This photo provided Sept. 28, 2011, by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Edward Harold Bell. On February 18, Panama police and the FBI brought him back to the United States. As Dorothy continued talking to the police, Larry went out and took the keys out of Bell's truck in an attempt to keep him there until the police arrived. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. 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. In Bell's truck, police found the murder weapons and pornography. Rita Brestrup, a sister of victim Maria Johnson,also believes he was responsible for taking the life of her sibling in 1971. His numerous accomplishments include the founding of Modular . BELL Edward Harold | Serial Killer Database Wiki | Fandom Bell is currently considered a suspect in the murders of several young women near Galveston in the 1970s. Edward Harold was born in month 1838, at birth place, to Edward Harrold and Maria Harold (born King). Man admits to killing as many as 11 girls across Southeast Texas In 2017, A&E produced a docuseries called "The Eleven." Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. After living on a ranch in Terlingua for some time, Bell, who worked as an itinerant pharmaceutical salesman, sold the ranch for an office in downtown Houston. However, she was happy to know that Bell would be facing justice. Brenda Jones went missing from Galveston in 1971. "The Eleven That Went to Heaven" Bell provided the names of four of those girls; Colette Wilson, Debbie Ackerman, Maria Johnson, and Kimberly Pitchford. Some detectives asserted that they had long held the conviction that he was a serial killer and had discovered proof to support his allegations. He pointed the gun at Larry again. Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. At the time, Bell was serving a seventy-year sentence for the 1978 murder of a 26-year-old Pasadena resident who had attempted to stop him from publicly masturbating in front of a group of . Although some believed that he was a publicity-seeking "kook", others are convinced that he was responsible for the murders. Bell had been on the run for 14 years after shooting Dickens, and was eventually found living at a Panama yacht club in 1993 with a teenage girl. I was going to let the state kill me, he said. On the night of the broadcast, a viewer was stunned to realize that a man he had recently conducted business with in Panama City, Panama, was none other than Bell. Harold Elmer Fues (1904-1949) - Find a Grave-reminne Their bodies were found in a river in 1976. Bell's first documented arrest occurred in 1966. [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. He might have claimed a second victim that afternoon, but the rifle suddenly jammed. The show reopened the case to the public and closely followed Paige and Olsen's investigation. The Eleven | TVmaze Edward Harold Bell, 82, was being investigated over his . They claimed that they were unable to verify his confessions. The man retreated to his truck, and Lang grabbed her son from behind and helped him lie down, then she ran inside to call an ambulance. Sue fired at the intruder as he ran down the stairs to the main floor. As she pulled up to a stop sign near their house, she saw Bell cross the street to the edge of their driveway. Bell also claimed that a "brainwashing program" forced him to be a flasher, to rape girls, and to kill. Actor: Gymkata. 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. As she pulled closer, they made eye contact. Finally, Dorothy got them from Larry and gave them to him. ", Bell's letters suggest that he believes that he was "programmed" into becoming a murderer. Through the mid-to-late 1970s, Bell was repeatedly arrested for flashing and masturbating in front of young girls in Lubbock, Pasadena, Plainview, Bacliff, Houston and Gretna, Louisiana, but was either never charged or the cases were dropped altogether. . She was upset at the fact that, while they could bring him back, no one could ever bring Larry back. Of course, it is not him, but it looks just like him to her. He died a suspect in 2019, per the outlet. Matthew McConaughey in his first-ever role. 11:17 GMT 27 Sep 2011. He asserted that he had made up his admissions in order to receive the death penalty when he was interviewed for the documentary The Eleven in 2017. Edward Harold Bell, in prison for murder, responds to a theory from two investigators that he might be a serial killer responsible for numerous murders of young women in and around Galveston in . Bell claimed that his victims were from Houston, Galveston, Webster, and Dickinson. At that very instant, the officers heading to the scene recognized his truck. Missing Since: October 1978. Links: Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! ", Bell believed the "program" to be far-reaching, having allegedly included family members and people he's dated. son. 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. 