Mama Talks Crime

Category: Murder

  • Why Are People Obsessed with Wade Wilson?

    Why Are People Obsessed with Wade Wilson?

    Wade Wilson, 31, is sitting on death row in the state of Florida. He was sentenced to death on August 27, 2024 for murdering two women—Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43—in the span of five hours on October 6, 2019. He was allegedly high on methamphetamine at the time of the killings, but these crimes followed years of criminal activity, which included severe and intensifying physical and sexual violence against women, car theft, stolen property, illegal possession of firearms and drug charges.

    It’s plain to see: if Wade wasn’t in custody, he’d kill again. And if Wade didn’t kill when he did, he would’ve eventually.

    If you want to see manipulation at work, Wade is your guy. He is objectively good looking—or he was prior to incarceration: tall (6’4”) and big (215 lbs.) with dark features, a muscular build and a dimpled smile, and covered in tattoos. He’s also known to be very charming and adept at lovebombing, which he uses to disarm and then exploit anyone who shows a sliver of vulnerability or interest in him. He admitted in interrogation videos to using his looks and charm to entice women and that it’s “simple, always.” But Wade isn’t only a womanizer; he’s a violent criminal. He left behind a trail of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and financial abuse that continue to haunt these women (and some men).

    Wade Wilson.

    It’s also true that drugs ruined Wade’s life. Wade was adopted into a hardworking family with morals, who supplied him with the foundation to succeed, and who truly loves him. However, he began using drugs at 13, and hard drugs like meth and crack were added to the mix early on. Sober Wade was described as kind, even timid and gentle. When under the influence of these drugs, specifically, he became a monster. Even after the murders, Wade was charged with leading a drug trafficking conspiracy in jail. He can’t stay away from the drugs that played a part in taking away his freedom and ending two lives and that, right there, is full-blown addiction at work.

    This case is cut and dry. There’s no question about culpability. Wade admitted to the murders time and again, and several ex-girlfriends have come forward to share personal accounts of abuse. At the time of posting, he has been incarcerated for six years. Yet somehow, thousands of people believe he’s innocent and raised money on his behalf. STRANGERS donated thousands. Wade has a son—yes, he’s also a deadbeat dad—whose funding platform, created to help his mother afford his basic needs, generated significantly less than Wade’s. And still others are so captivated by his looks and charm, that they pursue romantic and sexual relationships with Wade even after his incarceration.

    WTF. Why?

    Wade Wilson’s “popularity,” propelled by internet fame and viral TikTok videos, is interesting, and also not at all. He’s popular because he’s good looking, plain and simple, and somehow this distorts perceived guilt in the eyes of his fangirls and fanguys (dubbed “Wade’s Wives”) making it easy for him to manipulate these people for their time and resources. People like bad boys and lead with the “I can fix him” mindset. If he wasn’t attractive, would the response be the same? No, it wouldn’t.

    He’s also “popular” on social media because he shares the same name as Wade Wilson of Deadpool, a fictional mentally unstable anti-hero in the Marvel universe. As such, Wade has been dubbed the “Deadpool killer.” There’s obviously no relation between them.

    The psychology of it all is fascinating—and sad. Let’s get in to it.

    The Murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz

    Let’s take it back to 2019. The day is October 5, a Saturday night in Fort Meyers, Florida. Around 10 pm, it’s still in the mid-80s after a hot and dry day topping in the 90s. Wade Steven Wilson, 25, pregames with his girlfriend of six months, Melisa “Mila” Montanez, 36. Around 11 pm, Wade and Mila arrive at The Buddha LIVE bar in Mila’s 2015 gray Dodge Hellcat. Pregaming includes drinking shots of Patron and using cocaine. While at the bar, Mila and Wade run in to Mila’s friend, Amy Slobodzian. It’s the first time Amy meets Wade and she doesn’t have a good feeling about him.

    Buddha bar in Fort Meyers, Florida, now permanently closed.

    Wade and Mila are working on reestablishing trust in their relationship. A few months prior, Wade was arrested for battery against Mila on July 1, 2019 for punching her, tying her up and sexually assaulting her over a six-hour period. She had black eyes and bruises all over her chest. Not wanting to deal with the court system, Mila dropped the charges, though Wade spent a month in jail. Wade was released to another law enforcement agency in West Palm Beach and then another in Marathon for unrelated charges.

    Mila supported Wade financially while he was incarcerated, despite only dating at the time for two months. In fact, despite the couple being together for six months in October 2019, Wade was incarcerated for 3.5 of them. It’s clear that Wade and Mila are in a trauma-bonded relationship. Wade returns to Cape Coral on October 1, 2019. Mila allows Wade to stay overnight at her business, Mila Spa, in Fort Meyers. She wants to help him but is understandably cautious and concerned for her safety.

    Melisa “Mila” Montanez, Wade Wilson’s ex-girlfriend. Photo from Instagram.

    Now, back to the bar. Mila and Amy watch a band perform, while Wade socializes in the crowd. Mila is intoxicated and loses sight of Wade. Wade befriends Jayson Shepard, then 42, introducing himself as “Junior.” Shortly after, the men meet best friends Kristine Melton, 35, and Stephanie Johnson, 36. Wade introduces himself to them as “JR” and appears “charming,” “friendly” and with “no red flags” (according to what Stephanie later testifies in court). JR catches Kristine’s eye and the two are instantly attracted to each other.

    The conversation between Wade (aka JR) and Jayson turns to drugs with Jayson showing him photos on his phone of a powdery white substance. Jayson invites Wade back to his house to partake and continue partying. Wade repeatedly asks Mila to go with him to Jayson’s house but Mila refuses. She doesn’t feel comfortable doing so. As closing time approaches (2 am), Wade takes Mila’s $80,000 car without her consent and leaves with Jayson, Kristine and Stephanie, also giving the impression that he owns the car. Ironically, Jayson drives the car because Wade doesn’t know how to use stick shift.

    When Mila realizes what happened, it’s after 2 am. She is tired and intoxicated. Amy sees Mila before closing and invites her to spend the night on her couch, to which she agrees. Mila plans to handle the situation the next day.

    Wade believes Jayson gave him cocaine, though it’s suspected methamphetamine. Jayson, Kristine, Stephanie and Wade stay at Jayson’s from 2:30 am to 4:30 am, until he kicks them out. While at Jayson’s, Kristine and Wade have sex twice while Jayson and Stephanie smoke cigarettes on the porch.

    Kristine Melton. Photo from Facebook.

    When it’s time to leave, the group is delayed in leaving Jayson’s as Wade looks for his cell phone. A few days later, Jayson finds the phone in his house. Wade attempts to drive Kristine and Stephanie to Kristine’s home in Cape Coral, but doesn’t know how to operate the stick shift in Mila’s car. Somehow, the group make it to Kristine’s home. Stephanie has to work and take her child to school the next day, so she leaves 20 minutes after arriving, kissing her friend goodbye.

    Once alone, Wade and Kristine retreat to her bedroom, and at some point, the brutality begins. The media widely reported Kristine’s death as due to strangulation, but the strangling occurs as the final evil act, once Kristine is too weak to continue fighting. And fight back, she does. Her torso is covered in bruising. She has a swollen eye, severely busted lip and bruising around her neck characteristic of a strangling. She is tied up in her own clothing: a shirt, leggings and a bikini top. Her scalp has severe bruising, as does her arms. She suffers swelling to her brain and internal organs, including both lungs, her bladder, spleen and liver. A bloody curtain rod is also located next to her body, which Wade used to assist with the murder. Her death is torturous, excruciating and unimaginable, and it’s at the hands of this monstrous man disguised as a charming, gentle guy.

    Wade attempts to put Kristine’s body in the trunk of her own car, a black Nissan Versa. He has difficulty carrying her body, so he leaves her wrapped in a sheet on the floor halfway between her bedroom and kitchen. Wade then steals her car and leaves. When asked why he killed Kristine, Wade’s replies range from, “I don’t know” and “Because I wanted to,” blaming it on the drugs.

    The Rampage Continues: Oct. 6, 2019

    Mila wakes on Sunday, October 6, 2019 to dozens of back-to-back calls and messages from Wade. The calls are made from Wade’s phone up until a certain point, and then they are made from a blocked number. Mila speaks with Wade at 8:45 am and plans to meet with him at Mila Spa to get her car back. Mila takes precaution by bringing Amy, knowing that Wade is being aggressive, under the influence and has a history of violent behavior towards her. He behaves worse than expected.

    When Wade arrives, he tries convincing Mila to get into an unknown vehicle with him—the vehicle later identified as Kristine’s—and when she doesn’t, he grabs her dress so forcefully that it rips. He then tries pulling her into the car and exits the vehicle, tackling her to the ground. The car, still in drive, rolls forward and crashes into another vehicle in the parking lot, grazing his and Mila’s legs in the process. Wade drags Mila’s body in the parking lot, hitting her throughout. She breaks free and runs into the building and up the stairs, but Wade catches up with her. He pulls her by her hair and then holds her against the wall by her neck. Wade bites her right ear and punches her so forcefully in the face that blood splatters everywhere. Amy later testifies in court that Mila’s nose “exploded” and blood gushed everywhere. Amy is too afraid to intervene but calls 9-1-1 immediately.

    A crowd gathers to watch the assault. A woman working at a design studio in the same shopping mall, and whose car was hit with Kristine’s vehicle, opens the door and orders Wade to stop. He claims, “She hit me first”—“she,” meaning Mila. Mila breaks free, runs into the design studio and locks the door behind her. Noticing the crowd, Wade runs back to the vehicle and drives off.

    Diane Ruiz and her fiancee Scott Hannon. Photo from Facebook.

    Sometime around 9:30 am, Wade comes upon Diane Ruiz, a 43-year-old mother of two, who is walking to her bartending job at the Moose Lodge in Cape Coral. Wade pulls over to ask Diane directions to the local high school. He convinces Diane to enter Kristine’s vehicle and direct him there. Terribly, when Diane enters the vehicle, Wade already knows she won’t survive their encounter. He strangles Diane and discards her purse in front of Hector Cafferata Elementary School, which is later caught on camera. As Wade drives around looking for a place to dump her body, Diane regains consciousness three or four times, each time for about 15 seconds. He repeatedly suffocates her. Diane fights back with all her might, suffering a broken nose and defensive wounds to her arms and hands. After the final suffocation attempt, Wade sexually assaults her, pushes her out of the car and runs her over 10 to 20 times, breaking all but one of her ribs and causing life-ending injuries to her neck and spine. He later makes the horrific comment that he “made her look like spaghetti” and describes the condition of the body as a “smear.” Her body is found three days later in a field behind a Sam’s Club.

