By Philip Berkwit
On October 10, Channing Tatum’s new film “Roof Man” released in general theaters. Tatum plays a burglar who cuts holes in the roofs of McDonalds to rob them. However, Tatum soon gets caught and goes to prison. He immediately escapes and begins to secretly live inside in a Toys R Us nearby. This insane and comedic story is actually based on the true story of Jeffrey Allen Manchester’s crimes back in the 1990s and early 2000s. Manchester continues to serve time in prison. He is one of the most fascinating criminals to get a film made about him. Manchester served in the military; both in active duty and as an Army Reserve. The skills he learned made him an expert in skills like rappelling and jumping from great heights.
However, after leaving the military, Manchester was introduced to many issues. He became a divorced father of three.
Because of this, Manchester got into committing crimes. But not in the traditional sense.
According to Blaze Radio, “In November 1998, Manchester began his year-and-a-half-long crime spree, allegedly robbing more than 40 businesses in nine different states across the United States.”
Manchester usually just robbed fast food chains like McDonalds. He was really nice to the employees; he was robbing and pointing guns at them as well.
According to The Charlotte Observer, “Jeffrey Allen Manchester appeared out of nowhere on May 20, 2000. He came from a hole cut into the roof and landed on the fast-food chain’s floor. He walked while “squatting… like in the Army.” One worker told Belmont Police Department officers after escaping from the cooler the robber trapped them in. The California U.S. military sergeant turned masked robber said, “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” and “please lie on your stomach” as he stole about $8,000 from the burger joint, according to police reports. He was “calm,” gentle, even, but: “This guy was crazy,” then 18-year-old Shawn Fields told police. He saw Manchester and the barrel of his gun on his first day working at the McDonald’s on Main Street in then-rural Belmont.”
Manchester would lock up the workers in the restaurant’s freezer; however, he would let them all get their coats and would promptly call the cops. Manchester gained the nickname “Roof Man” due to the way he robbed the fast-food chains. He would cut a hole in the roof of each and every restaurant he robbed
The cops started to notice this.
Manchester made a bad decision during the robbery on May 20, 2000. He robbed two McDonalds on the same day. The first robbery was in Gastonia, while the second was in Belmont, North Carolina. An employee had triggered a secret alarm. Manchester was going to his car in a church parking lot. The cops then raced after him. After a short pursuit, Manchester’s reign was over.
Jeffrey Manchester was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
While in prison, Manchester was a respected inmate. His manners and attitude were great. But secretly, he wanted freedom. And he was devoted to gaining it sooner than 45 years.
On June 15, 2004, he escaped prison by hiding beneath a delivery truck. He proceeded to secretly hideout in a Toys R Us. For six months.
According to Biography, “the stores often had large storage areas for big box items that didn’t receive much foot traffic. He survived on baby food, candy, and other snacks, emerging in the evenings to roam the store after all the staff had left. In time, he used baby monitors and the store’s surveillance systems to track employee movements. When the store’s business picked up during the 2004 holiday season, Manchester moved into the abandoned Circuit City next door, building a small living space for himself beneath a stairwell. Manchester went so far as to paint the walls and hang posters and spent his days watching movies there.”
Manchester may have never gotten caught. But he started a relationship with Leigh Wainscott; a girl at a local church that he attended. She had two daughters, and Manchester was extremely kind and loving them all. However, they had no idea what Manchester secretly was doing. He even used a fake name, John Zorro.
However this love was short-lived as after robbing Toys R Us, the cops were able to find Manchester’s hideout- and his fingerprints. The cops then contacted Leigh, and led Manchester into a trap. He is still in prison to this day.
Turning this film into a movie seems like an easy task. The story has comedy, twists, drama, and everything. “Roof Man” is very much a jack of all trades type film, however the soul of the film is absolutely centered on who Jeffrey Manchester was. Every person who has met him seems to believe that he is a wonderful human being. Channing Tatum gives one of his best performances in his entire career.
Tatum makes Manchester out to be a rare soul. He is overwhelmingly kind and caring. However, the film also highlights how manipulative and dangerous Manchester was. In the film, we see him commit crime over crime, including one instance where he blows up an empty dental clinic. However, throughout the film it’s impossible to not feel bad for Manchester. His kindness and likeability make it impossible to root against him. The film is also extremely funny, watching Manchester chilling out in Toys R Us at night. He would play around with the toys, beat them up when he is mad, and steal them to donate them to the toy drive at church.
Although The film portrays Manchester as a good person, it does not pretend that Manchester was a victim. In fact, it gives the perspective of one specific victim; Manchester girlfriend; Leigh Wainscott played by Kristen Dunst. Wainscott is a single mother, struggling to connect with her daughters after her divorce yet keeping a kind attitude and staying active in her local church. When Manchester came into her life, it felt like a dream came true. He goes to the same church, connects to her daughters, is extremely kind, and even had a successful job by “working for the government.”
But this dream was soon crushed when the police showed her his mugshot. She helped them arrest Manchester. But the story wasn’t over just yet. After Manchester was brought back to prison, Leigh and her church forgave him and visited him. Although leigh ended up marrying somebody else, she recently visited Manchester for the first time in 20 years. “Roof Man “director, Derek Cianfrance is best known for dramas like “Blue valentine” and ‘The Place Beyond the Pines.” Through this insane story about a man living in Toys R Us; there is a pulse of drama, love and heartbreak in this film which masterfully tells this true story.
The movie also ends with real life interviews. Through this, we get to see a less polished view of this story. Although many of the real-life people like Manchester’s pastor and a prison truck driver still respected him; one cop gave a very critical look at Manchester claiming that he was liar and donating toys that were stolen should not be seen as evidence that he was truly a good person.
Through these interviews, it makes this case even more interesting. Although the film makes you like Manchester, his crimes and prison sentences continue to be controversial. In any matter, this film is bound to be a beloved cult classic.
Graphic by Philip Berkwit
