[3], "Deaths in Custody | Texas Justice Initiative", "Texas killer's death leaves unanswered questions in girls' slayings", "Relatives unsure of killer's claim in Texas deaths", "Brutal asesino en serie viol a 15 nias", "Investigators Think They Know Who Killed Eleven Girls Around Galveston In The 1970s", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edward_Harold_Bell&oldid=1131805328, This page was last edited on 5 January 2023, at 21:17. 1 of 11. However, two are believed to be Rhonda Johnson and Sharon Shaw, who vanished from Galveston a few months before Debbie and Maria. Texas killer's death leaves unanswered questions in girls' slayings Self-described serial killer Edward Harold Bell died in the Texas prison Saturday, leaving unanswered questions about the unsolved murders of 11 girls he claimed to have killed. Although Bell wasserving a 70-year sentence for killing Larry Dickens, an ex-Marine who was shot after confronting Bell for exposing himself to a group of neighborhood girls, hes long been suspected of other murders as well. They commanded him to pull over, but he kept driving. Edward Howard Bell collapsed at the Wallace Pack Unit in Navasota on April 20, 2019. Bell provided the names of four of those girls; Colette Wilson, Debbie Ackerman, Maria Johnson, and Kimberly Pitchford. Edward Michael Bell - IMDb As she got closer, she saw that Larry was lying in the driveway. In a 1985 episode of America's Most Wanted, he was named as Texas' most wanted fugitive, bringing further attention to his case and reinvigorating the search for him. In July and September 2011, Bell was interviewed by a Houston Chronicle reporter. Her body was found in January 1973. He turned around and began to pursue the vehicle. She then tried to block his exit with her car. When he was interviewed for the documentary The Eleven in 2017, he claimed that he had made up his confessions in order to get the death penalty. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. There was no tangible proof linking him to the other crimes. Some investigators claimed they long believed he was a serial killer and found evidence to corroborate his claims. Despite the fact that some thought he was a publicity-seeking "kook," others were certain he was the murderer. Nearly 20 years ago, in letters he wrote to local prosecutors, Texas murderer Edward Harold Bell claimed the Marine he'd shot and killed in 1978 was not his only victim. Bell, a convicted killer serving 70 years for a 1978 slaying near Houston and who was under investigation in the unsolved deaths of several missing girls has died after collapsing at a Texas prison. Kidnapper convicted in Texas City teen's 1986 disappearance - Chron She forced the intruder from the bathroom and then drove him out of the house at gunpoint with a gun from her nightstand. Several investigators reviewed their evidence in those cases after they learned of the confessions. Texas killer dies, questions still remain about girls' death However, no charges were ever filed against him in theirs or any other cases. Bell contends in three points that the evidence was legally insufficient to support . After the incident, the police came out and took a report from Sue. In Bell's truck, police found the murder weapons and pornography. In January 1985, the Texas governor's office released a roster of the state's most wanted criminals. In 2017, A&E produced a docuseries called "The Eleven." 2-min read. Texas Killer Dies, Leaving Open Questions About 11 Slayings Edward Harrold - Historical records and family trees - MyHeritage In fact, he said, there . Harold Bell. BELL Edward Harold View source History Talk (0) Stub. Adelaide Bell. Bell is considered a suspect in the murders of several young women near Galveston in the 1970s. Maria was born on March 29 1805, in Eye, Suffolk, England. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The City of Galveston is putting up $70,000 for a project in the downtown cultural arts district and another $30,000 for a project that could go anywhere in the city. This photo provided Sept. 28, 2011, by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Edward Harold Bell. When asked about the letters he wrote in 1998, Bell said he was suicidal and wanted the state to execute him; he supposedly made it all up. He was caught by police shortly afterwards and interned to await trial on a $125,000 bail bond; however, when the trial date came about, Bell did not appear and was thereafter designated as a wanted fugitive. Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. [12] In addition to this, Panamanian authorities announced that they considered him a suspect in four rape-murders committed in their country: two while he was residing in Boquete, and another two in Panama City. However, Dawna agreed to do so. Scream. The man who wrote the letter, Edward Harold Bell, was never questioned by the police. Adams took Bell back to the scene where Dawna and Dorothy identified him. Edward Harold Stibbs (1876 - 1944) - Genealogy Your subscription will be migrated over. However, the events of September 6 would test her character in ways she never imagined. "The police killed Larry Dean Dickens and blamed me," Bell claimed, despite all evidence to the contrary. When they opened up the back door of the police car, she immediately knew that he was Larry's killer. 