There’s something terrifying—absolutely horrific—about being axed to death. Hollywood’s made a killing off movies like The Shining, American Psycho, and So I Married An Ax-Murderer, not to mention Lord Of The Rings where Gimley, the ginger-bearded psycho-dwarf, double-blades dozens of ornery Orks. But movies aren’t real—not real life, that is. In reality, ax-murder victims don’t get up to act another day. I’ve investigated a few real-life ax-murders in my time, including one gruesome and grotesque axing scene that tops anything Hollywood has yet to script.
In fact, I’m just about finished the manuscript for In The Attic. It’s based on a true double ax-murder story and I’ll tell you what happened in that bedroom… eight feet below the attic. But first, let’s look at some other famous ax-murders that compete with my case.
15. The Axman of New Orleans
Between May, 1918 and October, 1919 six men and six women were attacked in their Lower Ward homes and hacked to death with an ax. The MO was consistent. The killer knew when the victims were vulnerable. Entry was made through the back door. There were no sexual overtones, no evidence of robbery, and a common denominator was that all victims were Caucasian and mostly from Italian-American heritage. The series of killings stopped as abruptly as they started and no viable suspect was ever developed.
14. The Servant Girl Annihilator
A series of eight ax-murders occurred in Austin, Texas in 1885 where the victims were young ladies who worked as servants to wealthy employers. All were chopped in their sleep in their detached quarters. Six victims were black. Two were white. No one was arrested in the cases and they also ended abruptly. In 2014, an investigative report for PBS identified a strong suspect as Nathan Elgin, a 19-year-old African-American cook who was known to many victims. Elgin was shot by police after attacking a similar servant girl with an ax. No other Austin ax-murders took place in this string after his death.
13. Frances Stewart Silver
“Frankie” Silver was hanged in 1833 for the ax-murder of her husband, Charles Silver. His dismembered body was found distributed around the family’s North Carolina farm. Frankie never confessed and, despite weak evidence, a jury convicted her. No motive was established. Prior to her execution, she was sprung from jail through a well-planned break and was disguised as a man. She was caught attempting to flee the state and returned to the gallows.
12. The Crazed Captain
William Stewart was the skipper of the Mary Russell, a trading boat returning to England from Barbados. He suffered paranoid delusions and accused seven crew members of conspiring to mutiny. One by one, he lured the innocent men to the ship’s salon and enlisted three other young crew members to overpower the innocent men, binding them hand and foot then pinioning them to the floor. Once all seven were restrained, Captain Stewart took the ship’s fire-ax and systematically split their skulls. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The Mary Russell became known as the ship of seven murders.
11. Karl Denke
By day, this guy was an organ player at a church in the Kingdom of Prussia. By night, he chopped people up with his ax and stored their flesh in huge vats of pickling salt. He was caught axing a man to death at Christmas in 1924. When police searched Denke’s home, they found his business ledger documenting 42 other humans Denke killed and commercially processed. He was selling the meat at the market labeled as salt-pork. Two days after his arrest, Dehke hung himself in jail.
10. The Tokoloshe
Elifasi Msomi was called The Ax Killer in his village in South Africa. He started an 18-month killing spree in 1953 where he raped and murdered six children by hacking them apart and disposing of their parts in a valley. When caught, he claimed to be possessed by an evil spirit called the Tokoloshe. Superstitious Zulu elders bought his claim and freed Msomi after exorcising the entity. When Msomi went back to business, higher authorities stepped in and re-arrested him. A psychological assessment found Msomi to be of very high intelligence, near brilliant, however derived sexual pleasure from inflicting pain and death upon young children. He got hung.
9. The Greenough Family Massacre
This took place in Greenough, Western Australia. In 1993, Karen MacKenzie and her three children Daniel (16), Amara (7), and Katrina (5) were so savagely ax-murdered on their remote rural farm that the trial judge ordered the details of the killings sealed, stating they were too gruesome for public knowledge. Bill Mitchell, their 24-year-old farmhand, was convicted in the murders as well as for performing sexual assaults on the dead bodies. He’s serving life sentences and was recently eligible for parole. It was denied.
8. The Hexing Axer
Jake Bird, also known as the Tacoma Ax-Killer, was convicted in the 1947 murders of a mother and daughter in Tacoma, Washington. He got caught fleeing the scene, barefoot, after police were called to reports of horrific screams coming from the house. Bird had the victims’ blood and brain matter on his hands, feet, and clothes as well as his bloody fingerprints on the ax found by the bodies.
