Murder of Lena and Wilhelm Riedel

In 1888 36-year-old Charles Henry Riedel his wife 37-year-old  Lena and their son 7-year-old Wilhelm "Willie" moved to Wilmington, Delaware from Philadelphia. Charles was German and spoke broken English. Unbeknownst to those around him he was depressed due to a lack of work and prospective want. 

On the morning of September 17, 1887, both mother and child were sleeping in the same bed. Lena was sleeping on her back facing up and Wilhelm was on his side facing away from his mother. Charles would go up to both. He first shot at the wall twice, but neither woke up. He would then shoot Lena and then Wilhelm in the head.  Witnesses heard Lena moaning and saying "Willie". Even if she talked evidence showed that she did not move after being shot but could have lived up to 3 hours afterward. 

Charles tried to kill himself by shooting himself in the temple, but he failed. Later that morning he would go to his door and shout that he would shoot everyone. He would then yell at Mrs. Gottilieb Wachter to see what he had done upstairs. This scared her and she rushed to her husband who was working at the mill at the time. 

The two would return and enter the home. Upstairs they would see the bodies of the mother and child still in bed. He would then be asked what he had done by them. "Just what I said I would." When they left the house Charles locked the door behind him. This was when someone was sent to get an officer. 

Later that morning Officer Sherry and Gustave Kolock would go to the home. The front door to the house was locked so the back of the house to peer in to see Charles smoking. The officer wanted someone to distract Charles briefly as he snuck in through the back to arrest him. Gustave's brother did so as he joined the party. They did this  and Charles willingly went with the officer and only asked to get his money before leaving. It was $21.70 (Around $667) one of the $5 bills was stained with blood. He grabbed it from the mantel and left with the officers. As he was put in the carriage Charles stated "I shot my wife. I shot my child. I'll shoot everybody."

He was found guilty and on August 10, 1888, Charles would be executed. He was welcoming the execution. One reporter would ask how Charles would feel if the governor would let him live a little longer. Charles would respond with "I will kill myself. I do not want to live this way. " He was religious but refused spiritual consolation. 

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Deleware, The District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Page 9

The Morning News September 19, 1887

Daily Republican September 21, 1887

Daily Republican May 16, 1888

The Morning News August 10, 1888

GHOSTS: Brides of Trivale Forest in Pitești

Photo by Andres Molina

 

In the Trivale Forest in Pitești, Romania there are two brides that haunt it. Both women have met their own demise in their own sad and terrible ways.

The first bride was the daughter of a rich landowner. She had fallen in love with a poor servant, but her father had other arrangements. He had found an old rich man for her to marry. The maiden decided that she could not marry someone she did not love. On the wedding day, she and the servant would run into the Trivale Forest. Her father not far behind would find the couple and in his anger kill the servant and then behead her. It's said that she would give her father nightmares by visiting his dreams in her wedding dress. It's believed that this is what led to his death. It's said that she haunts an abandoned home, possibly her own that's in the forest.

The second bride story would happen in the 1970s to 2000s. A taxi driver would take a fair and the woman would ask him to drop her off at an abandoned site in the forest. The woman told the driver that she would go inside and get the money and come back out. For reassurance, she would wrap her wedding ring in a handkerchief and give it to him. Tired the taxi driver would fall asleep and when he woke up he was elsewhere. He was in a nearby housing estate and he drove around confused. He would find ask around about the woman and would find out that yes she used to live in the area, but died 10 years before. Her husband had died in a car crash (or trampling) and she killed herself. Taxi driver would find that the ring was attached to a rotting finger.

SOURCES:
Wikipedia
POV21st
Steemit

William Zinsmeister Shoots up a Picnic

 On June 23, 1923, 35-year-old William Zinsmeister would question his son-in-law. He would inquire where his daughter, 15-year-old Mamie, was attending a picnic for the St. Williams Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He would then ask who she was attending with and if it was the boy he disapproved of. He would then call a taxi to come get him at his soft drink stand at 1:30 p.m. 

Before leaving he would tell his son-in-law that he "I'm going to kill 5 kids this afternoon". His son-in-law would try to make it to the river before him. He left in the taxi with two revolvers and over 75 rounds. The taxi would bring him to the picnic area of the Ohio River. There was nothing unusual about how William was acting in the taxi.

