The Speck murders: 40 years later

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | July 09, 2006 | Scott Fornek

[Graybeard58]

They should have been cell mates.

[Graybeard58]

A judge named Paschen was on the case from the begining,he came here (Peoria) when the trial was moved here.

[Inyo-Mono]

My first thought was that Hardin had been shot in the head while he sat -- presumably drunk and passed out -- in the shade of a tree...in Tombstone.

But a little research revealed that Hardin was shot in El Paso. The Tombstone event involved another gunslinger.

Johnny Ringo.

[Intolerant in NJ]

They should have been cell mates...Speck ended his days as an overweight, cross-dressing homosexual - i suspect they would have gotten along fabulously together.....

[pollyannaish]

plunged society into a new era -- that of the mass murderer

Huh. And all this time I thought that title belonged to Jack the Ripper.

[DCPatriot]

I remember this. I believe the author is right. Richard Speck and Charles Whitman changed this country's outlook.

We were already somewhat numb when Bundy and Gacy arrived.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

A&E had an hour show on this dirt bag

Wasn't he the perv with the man-boobs and panties? I'm surprised there were no "Save Speck" concerts from kook Left bands ... Or ... were there?

[Atlantian]

I remember my mom waking me up in the morning with a shocked look on her face telling me about these murders.

There were some horrible murders in Chicago during the 50's and 60's. I can still remember the names of children who were murder--the Grimes sisters, the Schultz brothers and Mary Ann Anderson.

I had to walk two blocks to elementary school by myself and I remember being afraid. You never knew who was luring around.

[BruceysMom]

I'd love to know if that is true. I followed the case pretty closely and I have never heard that before.

[razorback-bert]

I never saw a hint of meth in all the reporting.

[Sandy]

I always thought these women were killed while sleeping. Why the hell didn't they fight the guy? Weird.

[BruceysMom]

Me neither and I pretty much lived ate and breathed the coverage. I was also upset about Waco yet I couldn't understand how he could do what he did. I read everything looking for signs of my own demons. Never head meth in the context of McVay.

[nopardons]

There's a lot of history out there; I'm glad that I was able to supply you with one small bit of it, that you found interesting. :-)

There are several books about Holmes, the last one, "DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY", by Erik Larson, is well worth reading. If you'd like a few other titles, just let me know.

[nopardons]

And a few others, on both sides of the Atlantic; long before Speck was ever born. Newspaper hyperbole is nothing new and while Richard Speck was a monster, he didn't start anything.

[Lancey Howard]

And all this time I thought that title belonged to Jack the Ripper

Actually there is a significant difference between "mass murder" and "serial murder".

[Lancey Howard]

Interestingly, it was less than a month later that the Texas Tower Sniper, Charles Whitman struck.

[karnage]

To the end of his days, Speck was proud of the murders and the notoriety they brought him. He never showed a scintilla of remorse.

[KneelBeforeZod]

for crime buffs, a pretty good site: crimelibrary.com

[AdvisorB]

"Kenneth Allen McDuff also got his date with the executioner commuted. He was later released and killed several more people. Texas executed him the second time, and we haven't slowed down, since."

Don't Mess With Texas!

[Guenevere]

And surely we remember Danny Rollins!

I still can't believe I sent my daughter to University of Florida one year after that happened...

..but we thought we had snagged the safest dorm for her.

Found out, girls were still propping the outside door open at night!!(for guys)...in spite of what had happened.

She transferred to another Florida school the next year.....a very safe, very secure, very guarded Florida school.