Masked gunmen burst into bank manager's home and kidnapped him, his wife and five-month-old son then 'forced him to rob his own branch'

  • Two gunmen broke into Tanner Harris' home brandishing two handguns and a long-gun 
  • The masked robbers bundled him and his wife Abbey into their own car along with their five-month-old son
  • Tanner is branch vice president of SmartBank in Knoxville,Tennessee, and was driven to the bank and forced to withdraw an undisclosed sum 
  • His wife and child were taken to another location and abandoned with their vehicle

By Julian Robinson for MailOnline

Published: 04:53 EST, 9 July 2015 | Updated: 09:53 EST, 9 July 2015

A bank executive and his family were kidnapped at gunpoint and he was forced to steal cash from his own branch, according to the FBI.

Tanner Harris was bundled into his family car along with wife Abbey Harris and their five-month-old son before being driven to a SmartBank in the Cedar Bluff district in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he is branch vice president.

He was then ordered to withdraw an undisclosed amount of money from the bank as his family were driven to a different location, FBI agents said.

Abbey Harris makes a phone call while holding her son at the scene of a police investigation after she was kidnapped along with her bank manager husband, Tanner, who was forced to rob his own branch 

Abbey Harris makes a phone call while holding her son at the scene of a police investigation after she was kidnapped along with her bank manager husband, Tanner, who was forced to rob his own branch 

Abbey and Tanner Harris and their five-month-old son were kidnapped at gunpoint

Abbey and Tanner Harris and their five-month-old son were kidnapped at gunpoint

FBI agents said Mr Harris was ordered to withdraw an undisclosed amount of money from the bank as his family were held hostage. Detectives are pictured at the branch investigating

FBI agents said Mr Harris was ordered to withdraw an undisclosed amount of money from the bank as his family were held hostage. Detectives are pictured at the branch investigating

The trio were all released after he handed over the cash and they were all left physically unharmed, authorities said. 

The drama unfolded on Tuesday morning between 8am and 9am when the suspects burst into the family home carrying two handguns and one long-gun. 

Local 8 reported that one of the men is described as being between 6ft 1ins and 6ft 2ins and of thin build. The other is between 5ft 9ins and 5ft 10ins and of stockier build. They remain at large. 

FBI agents said the two men could be related. They both spoke clear English and wore masks.

The family were all bundled into their silver Mazda by the gunmen and the vehicle was spotted driving erratically from the Rocky Hill area to Cedar Bluff.

Mr Harris was driven to SmartBank in Knoxville, Tennessee, to withdraw cash while his wife and son were taken to a different location

Mr Harris was driven to SmartBank in Knoxville, Tennessee, to withdraw cash while his wife and son were taken to a different location

Mr and Mrs Harris were kidnapped by gunmen who burst into their home brandishing two handguns and one long-gun

Mr and Mrs Harris were kidnapped by gunmen who burst into their home brandishing two handguns and one long-gun

After Mr Harris was dropped at the bank, Mrs Harris and their young boy were driven to an abandoned dirt road in West Knox County and left unharmed in the car. She then drove to a construction site and dialed 911.

'She's extremely brave. I don't know what I would do in that situation. I'll have to give them a lot of support. They're a great family, wonderful people. My heart just reaches out to them,' Amy Lavelle, a neighbor, told WKYT.com.

Mr Harris was left at the bank (pictured) while his wife and five-month-old son were taken to another location

Mr Harris was left at the bank (pictured) while his wife and five-month-old son were taken to another location

Ed Reinhold, the FBI special agent in charge of the Knoxville office, said it's possible the kidnappers are the same people who kidnapped a credit union CEO's family three months ago.

'There are very strong similarities between the two robberies,' Reinhold told The Knoxville News Sentinel. 'We haven’t determined that positively, but it is a good possibility.'

The SmartBank in the Cedar Bluff district in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Mr Harris is branch vice president

The SmartBank in the Cedar Bluff district in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Mr Harris is branch vice president

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