When they arrived William would leave the vehicle and walk towards the river. The Taxi driver would stay and chat with someone. He would then walk down to his daughter who was sitting on a log next to the water. 18-year-old Thomas Mullaney and 16-year-old Sarah Connolly were in the water near her. 

William would be greeted by Mamie saying "Hello Daddy." He would then ask his daughter "What are you doing out her Mamie?". She responded with something along the line of to have a good time and her father's response was "Well I'm going to kill you." He then pulled out and began shooting. 

Mammie died almost instantly with two shots to the head. He then began shooting at those in the water. 16-year-old Sarah Connolly would be shot and killed. 16-year-old Gertrude Franconia, and 18-year-old Charles Eifler would be injured. Thomas would be able to get one of the revolvers from William and received a wound to the shoulder and was hit on the head. 

Those witnessing the madness would run screaming towards where the Taxi was parked. "He's shooting people in the water." After the shooting William would flee across fields on foot towards his childhood home and where he was born. He was a few hundred feet from his former home and would kill himself. 

There were only two deaths, Mamie and Sarah. Sarah's body was washed away and a search would be done for it. She wouldn't be found for two days. Her body would be found down stream about a mile from the scene. The rest were injured with non life threatening wounds.

SOURCES:

The Puducah Sun-Democrat June 25, 1923

Messenger-Inquirer June 25, 1923

The Courier-Journal June 25, 1923

Hinton Daily News June 25, 1923

Murder of Bernard Quinn

At 7 p.m. on January 1, 1923, Bernard and Elizabeth Quinn were having a New Years party at their home at 1 Woodbine Street, Hendon, Sunderland. At the party were at least4 other people including Elizabeth's mother Elizabeth Cassidy. The party would only end in tragedy.

Elizabeth and 60-year-old Daniel Cassidy had been separated for a while and she was living in Manchester at the time. She wrote earlier to her daughter she would spend Christmas and New Year with her in Sunderland. This information was told to Daniel in hopes of reconciling their relationship. This however was not the case as when as he had a different thought in mind.

Daniel would show up to the party with a revolver. He would shoot six times at people in the room. Bernard, his mother-in-law, and his wife were all three shot. A downstairs tenant, James Coggins, would hear the shots and rush upstairs. He would see Daniel with the revolver.

When he came into the room Daniel struck him with the revolver. James would knock the gun out of his hands and bring him to the ground. He would then march Daniel along Hendon Road until a policeman was found.

The three who were shot were brought to the hospital. Bernard was beyond help and would pass away. The other two would recover from their injuries.

Daniel would be taken to trial and try to plead insanity. The jury did not believe there were any signs of insanity from Daniel and he was found guilty and set to hang. On April 3rd Daniel would be executed in Durham.


SOURCES:
British Executions
Evening Chronicle January 2, 1923
Evening Chronicle January 9, 1923
The Gloucestershire Echo January 15, 1923
The Shepton Mallet Journal, City of Wells Reporter, and County Advertiser April 6, 1923

INFANTICIDE: Dovey Davidson

 On April 1, 1872, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina 1-year-old Dovey Davidson was buried alive by her father 30-year-old Nathaniel Caldwell. Nathaniel was a married man and had an unwanted baby with a 16-year-old Ann Eliza Davidson. Nathaniel would be hanged for the murder on August 23, 1872.

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in North Carolina and South Carolina page 19

Murder of Herbert and Kate Rapson

 

By 1905 59-year-old William Rapson was frequently arguing with his son 25-year-old Herbert and Herbert's wife 28-year-old Kate. They would fight over the farm of H.N. Nottingham where they were tenants. In early January William agreed to leave the farm. Accounting of the farm started and fights still ensued and they nearly threw fists. Kate would get involved siding with her husband. They all lived in Joilet, Illinois together.

The morning of January 7, 1905, started out normally as the two would take care of the farm together. William and Herbert would go to the barn and feed the cattle and horses. Herbert would climb the hayloft and pitched hay down to the animals.

While Herbert was doing this William brought out a shotgun he had hidden the night before. While Herbert was coming down the ladder William would shoot his son once his head was visible. His death was sudden as the buckshot entered the base of the head and without even a groan Herbert fell to the pavement dead.

