The brutal murders of Ross, Brown, and Degnan shocked the city of Chicago and terrified and outraged the city’s residents, who wanted only to feel safe once again. Under intense pressure from the press, the public, and city officials, investigators were desperate to catch the killer and solve the case by any means necessary, even if they had to break more than a few rules and ignore some inconvenient facts in order to do it.
Thank you to the incredible Dave white of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Rental Podcast for research!References
Amended Petition for Executive Clemency. 2002. C-06103 (Illinois Prisoner Review Board, April).
Arizona Republic . 1946. "Defendant fails in plea to jury." Arizona Republic, June 20: 18.
Banks, Joe. 1946. "Prisoner says he killed girl." Tucson Daily Citizen, June 26: 1.
Chicago Tribune. 1946. "Police resift all clues in Degnan case." Chcago Tribune, January 12: 1.
—. 1946. "2 rewards offered for 'execution' of girl's kidnap-slayer." Chicago Tribune, January 8: 2.
—. 1946. "Call Heirens sane; today's plea in doubt." Chicago Tribune, September 4: 1.
—. 1946. "Child stolen from her bed during the night." Chicago Tribune, January 8: 1.
—. 1945. "Ex-WAVE slain, plea written in red on wall." Chicago Tribune, December 11: 1.
—. 1946. "Handwriting similarity to killer's shown." Chicago Tribune, June 27: 1.
—. 1946. "Heirens gets new grilling following 'futile' lie test." Chicago Tribune, July 1: 1.
—. 1946. "Heirens made choice of plea, attorneys say." Chicago Tribune, August 7: 12.
—. 1946. "Murders, assaults, thefts, shooting; Heirens' story." Chicago Tribune, August 7: 1.
—. 1945. "Mystery grows in WAVE slaying." Chicago Tribune, December 12: 1.
—. 1943. "Organize posse of tenants and catch prowler." Chicago Tribune, August 9: 18.
—. 1946. "Repudiates his 'confession' in Degnan slaying." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 6.
—. 1946. "Student held in Degnan case puzzles police." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 1.
—. 1946. "Tubs in basement, saw and ax held best clews." Chicago Tribune, January 9: 1.
—. 1946. "U.C. Sophomore, facing police quiz, fakes coma." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 1.
—. 1946. "Use of serum in Heirens quiz still mystery." Chicago Tribune, July 1: 5.
—. 1945. "Widow is found in home; suitor quizzed." Chicago Tribune, June 6: 10.
Decatur Daily Review. 1946. "Chicago girl kidnapped; note demands $20,000." Decatur Daily Review, January 7: 1.
—. 1946. "Janitors grilled in kidnap-death." Decatur Daily Review, January 9: 1.
Decatur Herald. 1945. "Brutal WAVE slayer sought." Decatur Herald, December 12: 1.
Higgins, Michael. 2007. "1940s killer denied parole." Chicago Tribune, August 3: 1.
—. 2007. "Is 61 years in prison enough retribution." Chicago Tribune, July 29: 1.
Kennedy, Dolores. 1991. William Heirens: His Day in Court. New York, NY: Bonus Books.
New York Times. 1946. "Heirens confesses in no-chair deal." New York Times, August 7: 36.
Pantagraph. 1945. "Former Wave found brutally slain in Chicago bathtub." Pantagraph, December 10: 1.
People of the State of Illinois v William Heirens. 1954. 33165 (Supreme Court of Illinois, September 23).
People of the State of Illinois v William Heirens. 1995. 1-90-2240 (Appellate Court of the State of Illinois, March 15).
Priddy, Gladys. 1945. "Slain ex-WAVE a friend to all, roomate says." Chicago Tribune, December 14: 3.
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Episode 560: “Jolly Jane” Toppan: Angel of Mercy (Part 1)
Episode 559: The Murder of Timothy Coggins
Episode 558: Listener Tales 85
Episode 557: The Glove Guy (With Jordan Bonaparte from The Night Time Podcast)
Episode 556: The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders
Episode 555: Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (Part 3)
Episode 554: Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (Part 2)
Episode 553: Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (Part 1)
Episode 552: Marie Robards
Episode 551: Happy Land Social Club Arson
Episode 550: Listener Tales 84
Episode 548: The Lipstick Killer (Part 1)
Episode 547: Lizzie Borden and other Dark Nursery Rhymes (with Special Guests Sabrina & Corinne from Two Girls One Ghost)
Episode 546: Matthew Wales and the Society Murders
Episode 545: The Career Girl Murders (Part 2)
Episode 544: The Career Girl Murders (Part 1)
Episode 543: The Execution of Hamida Djandoubi (with Special Guests Alvin & Fran From Affirmative Murder Podcast)
Episode 542: Listener Tales 83
Episode 541: The Unsolved Murder of Georgette Bauerdorf
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