The Forgotten Four in Wichita, KS

[reving19]

Some of you may have heard of the Wichita Horror (also known as The Wichita Massacre). Even if you have, you probably do not know about the quadruple murder that occurred 8 days before in the same town. It is known as the Forgotten Four. Here is a link -

http://www.kansas.com/2010/12/07/162...-unveil-a.html

[Linnie]

The Forgotten Four was a domestic violence mass murder of acquaintances that was done quickly and the perpetrators caught and convicted fairly quickly. It doesn't make the victims any less dead or their loved ones any less sad and angry, but there was a resolution.

There was a similar crime in Bridgeport, CT in 1990, the murder of four friends and relatives which might have been forgotten as quickly, except that one of the victims was a 5-year-old boy forced to bury his face in a sofa cushion before being shot in the head (his 2-year-old brother was pistol-whipped but survived.) This also began with domestic violence and misplaced jealousy, and the murderer was fairly easily identified, arrested, and convicted (life without parole.)

http://articles.courant.com/1991-07-...hase-convicted

http://articles.courant.com/1991-10-...ence-courtroom


The Wichita Horror was by all accounts a random choice of victims event that involved hours and hours of torture and humiliation beforehand, and if one victim had not somehow survived and was capable of reporting it, the murderers would either not have been arrested, or for a long time and after more murders. This made it resonate and made it more memorable. That there CAN be collateral damage and additional murders of unrelated victims in a domestic violence situation before an arrest is made, does not usually occur to most people and reduces fear of these events, but seemingly "random" crimes terrify.

[reving19]

The Forgotten Four was a domestic violence mass murder of acquaintances that was done quickly and the perpetrators caught and convicted fairly quickly. It doesn't make the victims any less dead or their loved ones any less sad and angry, but there was a resolution.

There was a similar crime in Bridgeport, CT in 1990, the murder of four friends and relatives which might have been forgotten as quickly, except that one of the victims was a 5-year-old boy forced to bury his face in a sofa cushion before being shot in the head (his 2-year-old brother was pistol-whipped but survived.) This also began with domestic violence and misplaced jealousy, and the murderer was fairly easily identified, arrested, and convicted (life without parole.)

http://articles.courant.com/1991-07-...hase-convicted

http://articles.courant.com/1991-10-...ence-courtroom


The Wichita Horror was by all accounts a random choice of victims event that involved hours and hours of torture and humiliation beforehand, and if one victim had not somehow survived and was capable of reporting it, the murderers would either not have been arrested, or for a long time and after more murders. This made it resonate and made it more memorable. That there CAN be collateral damage and additional murders of unrelated victims in a domestic violence situation before an arrest is made, does not usually occur to most people and reduces fear of these events, but seemingly "random" crimes terrify.

I agree with everything you said. I just started this thread so Death Hags could have a place to go to talk about this particular crime. I wasn't trying to say that the Wichita Horror incident gets more attention than this crime. In fact, I do not think the Wichita Horror incident gets enough attention. But this one should receive some attention, too. It could serve as a warning to others to be aware that you could get caught in a mess if you hang with someone who is going through a breakup or divorce with a hot-tempered spouse or ex-boyfriend. This is especially true if children are involved. You do not have to quit hanging around them. Just be aware that these things do happen.

[Linnie]

That is sadly true--- too easy for angry hurt people to retaliate against ANYONE who gets in their way.

It does add to the tragedy of the Forgotten Four incident that some of the victims were apparently so poor that they did not get proper grave markers, which I am sure the more affluent WH victims did.

[Wendy A.]

Did they ever find out why The Forgotten Four murders occurred? What was the reason they gave? It's so sad.