William would hide the gun behind the barn door and go to the home and ask Kate for help. She and her mother-in-law did not hear the gunshot. He told her that one of the cows was sick and he and Herbert needed her help with it. So unknowning of her fate she came into the barn first spotted Herbert on the ground.

She would run to her husband as William grabbed the gun. She initially thought he had been hurt, but she noticed that he had been shot she screamed and looked at William horrified. He pointed the gun at her and he was between her and the only exit. He told her "I'm going to kill you". She tried to run the other way away from him. 

The chase ended when they were at the far corner of the stable. There was no way out. She  tried to cover her face to protect herself. He held the gun a few inches from her head an fired. After he killed her he walked out of the barn not bothering either body. He would make his 

He would walk straight to a neighbors home, Lewis Grouger, and tell him "My son and his wife are in trouble." He gave no further explanation and Lewis and William rushed to the barn. Lewis was disturbed by the sight of the murders and rushed to another neighbor for help. Inside the home William's wife had no idea of his crime.

William would reload his gun and take off his boot. He placed the muzzle in his mouth and used his toes to shoot the gun. This did not kill him. When Lewis returned he would find William and William would tell him "I killed them both. I raised the boy and I loved him. Him and his wife were mean to me. They wanted to throw me out to beg."

William would be sent to the hospital and would survive. William would plea guilty. Against what Kate's family wanted William would get life in prison. Because of his injuries from his attempted suicide and his old age even with the minimum of 14 years for both would mean he would die behind prison.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave Herbert

Find a Grave Kate

Chicago Tribune January 8, 1905

Matoon Morning Star January 8, 1905

The Worthington Advance January 13, 1905

The Tamaroa Times January 18, 1905

The Joliet Evening Herald-News March 2, 1905

The Joilet Evening Herald-News March 27, 1905

The Champaign Daily News March 28, 1905

The Joilet Evening Herald News March 30, 1905

The Joilet Evening Herald News April 1, 1905

Murder of Sarah Mitchell

Samuel Mitchell and his wife officially separated on December 17, 1804. Against her father's wishes, 9-year-old Sarah stayed the first night with her mother. This would upset Samuel.

The next day Sarah would go to her father's who was a weaver on Wheeler Street in Spitalfields, England. Sarah had helped out in the shop with quilling and her wheel was heard that morning. At 11:30 a.m. Samuel called downstairs to ask for the time. Between 11:30 and 12:30 he had used his shaving razor to slit his daughter's throat, the cut was so deep she was almost decapitated. The scene was bloody. At 12:30 he left and soon after he was gone a William Godby discovered Sarah's body.

Samuel to go to a friend telling him he had killed his daughter. The two would get a drink and Samuel would smoke a pipe. Afterwards, his friend asked him what he was going to do. Samuel told him he was going to get money from some friends for prison because he planned to turn himself in.

 He would be arrested later that day. He stated that his reason for killing his daughter was because he cared for her deeply. She did not want to be deprived of her and only see her occasionally. He decided that if he could not have her his wife would not either. 

At trial, he was immediately found guilty by the jury. He would be executed on Jan. 14, 1805.

SOURCED:
Capital Punishment UK 

Find a Grave

The Bury and Norwich Post Dec. 26, 1804

Jackson's Oxford Journal Dec 29, 1804
The Morning Chronicle  Jan 12, 1805
The Leeds Intelligencer and Yorkshire General Advertiser Jan. 21, 1805

Murdered Saints: Murder of Dymphna and Gerebernus

 

Martyrdom of St Dymphna and St Gerebernus by Jacques de l'Ange

 In the 7th Century, Ireland Dymphna was born as Irish Royalty. Her father was Damon, the king of Oriel. Her mother was secretly a devoted Christian and would raise Dymphna in secret as one too. When she was 14 she would consecrate herself to Christ and hold a vow of chastity. 

Soon her mother would die and Damon's mental health would deteriorate. Damon had deeply loved his wife and took her death badly. His advisors would press Damon to remarry and he would agree. The only condition was that his bride needed to be as beautiful as the late queen. After searching fruitlessly for this woman he focused on his daughter who was as beautiful as her mother. 