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. People Projects . Lang told the man that he better leave because the police were on their way. A self-professed serial killer who claimed to have killed 11 young girls died in a Texas prison on Saturday, leaving many mysteries unsolved, according to the Houston Chronicle. "They wanted me to rape girls and rob banks and rob people. He crashed his truck into a fence. She ran to him as Bell turned around and drove off. 'Fool, this is the heavyweight champion': D.C. broadcaster Harold Bell Mrs. Edwards was dying of cancer and had previously discovered her . Ed Bell - Tripod According to him, some of the case details found in the letters had not been released to the public. The assault victim was given the name "Sue" and was filmed in silhouette to protect her identity. Edward Howard Bell collapsed at the Wallace Pack Unit in Navasota on April 20, 2019. Harris County medical examiner's records and newspaper archives show Kimberly Rae Pitchford, a 16-year-old who lived near Hobby airport, never returned home after taking a driver's education class at Frank Dobie High School in Houston. 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. 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 named Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, two 15-year-old Galveston "surfing girls" who vanished after hitchhiking, as two of the victims from 1971. He got out and walked toward the children. . We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Bell is considered a suspect in the murders of several young women near Galveston in the 1970s. Parent (s) Elizabeth A. For reasons unknown, the letters were "kept secret" until 2011, when they were discovered by retired Galveston homicide detective Fred Paige. After graduation, he worked as a traveling pharmaceutical salesman and married his first wife in San Marcos. Edward Harold Bell . To employ every one who wants to work in the . But in September 1984, the illusion of small-town security was shattered for a local couple, "Sue" and "Bill". After learning of his admissions, some detectives went back and looked at their evidence in those cases. Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jeremy Desel told the Associated Press that no foul play was suspected in Bells death, howeverhe declined to discuss any specifics of how he died due to medical privacy laws. Several investigators reviewed their evidence in those cases after they learned of the confessions. Although another man was found guilty of their killings, several investigators now believe that he was innocent. 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. Bell, who is up for . He claimed that he was unaware of the other victims' names. [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. His defense claimed that Larry was a "mean" and "unstable" man who attacked Bell and threatened to kill him. A convicted murderer suspected of killing 11 girls in Texas died Saturday morning in prison, taking any information he may have had about the young girls deaths with him. 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. Edward was born in Corinth, WV on July 17, 1941, a son of the late Edward Harold and Mary Virginia "Ginny" (Martin) Koontz. Referring to them as the "eleven who went to heaven." Sue went into the bathroom in the master bedroom to finish getting dressed. She felt that once that happened, they would all be able to go on with their lives. 'Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields' on Netflix: Your Guide to the Two other victims are believed to be fourteen-year-old Georgia Geer and twelve-year-old Brooks Bracewell; they were last seen in 1974 and found in 1976. He then shot the gun in the air and told Larry that he would kill him if he did not return his keys. His name was Edward Bell, and he was wanted for murder. Motel Murder. Dawna says that everywhere she goes, she sees Bell. 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. The new nonfiction limited series, The Eleven, follows investigators as they reexamine the murders of eleven teenage girls after discovering a confession letter from current inmate and convicted murderer Edward Harold Bell.Throughout the 1970s, the cities in and around Galveston County, Texas were haunted by the brutal murders of eleven teenage girls. Results: Unresolved. [9] At his June trial, Bell's attorneys attempted to argue that the killing was done in self-defense, claiming that Dickens was an "unstable" who had threatened to kill him in the name of Jesus. She lives in fear that he is going to come back for her or hurt someone else. In 1972, two middle school students, Georgia Greer and Brooks Bracewell were last seen at the Dickinson store. Pruns was a surfer who made custom boards out of his shop in the area. He claimed that he was responsible for the 1971 murders of Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, and provided details as to where their bodies were dumped and how they were killed, according to The Houston Chronicle. He and Judy retired and spent the last 20 years in the . They were able to determine that Bell often had access to the areas where the crimes were committed and also found that witnesses saw two of the missing girls get into a van that matched the description of one Bell owned at the time. **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Dickens ran outside and grabbed the keys from Bell's . With Edward Harold Bell as their number one suspect, investigators Lise Olsen and Fred Paige are determined to find . 