Introduction of offender
Herman Webster Mudgett (better known as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, or H.H Holmes)
Born May 16th 1861
Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Parents: Levi Horton Mudgett and Theodate Page Price,
Childhood development: Holmes was the third born child in his family, He had 2 older siblings and 2 younger siblings. Holmes’s father was from a farming family, and at times he worked as a farmer, trader and house painter; his parents were devout Methodists. It has been reported that he would torture animals and kill them when he was a child, and that he was abused by his father but there has not been any real proof that either of these things happened.
Educational Experience: Holmes enrolled in the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont at age 18, but was dissatisfied with the school and left after one year. In 1882, he entered the University of Michigan’s Department of Medicine and Surgery and graduated in June 1884 after passing his examinations
Young adulthood: At the age of 16, Holmes graduated from high school and took teaching jobs in Gilmanton and later in nearby Alton. On July 4, 1878, he married Clara Lovering in Alton; their son, Robert Lovering Mudgett, was born on February 3, 1880. But it was reported that he was very abusive to Clara, and she ended up moving away and in 1884 and never spoke to him again.
Mature adulthood: After this happened Holmes moved to Mooers Forks, New York. Rumors quickly spread that Holmes had been seen with a little boy, who then went missing, Holmes claimed that he had nothing to do with the child, and moved quickly afterward. He then moved to Philadelphia where he worked in a drugstore, but after another child died, after purchasing medicine from him, Holmes quickly left the city again. Right before moving to Chicago, he changed his name to Henry Howard Holmes to avoid the possibility of being exposed by victims of his previous interactions. In late 1886, while still technically married to Clara, Holmes married Myrta Belknap. He filed for divorce from Clara a few weeks after marrying Myrta. Holmes came across Holton’s drugstore, and was given a job by the Owner, Holton and he proved to be a hardworking employee, eventually buying the store from his boss. In many books it is stated that Holton and his wife went missing shortly after that, that is completely false, Holmes did not do anything to them and they lived well after Holmes eventual death. Holmes then bought the lot across the street from the drugstore and built a 3-story building, telling investors and people that he was making a hotel, the building, there were sound proofed rooms and mazes of hallways, some of which seemed to go nowhere. Many of the rooms were outfitted with chutes that would drop straight down to the basement where Holmes had acid vats, quicklime and a crematorium to dispose of his victims’ bodies. This was later on named Holmes’ “Murder Castle”.
Marital status: Holmes was married twice and had a child with both spouses. Once with Clara Lovering and had a son named Robert Lovering Mudgett, and he married Myrta Belk and had a daughter. Then Holmes married Georgiana Yoke, while still being married to the other 2.
Introduction of offense
Crime/ Crimes (type)
Insurance Fraud: At age 18, he used a cadaver, that resembled his friend, and used it to fake his friend’s death to get the life insurance for it, and split it with his accomplice.
November, 1894. H.H. Holmes arrested in Boston accused of attempting to defraud Fidelity Mutual Insurance.
Suspected Murders:
Christmas Eve 1891, Holmes’ Mistress Julia Conner went missing and was never seen again. They had been living in his hotel and were very close to Holmes. Holmes claimed that Julia had died during a failed abortion. No remains were found.
Christmas Eve 1891, Pearl Conner, the daughter of Julia Conner went missing the same night but Holmes never Commented on what had happened to her. Though bones that were found in the basement were most likely hers, forensics at the time couldn’t confirm that they belonged to the victim.
December 1892, Emeline Cigrande began working for Holmes in May, and ended up disappearing that December, no remains were found.
July 5th 1893, Minnie Williams, a one-time actress who had worked for Holmes as his personalized stenographer, and was convinced to sign over her property to an alias of his, simply disappeared, on July 5th 1893. No Remains were found.
July 5th 1893, Nannie Williams, went to visit her sister Minnie one weekend. She then sent one letter to her aunt stating she’s traveling to Europe, and was never heard from again after July 5th 1893. No Remains were Found.
July 1894, Benjamin Pietzel, Holmes’ friend, they had come up with an idea to fake his death and get the 10,000 $ from the life insurance policy, when it came time to enact their plan, Holmes’ chloroformed Benjamin, and set his unconscious body on fire.
July 1894, Alice Pietzel and Nellie Pietzel, Holmes had forced them into a large trunk and locking them inside. He drilled a hole in the lid of the trunk and put one end of a hose through the hole, attaching the other end to a gas line to asphyxiate the girls. Bodies found buried in cellar of one of Holmes’ rental houses
July 1984, Howard Pietzel, the young son of Benjamin Pietzel was posined and then had his body chopped up and burned, all that was found was teeth and bits of bone, in Holmes’ Chimney.
