The documentary "Bad Hostage" revisits a harrowing hostage situation in 1973 when a Sebastopol mother, Michaela Garloff, and her five children were taken captive by armed men who had just shot two sheriff's deputies. Filmmaker Mimi Wilcox, Garloff's granddaughter, recounts her family's legendary tale as she uncovers the truth behind it. The film captures the suspense of the event, Garloff's calm under pressure, and the eventual negotiation for freedom, highlighting a significant yet often forgotten moment in Sonoma County history.
"This was a family story I heard my whole life... Family mythology is pretty wild, is this true? Did it really happen like this," Wilcox said.
"One was bleeding clutching his leg. They needed to use the phone, and they did... I realized I was in deep trouble," Garloff said.
"The police were all over, shouting, calling names, which made the fellow with the gun very excited. It went on for a while," Garloff said.
"Garloff says she kept her cool and was never threatened, eventually helping to negotiate the safe release of her kids, and then herself after six hours."
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