    Around 3 pm, Fort Myers Police Officer Timothy McCormick locates Wade in the parking lot of Joe’s Crab Shack in Cape Coral. The officer wants to question Wade about assaulting Mila. Wade is without a shirt or shoes, nervous, uncooperative and still driving Kristine’s vehicle. When Officer McCormick tries to detain Wade, he drives off. A misdemeanor battery charge does not warrant a police chase in Florida during busy lunchtime hours (possibly endangering the public), so Officer McCormick can’t chase him. Police are unaware of the murders at this time or whose vehicle he is driving.

    Now after stealing a car, killing two women and assaulting a third, and committing a series of other crimes, Wade goes to Matteo Graphics in Cape Coral, a store owned by acquaintance Joshua Lukistch, in Kristine’s vehicle. Joshua is a friend of a friend, but Wade shows up in sweatpants without shoes or a shirt, and bloody with missing teeth. Wade frantically asks Joshua to buy him a bus or plane ticket to leave town, because he did something terrible and “killed people.” Joshua agrees, but only to buy himself time to call 9-1-1. Suspecting Joshua called police, Wade leaves on foot.

    When police arrive, they observe blood inside Kristine’s vehicle and run the plates, identifying the car as Kristine’s. Police attempt to contact Kristine with no success and dispatch officers to her home. When no one answers the door, they make a forced entry and discover Kristine’s lifeless body. Upon their arrival, police determine Kristine’s car is not in her driveway.

    Wade breaks into a nearby home to hide out for a few hours. The owners miss him by hours, having just left for Ohio. While there, he helps himself to food and several White Claw alcoholic seltzers, and a change of clothes. He also calls his biological father, Steven Testasecca, to talk about the murders and ask for a ride. His father promises to send an Uber but contacts police and makes the incredibly difficult decision to turn in his son.

    Wade Wilson’s death sentencing mugshot at Union Correctional Institute at Raiford, Florida. Photo from the Union Correctional Institute.

    On August 27, 2024, Wade is sentenced to death. His list of crimes include:

    • one count of 1st degree murder for the death of Kristine Melton
    • one count of 1st degree murder for the death of Diane Ruiz
    • one count of burglary of a dwelling
    • one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle
    • one count of battery
    • one count of 1st-degree petty theft

    On August 30, 2024, Wade is moved from the Lee County Jail to Florida’s death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida.

    Appealing the Death Penalty

    On September 15, 2024 Wade’s attorney, Michael Ufferman, files an appeal, which goes directly to the Florida Supreme Court. His legal team argues that a unanimous vote was required for death at the time of ruling, which didn’t occur in Wade’s case. In 2023, following the Parkland shooting case, Florida changed state law to allow the death sentence to be imposed without a unanimous vote, and with a minimum of 8 to 4 in favor of death. Wade didn’t receive a unanimous vote for either murder; the jury voted 9 to 3 for Kristine’s murder and 10-2 for Diane’s murder. His appeal is pending.

    Remebering the Victims

    Kristine Melton. Photo from Wink News.

    Kristine Melton, 35, was quick-witted, funny, loyal and hardworking. She worked as a waitress and bartender at Duffy’s with her best friend from high school, Stephanie Johnson (now Stephanie Sailors). Kristine and Stephanie were very close, having traveled the country and lived together for many years.

    Originally from Illinois, Kristine moved to Florida with Stephanie. Kristine lived in a duplex in Cape Coral four doors down from her mother. Kristine and her brother, Robert, split their time caring for their mother, who had early onset dementia. Their mother recently developed a spending habit and the siblings took away her credit cards out of concern. At the time of her death, Robert was on a birthday trip, and he and Kristine planned to discuss their mother’s situation when he returned. Kristine had coffee with her mother every morning before leaving for work or beginning her day. They were incredibly close.

    Kristine was an accepting and nonjudgmental soul. She was a daughter, sister, colleague, friend, aunt and godmother. More than anything, she hoped to become a mother one day but for now, she was a cat mom. Her favorite holiday was Halloween.

    Diane Ruiz.

    Diane Ruiz, 43, was a mother of two sons—Brandon Cuellar, then 23, and Zane Romero, then 14—remembered for her kind and loving heart. She poured her heart into her children and family. Diane had a boisterous laugh that could be heard a mile way. In addition to being a mother, Diane was a grandmother, fiancee, daughter and friend. Diane was engaged to be married to Scott Hannon.

    For the last five years, she worked as a bartender and server at the Moose Lodge, where colleagues and patrons adored her. Diane never missed a shift in five years, so when she didn’t show to work, her coworkers immediately worried about her wellbeing. One of her coworkers since described her as the “heartbeat” of the bar. Diane loved that her job allowed her to meet and connect with many different people. She also volunteered to participate in work benefits hosted by the Moose Lodge to benefit children and the elderly.

    Diane supported her sons’ dreams wholeheartedly. She constantly encouraged her sons to pursue their interests. She surprised them with random presents just to see them smile.

    What Caused This? Wade’s Early Life

    Wade Wilson.

    Wade Steven Wilson was born Anthony Testasecca on May 20, 1994 in Florida, to teen parents: Steven Testasecca, 15, and Kristina Gould Suleiman, 14. Wade’s father was sentenced to eight months in a juvenile detention center when Wade was just a few months old. When he came out, he learned Wade was put up for adoption and adopted by a family that his material grandparents knew through church: Candace (Candy) and Steve Wilson.

    The Wilson’s renamed their new son Wade. Wade was the youngest Wilson child, raised alongside two older sisters. The family lived in Talahassee, Florida and Wade attended Chiles High School in Talahassee. Steve was a salesman and the family moved a few times throughout Wade’s childhood for jobs. Nonetheless, by all accounts, Wade had a wonderful upbringing and he was a good kid. He enjoyed camping, fishing, and taking trips to Disney. He was kind to animals, loved reading and always stuck up for those younger and smaller than him. He also enjoyed playing sports and earned good grades. His adoptive parents and sisters loved him deeply and have since expressed such.

    Wade underwent a significant personality shift at age 13, when he started using drugs. He became paranoid, reclusive and erratic. On one occasion, he suspected someone was watching his family and wanted the blinds closed. On another, he believed there was an entity in the garage. At 13, he was also taken into custody under the Baker Act—after his father found drugs in his bedroom and became concerned. He was hospitalized and released the next day. (The Baker Act, formally known as Florida’s Mental Health Act, allows people who are believed to pose a threat to themselves or others to undergo involuntary emergency mental health examination and temporary detention lasting up to 72 hours.) Wade was also suspended from school around this time for smoking marijuana in the bathroom and lighting toilet paper on fire.

    Around 15 years old, Wade began having an identity crisis, according to his mother Candy. He frequently asked questions about why his biological parents didn’t want him, but wasn’t ready to meet them yet. Wade’s biological parents didn’t try to establish a relationship during his childhood: his mother continues to have substance abuse and mental health issues, including criminal activity, to this day, and his father married and had other children. It was around this time that Wade was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed medication, which helped initially, though he didn’t take it consistently. When Wade felt better, he stopped taking it. Wade spent his teen years cycling through periods of substance abuse treatment, therapy and sobriety, and relapse, drug abuse and crime. His adoptive parents tried their best to provide him with the supports to help him.

    As a teen, Wade suffered several head injuries from playing sports and car accidents, resulting in at least two concussions. At age 18 and again at age 20, he suffered head injuries from car accidents, where the vehicle collided with a tree. These circumstances are suspected to have caused some brain damage. Head injuries can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Several famous cases, including the Chris Benoit murder-suicide and Aaron Hernandez, are (partly) attributed to brain damage caused by CTE.

    At age 18, Wade established contact with his biological father, Steven Testasecca. Over time, they formed a close relationship and Wade felt comfortable speaking honestly with his biological father about some of his struggles. Steven was empathetic and understanding, and used his own life experience to offer Wade the best guidance possible. For years, Wade sporadically reached out to his biological father to ask for money or help with situations. However, Wade’s interest in forming a relationship with his father and desire to confide in him suggests, perhaps, he felt he could relate more to him than his adoptive family. Wade was going down a darker path that made him differ from his adoptive family, and after learning he was adopted, the difference was likely glaring for him. His biological father had some similar experiences and could possibly relate.

    At age 20, Wade overdosed from drugs, resulting in a grand mal seizure. He didn’t have a drug of choice but was partial to cocaine, crack and meth. At this time, he had also accrued at least 20 criminal charges, ranging from burglary, grand theft, and theft of a firearm to battery and sexual battery.

    Wade Wilson. Booking photo from Leon County, Florida.

    Criminal Activity

    Wade’s criminal activity touched on various areas, namely drugs and crimes related to drugs (such as stealing and car theft) and domestic violence against women. Importantly, he developed an MO: strangling women, tying them up in their own clothing and sexually assaulting them in a vehicle.

    Below is a quick glance at Wade’s criminal history:

    • 2013: Wade is incarcerated for burglary and grand larceny from November 26, 2013 to September 19, 2014 with the Florida Department of Corrections.
    • 2015: Wade is arrested on charges of sexual battery and kidnapping for sexually assaulting a 22-year-old girl in his SUV after a house party in Talahassee. He is acquitted. Similarly to other sexual assault allegations against Wade, he cuts her clothing and uses it to tie her up. He also orders her to get in the backseat where he covers her with jackets and clothing.
    • 2017: Wade is incarcerated for firearms theft from October 17, 2017 to July 15, 2017 with the Florida Department of Corrections.
    • 2018: Wade is a witness and informant in the well-known case of Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams, the target of a murder-for-hire plot planned by his wife Denise Williams. Brian Winchester, a friend of the Williams’ who became Denise’s second husband, was arrested in 2017 for an unrelated kidnapping involving her. Brian became Wade Wilson’s cell mate. After their release, Wade alleged Brian gave him $20,000 in cash to kill Mike Williams. Wade took the money but did not follow through and instead served as an informant. The case is depicted in Hulu’s “Mr. & Mrs. Murder.”
    • February 2019: Wade is accused of beating, sexually assaulting and strangling then-girlfriend Kelly Matthews in Palm Beach, Florida. He is not charged due to lack of evidence.
    • July 2019: Wade is arrested for battery on against then-girlfriend Melissa “Mila” Montanez on July 1, 2019. Mila drops the charges.
    • September 2019: Wade pleads guilty for pawning stolen property (the laptop of ex-girlfriend Kelly Matthews). He is given credit for time served and probation.
    • October 8, 2019: Wade is arrested for the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz.
    • September 30, 2020: Deputies at Lee County Jail learn about a planned escape involving Wade and cell mate Joseph Katz. Evidence reveals a getaway car, arranged by Wade, and a note between Wade and another inmate, who are both allegedly members of a white supremicist gang, “Unforgiven.” Wade is charged with criminal mischief and attempted escape; charges are dropped as part of a plea agreement for the 2023 drug trafficking case.
    • April 20, 2023: Deputies and a K9 locate two bags in Wade’s cell, each containing loose cigarettes, lighters and meth. Bonnie Wiggins, one of Wade’s “many” jailhouse girlfriends who he speaks with on the phone, is arrested along with five other people in relation to trafficking methamphetamine. Wade is given a 12-year sentence to be served concurrently with his current sentence and a $50,000 fine.
    Kelly Matthews in “Worst Ex Ever” season 2. Credit: NETFLIX.