At his sentencing to hang, Bird stated to the courtroom, “I’m putting the Jake Bird hex on all of you who had anything to do with my being punished. Mark my words, you will die before I do.”
Allegedly, six of these people died before Bird was hung in 1949; the judge, the officer who interrogated Bird’s primary confession, the officer who interrogated a secondary confession to other murders, the court clerk, an attending guard, and Bird’s own defense lawyer. Bird progressively confessed to 46 other murders, saying he liked to use an ax because it did the job very well.
7. The Police Corruption Ax-Murder
Daniel Morgan was a private investigator who was digging into allegations of drug-related police corruption in the southeast section of London. In 1987, Morgan was found dead in a park with a massive ax-wound to the back of his head. This opened up a massive investigation into police corruption that resulted in five public inquiries. A number of officers have been charged with many offenses such as drug trafficking, extortion, conspiracy, and cover-ups, but who axed Daniel Morgan remains a secret. The investigation is ongoing.
6. Joseph Ntshongwana
Here’s another South African who was good with an ax. He was also good at sports, being a professional rugby player. But something wasn’t playing right in Joseph’s head. He convinced himself that four men gang-raped his daughter and gave her an HIV infection. He hunted and hacked the men, holding their heads as hostages. At his arraignment, Joe spoke in tongues and called to deities. The court called it faking insanity and declared him fit to stand trial. Joseph Ntshongwana’s now serving life… in maximum security.
5. Victor Licata
This guy did-in five members of his own family back in 1933. The Tampa, Flordia man was 21 when he went on a psychotic rampage and axed his way around the house. His mother, father, two brothers, a sister, and the family dog were slaughtered in their sleep. When arrested, Licata was dressed in clean clothes while his body underneath was covered with dried blood. Prior to the murders, his parents were trying to have him committed to a mental institute. They were too late. Licata eventually hung himself in a hospital for the criminally insane.
4. The Black Widow Ax-Murderer
Eva Dugan was convicted of killing her fifth husband, Charlie, in Arizona back in the 1920’s. She, like others in this article, used an ax. Eva dismembered Charlie, then buried him in the desert. She was caught—I’m not sure how—and sentenced to hang. Eva became more famous in death because the hangman miscalculated and she was decapitated. They said Eva’s head came to a rolling stop in front of the witnesses, some of which fainted. The error led to Arizona adopting the gas chamber. The noose used to kill Eva Dugan is now on display at the Pinal County Historical Museum in Florence, Arizona.
3. Lizzie Borden
As the song goes, “Lizzie Borden took an ax and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.” This occurred in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1892. Lizzie Borden was acquitted of her parents’ murders, though history gives every indication she was dirty as a tree root. The motive appeared financial and Lizzie was perfectly sane. The house where the Borden murders took place is now a Bed & Breakfast / Museum and even has a giftshop where you can buy a Lizzie Borden Bobble Head doll. It’s blood-spattered and holding an ax. Now how cool is that? Click Here to visit or book a night.
2. The Villisca Ax-Murders
Probably the most famous ax-murder case… still unsolved… was in June of 1912. Six Moore family members and two child guests were savagely axed in a house in Villisca, Iowa. Evidence showed the killer hid in the attic and crept down while they slept, dispatching them one… by… one… a number of suspects… were identified… no one charged…. let alone convicted… motive unknown… crimes unsolved… the house is also a museum…
1. In The Attic
Now it’s my turn. I’m writing my next novel titled In The Attic. It’s based on the true double-ax-murders I investigated when I was a cop. Maria Dersch, the complainant/victim, came to my police office seeking protection from her ex-boyfriend, Billy Ray Shaughnessy. He’d just raped Maria at knife point, promised to kill her if caught with another man, then snuck back and sliced-up Maria’s clothes.
I’m the poor bastard who got handed the file.
So, I took an audio-recorded statement from Maria. It opened “I’m so terrified that psycho’s going to kill me.” I went to Maria’s house to find Billy Ray. To arrest Billy Ray. To photo Maria’s clothes as evidence. He was nowhere to be found. I took this serious. I arranged for others to stay with Maria until Billy Ray could be caught… even arranged for the locks to be changed on Maria’s doors.