1. He said he couldn't go anywhere because Larry had his keys. At that same moment, Larry came inside and asked what was going on. Edward allegedly endured physical abuse from his father, scout leaders at the Boy Scouts, and one of his cousins. In The Eleven, when the former D.A. Blue Bell Hill, Chatham, Kent, UK (Carcinoma of Stomach & Gastric Ulcer) . In 1998, he sent letters to Harris and Galveston County prosecutors in which he confessed to killing seven young girls. Ex-homicide detective Fred Paige and Lise Olsen, an investigative journalist for the Houston Chronicle, teamed up to reopen the case of the "eleven who went to heaven." Harold, or Hank, as his friends called him, was the husband for over 68 years of his beloved wife . Four months passed without further clues to his identity. Additionally, he resisted cooperating with the authorities. In the interview he stated the girls wanted him to have sex with them because they were tired of the younger boys. He was employed by Greer Industries for many years as an operator for 42 years. By Lise Olsen . He and Larry began arguing. Bell sent prosecutors in Texas letters containing his confession in 1998 but they have remained secret until now. At just that moment, Larry's seventeen-year-old sister, Dawna, was returning home from cheerleading practice. But was he really their killer? You can help Serial Killer Database Wiki by expanding it. As she got closer, she saw that Larry was lying in the driveway. However the killings he lays claim to started a long time before that. Bell claims he was turned into a sex offender and killer by his father in a systematic programme of abuse and brainwashing. Edward had 6 siblings: William Harold, John Harold and 4 other siblings. One suspect was convicted murderer Edward Harold Bell, who was 72 years old in November 2011. 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. Bell contends in three points that the evidence was legally insufficient to support the verdict, that he was denied effective assistance of counsel, and that the court erred by failing to instruct the jury on voluntary conduct. Sadly, on July 13, 2012, Dorothy passed away at the age of eighty-four. There was no tangible proof linking him to the other crimes. She then knelt beside him, held his hand to her face, and watched him die. Senior investigators in Galveston have believed for a long time that Bell was behind more crimes but prosecutors have not pressed charges because they do not believe they have enough evidence. In fact, he said, there . Despite his rough upbringing, he graduated from Columbus High School and went on to earn a P.E. If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. Bell became a silent partner at Doug's Dive and Surf Shop. 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. His confession matched details of the crime scene. Edward Harold Bell, Alleged 'Eleven in Heaven' Serial Killer, Dies in He got out and pointed his rifle at one of the officers. Antelope Valley Press Classification 1000 Obituary notices and memorials These ads appeared in the Antelope Valley Press Tuesday, July 4, 2006 BELL, Harold Edward May 14, 1939 - June 29, 2006 Howard Edward Bell is of Cherokee decent. 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. [2] His claims were never conclusively verified, and he died behind bars in 2019, having recanted his previous claims. At that same time, his mother, Dorothy Lang, was standing at the kitchen window. She told him to stay still because they did not know where the bullets were in him. In fact, he said, there were seven others, all . On June 28, 1993, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to seventy years in prison. Dorothy came out and Dawna asked her if he was dead. On June 26, 1978, he exposed himself to two girls riding bikes, aged 11 and 12. Edward Bell, who confessed to local killings, dies He pulled out a gun and demanded his keys, threatening to shoot him if he did not hand them over. Perhaps, The Eleven's investigations will be able to give these families what they've been waiting for nearly 40 years for: the truth. The whole incident was very quick. Dawna feels that Larry's murder has broken up their whole family. (Amazon) Neighbours is set to welcome some big names back to Ramsay Street for the soap's reboot, with Ian Smith, Melissa Bell and Annie Jones all joining the cast. Through their diligent efforts, they came up with the following list of potential victims: Collette Wilson went missing from Alvin, Texas, in June of 1971. Status; Detected Status Living Status; Identified: Deceased . 