    Kelly Matthews’ Account of Abuse

    Kelly Matthews, now 34, is among the most vocal ex-partners of Wade Wilson, boldly sharing her experiences on social media to encourage other domestic violence survivors to come forward with theirs. Kelly shares her account of abuse on Season 2 of Netflix’s “Worst Ex Ever.” Her story is important because it shows how Wade worked; how he gained entry into one woman’s life while keeping another on the back burner, and lying about everything for personal gain.

    Kelly was 26 and living in her first apartment when she met 24-year-old Wade via the dating app, Plenty of Fish. On the app, she matched with Wade, who was using the name “Steven.” Her parents liked him. He friends liked him. Even her cats and dogs liked him. She felt their immediate connection was “too good to be true,” but figured perhaps it was her turn to experience love. Wade was kind, loving and gentle. Kelly genuinely believed she was in a fairytale and met the man for her.

    Wade told Kelly he was a personal trainer living with a roommate. After consistently vocalizing problems with his roommate, Kelly invited Wade to move into her apartment after a month of dating. (In reality, he was living in a halfway house after his biological father sent him to rehab.) The mask started to slip when Wade stole and pawned her laptop and framed her for stealing puppies, which landed Kelly in jail.

    After experiencing a breakup, Kelly invited her 18-year-old friend, identified as “Sarah,” to temporarily live with her and Wade. Kelly became privy to private texts between Sarah and Wade, where they called each other “babe,” but they denied any involvement. Kelly was recently in a car crash and after a physical therapy session, she returned home to find all Wade and Sarah’s belongings gone, including her own PlayStation and handgun. Wade began cheating on Kelly with Sarah, and Kelly saw video, firsthand, on her front door camera, of them kissing. Wade and Sarah left for Texas together.

    Kelly contacted police to report Wade stealing her firearm, which resulted in a warrant issued for his arrest. Soon after leaving, Sarah ditched Wade in Texas after an argument, and Wade called Kelly asking to come back home. Kelly agreed—and contacted police immediately after. She wanted Wade to pay for what he did to her. When Wade arrived, police soon did too, and he was incarcerated for four days. After many relentless phone calls of Wade crying and begging, Kelly caved and bailed him out.

    Fast forward to February 18, 2019; Kelly’s birthday. Wade agreed to go to rehab the day prior. He used methampetamine in Texas and returned to regularly using crack and cocaine. He said there was a rehab in the Florida Keys that would take him, which was 3.5 hours from Kelly. Kelly didn’t have money to pay for a full tank of gas, as Wade used up all her savings during their time together. The couple drove around thinking of a solution and around 8 pm, Kelly exited her vehicle during an argument. She was only a short walk from her parents’ home and planned to walk there. Wade had her cell phone and held it up, stating that her mom was calling, which was true. When Kelly got back into the car, the situation escalated.

    Wade reached over and began choking Kelly with both hands, and punched and bit her face. Then, he presented a pocket knife and used it to cut off her shirt and sports bra. He used the clothing to tie her hands together and pushed her to the floorboard on the front passenger side. He exclaimed that they needed to find money or he’d stab her 30 times. After some time passed, he pulled over in a dark, wooded area, moved Kelly to the backseat and sexually assaulted her several times before throwing a pile of her own dirty laundry on top of her. He slammed the door shut on Kelly’s foot, causing it to break, and left her naked and fully bound in her clothes. Then, he sold Kelly’s cell phone for $50, which he used to purchase crack and McDonald’s. Eventually, Wade allowed Kelly to move into the front passenger seat.

    Courtney Lozada in “Worst Ex Ever” season 2. Credit: NETFLIX.

    Around 4 am, Wade and Kelly reached a gas station in the Keys. He told Kelly not to look at his friend or suggest anything was wrong. Frightened, she did as told. Wade left Kelly’s car and got into a vehicle with Courtney Lozada, 26, of Loxahatchee, Florida; a woman he was secretly messaging and sneaking off to spend time with at a local park—under the guise that he was personal training at the park near Kelly’s apartment—and who also believed she and Wade were in a relationship. Courtney didn’t know about Kelly and vice versa. Wade lived with Courtney for a few weeks before her sister kicked her out, and consequently Wade, and they went their separate ways.

    After Wade exited her vehicle, Kelly drove back home as fast as she could. She walked into her mom’s home in the early morning, battered and bruised, and they immediately went to police. She spoke with Detective Louis Potter of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, who later interviewed Wade. Wade denied the claims, stating that Kelly was into BDSM, and the case was closed a week later; a move that could have significantly jeopardized Kelly’s safety and may have prevented the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz. An internal investigation of Detective Louis Potter followed. He was temporarily suspended but continues to work for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

    There’s a Lot to Unpack: Let’s Talk About it

    I tried providing as much of a thorough deep dive in to Wade’s life and crimes. Certainly, we’ll never know every detail, but we can consider what we DO know.

    This case caught my eye because, frankly, it scared me. Wade looked like someone I’d date in my 20s. I was in my “toxic era,” which would have only made the situation worse. He was a man with a rap sheet, poor impulse control and a drug problem, with no job, driver’s license or car, and no clear path. But….he was handsome, and that was enough to disarmor women. Wade love-bombed all his partners, giving them hope of true love, and then using their vulnerability to exploit them for money, sex and a place to stay. His ex-girlfriend Mila Montanez described him as a “drifter,” because he’d go from person to person. He’d either burn out the relationship or the person would leave him, unable to handle Wade’s behavior and lifestyle.

    I don’t think Wade is capable of feeling romantic love. I think he feels physical attraction and views love as a tool for exploitation, which is psychopathic behavior. He has been connected to so many women and men while behind bars, we can only imagine the affect he had on people in the free world. People threw themselves at him, made excuses for his behavior and fell hard and fast for him. Being the person he was, he took advantage of his assets. After all, his looks were the only thing going for him, truly.

    Wade had a lot of challenges and we can’t disregard that fact. However, his challenges do NOT excuse his actions. Nothing does. To make it easy to follow, I’m going to list and describe some of these contributing factors:

    • fetal exposure to drugs and alcohol: Wade’s biological mother was a drug user and allegedly used drugs and alcohol while pregnant with Wade. He may suffer from the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and have experienced early withdrawal.
    • removed from biological parents: Adoption, in general, can carry a level of trauma. Wade wasn’t adopted at birth, but he was given time to bond with his biological mother for several months. Bonding with and then being removed from his biological mother, at that young of an age, could have caused trauma and attachment issues for Wade.
    • biological parents both had criminal pasts: Finding out that his biological parents both had criminal pasts could have also created a self-fulfilling prophecy within Wade to act as they did, because that’s who “he was.” It also could have pushed him, mentally, away from his adoptive parents and towards the path of his biological parents to subconsciously feel closer to him. On a few instances, Wade also asked his biological father for money, so he and his biological mother could do drugs together. Again, the trauma and possible mother issues such a scenario may create are noted.
    • mental health diagnoses: Wade was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a child but has since been given a series of diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, schizoid affective, antisocial personality disorder, paranoia, delusions, suicidal adjustment disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, hallucinations and preservation.
    • early drug use: Wade began using drugs at 13, which is a pivotal time of brain development and growth. Drug use likely permanently stunted and altered his development in certain areas. Dr. Heiman Einstein, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in clinical neuropsychology and forensic neuropsychology that testified at the trial, diagnosed Wade with neurocognitive brain impairments, specifically in the right hemisphere and frontal lobe; the area responsible for impulsivity, decision-making and empathy.
    • brain damage from CPT: the damage incurred from teen and early adulthood concussions may have further damaged the brain and affected issues like impulse control.

    It’s clear there were (are) a lot of factors working against Wade. However, these factors don’t compromise his culpability. He could have chosen more robustly to get help. He could have stayed in therapy. He could have committed to treatment. Wade was capable of forming these intricate and enmeshed relationships; this indicates, in my opinion, that he had the ability for some sort of complex thinking. Even during the murder spree, he was able to operate a motor vehicle and evade the police; he wasn’t totally out of reality like someone in psychosis. Wade could have made different choices, but his situation suggests an interesting discussion of nature vs. nurture. He was removed from a potentially bad situation and given a good and supportive life, from all accounts, yet he still pursued a darker path. His escalating behavior only suggested that something severe was on its way. Some loved ones tried to intervene, but Wade was on the highway to hell.

    Before we end this discussion, please take care of yourself. Don’t engage with violent criminals on the phone. “Wade’s Wives” fell into his trap, but he lied to and exploited all of them. This is a man with a pattern of domestic violence that escalated in the death of two innocent women. He’s not misunderstood; he’s dangerous and deranged. And exactly where he needs to be.

    Wade Wilson in 2026.

    Wade is sitting on death row. He’s gained weight. He’s lost his figure. He’s used his excess canteen money to purchase candy and other snacks, and entertain himself by eating in his cell. He’s also covered his face in obscene tattoos like swastikas and a skeleton. I’ve heard before that the worst punishment for a man like him is to lose his looks. I can’t help but agree.

    Sources
  • Erin Caffey Masterminds Family Massacre To Be With Teen Boyfriend

    Erin Caffey Masterminds Family Massacre To Be With Teen Boyfriend

    Erin Caffey, 16, and Charlie Wilkinson, 18, were knee-deep in their romance. The teens were simply consumed with each other. Unfortunately, being young and “in love”didn’t work in their favor. Rather, it was the beginning of the end for them both—and Erin’s family.