1. Real Name: Edward Harold Bell Aliases: Butch Wanted For: Murder, Indecency with a Child Missing Since: October 1978 Details: Bryan, Texas, is the type of place that people have in mind when they dream of escaping the big city. He had been living there with a teenage girl. Prosecutors in Galveston reopened Debbie and Maria's cases after learning new information through their investigation, and Bell was identified as the "primary suspect." We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. Now serving a 70-year sentence for murdering a Houston-area Marine vet in 1978, Bell has come forward asking for immunity and ready to plead on the murders of as many as 11 young girls in the Houston-Galveston area in the early to mid 1970s. Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jeremy Desel says 79-year-old inmate Edward Harold Bell died Saturday at the Wallace Pack Unit in Navasota. Children. Larry replied that the man would not kill anyone and took a few steps toward him. She got a good, close look at him. ", Bell's letters suggest that he believes that he was "programmed" into becoming a murderer. r . Bell, 72, is serving 70 years for the 1978 murder of Larry Dickens, a Marine who confronted Bell after he exposed himself and began masturbating in front of a group of girls in Pasadena. Prosecutors in Galveston, though, declined to show a grand jury his written admissions. Edward was born in Corinth, WV on July 17, 1941, a son of the late Edward Harold and Mary Virginia "Ginny" (Martin) Koontz. Advanced Search On June 26, 1978, he exposed himself to two girls riding bikes, aged 11 and 12. A Houston Chronicle reporter spoke with Bell in July and September of that year. A&E's The Eleven Examines Possible Serial Killer Edward Bell - PEOPLE.com She was shocked to see that he was nude from the waist down and masturbating. For reasons unknown, the letters were "kept secret" until 2011, when they were discovered by retired Galveston homicide detective Fred Paige. While his wife Allison . But in September 1984, the illusion of small-town security was shattered for a local couple, "Sue" and "Bill". He died a suspect in . 12-year-old Brooks Bracewell and 14-year-old Georgia Geer, who were last seen in 1974 and discovered in 1976, are thought to be the other two victims. The pair was able to uncover circumstantial evidence that linked Bell to the crimes, but found no definitive proof. Serial killer Edward Harold Bell's chilling confessions: 'I murdered 11 11:17 GMT 27 Sep 2011. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season five with Robert Stack and in season one with Dennis Farina. As The Houston Chronicle reported, "Bell blamed the crimes and carnage in his life on a systemic program of abuse, lies and brainwashing [allegedly] begun by his father. Larry refused to give him his keys. The Sentinel reported that it took nearly 20 years to get a conviction for the murder, because when Bell was out on bail, he fled and lived under assumed names for years. He was stopped for exposing himself to a pair of young girls in Sudan; as a result, he was admitted to Big Spring State Psychiatric Hospital. Edward Harold Bell, now 72, called his victims the "Eleven that went to Heaven." Show More Show Less 2 of 11 Glenda Willis walks through the Forest Park East Cemetery looking for the . Edward Harold Bell, a convicted killer who in 2011 admitted to killing two Galveston teenagers in the 1970s, died Saturday. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Dawna feels that Larry's murder has broken up their whole family. In 1970, he and his new wife moved into an apartment in Galveston. The cases of all eleven girls remain open and unsolved. Clarke & Staples Funeral Homes - Robert Edwin Tomlinson Kimberly Rae Pitchford, 16, disappeared after taking a driving class before her body was found in 1973. Edward Harold Bell, Alleged 'Eleven in Heaven' Serial Killer, Dies in Convicted Texas killer dies in prison after alleging involvement with Bell, Harold 12/4/1946 - 2/15/2022 Holland, MI Harold Bell, age 75, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. 