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. He believes that Bell has changed his name and is living somewhere where the people around him do not know how dangerous he is. Below the Waterlines: Houston After Hurricane Harvey, Edward Harold Bell died in a Texas prison, the story of efforts to solve those cases, Michael Hagerty interviewed Ed Bell in prison, Historic Battleship Texas, parked for repairs, seeking high-traffic area for next home, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, Houston Chronicle among publications to drop Dilbert over creators comments on race, Public defender costs and caseloads (Feb. 27, 2023), Galveston seeking artists for upcoming public art projects, As Texas STAAR test goes fully online, teachers feel defeated, Texas Education Agency projects confidence, Santa Fe High School shooter remains mentally incompetent to stand trial, further dragging on 5-year-old case, Houston weather: Thursday night cold front could bring severe weather to region, Bun B announces part of RodeoHouston Southern Takeover lineup, Law enforcement cracking down on street takeovers ahead of Houston-area racing event, Whataburgeris healthy? The cases of all eleven girls remain open and unsolved. She assumed that he was a first-time burglar. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Despite the fact that some thought he was a publicity-seeking "kook," others were certain he was the murderer. He was leaning on the washer, and the man was standing next to him with the gun pointed to Larry's head. The two head wounds and the back wound were all fatal. April 20, 2019. [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. Edward Harold Bell. She pointed Bell out to him. Bell further asserted that a "brainwashing programme" had pushed him to kill, rape, and expose himself to young girls. He was an avid hunter and a champion horseshoe player. A graduate of Texas A&M University and once a successful businessman, he has eluded capture of almost sixteen years. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Harris County medical examiner's records reveal Kimberly Pitchford, a sixteen-year-old, didn't return home after a driver's ed course. Harold Bell Obituary (1946 - 2022) - Holland, MI - Flint Journal We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. Rhonda "Renee" Johnson and Sharon Shaw disappeared from Galveston on August 4, 1971. Murderers In Texas: The Shocking True Stories of Killing Out Of Deviant Impulses (Murderers Everywhere Book 3) - Kindle edition by Becker, Ryan, Brown, Brenda, Seven, True Crime. Bell claimed in a 1998 letter to police that he had murdered 11 girls in Galveston County. 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Larry Dickens, Lang's twenty-six-year-old son, ran over to the man's truck and took the keys from the ignition while his mother called the police. He told the reporter that he was actually responsible for eleven murders, calling them the "eleven that went to Heaven". [2] After graduation, he found work as a licensed diver and married his first wife in San Marcos, with the newlyweds then moving to western Texas, where they had three children. Police reports showed that in February of 1972, Bell was arrested after flashing a fifteen-year-old and he was driving a 1971 white Ford van. He also invested in a surf shop that they were known to visit. HAROLD BELL Obituary (2021) - West Palm Beach, MA - New York Times 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. Holding many offices in the Masons, teaching country western dancing, participating in motorcycle events, mem The victims were all teenage girls, and each . Following his capture in Panama City, Panama in 1993, he was extradited, convicted and sentenced to a 70-year term for the murder of a Marine in 1978, and later confessed to killing eleven girls during the 1970s. The pair was able to uncover circumstantial evidence that linked Bell to the crimes, but found no definitive proof. Texas killer dies, leaving open questions about 11 slayings Due to a lack of evidence, neither were charged for their confessions, and . [2], In 1966, Bell was arrested for exposing himself to a pair of little girls in Sudan, for which he was interned at the Big Spring State Psychiatric Hospital. She felt that when he got off the plane, he seemed arrogant, which infuriated her. He has yet to stand trial for the shocking murder that took place on August 24, 1978. Now that Bell has died, some are hopeful additional witnesses may come forward with information about the cases. Why did you kill my brother?!" Texas killer dies, leaving open questions about 11 slayings Former Detective Paige teamed up with Chronicle reporter Lise Olsen to try and determine whether or not he was responsible. Aliases: Butch Bill left for work and her three-year-old was in the living room watching Sesame Street. [2] After spending some time in treatment, he was released, only be rearrested for a similar charge in 1969 after he exposed himself to the 13-year-old daughter of a Lubbock policeman. 