The report compared his claims to reliable, verifiable sources for his whereabouts; the results often contradicted his confessions, thus casting doubt on his participation in most of the crimes he had confessed to. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Doctors also believe Henry Lee Lucas' excessive alcohol consumption may have contributed to his behavior and mental impairment. halfday_ 6 yr. ago Eggs. Little Henry Lucas spent most of his childhood nights sleeping on mounds of dirt and chicken excrement in the familys chicken coop. Given Lucass habit of lying, its impossible to know what his real body count was. Do you hope that that the series will bring about more interest from law enforcement to re-examine these cases?Kenner: We absolutely hope for that. It wasn't long before he violated his parole, In 1985, two Texas reporters for the Dallas Times-Herald, Hugh Aynesworth and Jim Henderson, concluded a 15-month investigation proving that there was no possible way he was responsible for every murder he confessed to committing. I spoke to Robby about it and we saw that it had the potential to be way more than just a normal true-crime story. Henry Lee Lucas was born in a one-room log cabin in Blacksburg, Virginia. Wed love to get that DNA evidence. When Lucas started talking, the Texas Rangers formed a task force, led by Sheriff Jim Boutwell, a law-enforcement hero at the time, to handle the confessions and visits from other law-enforcement agencies who wanted to clear their unsolved cases. After a traveling salesman tried to pick him up for sex, Toole ended up running him over with his own car. The one difference is that Vic corrected his mistakes. After his arrest for the murders of his girlfriend and landlord, Henry a poor drifter with few teeth and a very low IQ began confessing to even more killings. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. All That's Interesting reports the men bonded over a similarly difficult childhood. If they're in prison they'd smell like the prison. And she said there are times as a detective that you look at a case and you think you know who did it, but you dont have the proof and you have to let it go. Parker Posey stars in this update of Chekhov, swapping familiar New York intelligentsia types for the Russian bourgeoisie. He would state himself he only killed his mother, Between the ages of five and 10, Henry was stabbed in the eye, struck in the back of the head with a two-by-four, and suffered another blow to the face. Meanwhile, Henry Lee Lucas readily confessed to more than 600 murders. Probably used old spice. WebHenry Lee Lucas (August 23, 1936 March 12, 2001) was an American convicted serial killer. Aint no way he couldve guessed that, and I damn sure didnt tell him., Lucas himself admitted to exaggerating and making up stories. Its really a psychological tale. Kenner hopes justice will win in the end. BENTON, La. [31], Lucas' credibility was damaged by his lack of precision: he initially admitted to having killed 60 people, a number he raised to over 100 victims, which police accepted, and then to a figure of 600 that led to him not being taken seriously. Some serial killers are meticulous about hygiene though and you'd never guess they were one from their smell, they'd shower regularly, wear clean clothes, cologne and so on. Maybe Jennifer would have more support if she werent wrong so often. Oldham: Thats a really important point. And they didnt do it well. Then I noticed that I had my knife in my hand and she had been cut.. It was very painful for her. Cole was also unidentified until 2015. Bundy killed 30. When we mentioned this to Bob Prince he said, I only wish Boutwell were here to defend himself today. And Im thinking, Yeah, but you know theres absolute proof that Lucas didnt do them. In a way, Boutwell got to say what he needed to say. [21], Journalist Hugh Aynesworth and others investigated the veracity of Lucas' claims for articles that appeared in The Dallas Times Herald. A part of it is the desire to go on the historical record. According to some sources, she may have even helped Lucas and Toole lure in victims; people would approach Lucas'scar, thinking the young girl was in trouble. Lucas received preferential treatment that was extremely lax for someone supposedly thought to be a cunning mass murderer. By the end, American History Has Been Whitewashed, But, Black Teen Girls On TV Are A Mess Finally, Henry Lee Lucas went down in true crime history, linked with any certainty to more than three. Everything You Never Wanted to Know About In-flight Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discoverys licensing chief on how movies and TV get on planes, editing decisions, and the curious case of. He Following his arrest, Henry Lee Lucas claimed he killed his mother in self-defense. I think he had a hard time continuing to keep confessing because he did keep saying to Aynesworth he didnt do these things when he was confessing. He exploited the cover of air raids and wartime blackouts to assault and rape dozens of women, several of whom he killed. It all collapsed when an investigation by the Dallas Times Herald revealed that there was no way Lucas could have committed all those murders sometimes he was even in the wrong state at the time. She called an ambulance, but it arrived too late. Kenner: That just goes to show what weve been saying. What would you ask Sheriff Boutwell if you had had an opportunity?Kenner: The ultimate thing is every one of Boutwells cases is overturned, as well as other cases that dont involve Lucas. And as Lucas would later admit, confessing to crimes won him extra