    Erin was under the watchful eye of her conservative Christian parents, who monitored when and where Erin and Charlie saw each other, and for how long. If Erin broke one of their rules, like her weeknight phone curfew, she’d have consequences, which often involved reducing time spent with Charlie. Intended to ensure her relationship didn’t overtake her life or become too serious for a girl her age, the restrictions only made Erin and Charlie pine for each other more. They spoke of running away together when Erin turned 17. Charlie suggested getting Erin pregnant, so the Caffey’s would have to fully accept him and their relationship.

    When Erin’s parents demanded she end the relationship out of concern for Charlie’s intentions and character, the couple made the inequivocally evil decision to hurt those who loved Erin the most, by taking their lives. This case is widely known as being featured on shows including “Killer Women with Piers Morgan”, now available on Netflix, and Dr. Phil.

    From left: Matthew “Bubba” Caffey, Terry Caffey, Tyler Caffey, Penny Caffey and Erin Caffey. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.

    A Wholesome Life Destroyed

    Erin Michelle Caffey, 16, was the eldest child and only daughter of Penny, 38, and Terry Caffey, 41. The couple also shared two younger children: Matthew, 13, known as “Bubba,” and Tyler, 8. The family lived in Alba, Texas, a rural town of less than 500 residents, seated halfway between Sulphur Springs and Tyler. Their home was a secluded two-story cabin nestled in the woods on 20 acres of land, and seated at the end of a long and narrow gravel road.

    Penny was a stay-at-home mom and Terry worked as a home health aid and lay preacher; a member of the church who is not ordained and does not hold a formal degree in theology, but is permitted by their church to lead services. The Caffeys were members of Miracle Faith Baptist Church in Emory, Texas, where Terry and Penny were youth ministers. The family attended Bible study on Wednesdays and church on Sundays and devoted time to rehearsing gospels together. Penny played piano and Bubba played the harmonica, while Erin sang in the choir and often performed solo. On occasion, Erin became so moved from the Bible verses she sang, that she’d break into tears and pause mid-song.

    Miracle Faith Baptist Church. Photo from Facebook.

    Faith was paramount to the Caffeys, partly because it brought Penny and Terry together. The couple met at a revival meeting in Garland, Texas, when Penny was 21 and Terry was 24. Above their driveway hung a plank which read: “The Caffeys—Joshua 24:15.” The verse is as follows: “If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

    Penny began homeschooling the children in 2005, after moving from Celeste to Alba—an hour’s distance—and intentionally taught them a Bible-based curriculum. There were a few reasons that informed her decision to homeschool, one of them being Erin’s attention deficit disorder (ADD) diagnosis. Now known as inattentive attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the condition is characterized by impulsive behaviors, hyperactivity, poor memory and focus, and organizational difficulties.

    The other reason was because, when enrolled at Rains Junior High for a month, Erin was approached by a female student who expressed romantic interest and kissed her in the hallway. The incident proved so concerning to her conservative parents that they removed Erin and their other children from the public school system. As someone who enjoyed socializing, homeschooling isolated Erin, confining her to home and church, where she was almost always under supervision. In 2008, the children were re-enrolled into public school, with Erin attending Rains High School six weeks prior to the murders.

    Erin Caffey. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.

    Erin Meets Charlie

    In 2007, Erin, who stood at just 4’11”, made a few steps toward gaining independence. She earned her driver’s license and got a job working at Sonic, a fast-food chain restaurant. Her father bought her an old Chevy pickup truck to drive to and from work.

    Erin worked as a carhop, delivering to-go orders to customers’ vehicles. She was the only carhop who wore roller skates for each shift and thus quickly became well-recognized amongst locals. One of Erin’s coworkers described her as being so sheltered, the experience was akin to her “seeing the world for the first time.”

    Male attention wasn’t new to Erin. She had many admirers at church, some of whom even credited Erin with deepening their faith. The least reserved of the Caffey children, Erin sought and thrived on attention. However, the perception about her was split: some young men secretly admired her while others thought her painfully naive. When men flirted with Erin at work, she simply blushed and smiled.

    During one shift, Erin skated over to the 1991 Ford Explorer of 18-year-old country boy, Charlie Wilkinson. Immediate chemistry sparked between them. Charlie began visiting Erin at Sonic and around Halloween of 2007, he asked her to be his girlfriend.

    Erin’s parents weren’t crazy about Charlie, a legal adult, being involved with their daughter, but they were supportive within parameters. The Caffey’s allowed Charlie over their home, so long as the couple remained in view and he left by 9 pm. Charlie became a frequent dinner guest at the Caffey residence. When Charlie left, they’d talk on the phone until Erin’s phone curfew of 10 pm on weekdays or 11 pm on weekends.

    Outside of the familial home, Charlie tried to prove his dedication by attending church at Miracle Faith Baptist Church. He fell fast and hard for Erin and often described her as “his soulmate to anyone who’d listen.

    Charlie Wilkinson and Erin Caffey. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.

    The Boy Who Fell Under Her Spell

    Charlie Wilkinson was, by all accounts, a simple man from humble beginnings. He had blue eyes and sandy hair, and typically wore his signature Wrangler jeans, and black cowboy boots and hat. He didn’t have a lot of money, but he had some plans. When Charlie met Erin, he recently returned home from boot camp at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with the National Guard Texas unit. After graduating high school the following year, he planned to go on active duty.

    Charlie lived with his father, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister and half-sister. He loved the outdoors, especially fishing and four-wheeling, and was skilled at hunting. Though some described him as “hot-headed,” he didn’t have a record of serious disciplinary issues at school.

    Young Love or Infatuation?

    Once Erin returned to public school in December 2007, she and Charlie became inseparable. They held hands in the hallways and snuck off to Erin’s truck to have “alone time” whenever possible. The Caffey’s also allowed them to go on occasional dates—though while Terry and Penny believed their daughter dined out with her boyfriend, the couple was at a friend’s house, fooling around. Sometime that month, Erin and Charlie had sex for the first time, less than two months after their relationship officially began.

    After their sexual relationship progressed, Charles proposed to Erin with his grandmother’s engagement ring symbolizing a promise ring. Penny demanded her daughter return it, believing it too mature of a decision for their 16-year-old daughter. Also outraged, Terry approached Charlie as he was playing basketball outside the church fellowship hall, describing the proposal as inappropriate. From then on, the couple’s out-of-school interactions were limited to once a week and supervised.

    Erin was livid about her parents reducing time with Charlie. She felt they were controlling and unfair, and began talking with Charlie about running away together when she turned 17. Arguments between Erin and her mother escalated, and on at least one occasion, Erin claimed that Penny slapped her.

    Charlie’s visits temporarily came to a full stop in early February 2008, when Penny caught Erin talking on the phone with him after her 10 pm phone curfew. In addition to suspending the visits, she confiscated Erin’s cell phone and car keys, and drove her to and from school for a time. Erin’s freedom was reduced to nothing and her time with Charlie was now restricted to school. Her parents wanted Erin to push the brakes on her relationship and return focus to her studies and faith.

    Terry was never enthusiastic about Charlie dating his daughter, noticing behaviors he felt were disrespectful. On one occasion, Terry returned home from work to find Charlie sitting in his armchair with his legs hanging over one side. Charlie did not stand up or shake Terry’s hand. He often told Penny, “If he can’t show me any respect, how does he treat our daughter?”

    With hardly any time to themselves and the desire to be together, a pivotal shift took place in Charlie and Erin’s conversations. Talk about killing Terry and Penny began. By accounts, Erin started the dialogue and kept it up constantly. She also told Charlie her parents were physically abusing her. Desperately “in love,” Charlie wanted to protect Erin—at all costs.

    Nonetheless, though Charlie was willing to do anything to be her, he didn’t want to kill her parents. Rather, he told a friend he only wished to run away with her. He told this friend he wished he could impregnate Erin so her family would have to accept him. Erin was against the idea, claiming she was too young to have a baby.

    Charlie didn’t know that Erin had these conversations with others before him. He thought she was intensely motivated by their “love” for one another, but that wasn’t so. He wasn’t the first boyfriend Erin enlisted to harm her family. Her ex-boyfriend, Michael Washburn, later came forward to state that Erin tried convincing him to kill them, to which he refused and ended their relationship.

    As the situation escalated, Penny and Terry reached their final straw with the couple’s relationship. On February 27, 2008, Penny went to the local library to search Charlie’s MySpace profile at the suggestion of her sister. On Charlie’s MySpace, where he referred to himself as “hillbilly,” Penny found references to sex with multiple people and drinking. Later that day, she and Terry forbid Erin from seeing Charlie and demanded that she end their relationship. Erin surprisingly complied, saying that she wanted to end it for awhile. However, behind the scenes, she and Charlie put their murderous plan into action.

    The Caffey residence after it was destroyed by the fire. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.

    The Night That Changed Everything

    After midnight on Saturday, March 1, 2008, Erin left the door to her home unlocked as she entered a vehicle with Bobbi Johnson, 18. Charlie Wilkinson and Charles Waid, 20, entered the home. Charles was a hunting buddy of Charlie’s, and Bobbi was his girlfriend and the owner of the vehicle they drove.

    It was approximately 3 am when Penny and Terry awoke to the sounds of their bedroom door smacking into the dryer in their laundry room, which sat next to their bedroom. Penny was shot, stabbed with a samarai sword and nearly decapitated. Terry was shot five times: twice in his back and near his right shoulder, and once in his head.

    Bubba and Tyler ran into Erin’s room to hide. Charlie busted into the room and Bubba kicked him repeatedly in attempts to defend himself. Charles heard the commotion upstairs and shot Bubba in the face. Prior to being shot, Terry recalled his son screaming, “Charlie! Charlie, why are you doing this? No! Charlie! No, please!” Tyler hid in his bedroom closet but was found and repeatedly stabbed with the samarai sword by both men.

    To conceal their crimes, Charlie and Charles set the home ablaze before escaping to a nearby mobile home owned by Charles’s brother, Matthew Waid. Nothing would remain of the home but its foundation.

    Terry managed to survive the shooting and crawled 500 yards—the length of four football fields—to the home of his neighbor, Tommy Gaston. The plight took him over an hour, during which he fell into a creek and nearly drowned. He wasn’t dressed for the weather, donning only his pajamas and a single sock, but he made it. Officer Charles Dickerson was the only officer on duty when the 9-1-1 call was made around 4:30 am. When Officer Dickerson arrived, Terry promptly informed him, “Charlie Wilkinson shot my family.”