3. 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. He quietly liquidated his assets and posted bail in less than two months. The two girls were shot as they stood tied up half naked in a river, says Bell. Five weeks later, he shot Larry Dickens while masturbating in front of five Pasadena girls. As Dotti Walker, a family member of one of the victims told the Chronicle, "It makes it hard that we don't know if this Bell guy is a nut or if he's telling the truth. According to reports, Harris County prosecutors never looked into the allegations and misplaced the letters from him. The Eleven (TV Series 2017) - IMDb At this time, it was reported that he worked at a dock in the port town of Cristbal. Two 14-year-olds, Sharon Shaw and Rhonda Renee Johnson, also disappeared from the area at the same time.
In January 2013, he became eligible for parole, however, it was denied. As Dawna crossed the street, she saw the man lean over and shoot the gun at something on the ground. He claimed to the reporter to have actually committed eleven murders, referring to them as the "eleven that went to Heaven." Despite the violent nature of the crime against Dickens, Bell's bond was set at $125,000. Finally, a decade-and-a-half after Larry had been gunned down before Dorothy's eyes, his accused killer shuffled past her at the airport, shackled in hand and leg cuffs. Not knowing is heartbreaking." The officers held her back, and she and Dorothy then tried to console each other. Marias death impacted my life more than any other single event. The Killing Fields is a 25-acre patch of land a mile from Interstate Highway 45 in League City. The victims were all teenage girls, and each of their murders have remained unsolved for decades. However, Galveston prosecutors refused to present his written confessions to a grand jury. He came back and put his pants back on. Mystery over 11 missing women after death of accused Texas 'serial [1] According to his claims, his father, an oil field worker, frequently moved the family to various towns surrounding the Houston area, and allegedly suffered physical abuse both from him, his scoutmasters at the Boy Scouts and one of his cousins. However, two are believed to be Rhonda Johnson and Sharon Shaw, who vanished from Galveston a few months before Debbie and Maria. As Newsweek points out, Edward Harold Bell confessed to 11 girls, but like Hedrick, he was never charged due to a lack of evidence. She continued firing at him as he ran down the driveway and toward his truck. She went through page after page, but never saw anyone that resembled the intruder. He identified two of the 1971 victims as Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, fifteen-year-old Galveston "surfer girls" who disappeared after hitchhiking. BELL--Harold, age 94, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his children. Journalist Lise Olsen and retired police . [5] Suddenly, Bell pulled out a pistol and shot Dickens, who staggered into his mother's garage and collapsed onto the floor in front of his horrified mother, who had watched the whole ordeal go by from inside the house. Bell identified another victim as "Pitchford", who was later determined to be sixteen-year-old Kimberly Rae Pitchford. Among other business activities, he was prospecting for gold on land he owned near Panama City. Other articles where Harold Bell Wright is discussed: Ozark Mountains: industries, was given impetus by Harold Bell Wright's novel The Shepherd of the Hills (1907), which romanticized the Missouri Ozarks. After a brief chase, they ended up on a dead-end street. . Edward Harold Bell speaks to Houston Matters producer Michael Hagerty from prison in 2017. Their bones were recovered in a bayou in 1976 and weren't identified until 1981. He assumed the identity of a dead cousin named Cecil Boyd and told people to call him 'Wally.'". The man grabbed his jeans from the truck, put them on, and then reached back into the vehicle to produce a gun. The Hoseins' original plan was to kidnap Murdoch's wife, Anna, and hold her for ransom, but the Murdochs happened to be in Australia that particular week. Colette's bones were found in a reservoir along with those of a missing Houston girl, Gloria Ann Gonzales, 19. Suzie Bowers went missing from Galveston in 1977. Credit: Texas Monthly The Eleven: On the trail of a serial killer. When the trial date came about, Bell did not appear. 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. He could have gone on to kill many more young women and continued to flash his junk at innocent children.
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