 2009. She was living in Crosby, North Dakota and working as editor of "The Journal" when she discovered that an armed bank robber was on the loose a few miles from her home.
"I was scared to death," admitted Wehrman.
She said this was big news in her small town. The police used search dogs and helicopters to assist in the search for Jimmy. He was eventually cornered and committed suicide.
Wehrman decided to investigate why Jimmy's life took such a tragic turn while his brother Rob became a law-abiding citizen, serving in the United States Marine Corps band.
"That's the part that was so compelling," said Wehrman. "They started out with the same challenges and one continued the cycle of abuse while the other broke the chains of abuse and worked to make a better life for himself."
Although Wehrman cannot prove that Jimmy was abused as a child, Rob finally admitted to being sexually abused by his brother over a decade after the repeated assaults took place between the ages of 12 and 15. His estranged brother was never convicted of the assault.
Rob said he was amazed to read the book that he and his mother Charlene helped Wehrman write, if not somewhat embarrassed about being labelled the "hero" of the story.
"I guess the heroic thing to do is just work your ass off to be an Average Joe," said Rob.
Wehrman said the brothers had nothing in common growing up. While Jimmy was stealing candy bars by the age of nine, Rob could not overcome the guilt he felt when he tried to do the same.
Rob did discover one thing he had in common with his brother after the police released Jimmy's possessions after his death.
He discovered that Jimmy had used the same repair method on his sunglasses that Rob had used when he repaired his own.
"I picked up the glasses and there it was, JB Weld on the nose grip," recalled Rob. "That was one of the strangest moments I ever had."
Wehrman said that the story is also a cautionary tale for parents.
"(Charlene) was a good example to her sons," she explained. "She worked for a living and didn't accept handouts. You can set the course, but in the end it's about choices."
Despite being a story centered on crime and abuse, Wehrman said that a lot of positive things came out of the story. In fact, she and Rob are currently engaged to be married.
The book is available online at Amazon and cecilewehrman.com.
