Mid 1970's kidnapping & executions @ Houston

[leVieux]

I am preparing to write a story based on this very real event of long ago. A young Physician, a Real Estate Developer, and a Jeweler were kidnapped, taken to West Texas, and executed in a horrible crime.

I knew one of the victims and some of his survivors.

ISO any LEO or retired LEO who has personal memories of the crime, its investigation, the trials, or aftermath.

Please contact me here on TGT.

Thanks,
leVieux

 

[rexster314]

You've got me interested. When did this occur?

 

[ZX9RCAM]

You've got me interested. When did this occur?

In the mid 1970s.....

 

[Southpaw]

Mid 1970's kidnapping & executions @ Houston

You've got me interested. When did this occur?

In the mid 1970s.....

 

[leVieux]

You've got me interested. When did this occur?

"Mid 1970's"

 

[Dash Riprock]

I don't remember this one so now you've got me interested.

I remember the Dean Corll/Elmer Wayne Henley stuff from the 70's, but not this. Houston was really bad in the 70's.

 

[leVieux]

"Mid 1970's"

I don't remember this one so now you've got me interested.

I remember the Dean Corll/Elmer Wayne Henley stuff from the 70's, but not this. Houston was really bad in the 70's.

One of the victims was my friend, "Pat" Fitzpatrick, MD.

leVieux

 

[ZX9RCAM]

This should be it...

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22170298/fitzpatrick_dr_william_s_pat/

ETA: Actually would be "late" 1970s.

 

[40Arpent]

I'm confused...were they taken from Houston to West Texas, killed, then brought back to Shiner to be buried? Because Shiner sure as shit ain't West Texas.

 

[leVieux]

This should be it...

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22170298/fitzpatrick_dr_william_s_pat/

ETA: Actually would be "late" 1970s.

Yes, that was him. It was a very, very vicious crime.

Thanks for the link.

leVieux

 

[leVieux]

I'm confused...were they taken from Houston to West Texas, killed, then brought back to Shiner to be buried? Because Shiner sure as shit ain't West Texas.

I guess someone didn't understand Texas geography. As it was over 40 years ago and I wasn't in Houston at the time, I didn't recall that detail.

leVieux

 

[F350-6]

I guess someone didn't understand Texas geography. As it was over 40 years ago and I wasn't in Houston at the time, I didn't recall that detail.

leVieux

Wasn't anywhere near Houston at the time and don't remember the story, but news didn't spread back then like it does now.

Mostly disappointed to read 1978 was over 40 years ago. Had to check the math on that and got even more depressed.

 

[480 Ruger]

https://www.westword.com/news/claud...x-death-row-inmates-awful-abuse-case-10063133

 

[leVieux]

Wasn't anywhere near Houston at the time and don't remember the story, but news didn't spread back then like it does now.

Mostly disappointed to read 1978 was over 40 years ago. Had to check the math on that and got even more depressed.

Gee, my old "memory" ! I would have sworn it was before June 1977. Good thing I didn't bet on it.

leVieux

https://www.westword.com/news/claud...x-death-row-inmates-awful-abuse-case-10063133

Thank you,

leVieux

 

[Texasjack]

Wow! These guys were real dirt bags!

1978 was a wild time in Houston. Gun stores were packed on Saturdays with people buying guns to protect themselves. My cousin was staying with an older lady (friend of his mother) and went out with some friends one night. When he got to the house, he noticed light coming through the front door. While he was gone, someone tried to break in and the woman put half a dozen bullets through the door.

There was a back street that I could take to get home from work. A number of apartment complexes were along it. At one of them, a woman was murdered. A week later, 2 more were murdered and they took the heads with them. As I drove by the next day, people were pitching mattresses and such from the upper floors in order to speed up moving out.

Wild times!

 

[leVieux]

Yes, I lived off South Main 1977 - 79. Two of my neighbors were kidnapped, raped, & brutally beaten. Perp's never were caught. leVieux

 

[FireInTheWire]

Wow! These guys were real dirt bags!

1978 was a wild time in Houston. Gun stores were packed on Saturdays with people buying guns to protect themselves. My cousin was staying with an older lady (friend of his mother) and went out with some friends one night. When he got to the house, he noticed light coming through the front door. While he was gone, someone tried to break in and the woman put half a dozen bullets through the door.

There was a back street that I could take to get home from work. A number of apartment complexes were along it. At one of them, a woman was murdered. A week later, 2 more were murdered and they took the heads with them. As I drove by the next day, people were pitching mattresses and such from the upper floors in order to speed up moving out.

Wild times!

So why was it so bad during that time? Gangs? drugs? what was the deal?

 

[oldag]

The oil boom in the 70's took Houston from a nice town to excessive crime and traffic. A lot of bad element moved in with the good during the boom.

 

[FireInTheWire]

The oil boom in the 70's took Houston from a nice town to excessive crime and traffic. A lot of bad element moved in with the good during the boom.

OK, thanks. Kinda like Midland/Odessa now.

 

[Eli]

Houston was always rough in the past, it wasn't until the CHL laws and 'freakonomic' effects of Roe v. Wade in the mid-late 1990s that calmed things down. Truth be told, I wish it'd get rough again, and scare the weak among the recent transplants out!

Eli