Two and a half days later, Maria and a male friend—Earl Barker, who stayed to protect Maria—were savagely slaughtered in their sleep. Billy Ray climbed down from the attic at 3 am with an ax. The scene looked like a bomb blasted a barrel of blood. He’d been in the attic… the whole fucking time… while I photographed the clothes… changed the locks… protected Maria…
In The Attic’s point of view tells in first-person with me, the nameless detective, narrating the investigation. Uniquely, it’s also told from Billy Ray’s perspective—his thoughts told to me about lurking above. In The Attic is nearly complete and I’m looking for potential victims who’d like ARC’s, Advance Reading Copies in exchange for reviews. In The Attic is available about mid-June in ePub, Mobi/Kindle, and PDF if anyone wants dibs.
Please leave a comment or email me at garry.rodgers@shaw.ca and I’ll ship you a copy of…
Wow, this post was amazing! Your book sounds absolutely downright very interesting!
Thanks, Erin. “In The Attic” is now available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I66L8S2 If you or anyone else would like a copy in exchange for a review, email me at garry.rodgers@shaw.ca
I would love to read your book! I can only imagine the sleepless nights this case caused-the sheer brutality of it- the fact you had met the victim-and the knowledge that the one responsible for such bloodthirsty & horrific butchery was right above your head in the attic!.
I’ll ship you a copy in about 2 weeks, Sonia. I’ll admit I had a bit of PTSD over this and still think “if only”… “if only”… if only I’d looked in the attic.
I would love to read your book! I can only imagine the sleepless nights this case caused-the sheer brutality of it- the fact you had met the victim-and the knowledge that the one responsible for such bloodthirsty butchery was right above your head in the attic!.
Hello Garry,
A chill went through my body as I read your latest post – gawd! If you still require reviewers, I would LOVE to read your ARC. Your past position must provide you with a plethora of material (little green here lol). Cheers. ☼
Hi Sandy! Great to hear from you and hope all’s well on your side of the Straight 🙂 No shortage of material, for sure 🙂 I’m just doing an autopsy, or, ah, an edit on the ms and I’ll have a copy coming your way about mid-month. Thanks so much for sticking your neck out!
My pleasure *(tucks neck) lol.
Wow. This was an outstanding post, Garry. I’d love an ARC. Course, you already knew that. 😉 The sicko who sold the meat at the fair must take top place for most deranged, IMO. Though I did chuckle at Dugan’s head rolling into the crowd. Karma’s a bitch.
Hey – There you are. I was beginning to think you might be victim #16 – or off being perp #16 might be more like it 🙂 What I still can’t get over is the eyes on #5. Now if ‘ol Vic isn’t the poster-boy for an ax-killer convention, I don’t know who is.
Great article, Garry! A gruesome read to start my week! LOL You might find this story interesting, too, as some sources believe he used an ax as one of his weapons. An ancestor of my husband’s married into the Sovereign family which is how we learned of it.
http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/sovereene_henry_6E.html
His hanging was noted in the opening of one of the books about the Black Donnellys though this may have been somewhat fictionalized to suit the time frame of the book.
If you’re still looking for people to read your new book, I’d be happy to do so.
Shelley
Hi Shelley & thanks for the link. That’s an interesting article & sounds like he was a true psycho/sociopath. I could have used it as part of this post if I’d known about it. And thanks for mentioning the Black Donnellys – It’s been in the back of my mind to look into this and do a post – reminds me of Stompin’ Tom’s song about them. I’ll be sure to send you a copy of In The Attic. I’m just finishing off the manuscript today and am reviewing Billy Ray’s psychiatric report as I write this..
My husband has relatives that live in Lucan where the Donnellys are from and we plan to go to visit them sometime this summer to tour the local museum with them. I’ve been to the churchyard and have seen the tombstone that replaced the original. I’ve also driven past the homestead plot. Apparently the owners of the farm do tours so might take that up while we’re there. If you’d like I can send you some pictures for your post if write it. I’m not familiar with Stompin’ Tom’s song but now I will have to look it up! 🙂
I’d love to see some photos, Shelley. Much appreciated. Here’s the link to Tom Conners’ Black Donnellys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDVEK1egMVw
Your book sounds so fascinating! I would love to read it.. Whether you send it or not I like the idea of you giving your point of view then the killer’s.. The idea of him being in the attic the entire time is creepy beyond imagination.
There’ll be one coming your way, Lynette. Creepy is probably the best word but it’s still an understatement.
I look forward to reading your new book, Garry, and I would be happy to review it for you. Incidentally, the Villisca Ax Murder House, in Iowa, is open for tours and overnight stays. Several years ago, I stayed there overnight with two friends. Very eerie place.
I’ll be sure to send you one. Mike. I saw that online – and wasn’t it you who’s been to the Lizzie Borden house?