The teenager would find out about her father's plans of marrying her. To keep her vows and escaping an unwanted fate. She would flee with her confessor Father Gerebernus. They would take a ship and would settle in what is now Geel, Belgium. Thinking that she would be safe from her father's clutches she would use her wealth to open a hospital for the poor and sick of the region. Some of the coins she used would allow her father to know her whereabouts.

Her father would go to Geel with his men. He would order them to behead Gerebernus and to force his daughter back to Ireland. The now 15-year-old would refuse to go back to Ireland to be her father's bride.  This would anger the king and he would behead his daughter in a rage. He would leave Dympha and Gerebernus where they were killed and left to go back to Ireland.

The residents of Geel would retrieve the bodies and bury the two in a cave. Years later their remains would be buried in a more suitable place. Both Gereburnus and Dymphna were canonized as Saints. 

In 1349 a church was built to honor St. Dymphna built in Geel. Many Europeans would come to church by 1480. These people would seek treatment for psychiatric disorders and the church would expand for their guests. Even though there was expansion they would get an overflow of people. The people of Geel would take patients into their own homes. The patients would never be called that though and be called boarders. 

The boarders would be treated like family by their hosts. Most would work menial labor in return and become a part of the community. Some would live the rest of their lives in Geel some months or decades. In the 1930s it's said that there were over 4,000 boarders in the town. 

The remains of St. Dymphna were later put into a silver reliquary and placed in a church in Geel named in her honor. The remains were moved to Xanten, Germany. The original church of St. Dymphna burned down in the late 15th century. A second church was built and consecrated in 1532 where they believed her body was first buried. Many miracles are believed to have happened here.

St. Dymphna is known as the Lily of Eire because of her spotless virtue. She is the patron saint of mental illness and anxiety. The chief feast day is May 15 the final day of their martyrdom.

St. Gerebernus is a saint against fever, gout, and for Sonsbeck, Germany. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Catholic

Loyola Press

Catholic Saints

Murder of Emily and William Cockin

26-year-old George Cockin and his wife separated In September 1878. It wasn't said why the two separated, but it could be because his wife was an alcoholic at the time. The residents at the place they l lodged with Mrs. Hubbarks on Philidelphia Street in Bristol, England did not like her. She had been stealing curtains and linen from their landlord to sell for alcohol. When she left George was living with his five-year-old daughter Emily and 3-year-old son William. By October they had been living there for 5 months.

It was known that his wife would try to see the children while George was not home. He never saw her, but knew she was going to try to take the children away from him.  On October 13, 1878, the children's mother came to the home again. This time she brought toys with her for the children. He told someone else lodging there that to tell her she was unwelcomed and to go back to the man she was with.

The next morning on October 14 George went out and bought a frock and boots for his son. He did not go to work this day and seemed to be going in and out of the house constantly. He seemed sober for most of the day though. He then went out with the children for dinner. They arrived back home about a quarter to 5. He was witnessed holding his children's hands saying; "Come on Emmy and Willie; come with dada upstairs."

Another witness said that the children had seemed upset before going up. They had heard George take off his boots and then told the children to go to bed.

They then followed their father upstairs. William had come downstairs several times within 10 minutes and Emily came down each time to get her brother. About 5 or so minutes later George came downstairs crying. He did not have his boots or coat on anymore. He was also bleeding from his neck as he had tried to slice it. He said, "Mrs. Fowler do go up; I have killed my children."

Mrs. Fowler scared for the children rushed upstairs to find the children. Emily was lying on the floor of the landing and William was lying on the bed. Both of them had their throats slit, but were still alive. The room was said to be covered in blood.

The two children were carried to the infirmary. It was said that William's wounds were worse, but Emily was close to death. So they tried to work on Emily first, but she died within minutes. They then worked on William, but unfortunately, he also died 30 minutes later from his wound.

Witnesses claimed that George never mistreated his children. That he seemed to actually take great care of them. They noticed that he was sober most part of the day and seemed to be sober when he went upstairs with the children. He was drunk when he came back downstairs though.

His family was interviewed and asked if there was a history of mental illness in the family. His brother responded with a yes. They had several family members who were put in an asylum including a brother named William who died in one in 1869. A servant of his sister stated that she had once witnessed him 6 years before putting his head in a boiler hole saying he wanted to destroy himself and he was miserable.  He did have a history of acting strange.