Age at time of offenses: First offense was at 18 and didn’t offend again until he was 30 years of age. He began to murder people when he was 30 years old. He committed what is believed to be his first murder when he was 30 years old, although. He was 34 years old when he was caught.
Intent: It’s unknown why he did many of his murders, either out of curiosity or impulse, all he had said about why he did what he did, was that he was unable to help himself. It can be surmised form some of his victims that, money and land was his main goal, while others were because he felt like he had to.
Evidence of Crime: Although he confessed to 27 murders over the course of his life, only 9 can be confirmed, with as many as 9 of the those he confessed to were found alive and well. All of Holmes victims knew him to some extent, many of those had known him quite well, and had trusted him. He committed these crimes either out of greed or impulse.
Instrumentalities: It is unknown on how he killed many of his first victims as they were never found. The other methods of murder were either poison or asphyxiation. He was 34 years old when he was caught.
Investigation of offense
Type of agencies (Local/State/Federal): Chicago Police and Philadelphia Police, and Pinkertons
Jurisdiction(s) where crime(s) occurred: Following the discovery of Alice and Nellie’s bodies, Chicago police began investigating Holmes’ but found no evidence that could convict him in Chicago. But Holmes was arrested in Boston by Pinkertons, who had tracked him down for stealing a horse, who then found evidence of Howard Pietzel in his Chimney
Time frame between offense(s) and the solving of the crime(s): Years had gone by from his original murders, but it was only 4 months after the murder of the Pietzel family until he was captured.
Confessions (if known): Holmes confessed to 27 murders in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Toronto, though some of those he confessed to killing were still alive and well, and six attempted murders.
Trial
Prosecution strategy:
Defense strategy: Claimed he was an ordinary man, and there was no possible way he could’ve done such a thing. He blamed Minnie Williams, another one of his victims, that she had killed them all.
Defendant’s plea: Not Guilty
Venue (location) of trial: Philadelphia
Length of trial: 5 Days
Factors in trial
Verdict: Guilty
Sentencing
Current Status: Deceased
Deterrence: Claimed The devil had possessed him, and his crime were the act of the Devil.
Capital Punishment (if applicable): To Be Hung from the neck until dead.
Probation: None
Parole: None
Clemency: None
Pardon: None
Societal Impact
Economic Costs to society (investigation, trial, incarceration, emotional, behavioral, preventative, medical, psychological, etc.): Unable to confirm
New legislation: Unable to confirm
Lifestyle changes: Unable to confirm
Trauma to victim(s): Uknown, but once he decided to kill them, he was very quick about it.
Deterrence: The only thing that deterred Holmes was being caught, he would’ve most certainly continue killing for greed.
Applicable Theories of Behavior
List Theory/Theories
Holmes was believed to be motivated by money, until it became more of a curiosity thing, with a need to watch his victims die. It believed this was connected to deep seated issues of not feeling wanted by anyone in life, combined with his psychopathic tendencies. It was also believed he had Anti-Social Disorder, which is common among psychopaths and sociopaths. He was very controlling of those in his life, trying to be in control of everything, even in his castle, he made sure he had things set up so he had the power.
Defend your position
Holmes polygamy is what makes many believe he was trying to make himself seem more wanted by people, which is why he would never divorce any of his wives, or break up with his loves. Instead of giving them the chance he would either leave, or just end up killing them.
Supporting information
Expert testimony
Dr. Brohn’s analysis of Holmes, stated that it is widely believed that serial killers have some form of mental illness, but its more often that they do not. Its more that they are just psychopathic, which isn’t technically considered to be a mental Illness.
Solutions
Environmental design
Incarceration: Sentenced to Death
Punishment: Hanging
Rehabilitation: None
Time served: Not Applicable
Education/Training: Department of Medicine and Surgery
Closing Remarks
Holmes, was born into a fine life. Despite claims of him killing animals and him being abused from a young age, there has never been any proof of any of this happening. Holmes, had many opportunities in his life to just not be a horrible person. When he saw these, he chose to do the wrong thing. From beating his first wife to abandoning his second wife and child. Then to simply murdering people for money and greed. He never had to do anything but his only defense was that he couldn’t change who he was, and that he had urges he couldn’t control.
When he was eventually caught, he sold his story to a paper, confessing to taking the lives of a 100 people, then dropping it to 27. Because of cases like this it is very hard to get a proper view of what he had done as a person and serial killer. He had kept the air of calm and innocence until just days before his execution, where he blamed the devil for all of his wrong doings. When that didn’t work, he was then calm until he was executed.
2019-4-9-1554770480