1902 July 7, 1902. He was only convicted of one murder from 1978. He failed to appear in court on January 8, 1979, to stand trial. pg-13 2011. His father was an oil field worker who frequently moved his family to various towns surrounding the Houston area. "One thing they wanted me to do for sure was rape a girl," Bell said to the Houston Chronicle. In 1998, he sent letters to Harris and Galveston County prosecutors in which he confessed to killing seven young girls. At just that moment, Larry's seventeen-year-old sister, Dawna, was returning home from cheerleading practice. This photo provided Sept. 28, 2011, by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Edward Harold Bell. [2] There, he became acquainted with Doug Pruns, a surfer who made custom boards out of his shop based in the area, who allowed him to become a silent partner in the business, despite his reservations about his friend's behavior. Tags artists in Galveston artwork in Galveston galveston Galveston cultural arts commission. Twenty years after the murder of Larry Dickens, Bell began writing letters allegedly taking credit for multiple other murders 11 in total between 1971 and 1977, according to The Houston Chronicle. Sadly, on July 13, 2012, Dorothy passed away at the age of eighty-four. He claimed that he was unaware of the other victims' names. After making his confessions, he informed a reporter for the Houston Chronicle that he would only offer evidence to support his accusations if he was granted immunity from prosecution. I believe he took a life precious to me and my life has never been the same since, she said. Investigators Think They Know Who Killed Eleven Girls Around Galveston in the 1970s, Killer who claims he murdered 11 girls may have lied: documentary, Texas killer's death leaves unanswered questions in girls' slayings, "People Were Afraid of Him" Killer's Death Leaves Hope for New Information. Dawna said that the wounds will never heal and the hurt of losing Larry will always be there. Eerie theory 'linking' Robert Abel to Texas Killing Fields murders He agreed to report to another in-patient treatment program at the University of Texas Medical Branch to avoid prosecution. Columbia GSAPP sadly shares the loss of Professor Emeritus Harold "Hank" Bell, who passed away on May 26, 2021, at the age of 94. Despite these claims, Bell was not investigated until 2011. In 1998, Edward Harold Bell wrote multiple letters to prosecutors in Galveston and Harris counties, confessing to the murders of numerous young women. , updated Gloria Gonzales went missing in October of 1971 (her body was found near Wilson's). Daily Mail Reporter, Father who survived Connecticut home invasion walks out of court as coroner describes 'significant pain' suffered by his young daughter, Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Edward Harold Bell - Unsolved Mysteries The victims were all teenage girls, and each . NAVASOTA, Texas (AP) A man serving 70 years for a 1978 slaying near Houston who was also under investigation in the unsolved killings of several missing girls has collapsed and died in a Texas prison. He's spent more than 20 years in public radio and television and dabbled in minor league baseball, spending four seasons as the public address announcer for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Elizabeth Edwards "collapsed in a ball" in an airport parking lot and tore off her shirt in a fit of anger, the witness said. Edward Harold Bell v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 208th District 3. He said he couldn't go anywhere because Larry had his keys. He was stopped by police at least a dozen times for masturbating and flashing AT girls. Lang saw that he was naked from the waist down as he stepped out masturbating and approached a group of children playing in the street. His granddaughter Anna Hall Roosevelt was the mother of First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. One said he had recently met Bell during a business trip to Panama City, Panama. Bell, a convicted killer serving 70 years for a 1978 slaying near Houston and who was . Fearing for the safety of her child, she instinctively attacked. Edward Harold Bell was convicted of murder and sentenced to 70 years in prison for the death of Larry Dickens. Lang was still watching from the window and witnessed the man shoot her son five times; Larry staggered back towards the garage. Dorothy ran in to help him. Blue Bell Hill, Chatham, Kent, UK (Carcinoma of Stomach & Gastric Ulcer) . However, she did not hit him. [2] Bell would also claim in later interviews that his father encouraged him to do violent crime, ranging from robbing banks and raping girls, in addition to encouraging him to kill himself. Motel Murder. She vanished after taking a driver's ed class in Houston. The identity of the remaining three victims are unknown. She then knelt beside him, held his hand to her face, and watched him die. He claimed to not know the names of the other victims. While she was trying to calm Dickens down, Bell grabbed a rifle from his truck, went up to the wounded man and shot him in the forehead before fleeing. Edward Harold Bell was convicted of murder and sentenced to 70 years in prison. Edward Harold Bell (May 26, 1939 April 20, 2019)[1] was an American sex offender, murderer and the first fugitive to be featured in the Texan rendition of America's Most Wanted. Letters. He was released on bail less than two months after the murder. Michael Lloyd Self | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | Fandom He also refused to cooperate with the police. Bell remains the lead suspect at this time and it is very hard for me to believe he is innocent. On February 18, Panama police and the FBI