The True Story Behind Roofman and the Fast-Food Robber Who Hid Out for Months in a Toys ‘R’ Us

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Prior to Derek Cianfrance deciding to take on the direction of what later became known as “Roofman“, he sought permission to have a conversation with its central figure – the robber, Jeffrey Manchester.

Cianfrance states that since Jeff is in a maximum security prison, it was impossible for me to reach out to him through traditional means. However, he managed to call me somehow. I answered the call and he called back, again I picked up. Over approximately four years, I’d receive three to four calls from him each week.

Over time, Manchester began referring to Cianfrance, renowned for his somber movies such as “Blue Valentine” and “The Place Beyond the Pines”, as “Dr. Derek”.

Why the moniker? “He said I was shrinking his head,” Cianfrance says. 

The captivating tale of Manchester is chronicled in the film “Roofman,” which made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival and is set to hit theaters on October 10th. In the late 1990s, Manchester gained notoriety for his distinctive approach to robbing fast food chains like McDonald’s, primarily by accessing their rooftops. Channing Tatum portrays Manchester in this movie.

In 2000, Manchester – a former army veteran – was apprehended and sentenced to serve 45 years in a North Carolina prison. However, four years later, he managed to break free from prison. On the run, he found refuge inside a Toys ‘R’ Us store in Charlotte for several months. During the day when he was hidden, Manchester used baby monitors to keep an eye on his surroundings. Eventually, he ventured out and formed a relationship with a woman he met at a local church, who was portrayed by Kirsten Dunst in a movie.

In simpler terms, the movie “Roofman” showcases Manchester’s extraordinary story, with Channing Tatum delivering a charmingly silly yet deeply emotional portrayal. It reveals Manchester as a thief who surprisingly showed consideration by asking McDonald’s employees to get their coats before locking them in a freezer. The film explores Manchester’s motivations, suggesting he resorted to crime due to a desire for family and security. Initially, his wife and child rejected him once they discovered the source of the money. Later, he seeks solace in a new relationship, becoming a father figure to her daughters.

According to Cianfrance’s co-writer, Kirt Gunn, it’s quite straightforward to comprehend how seemingly extraordinary events are not only plausible but even probable when meeting him, as he behaves much like a mischievous 10-year-old boy, frequently finding himself in trouble. However, what makes him unique is that he also possesses a mind capable of perceiving intricate details within complex systems.

The film “Roofman” is clearly a dramatization, not a factual account of events. For instance, Leigh Wainscott, Manchester’s girlfriend in real life, was not portrayed as working at the toy store like the character played by Dunst. Furthermore, the movie does not depict that Manchester also lived in the vacant Circuit City store adjacent to Toys ‘R’ Us, as depicted in the film. A character played by LaKeith Stanfield represents a person known to Manchester who could provide fake documents, but Manchester declined to share the real individual’s name with director Cianfrance.

In a statement, Cianfrance shared that he informed Jeff about the inclusion of fictional elements in his narrative, to which Jeff showed full trust, saying, “Go ahead and tell this story however you feel is right.

In addition to their own research, director Cianfrance and his writing partner delved into Manchester’s life experiences by conversing not only with Manchester himself but also family members, his pastor, the officer who arrested him, and others. For the film, they offered these individuals roles in the movie, which was shot on-location in Charlotte, including at the church where Manchester and Wainscott initially met. Cianfrance went as far as to find a genuine, abandoned Toys ‘R’ Us for shooting scenes, renovating it and filling the revamped shelves with vintage toys sourced from eBay.

“I try to bring everyone in and make it like a home movie,” Cianfrance says. 

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: In one scene of the film, Derek Wainscott portrays a crossing guard. During this scene, actual police officers who interviewed him in real life appear on screen, playing cops interrogating Kirsten Dunst’s character. Director Drake Doremus didn’t make them read lines; instead, they asked the same questions they posed to her 20 years ago. Kirsten responded as though she were Leigh, and Derek watched the entire interaction unfold.

“I think it was cathartic for her,” Cianfrance says. 

In their initial conversations, both Cianfrance and Gunn anticipated that Wainscott, along with Pastor Ron Smith, would express anger towards Manchester. However, quite surprisingly, they spoke about Manchester with genuine warmth instead. According to Gunn, Wainscott began recounting her relationship with him as the most thrilling period of her life, and even described him as a “wonderful” individual.

In simpler terms, Cianfrance shares that his discussion with Smith on the Bible impacted the mood of the movie.

Cianfrance recollects thinking: “Regarding Jeff, a man who was severely judged and given a 45-year sentence, I felt inclined to mirror Ron’s approach in the movie by emphasizing grace over judgment. However, the film doesn’t exempt Manchester from the repercussions of his actions, particularly the pain he inflicted on those he cared about when his life unraveled.”

In Cianfrance’s remembrance, “Jeff, a man who was harshly judged with a 45-year sentence, resonated with me as someone who, like Ron in the movie, leans towards grace rather than judgment. Nevertheless, the film doesn’t spare Manchester from facing the aftermath of his actions, especially the emotional damage he caused to those close to him when his deception was exposed.

Following their involvement with the film, Wainscott and Smith resumed regular visits to Manchester Prison once more, according to Cianfrance.

Manchester often felt like he was in a movie, but at first, he had doubts about Tatum being cast.)

As a devoted cinephile, I found myself engaged in a conversation where director Derek Cianfrance expressed his thoughts on casting choices. He said, “I suggested that we should consider someone less conventionally attractive.” Then he proceeded to converse with Channing Tatum and shared, “Interestingly enough, Channing and I share many similarities. We both have a high level of energy, we were both defensive ends, and yes, we are both strikingly handsome men.

Although not yet having watched the movie, Manchester caught a glimpse of a segment on local news featuring Channing Tatum’s character skating around Toys ‘R’ Us wearing Heelys and carrying a teddy bear. Curious about the origin of this amusing scene, Manchester inquired from director Drake Doremus how it came to be. Doremus shared that during filming preparations, they happened upon Tatum engaging in playful antics.

According to Jeff, he’s delighted to hear this. Dana Cianfrance adds, ‘Many people overlook the fact that spending half a year confined within a toy store can awaken your inner child. I’m thrilled that Channing had an opportunity to go through such an experience and embrace his inner child.’

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2025-09-07 19:06