    Charles “Charlie” Wilkinson’s booking photo. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.

    Arrests Made

    With direction from Sheriff’s Investigator Richard Almon, Chief Deputy Kurt Fischer and Sheriff’s Deputy Ed Emig, Charlie, Charles, Bobbi and Erin were located and arrested that same day. Everyone knew everyone in a small town like Alba. Chief Deputy Fischer knew Charlie, who was friends with his son. On the drive to the Gaston’s, he noticed Charlie’s vehicle parked outside Matthew Waid’s blue single-wide trailer.

    Acting quickly on the information Terey provided, police went to the trailer. Stepping over piles of clothes and empty beer cans, police found Matthew Waid and his girlfriend sleeping inside, who directed them to a room down the hall. Charlie laid on a bed with his shirt off. The room was dark. Towels covered the windows, preventing light from seeping in, and the room lacked any lighting. A semiautomatic handgun rested on the floor, as did spent shell casings and a used condom. His cowboy boots were splattered with blood.

    Chief Deputy Fischer arrested Charlie, read him his Miranda rights and questioned his involvement in the Caffey family massacre. Charlie claimed innocence: he passed out from drinking alcohol and was home that evening, he said. He was transported to the county jail for further questioning.

    Erin is Found

    With Charlie detained, Chief Deputy Fischer obtained a search warrant of Matthew Waid’s trailer. In the trailer, he located a camouflage purse containing Erin’s driver’s license, shell casings, a box of ammunition and a used condom. Then, he lifted a blanket from the floor, which revealed his most shocking find: a nest of blonde hair belonging to Erin. She laid in the fetal position. When asked how she got there, she said she didn’t know and questioned her whereabouts. She whispered to officers, “They’re coming after me.”

    Chief Deputy Fischer suspected Erin was under the influence of drugs because of her disconnected disposition and responses. She was transported to Hopkins Country Memorial Hospital in Sulphur Springs where she underwent a medical assessment and was interviewed by Chief of Police Shanna Sanders. Initially, investigators believed Erin was kidnapped. She claimed to recall two men dressed in black with swords and a house full of smoke. She also claimed to be 14 years old, and said she remembered trying to call Charlie, a friend, but was unable to reach him. She said she was unaware of how she reached the Waid trailer and that once there, she drank an unknown substance and blacked out.

    However, one clear fact remained: Erin didn’t smell like smoke.

    Erin Caffey’s booking photo. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.

    Erin’s maternal grandmother, Virginia Daily, came to the hospital to inform Erin that Terry was alive and receiving treatment at the East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. After five hours at the hospital, Erin was released. However, as her grandparents drove her to see her father, the escorting officers were instructed to detain Erin. She was implicated in her family’s murders.

    Erin’s toxicology results turned up negative, indicating the absence of any drugs that could cause memory loss. Her phone records showed that she called Charlie six times from 11:46 pm on February 29, 2008 until 12:48 am on March 1, 2008, and again seven times from 1:22 am to 1:58 am. She called repeatedly to ask Charlie where they were, and if they were still coming to carry out the deed.

    Charlie is Questioned—and the Truth is Exposed

    While investigators assumed Erin was innocent, Charlie was being interrogated by Detective Almon and Texas Ranger John Vance at the sheriff’s office in Emory. He confessed to everything, as did Charles and Bobbi. Erin was the only perpetrator involved who concocted a story.

    Charlie told investigators Erin was deeply angered by her parents’ demands to end their relationship. For the umpteenth time, she said she wanted them to die and asked Charlie to kill them. He insisted they run away instead, but she refused. She wanted the plan in action. So, at 1:30 am, Charlie and Charles drove to the Caffey residence with Bobbi, Charles driving Bobbi’s silver Dodge Neon. Spooked by the Caffey’s barking black Labrador, Charlie, Charles and Bobbi left only to return soon later. Erin took care of the dog, she said.

    Charles needed fast cash and Charlie agreed to pay him $2,000 if he helped kill them. The $2,000 was in a lockbox in the home, according to Erin, and was the exact anount Charles needed for court proceedings. He was in the process of divorcing his spouse and was in a child custody battle over his 5-month-old child. Bobbi allegedly didn’t know what the men planned to do.

    The group met Erin at the end of the driveway, where she hopped in the vehicle. The four of them drove around for an hour, stopping periodically at a nearby cemetery to discuss their plan; an ironic move considering what was to happen. Charlie continued insisting that Erin run away, but she was adamant about their plan. It was decided: Charlie would kill her parents and Charles would kill her brothers.

    Erin and Bobbi remained in the vehicle as Charlie and Charles entered the unlocked front door, carrying two samari swords and a .22-caliber pistol. They entered Penny and Terry’s bedroom first and subsequently went to Erin’s room, where her brothers hid. After the men believed all four people were dead, Charlie retrieved a suitcase that Erin packed previously. When he put the suitcase in the vehicle, Erin smiled. Charlie and Charles then went to collect the lockbox, which contained just $375. Before leaving, the men set furniture, clothing and bedsheets ablaze using their lighters. Then, they drove off, with Erin shouting,“Holy shit, that was awesome!”

    Charles, who was driving, dropped off Erin and Charlie at the trailer owned by his brother. Once inside, he and Erin had sex.

    Charles Waid’s booking photo. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.
    Bobbi Johnson’s booking photo. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.

    Legal Proceedings

    Because of the heinous nature of the crimes, Erin was tried in court as an adult. On January 2, 2009, she accepted a plea deal in exchange for two life sentences. She will be eligible for parole in 2038 at the age of 59.

    Charlie Wilkinson and Charles Waid also accepted plea deals to avoid the death penalty. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Charlie has since expressed remorse for the crimes.

    Bobbi Johnson was identified as an accomplice and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment. She will be eligible for parole in 2028.

    Erin Caffey and her father, Terry Caffey. Photo sourced from Murderpedia.

    Where Is Terry Caffey Now?

    Not long after the murders, Terry announced his public forgiveness of his daughter and the other perpetrators. Nonetheless, he struggled with thoughts of suicide. The first time he returned to the remains of his home, he looked upward and pleaded, “God, why didn’t you take me? Why did you take my family? I need an answer now! Not next week, not next month—now!” At that moment, he saw a piece of paper stuck to a tree that read, “You’re sovereign; You’re in control.” He believed it to be a sign from God, which motivated him to refute the death penalty for the perpetrators, stating their deaths wouldn’t bring back his family, and that Jesus would have “spared them.”

    To help his healing, Terry purchased a used RV and parked it where his house once stood. He remained there for about four months, sleeping with a loaded gun on his chest. He also drove to Greenville, Texas, where Erin was detained as a minor, to visit her twice a week. After her sentencing, he’d drive three hours once a month to visit Erin at the Hilltop Unit in Gatesville, Texas.

    Crediting his faith for helping him rebuild his life, Terry went on to become an ordained minister. He has since shared his story at more than 800 churches and 600 public schools. Seven months after the murders, Terry married Sonja Webb, a home health care aid he met at work. Unfortunately, his second marriage ended in divorce, with Terry citing that he moved on too quickly. He ultimately married again a few years later, and had a child with his current wife, Karen.

    Sources

  • The Case of Emmanuel Haro and His Sorry Excuse for “Parents”

    The Case of Emmanuel Haro and His Sorry Excuse for “Parents”

    At 7 months old, Emmanuel Haro of Cabazon, California, was described as a happy baby. Born to Rebecca Renee Haro, 41, and Jake Mitchell Haro, 32, on December 21, 2024, Emmanuel lived with his parents and at least one other sibling, 2-year-old Makenzie.

    Emmanuel was reported missing on Friday, August 14, 2025 when his mother was allegedly attacked by an unknown man outside of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Yucaipa Boulevard. But much to Rebecca and Jake’s surprise, the investigation quickly turned in the direction of the baby’s parents.

    Emmanuel has not been found, but the search for him remains ongoing. At the time of his alleged disappearance, Emmanuel was approximately 2’ tall and weighed 21 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He is cross-eyed. He was last seen wearing a black Nike onesie. Both Jake and Rebecca are currently detained without bail on charges of murder and filing a false police report, and are awaiting trial for the murder of their son.

    Here’s more on the developing story.

    The Timeline

    The timeline of this case has moved rapidly and continues to do so. As updates present, more information will be added below.

    Emmanuel Haro.
    Photo from Facebook.

    Fri., August 14, 7:41 pm

    Rebecca calls 9-1-1 to report her son Emmanuel missing. She tells the operator that she was attacked from behind while standing outside of her vehicle, changing the baby’s diaper.

    She is in the parking lot of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Yucaipa Boulevard. She only recalls the perpetrator saying, “Hola.” Rebecca claims the attack renders her unconscious and Emmanuel is gone when she regains consciousness. When she awakes, Rebecca runs into the store to ask if anyone saw her baby or someone with a baby, after which she calls 9-1-1.

    Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Yucaipa Boulevard.
    Photo from Facebook.

    Rebecca later states that her and Emmanuel were in the the area for an older step-child’s youth sports competition, which began at 6 pm. Her and Emmanuel drive to the store to purchase a mouthguard for her stepson to use. (It is later reported that Rebecca and Emmanuel were never seen at the sports game.)

    7:47 pm

    Police from San Bernardino and Riverside counties report to the scene. K9 dogs and helicopters are dispatched but Emmanuel is not located.

    8:00 pm

    Jake Haro, Rebecca’s husband and the father of Emmanuel, arrives at the scene.

    Sat., Aug. 15

    Local authorities release a statement about the ongoing search for Emmanuel. No Amber Alert is issued due to the lack of description about a suspect or vehicle.

    Rebecca and Jake speak to Los Angeles ABC station KABC about their son’s disappearance. Rebecca describes Emmanuel as a “happy boy” and both parents plead for his safe return. Rebecca interchangeably refers to her son in the past and present tenses. Both parents cry during the interviews, but no tears are visible.

    Rebecca has two black eyes that do not appear fresh, but are in the stages of healing. Her eyes aren’t swollen but have bruising underneath. (It is later reported that Rebecca had black eyes days prior to the alleged attack.)

    Sun., Aug. 16

    The Sheriff’s Office releases a statement that multiple individuals have been interviewed about Emmanuel’s disappearance. Inconsistencies are noted in Rebecca’s statements. When Rebecca is alerted to the inconsistencies, she declines to continue her police interview. The parents are not ruled out as suspects.