brought him back to the United States. Details: Bryan, Texas, is the type of place that people have in mind when they dream of escaping the big city. And he claims he was brainwashed to do it. Years after their deaths, the series reports that a man named Edward Harold Bell penned a letter to authorities claiming that he had allegedly been brainwashed into killing two of the girls. Both confessed to killing women in this area. Edward Harold Bell, Suspected Of Killing 11 Texas Girls, Dies In Prison Nearly 20 years ago, in letters he wrote to local prosecutors, Texas murderer Edward Harold Bell claimed the Marine he'd shot and killed in 1978 was not his only victim. [7], Despite several investigations into his claims, Bell was never charged with any other murder besides Dickens'. Edward Harold Bell. Bell continued to demand his keys. He died a suspect in 2019, per the outlet. Dawna screamed and cried. Edward "Buck" Harold Koontz, Jr, 79, of Masontown, WV, passed away, January 9, 2021 at Morgantown Health & Rehabilitation. In fact, he said, there were seven others, all . At that very instant, the officers heading to the scene recognized his truck. His defense claimed that Larry was a "mean" and "unstable" man who attacked Bell and threatened to kill him. She continued firing at him as he ran down the driveway and toward his truck. "I was going to let the state kill me," he said. The autopsy of Larry Dickens showed that he had been shot twice in the head, in both elbows, in the right thigh, and the back. The officers held her back, and she and Dorothy then tried to console each other. GALVESTON. [1][5] His death was met with relief from both Dickens' and the other victims' family members, who believed that he was responsible for their deaths. Mystery over 11 missing women after death of accused Texas 'serial Sue had always considered herself strong and self-reliant . Her body was found in a thicket in January 1973. 27 November 1884 (aged 73-74) Spouse (s) Elisabeth Ludlow. Status; Detected Status Living Status; Identified: Deceased . Gallery. Larry had been shot four times in the chest and once in the head with a .22 pistol. Colette Anise Wilson, 13, never arrived home near Alvin after attending a summer band camp. Galveston prosecutors reopened the murder cases of two of the girls, Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, in recent years, but never filed any charges against Bell before his death. As reported by Lise Olsen of the Houston Chronicle, who is one of the central investigators in The Eleven, when Bell had skipped bail, "[He] roamed coastal towns in Mexico and Central America, guiding dive trips, and living aboard a sailboat. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up. Bell is currently considered a suspect in the murders of several young women near Galveston in the 1970s. She says that he was strong and very special to all of them. Along with Panama, he also had lived in Mexico and other parts of Central America. Screenshot/A&E. The Eleven, airing Thursday at 9 and 10 p.m. on A&E investigates 11 murders that occurred in rural Texas in the 1970s. Their abductor tied them up, stripped them from the waist down and left their bodies in a river. Obituary of Edward Harold Koontz | Field Funeral Home Apr 20, 2019. Four months passed without further clues to his identity. The Eleven (TV Series 2017) - IMDb Texas killer dies, leaving open questions about 11 slayings father. He also listed former scoutmasters, a cousin, and three of his ex-wives as part of "the program." Suzie Bowers, who disappeared from Galveston in 1977, is thought to be a further victim. The Panama police located Bell in 1992 at a yacht club. [12] Despite these gruesome claims, the letters were "kept secret" until 2011, when they were finally revealed by retired Galveston homicide detective Fred Paige to the public in an attempt to uncover any potential leads that could verify Bell's accounts. He then began to flee on foot. Together with his wife, Judy Bell, they taught over 6000 students collectively. These unverifiable claims and allegations introduced doubt into these alleged confessions, but many investigators and detectives involved reportedly believe that Bell is responsible for what he claims to be. Photo: After completing a Houston driver's education course, she disappeared. He assumed the identity of a dead cousin named Cecil Boyd and told people to call him 'Wally.'". The Killing Fields is a 25-acre patch of land a mile from Interstate Highway 45 in League City. Join others and make your gift to Houston Public Media today. He also invested in a surf shop that they were known to visit. Colette's bones were found in a reservoir along with those of a missing Houston girl, Gloria Ann Gonzales, 19. However the killings he lays claim to started a long time before that. Mary Livingston Ludlow. Edward Hunter Ludlow - Wikipedia Six of them were murdered in pairs. Bell admitted that Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson got into his van outside the Baskin-Robbins the day they went missing, but said he didnt kill them. Harris County medical examiner's records reveal Kimberly Pitchford, a sixteen-year-old, didn't return home after a driver's ed course. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Bell, a convicted killer serving 70 years for a 1978 slaying near Houston and who was under investigation in the unsolved deaths of several missing girls has died after collapsing at a Texas prison. BELL--Harold, age 94, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his children. Harold Edward Bell (1939-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial His confession letter written to prosecutors in the 1990s also had names and details of the killings that suggested he could have been the killer, but Bell would later go on to deny his involvement in the murders. After his confessions, he told the Houston Chronicle reporter that he would provide proof to back up his claims only if he was given immunity from prosecution. Detective Fred Paige and Lise Olsen's excellent investigation work uncovered a generous amount of circumstantial evidence linking Bell to the crimes but found no definitive proof. My father tried to brainwash me into killing myself.". He believes that Bell has changed his name and is living somewhere where the people around him do not know how dangerous he is. In a prison interview with Houston Matters in 2017, Bell claimed he had admitted to the murders because he had been suicidal. Furthermore, he had a trailer near the bayou where their bodies were found. She pleaded with him to not shoot Larry, but he did so anyway. But in September 1984, the illusion of small-town security was shattered for a local couple, "Sue" and "Bill". Among other business activities, he was prospecting for gold on land he owned near Panama City. Finally, Dorothy got them from Larry and gave them to him. His confession matched details of the crime scene. When the trial date came about, Bell did not appear. An ex-Marine, youth counselor, and oil field roughneck, he had a three-year-old daughter. A second viewer, who remains anonymous, sent several pictures of him and a letter, claiming that he had been living in Panama for ten years. series Unsolved Mysteries. Two viewers recognized Edward Bell and called in with tips when this story aired. Five murders occurred in 1971 and six more occurred from about 1974 to 1977. It was there that Bell met Doug Pruns through a mutual friend. Did a Convicted Texas Murderer Reveal He Was a Serial Killer? - Yahoo! Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The Great Gatsby. His arrest happened eleven days after the episode aired. "My father thought if he beat you real bad, it would send chemicals into your bloodstream," Bell said. Birth of Harold Wilmerding Bell. The victims were all teenage girls, and each of their murders have remained unsolved for decades. Mr Dickens' mother watched from her house as Bell shot her son four times with a pistol and then shot him again with a rifle. wife. EDWARD HAROLD BELL, Appellant. All four girls hung out close to Bell's apartment. He identified two of the 1971 victims as Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, fifteen-year-old Galveston "surfer girls" who disappeared after hitchhiking. Ed Bell - Tripod His actions caught the attention of 26-year-old Larry Dean Dickens, a Marine with a young daughter, who rushed in and got hold of the man's keys in an attempt to prevent him from fleeing. Edward had 6 siblings: William Harold, John Harold and 4 other siblings. In 1998, Bell wrote several letters to prosecutors in Galveston and Harris county, claiming that he had killed eleven teenage girls between 1971 and 1977. However, she was happy to know that Bell would be facing justice. Harold, or Hank, as his friends called him, was the husband for over 68 years of his beloved wife . Matthew later discussed his Unsolved Mysteries . Nothing can take her memory away.. Edward Michael Bell. A convicted murderer has claimed that he is also the serial killer behind the deaths of eleven adolescent girls in the seventies. Investigators Lise Olsen and Fred Paige are on a mission to examine the confessions of inmate Edward Harold Bell. They were last seen accepting a ride from a man driving a white van; he happened to own one at that time. Unsolved Mysteries Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. He was living under the name of his deceased cousin, "Cecil Boyd". To employ every one who wants to work in the . Genealogy for Edward Harold Stibbs (1876 - 1944) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Bell claimed that he was "fearful" of Larry and had no way to retreat from the situation. Matthew McConaughey's Unsolved Mysteries Episode Is a Hidden Gem Edward was born in 1805, in Thrandeston Suffolk England. Shockingly, Bell was not done; he went back to his truck and retrieved his high-powered M1 rifle. In 2011, he wrote the Houston Chronicle claiming to have killed a string of girls he referred to as Eleven who went to Heaven in Dickinson, Houston, Clear Lake and Alvin, Texas, the paper reports.