privileges. While the police may not have set out to frame an innocent man, hundreds of actual murderers went free, capturing the interest of Taki Oldham, one of the documentarys directors. Viola Lucas belittled her crippled husband and her children. At long last, the killer couple was behind bars. As reported by Digital Spy, Henry and his mother got into a verbal altercation, which quickly turned physical. Four narrative films have been made based on his confessions: Confessions of a Serial Killer (1985); Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), in which the title role is played by Michael Rooker; Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Part II (1996); and the 2009 film Drifter: Henry Lee Lucas. First, it was, wait Beckys alive? WebDoctors also believe Henry Lee Lucas' excessive alcohol consumption may have contributed to his behavior and mental impairment. "Becky," as she was known, would occasionally travel with the men as well. It was an example of what happens sometimes when we realize we might be doing something wrong, or we might be making a mistake, and we double down because its really hard to pull back. I've pondered this a bit and have a few theories: Confirmation bias. One of the wildest things of the series was the fake Becky. Henry Lee Lucas is escorted to his capital murder trial by the police. Lucas really was the only case where Bush asked the review board to recommend a commutation and the only sentence he Henry Lee Lucas (August 23, 1936 March 12, 2001) was an American convicted serial killer. In June 1998, then Texas Governor George W. Bush commuted Henry Lee Lucas' death sentence to life in prison. He even drew detailed pictures of his alleged victims much like another prolific serial killer named Samuel Little. He confessed to over 100 murders, though it was later believed he, too, lied about many of the crimes, according to Biography. [3] A period of stability followed, with Lucas working as a roofer, fixing neighbors' cars and scavenging scrap.[11][12]. Wikimedia CommonsAdam Walsh in St. Lucie County, Florida. But Lucas was convicted of11 murdersand sentenced to death, though in 1998 his sentence was commuted by then-governor George W. Bush. I started to correct him in his ways, in doing the crime where he wouldnt leave information.. I wouldnt have wanted to make a series about just a serial killer. sowie redaktionelle Newsbilder von Getty Images. In a new film the pop star co-wrote with director Trey Edward Shults. Lucas was convicted of murdering his mother in 1960 and two others in 1983. For Lucas and Toole, killing was just a way for the young couple to bond. I fished around more and I got a list of cases and narrowed the search. Lucas' death sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1998. Popsugar. After serving 10 years in prison, he was released in June 1970 due to prison overcrowding.[3]. More to the point, there are potentially hundreds of people out there who are walking the Investigators, however, found insufficient evidence to support Lucas' confession. Meanwhile, Toole led investigators down a similar path. When he refused, they argued repeatedly. But the Rangers now have more definitive proof and theyre still not quite ready to accept or even ask for things to be open. Walsh was perhaps one of the most well-known victims killed by Toole or Lucas since his murder would result in new child protection laws and his father getting into television and criminal justice. . A 2019 Netflix docuseries called The Confession Killer tried to get a little closer to the truth. Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, killed 49. No one went into this with bad intentions. ", At times, Henry Lee Lucas claimed he killed as many as 600 people. [16] In interviews with law enforcement personnel, Lucas confessed to numerous additional unsolved killings. Toole died of liver failure in prison in 1996. WebJason and Sarah Thigpen of Texas Heritage Woodworks, Chris Keuhn of Sterling Toolworks, Marco Terenzi, Mini Genius, and Todd Nebel being just a few. A police recreation of one of Henry Lee Lucass alleged victims. Criminologist EricW.Hickey cites an unnamed "investigator" who interviewed Lucas several times and concluded that he had probably killed about 40 people. Its one thing to make a mistake, but they made intentional decisions.Kenner: This was a tricky thing for us in making a series, because I dont think it was a conspiracy on their part. All I remember was slapping her alongside the neck, Lucas would later tell the police. At 50, his mother, Viola Lucas, still worked as the towns cheapest prostitute. As reported by Weebly, Henry's mother operated as a sex worker to supplement his meager income. Henry didnt mind killing the girl, although thats not where his satisfaction came from, but in having sex with her still warm corpse in the backseat of his car. Viola loved emasculating both her worthless husband and her burdensome son. In fact, he couldn't be. I know it is a weird question but what do you think? As for Ottis Toole, he was far more reluctant to talk about his crimes at first. WebLucas died in 2001 of a heart attack. Lucas belittled her crippled husband and her burdensome son the Confession killer to! Lucas would later admit, confessing to crimes won him extra privileges escorted to his behavior and mental.... The wildest things of the wildest things of the series was the fake.... The search at 50, his mother got into a verbal altercation, which quickly turned physical also believe Lee. Smell like the prison him over with his own car half a million enjoying! 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