    The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, a nonprofit founded in Texas to stop school violence, but which occasionally gets involved in outside issues, initially offered to aid in the search for Emmanuel and provide a $5,000 reward for his safe return. However, as new information became available about the parents as suspects, the organization withdrew their offer.

    Mon., Aug. 17

    Riverside County Child Protective Services takes Makenzie, 2, Emmanuel’s older sibling, into protective custody.

    A search warrant is issued for the family’s home on Ramona Street in Cabazon. K-9 units search the property.

    Around 7:30 pm, community members gather in the parking lot of the Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa, holding candles and praying for Emmanuel’s safe return.

    Tues., Aug. 18

    The Sherriff’s office releases a press release stating that extensive searches were conducted in Yucaipa and Cabazon. Officials are also reviewing surveillance video from areas of interest and served several search warrants at the Haro residence.

    Thurs., Aug. 19

    Officials investigate a reported signing of Emmanuel in Kern County. No additional information is provided.

    Vincent Hughes, attorney for Jake Haro, tells ABC News that both parents “seek answers about their missing child” and that Jake is “fully cooperating with law enforcement and investigators.”

    Jake’s vehicle is seized by authorities.

    Jake’s first ex-wife, Isabel Gonzalez, files a domestic violence restraining order against him in efforts to protect their son, Eli Mitchell Haro.

    Fri., Aug. 20

    Rebecca and Jake Haro are seen leaving the Riverside Superior Juvenile Courts, allegedly regarding a separate issue involving 2-year-old Makenzie, who was taken into protective custody.


    Rebecca and Jake Haro are arrested ar their home in Cabazon, California, on Aug. 22, 2025.
    Credit: Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office

    Sat., Aug. 22

    Eight days after their son went missing, Rebecca and Jake Haro are arrested at 7:28 am at their home for the murder of Emmanuel. There are no other suspects at this time. The search for Emmanuel continues.

    Rebecca is taken into custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, California and Jake is placed in custody at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banninf, California.

    Mon., Aug. 24

    Rebecca and Jake Haro are arrested ar their home in Cabazon, California, on Aug. 22, 2025.
    Photo from Facebook.

    Another search is conducted for Emmanuel along the westbound shoulder of the 60 Freeway, near Gilman Springs Road in Moreno Valley with cadaver dogs. Jake is also present and is seen wearing an orange jumpsuit. Emmanuel is not found.

    Wed., Aug. 26

    Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41.
    Credit: Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office

    Rebecca and Jake appear in a California court and are formally charged with murder and filing a false police report. Both individuals are in court for less than five minutes and a $1 million bail is set for each of them.

    The Haro’s are scheduled to appear in court again on September 4, 2025.

    Thurs., Aug. 27

    Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin leads a press conference. Officials announce that they have a “pretty strong indication” about Emmanuel’s location and remains, and the alleged murder “was preventable in numerous ways.”

    Hestrin shares the belief that Emmanuel was “severely abused over a period of time” and that both parents “would have been aware of the abuse.” It is presumed that Emmanuel likely succumbed to his injuries.

    Hestrin describes Jake Haro as an “experienced child abuser,” stating that he “should have gone to prison” due to previously abusing a daughter he shares with an ex-wife in 2018. His daughter is bedridden as a result. The judge in that case granted Jake probation in what Hestrin describes as an “outrageous error in judgement.” Jake was on probation at the time of Emmanuel’s disappearance for a separate matter.

    Fri., Sept. 4

    Rebecca and Jake appear in court and plead not guilty to the murder of Emmanuel. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2025.

    Investigators believe Emmanuel was likely killed between August 5 to 14 as a result of severe long-term abuse. August 5 was the last confirmed sighting of Emmanuel.

    Wed., Sept. 10

    Investigators confirm the discovery of a shallow hole near the Haro residence that contains clothing believed to be Emmanuel’s. The clothing appears to have faint blood marks.

    Jake is being represented by Deputy Public Defenders Allison Lowe and Paulette Garthwaite, assigned to him from the Riverside County Public Defender. Rebecca is being represented by attorney Jeff Moore of Blunenthal & Moore.

    Digging in to Rebecca and Jake Haro

    Rebecca Renee Chavez was born on February 3, 1984. She was adopted by Mary Beushausen, who has been identified as both her adoptive mother and grandmother. Rebecca and her first husband, Edgar Gomez Chavez, were married for 11 years. Rebecca has two daughters with her first husband, who are both adults.

    Jake Mitchell Haro was born on February 11, 1993. The names of his parents are not publically available at this time. Like his own children, Jake was removed from the custody of his parents due to drug issues and abuse allegations. His grandfather was mentally ill and his mother, who suffered from substance abuse, frequently left Jake home alone in the care of his grandfather. Domestic violence also occurred between Jake’s parents, of which he observed on many occasions. At 13, Jake and his siblings, a brother and sister, were removed from his parents’ care and placed into an adoptive family.

    On March 3, 2014, Jake married his first wife, Isabel Gonzalez. The couple welcomed a son on March 9, 2014, Eli Mitchell Haro. Isabel filed for divorce on May 11, 2016 and the divorce was finalized on July 8, 2016.

    Sometime in 2017, Jake began a relationship with Vanessa Avina. The couple married and had two children, a boy and girl. On April 26, 2018, Jake filed a $100,000 personal injury claim due to a car accident in Beaumont, California. On August 10, 2018, Jake and Vanessa filed for bankruptcy in Riverside County.

    Information is not available as to when Jake Haro and Rebecca Haro married. However, it is known that the couple have at least two children together: 2-year-old, Makenzie, and 7-month-old Emmanuel. At the time of their arrest, Jake and Rebecca lived in the home of Jake’s mother, who lived next door to them

    After Rebecca became involved with Jake, it is alleged that she distanced herself from her own family. The distance created tension because it appeared that Rebecca chose Jake over them.

    Jake Haro’s Record of Abuse

    In 2021, Jake was convicted of cruelty to a child in Hemet, California in 2018; that child was his then-10-week-old daughter, identified in some sources as “Carla,” with his second wife Vanessa Avina. On October 12, 2018, Carla was admitted to Hemet Valley Hospital with multiple broken bones and a brain hermorage. The extent of Carla’s injuries were as follows:

    • fracture to the fifth rib on her left side
    • partial skull fracture
    • brain hemorrhage
    • significant neck swelling

    On October 13, 2018, Carla was transferred to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where she was intubated in critical condition. Healing fractures were identified in eight ribs, and there was a healing tibia fracture on her right left, indicating ongoing abuse.

    When questioned, Jake told authorities that he accidentally dropped Carla while bathing her in the sink. In December 13, 2018, Carla’s injuries were determined to be intentional and the result of shaken-baby syndrome, squeezing of the chest, and twisting of the tibia. Jake, who also allegedly abused his ex-wife, blamed her for Carla’s injuries.

    Carla, now 7, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of her injuries. She is unable to walk or talk, and is blind, and allegedly only has use of 3% of her brain. A cousin of Jake’s ex-wife has custody of both Carla and her brother.

    Jake pled guilty to a single count of willful child neglect as part of a deal stricken with law enforcement. Instead of being sentenced to prison time, Judge Dwight W. Moore sentenced him to 48 months (four years) of probation, a 180-day work-release program and counseling in 2023. This horrific oversight was an example of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to shut down penitentiaries and prioritize rehabilitation over jail time—including for violent criminals.

    Vanessa Avina was also charged with felony child cruelty for placing a child in circumstances that could have resulted in serious injury or death.

    In 2024, Jake was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a handgun and ammunition, and thus violating his probation. Despite his previous charges and current violation, he was released on a $10,000 bail in August 2024. He was scheduled to appear in court on September 2, 2025, but it is currently unknown as to how or whether his previous charges will affect his current charges.

    Shaken Baby Syndrome

    There is a lot of speculation in this case as to whether Emmanuel Haro suffered from shaken baby syndrome. Currently, there is no information that confirms or refutes whether the child is a victim of such; however, some of the photos that surfaced online have drawn questions.

    Shaken baby syndrome is a severe brain injury that occurs when a baby or toddler is forcibly shaken. It typically occurs when a parent or caregiver shakes a child out of frustration and/or anger, which can resul in permanent brain damage due to the brain rattling against the skull.

    Symptoms of shaken baby syndrome include:

    • a bulging soft spot on the top of the head
    • a large head or forehead
    • coma
    • difficulty breathing
    • dilated pupils
    • extreme irritability
    • inability to focus on or follow movement with their eyes
    • inability to lift the head
    • lethargy
    • not smiling, babbling or talking
    • pale or discolored skin
    • paralysis
    • poor eating
    • seizures
    • tremors
    • vomiting

    Tragically, the extent of Carla’s injuries—Emmanuel’s older half-sister—reflect that of shaken baby syndrome and were presumed to have occurred at least partly as a result of such. In this case, it is certainly speculated that Emmanuel may have suffered from shaken baby syndrome as well. In photos, he is not seen smiling, actively engaging or playing. He is cross-eyed, despite allegedly not always having been so. Being cross-eyed, or failing to follow movement with his eyes, may be a sign of shaken baby syndrome. It is also unknown as to whether he was scooting or engaging appropriately for his age.

    Unusual Connections

    Rebecca Haro’s brother, James Beushausen is the convicted “Palm Springs killer.” In 2017, the then-34-year-old was arrested for murdering his girlfriend, Jaylynn Amanda Keith, 27. Keith was discovered in the bathtub with a gunshot wound to her head. Beushausen reported her death as a suicide but was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to 50 years to life imprisonment.

    My 2 Cents

    This case is both heartbreaking and also somewhat difficult to follow. There is a lot of misinformation.

    From the information I’ve gathered, Jake Haro has at least five young children, including the two children he shares with his third wife, Rebecca Haro, who has two children of her own. I also must note that Jake is on his third marriage in 10 years at just 32 years old.

    From the research publically available, I believe Jake has an anger problem and is unable to control himself—so much so that he has taken his anger out on numerous romantic partners, likely including Rebecca, and small children, which (I believe) likely includes Emmanuel and factually includes his then-10-week-old daughter, Carla. Imagine being an adult and having so little control that you intentionally and repeatedly abuse a 10-week-old child; someone that is so small and fragile, yet also dependent on you to keep them safe. The fact that he wasn’t already in jail for this is DESPICABLE.