He pled guilty for his daughter Emily's murder, but pleaded not guilty for William. His defense didn't claim that he didn't murder the children, but did so in a fit of insanity due to intoxication. The jury found him not guilty on that ground.

SOURCES:
The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser (Oct. 15)

The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser (Nov. 9)

The Lancaster Gazette 

MISSING: Myrisha Faye and AJ Campbell

 Myrisha Faye Campbell circa 1958 and age-progressed to 57

A.J. Campbell jr. circa 1958 and age-progressed to 54

3-year-old Myrisha Faye Campbell and her little brother 11-month-old A.J Campbell jr were picked up by their father A.J. Campbell sr. on September 6, 1958, from their home in Goliad, Texas. Their father claimed that he just wanted to take them out for a ride during one of his scheduled court-ordered visitations. He took them at 9:00 a.m. and was supposed to return with them at 3 p.m., but the children never returned home

Jewel and A.J. sr. had been married for 8 years and throughout the marriage A.J. sr was abusive towards Jewel. So eventually had left A.J. sr. and had taken the children with her. She had supported them by taking a teaching job in Goliad, Texas.

William Randal jr. was the only other person to last see the children alive. William Randal and A.J. sr. picked up the children together in Randal’s 2- door pink and charcoal-gray 1955 Chevrolet Tudor. The had went through Cuero and Gonzales, Texas and picked up two large cans of lard. When they were 3 miles out of Goliad A.J. sr. said he needed to go see a friend and Randal had gotten out of vehicle leaving the children alone with A.J. sr.

30 to 40 minutes later A.J. sr. returned with none of the children in sight. He had claimed that he had gotten into a fight with his brother-in-law and had left the children with another relative. Randal noticed that A.J. sr was acting nervous and agitated. A.J. sr. even asked if there was blood on him and warned Randal not to tell anyone about the fight. A.J sr. and Randal had driven to Austin Texas and separated promising to meet at a bus stop at midnight the next day to return the car. A.J. sr. never arrived causing Randal to ride the bus back home and reported his car stolen.

On September 7, A.J. sr. called a minister in Fort Worth, Texas. He had implied to the minister that he had killed the children by telling him that they were “at rest with the world” and that he was going to kill himself. Which he had followed through with when his body was found in Randal’s car on a road near Austin. It was ruled a suicide because he shot himself in the head with a 16- gauge shotgun.

A suicide note was found addressed to Jewel. In the note, he admitted he had buried both of the children. He also stated that he loved the children and that he still loved Jewel. He wished her happiness. His note did not indicate where he had buried the children or their whereabouts.

Jewel remarried afterward and took the last name Robertson, and had two more children. Jewel passed away in 2013, but her two other children are still actively looking for A.J. jr and Myrisha. They believe that there might be a chance that A.J. sr. had sold or given the children away instead of killing them.

Myrisha was 3 years old white female with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. She was 2’6 and 28 pounds. Myrisha was last seen wearing a pink dress with puffed sleeves and a Peter Pan collar, pink socks, and white buckle shoes.

A.J. Jr. was 11 months old he is a white male with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was 2’2 and 25 lbs. He has a birthmark on his eyelid and a birthmark below his lower lip. His fingers were also clubbed at the ends. A.J was last seen wearing a light blue and white checkered shirt with a dark blue collar and a yellow diaper with a clear plastic liner over it.

SOURCES:
Charley Project (A.J)
Charley Project (Myrisha)

Orren Mercer killed his Illegitimate son

Orren Mercer and his unnamed wife were both former slaves. The two would have two young children, but unfortunately, she would die. This resulted in Orren to look for love. He started to pay considerable attention to a woman named Lizzie Taylor. She was also a widower and lived in the neighboring plantation in Edgecomb County, North Carolina. The two would soon become intimate and Orren was virtually regarded by neighbors.

Lizzie would then become pregnant. This was when 45-year-old Orren stopped seeing her as often. Even though she claimed the baby was his, he claimed that it wasn't. She would then give birth to a beautiful baby boy. He denied the baby as his and she brought him to court for child support. This was when he created a solution to his problem.

