Henry Lee Lucas
American Serial Killer, Aug. 23, 1936-Mar.12, 2001
Childhood
Viola Lucas
Henry Lucas
Father
Descent to Violence
Henry's First Victim
Matricide
While drinking heavily, Viola began verbally abusing Henry, and proceeded to strike him over the head with a broom. Henry got furious, and struck her back, then stabbing her in the neck. He fled the scene, and his sister later found Viola still alive, drowning in her blood. She died on the way to a hospital :)
Later Life
Otis Toole
Frieda Powell
Arrest and "Confessions"
State officials were called, and Henry truthfully confessed to the murders of Powell and Rich. When further questioned, Henry started to falsely confess to murders, gaining better treatment in jail and enjoying wider freedom. He was allowed to roam police stations freely, unhandcuffed, and even knew the security codes for the doors.
When further questioned, he admitted to 75-100 killings, later increasing his claim to 150-300, then to around 400, and later claiming around 3,000 lives. Police began to become skeptical, and Henry soon claimed he and Otis were responsible, following orders from a Satanic Cult. Deeming the murders too far spread, and Henry's inability to recount the crime scene, it was soon discovered Henry had lied: his confessions were intricately detailed by reading unsolved cases and building scenarios around them. Otis falsely corroborated Henry's stories, and Henry's guilt was soon questioned. Admitting to his mother's murder, his death sentence was exchanged for a life sentence, due to mistrust of Henry's word. He reclaimed all his confessions, and died of a heart attack while in prison, age 64.