Ongoing from the 1950s until the early 1960s, there was a crime blight originating from the hands of a man named Hugh Morse. Beginning his life in a disciplined environment, he joined the United States Army in the 1940s. However, discipline seemed to elude him as he later went Absent without Leave (AWOL) while serving in the United States Air Force. Additionally, he exhibited the AWOL pattern with the Marines in 1950, thus marking the onset of his journey into criminal activities.
Morse started his spree in 1955 in a particularly horrifying manner. By deceitfully luring two 8-year-old girls into an alleyway in California, promising them ice cream, he ended up sexually assaulting the innocent children. His arrest for this incident led to the designation of ‘sexual psychopath’ in his criminal record.
Relocating after the incident, Morse found himself in Spokane, Washington, where he continued his predatory behaviour. He confessed to lurking within unsuspecting women’s homes, unbeknownst to the residents. The violation of privacy escalated, however, when on November 7, 1959, Morse forced his way into Glorie Brie’s home, committing acts of rape and murder.
Barely a year later, Morse claimed the life of Blanche Boggs, a 69-year-old woman, marking her the second known victim of his crime spree. In the wake of several other attempted murders, Morse arrived at Birmingham, Alabama. It was here he would encounter his third victim.
Bobbi Ann Landini, a young woman of 27, was raped and brutally beaten to death with a pipe by Morse in Birmingham. This marked not only his third victim but also the last one before he attracted the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), making it to their top ten most wanted suspects.
Though he was on the FBI’s radar, Morse managed to evade capture for a while longer. In 1961, while still on the run, he committed another heinous act, raping and killing 34-year-old Carol Ronan in St. Paul, Minnesota. This act took place on the fateful date of September 18.
Fate eventually caught up with Morse when his photo was recognized by a newly-wedded lady who promptly reported him to local authorities. Consequently, on October 13, 1961, Morse was arrested finally, and he confessed to his series of horrific crimes. His reign of terror had finally come to an end.
While serving his sentence in the Minnesota Correctional Facility, Morse made a gruesome attempt at ending his own life. He attempted suicide by slashing his neck and wrists with a razor blade. Nevertheless, his attempt was unsuccessful when he was found in his cell, covered in blood.
Morse’s life ended behind bars at the ripe old age of 73 in 2003. He served a significant 42 years in prison before his demise, marking an end to a life scarred by violent crime and void of remorse.
Walter Hill, another criminal with deep roots in Alabama, grew up in the small town of Midway. His story is different from Morse’s, but no less tragic. His criminal operations commenced in 1952 and didn’t end until 1977, during which he murdered five innocent individuals.
At the tender age of 17, Hill committed his first act of murder by beating a man to death with a board in Adamsville, Alabama. For this horrifying act, he received a ten-year sentence at the Atmore State Prison Farm, where he added another twist to his criminal tale.
In 1954, Hill and 20 of his fellow inmates masterminded a daring escape during a baseball game. However, his newfound freedom was fleeting as he was recaptured within 24 hours.
Hill resurfaced into the public eye in 1962 after he, along with an accomplice, kidnapped a person and drove him across state lines back to Alabama. As a result, he was sent to the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, after being sentenced to another 25 years. In an appalling turn of events, Hill stabbed another inmate to death while incarcerated, earning an extra five years.
The year 1977 marked another haunting chapter in Hill’s life. He requested Willie Mae Hammock for her 13-year-old stepdaughter’s hand in marriage, declaring that they had been ‘dating’. After being rejected, Hill shot Hammock and two more family members in front of the horrified youngster.
Escaping Alabama with the child, they hitched a ride with an oblivious driver, whom Hill intimidated with stories of his murders. Fortunately, the driver managed to flee from Hill after the car broke down, eventually notifying the police. With the murder weapon still in his pocket, Hill was quickly apprehended.
After numerous court appearances and retrials, Hill was finally sentenced to death in 1980. He was executed by electric chair in 1997, at Alabama’s Atmore Holman Correctional Facility, with his wife and two nieces in attendance, witnessing the end of a life marred by violent crime.