    Judge Dwight W. Moore essentially ruled that Carla’s life was only worth a measly 180-day work-release program and some probation and counseling. This makes no sense and directly led to the incident in question involving Emmanuel. If Jake was incarcerated for his past child abuse, then this current case would have never happened.

    The judge’s intentions were rehabilitation but it’s been at least seven years since Carla was abused and Jake is still abusing his young children and partners. Rehabilitation is not possible for him and shouldn’t be considered otherwise.

    I believe—and again, this is purely speculation—that Emmanuel is deceased and his death resulted from long-term abuse. I believe he succumbed to his injuries and Jake, with the help of Rebecca, concocted a story and hid his body, because they knew Jake would face a harsh sentence due to his past crimes coupled with the current case.

    I also believe Rebecca knows what happened to Emmanuel. However, I wonder if she was so beaten down mentally and physically as a result of ongoing abuse from Jake, that she agreed to (or was manipulated to) help conceal Emmanuel’s body. I would not be surprised if Rebecca turns against her husband as the trial begins, using allegations of abuse to justify her involvement, and if she is offered a plea deal for revealing what happened.

    Rest in peace, Emmanuel.

    Anyone with information about Emmanuel’s disappearance and alleged murder should contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Specialized Investigation Division at (909) 890-4904.

    Anonymous tips can be made by contacting WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME (27463) or at wetip.com.

    Sources

  • Kiss and Kill: The Murder of Betty Williams

    Kiss and Kill: The Murder of Betty Williams

    Teenage relations, whether purely sexual or borne of genuine feelings, have a reputation for being intense. Couple surging hormones with peer pressure, inflamed reactions, impulsivity, unrealized childhood trauma, and potentially undiagnosed mental illness, and you have a guaranteed recipe for chaos. Go figure.

    When 17-year-old Elizabeth Jean “Betty” Williams of Odessa, Texas, was dumped by her casual boyfriend of a few months, 17-year-old John “Mack” Herring in the summer of 1961, she described her emotions as tragically unbearable. Betty, who had a reputation for being an outcast and promiscuous, with strong, progressive beliefs—something that wasn’t warmly welcomed in the 1960s, especially for a young woman, and especially in West Texas—began expressing openly to her peers that she wanted to die. Mental health wasn’t paid much attention back then, so Betty was written off as being dramatic and attention-seeking, as was judged of her personality.

    What most people didn’t realize until long after her death, was that Betty had reached a breaking point, which started with the breakup but wasn’t purely caused by it. Family problems, academic letdown, a grim future outlook, and plummeting self-esteem followed in close succession of the breakup, which left Betty feeling broken. She often wrote in her diary about feeling alone and misunderstood.

    Unfortunately, Betty was also frequently bullied by her peers for her differences, and disliked by many of her female classmates because she was sex-positive and open to sexual encounters. In her bedroom, Betty had access to a door that led outside and into an alleyway, and she often snuck out after her parents fell asleep. Betty frequently escaped to the drive-in movie theater, Tommy’s Drive-In, where she had sexual encounters with her male classmates, many of whom had girlfriends. These girlfriends were known as “cashmere girls”; they were from wealthier neighborhoods, members of unofficial “sororities” and stood together at football games wearing their boyfriends’ letterman jackets. They hardly looked Betty’s way, unless it was to snicker as she walked by.

    Elizabeth Jean “Betty” Williams.
    Photo sourced from FindAGrave.com.

    Throughout the winter and spring of 1961, Betty’s despair reached the point of suicidal ideation and attempts. She also started asking her peers if they’d kill her—and she was serious. Again, Betty’s peers wrote her off as being dramatic, and no one took her requests seriously.

    No one, except for Mack.

    Betty expressed to Mack that she dreamt of death, fantasized about heaven, and adamantly no longer wanted to live. Surprisingly, Mack agreed to “help” her. And so, on the evening of Wednesday, March 22, 1961, Betty left her home under the guise of attending theater practice for an upcoming school play, hitching a ride with a friend, Ike Nail. Ike brought Betty home afterwards around 10 pm. Betty pretended to enter through the front door, but secretly waited in the alleyway for Mack to pick her up. The next morning, Betty’s mother awoke to find her daughter’s bedroom door locked. Betty never locked her bedroom door, so when her mother gained entry and found Betty wasn’t there, she placed a frantic call to police.

    That day, Betty’s body was discovered submerged in a body of water nearly 30 miles outside of town. She was nearly decapitated her head, having suffered a single gunshot wound from a shotgun, fired at close range.

    Mack led police to her body.

    Mack stood trial twice for Betty’s murder the first of which became sensational in the area. Everyone in Odessa knew about the murder—and arguably, nearly everyone was also on Mack’s side. Shockingly, Mack walked free, never serving any prison time for Betty’s murder.

    How did a self-confessed killer walk free?

    Did Betty really ask Mack to kill her, or was that a cover-up?

    Below, we’ll dive in to the murder of Betty Williams, known as the “Kiss and Kill Murder.”

    Betty Williams, a Young Woman Ahead of Her Time

    Elizabeth Jean “Betty” Williams was born on August 11, 1943 in Marion, Illinois, to parents John Washington Williams and Mary Belle Williams. She was the eldest of four children, which included Patricia Lynn, Kathryn, and Joseph Wayne, who died at the age of one. In 1955, when Betty was 12 years old, her family relocated nearly 1,000 miles west from Goreville, Illinois to Odessa, Texas, a city in West Texas.

    Odessa was known for its booming oil and gas industry, and recently saw its population grow to some 80,000 people. The Williams family settled in a modest home near the oil fields, and they struggled to make ends meet. Betty’s father, a devout Baptist, worked odd jobs, typically doing carpentry work, but rarely found stable employment. Her mother worked as a clerk at J.C. Penney. As a teen, Betty worked part-time at Woolworth’s, a discount store.

    Betty Williams.
    Photo sourced from FindAGrave.com.

    Because of Betty’s nonconformist ways, she was treated as the “black sheep” of the family. Her father often blamed Betty for misfortunes affecting the family, attributing these happenings to Betty’s immorality. His treatment of Betty only worsened with time, as he caught wind of her promiscuity and encounters with young men.

    While Betty was ostracized at home, she was also ostracized by her peers. She was known as an outcast at Odessa High School. Though she didn’t wish to fit in, per say, she longed to belong and be accepted for who she was. Betty’s peers simply didn’t understand her. She loved reading, listening to progressive stand-up and was a fan of Jack Kerouac, Allan Ginsberg and other Beat Generation writers. She adamantly believed that schools shouldn’t be segregated and often vocalized such, despite being from a segregated area. She was also sex positive. Betty probably would have fared much better, and found happiness, had she been in her late teens during the peak of the Free Love Movement.

    Bold and opinionated, Betty liked to get a rise out of people and she relished in the attention. She was known to wear all black outfits with white lipstick, just to see others’ reactions. Or, she dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, forgoing her bra. In fact, she was known to not wear bras.

    Betty aspired to become a Broadway actress. Her bedroom walls gleaned with posters of popular movies and playbills. In high school, she found solace in theater, starring as Juliet in the play, Romeo and Juliet, during her junior year, and performing in three other plays that same year. She relished in the opportunity to get into character and transform on stage. It was the only place she felt free to be herself. Though Betty knew that her parents couldn’t afford to send her to college, she planned to attend Odessa College upon graduation, and start on her path to hopeful stardom.

    When Betty Falls For Mack

    Betty and Mack were friends for a few years before they began having relations. Both teens were very different, but perhaps that’s what drew them to each other, albeit temporarily. Mack, born on September 23, 1943, was a varsity football player who was well-liked by his peers and a skilled hunter. He was also involved in theater production, like Betty. Mack was raised in an upper-middle class home, where he lived with his parents and younger brother, Jack. His father, Herald Omar Herring was a World War II veteran and owned his own electrician business and his mother, Margaret Elizabeth Herring, was a homemaker.

    Mack was drawn to Betty’s unique personality. He found her interesting. Betty liked that Mack’s mind ran deeper than the simpleton conversations that bored her. He could keep up with her, mentally, better than other young men. He was also sensitive and romantic, more so than other boys her age. She liked that, and fell hard for him. Almost immediately after they started dating in the summer of 1960, Betty claimed to be “in love” with Mack.

    John “Mack” Herring, right, with an investigator. P
    hoto sourced from FindAGrave.com.

    Betty’s feelings deepened, but Mack’s actions didn’t align with the intensity of hers. He never introduced her to his friends or family, brought her to house parties, or gave her his letterman jacket to wear. He wanted to keep his relationship with Betty secret, perhaps because of her promiscuous reputation. As Mack pulled back, Betty tried making him jealous in attempts to lure him closer. In a move she’d deeply regret, Betty allegedly had sexual relations with another football player and one of Mack’s friends, Billie Rose. When Mack found out, he broke up with Betty immediately.

    Betty was devastated at their relationship ending. She fell hard for Mack, and really wanted to be with him. Nonetheless, Mack went on to date someone else by the fall; someone he felt comfortable introducing to his friends and family. Betty was heartbroken. She wrote him the following letter:

    Mack,

    Well, I guess you accomplished what you set out to do. You hurt me, more than you’ll ever know. When you handed me that note this morning, you virtually changed the course of my life. I don’t [know] what I expected the note to say, but not that. I’ll not waste time saying that I didn’t deserve it because I guess I did. I’ve never been so hurt in my life and I guess your note was the jolt I needed to get me back on the straight and narrow. I’ve done a lot of things, I know, that were bad and cheap, but I swear before God that I didn’t mean them to be like that. I was just showing off. I know it’s much too late with you, Mack, but I swear that another boy won’t get the chance to say what you said to me. You’ve made me realize that instead of being smart and sophisticated like I thought, I was only being cheap and ugly and whorish.

    Forgive me for writing this last note and thank you for reading it.

    I’ll not trouble you again, and Mack, I haven’t forgotten the good times we had. I really have enjoyed knowing you and I’m awfully sorry that it had to end this way …

    Best of luck with your steady girlfriend. I hope she’s the best.

    Betty

    P.S. When you think of me try to think of the good times we had and not of this.

    To make matters worse for Betty, her classmates soon learned about her sexual involvement with Billie Rose and other young men at the drive-in. She was bullied relentlessly and nothing was done to stop it. Like mental health, bullying also wasn’t taken seriously back then.

    Betty Williams and a cutoff image of Mack Herring yearbook photos.
    Photo sourced from FindAGrave.com.