I’m looking forward to reading this book, whether you send it for a review or if I buy it when it’s released. I’m intrigued with parts of it being written through the killer’s eyes. That makes a nice contrast to the detective point of view.
It’s a different approach, for sure, Jessica. I spent hours interviewing the killer, Billy Ray, and I based his POV on my recollection, notes, tapes, and the psychiatric assessment. When he was back at the scene, re-enacting the murders, it was like he was critiquing a movie he’d watched. I’ll never forget this case. I’ll be sure to send you a copy 🙂
It sounds like a cliché, but I couldn’t put it down. I was gripped from the first sentence, and was not so much reading as inhaling the story until it was done. I took a long, cathartic shower to get my head back in my own world, so I could write sensibly about my experience as a reader of this gripping story.
The story is written in such a way that it would be impossible not to walk around in the victim’s shoes, but the added ability to see from the perp’s eyes was even more spellbinding. There were times I wanted to shout to the victim what she didn’t know, and what I knew. At one point, when the sunshine glinted off an attic window, I wanted to poke the cop and tell him to search for an attic. I kept waiting for that barely remembered image of the window below the gable to surface to the forefront of his mind. That’s how real this story was. No awareness that I was reading a book, but more like I was a fly on the wall, just watching the events unfold.
It’s a fantastic writing of a horrible story. I know I’ll read this one again and again.
The only thing missing is a collection of grisly photos from the crime scene. Yes, I know, that’s asking for an extra few swishes of the mental knife, but I’d never be able to look away from a train wreck, either.
Wow! Thanks, Jess. I guess “In The Attic” is doing what it’s supposed to 🙂 Thank you so much for the encouraging words. It really means a lot and you’ve given me the best compliment a writer can ever get – “I couldn’t put it down”. I’m truly flattered.
I really like your blog – it’s appearance in my email each Saturday promises a good weekend read!
Your manuscript sounds incredibly eerie. I’m sure you have all the offers you need, but I’d really enjoy seeing it!
Thank you, Wendi. I really appreciate your encouragement. I’ve been doing the blog for four years now and can’t see ever running out of material. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the effort but when I get comments like yours then I know it is. I’ll definitely give you a copy 🙂
Your book sounds fascinating. I would love to read it….It amazes me the length people will go to when they are convinced they have been wronged.
Thanks, Rose. I’ll get one to you. You’re right about what people will do when they can justify it in their minds. That’s what the real story is here – what was going on in the killer’s mind.
Congratulations on your novel. The final piece so close, that’s a lot of work so doing the happy dance for you. Another creepy post that makes my skin crawl and makes me fear my attic.
I would love to read an ARC and give an honest review. I just happen to be in a true crime reading wave right now. I can only read so many in a row before I have to give my mind a reprieve with some mindless, easy-going fluff. 🙂
Great post, I live close to Tacoma and think I may have to go look up some archives on the six that supposedly died before Jake Bird after his curse. Creepy.
Hey, thanks Diane. I’ll send you a copy and I’d really appreciate an honest review. Here’s a link to the article where I got the hex info. I used “supposedly” but it makes for good folklore 🙂 http://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/comments/jake_bird_hex/
Oooo, me me I want one! For the Kindle please. You are uniquely experienced and qualified to write this story. I will be looking forward to reading it! I knew slightly a young woman whose boyfriend was violent towards her, and in one event slashed all of her clothes to rags with a knife. I helped her move out and hide from him for a short time, but he found her at work and – amazingly to me at the time – talked her into coming back to him. They left town shortly thereafter. I’ve always worried, wondered, and hoped that she eventually reached a safe place in her life. To hear that event so chillingly echoed…
You’re on the list, Summer! When I heard from Maria that Billy Ray cut her clothes, that was a huge red flag for me. I think that is so violently symbolic – it’s a real strong warning of bad things to come. I hope things worked out for your friend but… the leopard does not change the spots.
In the Attic sounds like an extremely interesting book though I cannot imagine how a human can use an axe against another human without losing their lunch. The scene must have been horrific to process!
Hi Paula – It was the most gruesome scene I’ve experienced. What was really fascinating (from a forensic investigative point) was working with the bloodstain pattern analyst who recreated the blows. Once Billy Ray was caught, he confessed and reenacted the crime. The analyst got it bang-on correct. I’ve described the scene exactly as it was in In The Attic so it’s not for the squeamish. But what In The Attic is really about is what was going through that psychopath’s mind while he was hiding in the attic waiting for his opportunity to kill them.
Love to read it. Liked your book about Bude.
Thanks, Francis. I’ll send you a copy when it’s ready 🙂