On April 15, 1872, Lizzie started her day and went to work. Nellie, Lizzie's 12-year-old daughter, would stay home with her 5-month-old little brother.  Soon after her mother left she cleaned up the home and fed her younger brother. This was when Orren arrived at the home.  

When he walked in he had a coat over his head to disguise himself. This scared the young girl. This is the conversation that went between the two. He asked a series of questions. The little girl confirmed she didn't know who he was and it was just her, her brother and mother that lived there. He then asked if the baby was asleep and if he could drink water. She stated he was asleep and couldn't drink water as he was too little for that. He then asked if he could hold the baby and she said yes.

Nellie kept an eye on the man not trusting him. He then picked up the boy and stared him in the eyes. This moved his disguise and she realized the man was Orren. Orren then turned his back to the girl while still holding the baby. He then took a black vile out and fed it to the baby. He then placed the now crying baby back on the bed.

He then threatened the girl that it wouldn't be good for her if she told anyone he'd been there. He then left the two children alone. The baby was wailing and crying in agony. in a matter of moments, the baby's cheeks became blackened and his tongue stuck out and was also black. This frightened the girl and she ran to her mother for help.

On the way back to the home they came across Dr. Mercer (not related) and told him of the baby. When they arrived he examined the baby and was unable to help him. He died in the next few hours. By that time his scalp and skin had begun to fall off. It was found that he was killed with lye (caustic potash).

Soon after a warrant for Orren's arrest was done. He was then arrested and was found guilty at trial. He was supposed to hang on June 14. He had an appeal go to the Supreme Court, but he was still found guilty and sentenced to death.

He made a statement along the lines that Lizzie was constantly trying to get him to marry her. That he tried to be with other women, but she scared them off. He said that Nellie lied and did not see him kill her little brother. That he had nothing to do with the boy's death and wasn't at the home at the time. He said that the murderer was possibly a man named Redding Stanton who Orren claimed people told him that he said: "I have got him as I want him". Orren said he had no idea why Redding would have a grudge against him and convinced the young girl to lie about her brother's death.

When Orren realized he was going to be hung. He decided to try to starve himself to death first. He was unable to starve himself to death. He did become very weak before his execution. He still declared he was innocent of the crime on Jan 16, 1872.

On Jan 16. He was hung. His neck did not break and it took a few minutes for him to die. He was then decalred dead 25 minutes later.

SOURCES:
Legal Executions In North Carolina and South Carolina: A Comprehensive Registry, 1866-1962 by Daniel Allen Hearn
The New Berne Times May 26, 1872
The Tarabourogh Southerner December 12, 1872
The Tarabourogh Southerner December 5, 1872
New York Daily Herald Jan 19, 1873

Murder Terms: Filicide

Filicide is the term used for parents who have murdered either their own children or stepchildren. The murder victims do not have to be children but do have to be the child of their killer. The parents who kill their children may have different reasons, to it is to protect, harm or get rid of their child.

According to one U.S. study that was done in 2014 used 32 years of data. They found that at least 500 filicides happen in a single year. At least 50 of the cases of filicide was from the last five years of the study were done to the disabled. And within the last three decades, the act of filicide has decreased and did not increase with the '90s with the population increase.

Filicide on children 6 and under have taken up 72% of the murders and 10% was between 7 and 18 and 18% were with adult children. 1/3 of Infants who were killed were less than a year old.  It was found that during times of higher economic stress that there are more cases of filicides (infanticide) involving infants.

A father killing their son is more possible (29.5%) than a mother killing her son (22.1%) In the cases involving daughters a mother will more than likely kill her (19.7%) than a father (18.2%). The rarest cases are with stepmothers killing their stepson (.5%) or stepdaughter (.3%).

Parents were more than likely to use their hands when murdering their children. Some examples are forced drowning, beating and or choking which is the case with 69% of infanticide. As the victim gets older weapons like guns are used which is the case with 72.3% of adult victims. Contact weapons like bats and edged weapons like knives were less likely used. Men were more than likely to use a gun than women. Stepparents are more than likely to use guns (40%)  than biological parents (21%).



SOURCES
Brown
Dictionary
Autistic Advocacy 
NCBI