    Soon after, a new teacher was hired to oversee the theater department, and Betty was demoted from lead actress to theater manager. The teacher also told Betty that she lacked talent, which stung especially hard because she longed to become an actress. Also around this time, Betty’s father discovered and read her diary after looking for evidence of Betty’s wrongdoing in her room. Her diary outlined her sexual escapades and naturally, her religious father was furious.

    Having endured being bullied by her peers, demoted in theater, dumped by her boyfriend, and unaccepted by her father, Betty began struggling emotionally. By the winter of 1961, she started openly expressing her desire to die.

    The Murder

    One day in the spring of 1961, Mack offered to drive Betty and another classmate, Howard Sellers, home from theater practice. On the way, Betty proposed her question to Mack: Would he be willing to kill her? The teens laughed together about Betty’s absurd request, with Mack immediately assuming it was a dark joke. However, the following day at theater practice, Betty urged Mack that she was desperate; she truly wanted to die. She promised to write a letter absolving Mack of all responsibility, if he would only take on the task of killing her. On Wednesday, March 22, 1961, her grim fantasy became reality.

    That night, after theater practice, while Betty was sitting in the car with Ike, Mack pulled up to the alleyway behind her parents’ home. Betty hopped into his car, wearing her pajamas. Then, the pair drove 26 miles to a property where Mack’s father maintained a hunting lease, and walked down a steep hill to a stock tank, which is used to wash livestock. Mack asked Betty for a kiss, to remember her by; a moment responsible for the crime’s namesake as the “Kiss and Kill Murders.” Betty told him, “Thank you, Mack. I will always remember you for that.” Then, she knelt down, directed the 12-gauge shotgun to her temple, and said, “now.”

    And shoot, he did.

    Once deceased, Mack tied weights to Betty’s body to keep her underneath the water.

    Police quickly assumed Mack as a suspect. After Betty’s mother called police to report their daughter missing, police went to Betty’s school to conduct interviews with students. In these interviews, they learned about Betty’s character, reputation, and ultimately about her last being seen with Mack. Mack was brought to the police station for questioning. Initially, Mack denied any involvement in Betty’s death, but 45 minutes later, he confessed to killing Betty. Later that day, he led police to her body. Oddly, when police arrived at the crime scene, they instructed Mack to remove his clothes, with the exception of his underwear, and bring Betty’s body to the surface.

    Mack obliged and was subsequently arrested.

    The Trial Begins: The State of Texas v. John Mack Herring

    News of Mack’s arrest spread quickly through Odessa. People were in disbelief that someone “like Mack” could commit such an act; “like Mack” essentially meaning a Caucasian all-American football player from a good family. Opinions formed that suggested if Mack had been involved in Betty’s death, he must have had good reason to be—or, perhaps he was convinced to do so. Whatever the case, he remained accepted by his community and included in happenings with his friends. He was still invited to houseparties and movies at the drive-in, and young women still asked him to spend time with them. In fact, the crime made Mack ever-more popular and sought after by females his age.

    Because public opinion labeled Mack as “a nice guy,” whispers around town centered on bashing Betty. People referred to Betty as a “slut” and “manipulative,” essentially blaming her for coercing Mack to commit such a crime. The tendency to fault Betty entirely for what happened only grew more pronounced during the trial.

    On February 20, 1962, The State of Texas v. John Mack Herring officially began. Warren Burnett, a 34-year-old attorney and former Marine from Odessa, defended Mack. Luck was on Mack’s side, because Warren was one of the top attorneys in the area; at 25, he became the youngest practicing attorney in the Odessa area. Not a single one of Warren’s clients had been sent to prison.

    The trial was led by District Court Judge G. C. Olsen and Dan Sullivan, 32, defended the state. Unlike Warren, Dan’s experience spanned about a year and focused mostly on DWIs and theft cases.

    A newspaper clipping of Betty Williams’s murder. Image sourced from findagrave.com.

    By today’s standards, Mack would undoubtedly be found guilty and serve prison time:

    • He gave police a full confession
    • He showed little to no emotion for the victim
    • He led police to Betty’s body
    • He stated the murder was premeditated
    • He brought along items to help him commit the murder: a shotgun with ammo, rope, lead weights to weigh down Betty’s body, and a miner’s helmet to provide light as he ensured her body was fully submerged

    However, Mack’s attorney concocted a story that he was confident would win over the jury. His plan was to argue the insanity plea, pledging that Mack was insane at the time of the crime. He requested for Judge Olsen to focus the trial on whether or not Mack was deemed insane, and not on whether he actually committed the murder. In a shocking move, Judge Olsen agreed with Warren, and determined that Mack wouldn’t stand trial for murder—his role in the murder itself was clear—but instead, the jury would deliberate whether Mack was insane or not at the time of the killing. Mack was not to be evaluated by a psychiatrist during the trial because his current mental state was not of concern—only his mental state at the time of the crime.

    The trial became a local sensation, and one that was filled with teenagers, most of them female. Many young women became infatuated with Mack and flocked to his trial to steal glimpses of him. The media nicknamed these young women “Mack’s girls.”

    Everyone in the courtroom was there with the belief that Mack should walk free. The only people present to support Betty were her parents—not even a single friend stepped forward for her.

    Many people took the stand to speak on Mack’s behalf, including several classmates and his own father. Mack himself even testified. The most compelling testimony, however, was given by Marvin Grice, a psychiatrist in Odessa, who evaluated Mack three days after the murder. The psychiatrist stated that Mack experienced such a high level of stress as a result of Betty’s request, that he believed he was doing her a favor by killing her; essentially, it was a mercy killing, in Mack’s mind. The psychiatrist’s statements aligned with Mack’s own testimony, during which he expressed that in hindsight, he knew killing Betty was wrong, but that night, he believed he was helping her gain entry to heaven, which was a topic she talked about a lot.

    Betty hers or didn’t want Mack to be held responsible for her death, and she thought of such before the act was committed. In attempts to absolve him of his role in her murder, she left behind the following letter dated March 20, 1961, which was shared with the court:

    I want everyone to know that what I’m about to do in no way implicates anyone else. I say this to make sure that no blame falls on anyone other than myself.
    I have depressing problems that concern, for the most part, myself. I’m waging a war within myself, a war to find the true me and I fear that I am losing the battle. So rather than admit defeat I’m going to beat a quick retreat into the no man’s land of death. As I have only the will and not the fortitude necessary, a friend of mine, seeing how great is my torment, has graciously consented to look after the details.
    His name is Mack Herring and I pray that he will not have to suffer for what he is doing for my sake. I take upon myself all blame, for there it lies, on me alone!

    Betty Williams

    After only deliberating for 11 hours, the jury determined Mack was insane at the time of the murder. Despite the obvious, no one considered that Mack had the capacity to decline Betty’s request, but only that Betty was at fault for involving him.

    A Second Trial is Held

    Attorney Dan Sullivan, representing the state, motioned for an appeal, stating that Judge Olsen did not have the power to pre-determine the trial should only focus on Mack’s sanity at the time of the murder, and nothing else. On June 27, 1962, a new trial began, only this time it was held in Beaumont, nearly 600 miles away, in attempts to escape the influence of local publicity.

    Attorney Warren Burnett took control of the courtroom once again. He brought back the psychiatrist, along with a slew of students, some teachers and Mack’s football coach to defend his character. Warren argued that nearly two years later, no motive was ever established. What would Mack have to gain by killing Betty? he asked the courtroom. And once again, the jury agreed. On December 13, 1962, Mack was found not guilty by reason of insanity for a second time.

    Mack’s Life Post-Trial

    Everyone in the area knew Mack Herring because of the crime and subsequent trial. Despite the crime attracting such publicity, he remained local, and the community embraced him.

    He went on to pursue a degree at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and subsequently returned to Odessa, where he never had another run in with the law again. For most of his adult life, more than 25 years, he followed in his father’s footsteps and worked as an electrician. He also worked as a carpenter, welder and as a dock foreman, and married and divorced twice.

    Over time, the sensationalism surrounding Mack faded. He lived a quiet, private and conservative life until his passing on January 5, 2019, at the age of 75.

    Remembering Betty Williams

    Betty Williams.
    Photo sourced from FindAGrave.com.

    Even though so many years have passed, Betty is often remembered at Odessa High School, where her murder is recalled as something of an urban legend. Strange occurrences at the school, like slamming doors, flickering lights and sounds of footsteps, particularly in the theater room, are commonly attributed to Betty. After Betty’s passing, her cousin, Shelton Williams, went on to publish a book in 2006 about Betty and the aftermath of her murder titled, Washed in the Blood.

    Betty was a woman ahead of her time. Her views were bold and progressive. She embraced her individuality and was unapologetically herself, though she wished that someone would embrace and understand her. Initially, she thought it was Mack, but perhaps she over-romanticized the relationship.

    With troubles at home and bullying at school, Betty likely felt a perpetual sense of unacceptance. Perhaps she earned the reputation of being promiscuous because having relations with men, was the closest she was able to feel with anyone; her attempt at intimacy without having to reveal too much of her inner self. Perhaps, it was also something of an escape. While female friends avoided her, men welcomed her, even if the reasoning was mostly sexual. That all being said, I’m not a psychologist by any means, but I do believe Betty had some form of mental illness and/or personality disorder. Her symptoms and behaviors, in my uneducated opinion, appear reminiscent of borderline personality disorder, but I’m in no position to suggest a true diagnosis.

    If Betty were to have lived past the too-young age of 17, I imagine she’d made a difference. I see her as someone who would’ve left Odessa and gone elsewhere, perhaps a big city like New York or Los Angeles. I believe she would have embraced the underdogs she came along—the forgotten and down on their luck. She’d feel compassion for them and they’d relate to and look up to her. I think she would have enjoyed the Free Love Movement and perhaps attended the Summer of Love in San Francisco. I think she would have been involved in protests and riots, and continued to loudly proclaim and defend what she believed in. Unfortunately, her potential was lost in a second, and her life was disrespected when the law found a way to favor social norms, expectations, and reputation, instead of concrete facts. May Betty’s memory be remembered for the individual she was, and may she rest in peace.

    Betty is buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, Texas.

    Betty Williams’ grave.
    Photo from FindAGrave.com.

    R.I.P Betty Williams

    Sources

    • FindAGrave.com – Elizabeth Jean “Betty” Williams

    • Texas Monthly – A Kiss Before Dying

    • Women & Crime – Episode 125: Betty Williams