Additionally, the Wallace investigations were hampered by the fact that the killer wiped down surfaces and put items he wasnt sure he touched in the oven to evaporate any prints, McFadden says. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Such is the case of Henry Louis Wallace, a black serial killer who killed young black women the police just didn't seem to care about. Wallaces sister, Yvonne, said Mrs. Henry said she remembered Henry Wallace as a little boy and she cant understand what happened either.. He diligently removed fingerprints from everything he touched and even set a fire after killing one of his victims, which resulted in the medical examiner claiming she died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The Navy honorably discharged him in 1992 after he was caught stealing, and he returned home to South Carolina. On Friday, a special episode of ABCs 20/20 examined a jailhouse interview with the killer. Barnwell County Sheriff Joey Zorn said Wallace told him he wanted to confess to the killing because he knew Betheas family. He said he hoped nobody thought I did a bad job raising him.. Henry Louis Wallace confessed to murdering the following women: 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. All Rights Reserved. Goodenow said that police noticed a distinct hoop earring Wallace wore when they found a previous mugshot. Neither school would confirm that he was a student. For 12 hours, he confessed to the murders of 10 women in Charlotte. It's not that we missed this. Im still here, its like Im a survivor, Woods said. He is known as the Taco Bell Strangler.. On August 10, 1993, Wallace raped and strangled Valencia M. Jumper a friend of his sister then set her on fire to cover up his crime. A month later, in September 1993, he went to the apartment of Michelle Stinson, a struggling college student and single mother of two sons. He called 9-1-1, and after Hawk was transported to a hospital, she was pronounced dead. If somebody could show me evidence of a pattern of discrimination, Id certainly do something to fix that, Boger said. Henry Louis Wallace: A Calamity Waiting to Happen . He seemed like a super nice guy, but hes got a bad ticker somewhere, Zorn said. Their mothers worked together in the same factory. Four days later, Wallace committed his last known murder Deborah Ann Slaughter, who worked with Wallace's girlfriend, was stabbed 38 times and left to die. In addition to Bethea and Hawk, his other victims were: Sharon Lavette Nance, 33; Caroline Love, 20; Audrey Ann Spain, 24; Valencia M. Jumper, 21; Michelle Stinson, 20; Vanessa Little Mack, 25; Betty Jean Baucom, 24; Brandi J. Henderson, 18; and Debra Slaughter, 35. His mother said he left the Navy in 1988. By Susan Welsh, Joseph Diaz, Andrew Paparella, and Haley Yamada May 12, 2022, 12:34 PM 7:34 Dee Sumpter holds a photo of her daughter Shawna Hawk in 2022. In 1992, he was arrested for breaking and entering. Working primarily in the fast-food industry at this time, Wallace claimed the lives of his co-workers as well as the friends of his girlfriend. Wallace eventually got sloppy and police caught him. Police say Wallace moved frequently within the east Charlotte area. In January 1988, he was arrested for breaking into a hardware store, and later plead guilty to a charge of second-degree burglary. I didn't worry about who was there because she said, Lock the door behind you. So she trusted him, said Burrell, who said he saw news of her murder during a television broadcast that next morning. Who Were the Grim Sleeper Killers Victims? Dee Sumpter and two others started Mothers of Murdered Offspring. Wallace was questioned by the police regarding her disappearance but was never formally charged in her murder. Following the crimes, the media would ask the questions: Why weren't the crimes identified as serial killings much earlier? [Stream an episode of First Blood about Henry Louis Wallace and his victims in the A&E App.]. Her body was found two days later. PREVIOUS: Investigation Discovery to document 1990s Charlotte serial killer. In never-before-broadcasted footage, legendary criminal profiler and psychiatric nurse Ann Burgess interviews Wallace. Though convicted and placed on probation, Wallace was still able to get an honorable discharge from the Navy due to his near-perfect record as a serviceman. As Wallace outgrew out his clothing, he was given his sister's hand-me-downs to wear. Had we done that, we maybe could have saved the lives of some of these women.. Since Wallace already had a criminal history, which involved burglary (which helped fund his crack addiction), it was easy for police to get a match on the print. Henry Louis Wallace terrorized east Charlotte for more than two years. He served as a weapons technician aboard the USS Nimitz, stationed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. On Friday, 20/20 is showing video they obtained from the case -- never-before-seen footage of a jailhouse interview conducted by the profilers who worked with his defense team. He also had one victim in his hometown in South Carolina. There was no way I could stop: Wallace confesses to murders in jailhouse interviews, (Watch the video above: There was no way I could stop: Wallace confesses to murders in jailhouse interviews). His mother would not allow him to play football, so he became a cheerleader instead. When visiting his hometown of Barnwell, he strangled her and dumped her body into a nearby lake. The phone rings constantly with calls from reporters and friends, asking how Henry Louis Wallace came to be charged with killing 10 women in Charlotte, N.C., during the past two years. I dont believe hes sorry. Henry Louis Wallace terrorized east Charlotte for more than two years. One person being a chameleon, he will adapt to anything, any environment, any situation, hes very well respected, very well-liked person, he almost lures the women in for the other person., Henry Wallace jailhouse interviews A special episode of ABCs 20/20 examines a never-before-broadcasted jailhouse interview with the killer. Wallace had no type, and every person he was convicted of killing was someone well known to him. She wouldn't say who he was, only that he died years ago. In 1994, he murdered two women on the same day. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. In March, Wallace set his sights on another friend of his girlfriend,Betty Jean Baucom, and robbed her apartment afterward. I dont believe it would have been any different if the victims had been 10 middle-class white women.. Woods is now 29 years old with a family of his own. Wallace picked her up and beat her to death after the two had sex (via Murderpedia). And Did He Ever Suspend His Murder Spree? He raped and strangled most of his victims, who unsuspectingly let him into their homes. A special episode of ABCs 20/20 examines a never-before-broadcasted jailhouse interview with the killer. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. He even attended at least one of their funerals, according to a 1995 article in The Charlotte Observer. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was severely understaffed and could not support the exploding murder rate of Charlotte, North Carolina. On Friday, a special episode of ABCs 20/20 examined a jailhouse interview with the killer. A few days after her murder he went to her funeral with his sister and even sent her family condolences pretending to be heartbroken. For the first time in the 25 years since his conviction, we look inside the mind of a cold-blooded killer. Within this shell there are two people, Wallace had said. He wasn't charged, though Barnwell County Sheriff Joey Zorn was in Charlotte on Monday to question Wallace again. In May 1992, Wallace picked up Sharon Nance, a convicted drug dealer and known. In the final days before his arrest, Wallace murdered three Black women in a span of four days. by Jason Lapeyre When he was arrested on Feb. 4, 1994, in Charlotte, N.C., Henry Louis Wallace had already raped and strangled to death five young black women. From 1992 to 1994, Wallace killed 10 women. He hurt me and I just dont want to see him right now, she said. We worked under very difficult conditions, says McFadden, now sheriff in Mecklenburg County. On January 7, 1997, Wallace was found guilty of nine murders. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, believing that they had a serial killer on their hands, turned to the FBI for help in early 1994. Wallace confessed during questioning and in 1997, he received nine death sentences. murdered two women who lived in the same apartment complex. Henry Louis Wallace was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, son of Lottie Mae Wallace and a married schoolteacher who walked out on Lottie when he found out she was pregnant. We never had time to collaborate, we never had time to give [cases] a lot of attention. But the agency looked at the evidence and Wallace and declared that the murders were not the work of a serial killer. He was fired after he was caught stealing CDs. We feel sorry for them that these things happened. He was forced to move back in with his mother, who had moved to the city of Charlotte. The following article contains information regarding sexual assault and murder. When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. Wallace's mother provided for him and his older sister the best she could, but her low-paying job at a local textile mill didn't yield much income. In January 1988, he was arrested while trying to steal a VCR, a television and a microwave oven from a hardware store in Bremerton. ABC News is looking into the Wallace case with a "20/20" airing May 13 at 9 p.m. Afterward, he took valuables from the house and left the apartment, taking her car. The Murders Tashanda "Shan" Bethea (suspected) March 18, 1990 Barnwell, South Carolina Wallace met Tashanda "Shan" Bethea in 1989. In June 1992, Wallace claimed his third victim, Caroline Love, who was his girlfriend's roommate. He pawned everything except the car, which he left at a shopping center. He was nicknamed the "Taco Bell Strangler" because he worked with most of his victims in fast food restaurants. Investigators should have recognized early on they were dealing with a methodical serial killer because of the common elements of his crimes, said experts interviewed in the 1990s by WBTV in Charlotte. Some claimed that the police were slow in investigating the murders because the murdered women were all working-class black women, but the police denied that. She had none. MOMO aims to prevent violence in the community. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. The authorities were led to Henry through some physical evidence. Woods now lives in Florida with his wife and three kids and works for a uniform company in the Tampa area. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. "Serial Killer Henry Louis Wallace." This print then matched Henry, who was eventually arrested. A lot of those cases were on desks of six homicide detectives in the '90s, said McFadden. But without evidence, police couldn't charge him with the crime. With his options limited, Wallace joined the Naval Reserve shortly after his termination (via ThoughtCo). The police beefed up patrols in east Charlotte after two bodies of young Black women were found at The Lake apartment complex. Not allow the anger and violence to rule our lives, she said. Some say the police were lax because all of the victims were Black women and working class, per The Cinemaholic. The single mother took care of Henry and his older sister by working at a textile mill. The outlet reported that, after eight years enlisted, he got into trouble on a burglary charge. MOMO provides support to families affected by violence. . During questioning, Henry confessed to killing ten women in Charlotte: Sharon Nance, Caroline Love, Shawna Hawk, Audrey Spain, Valencia Jumper, Michelle Stinson, Vanessa Mack, Betty Baucom, Brandi Henderson, and Deborah Slaughter. Following this, Kirkpatrick investigated her home to find Hawk submerged in water in the bathtub. He raped her and then, sometime later, strangled and stabbed her in front of her eldest son. Henry Louis Wallaces arrest in March 1994 marked the end of a long reign of terror in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. Like Betty, she was strangled with a ligature and sexually assaulted. Wallace managed to stay one step ahead of an overworked and understaffed homicide unit for most of his murder spree. Love's remains were found in the woods in 1994 following Wallace's confession. The sister of another slain woman called Yvonne Wallace in search of an answer. The young family relocated to Washington state. They are like, I was her masterpiece.. In 1985, he married high school classmate, Maretta Brabham. Ms. Bethea had lived with her aunt and uncle in the same Barnwell neighborhood as the Wallace family. Henry Louis Wallace (born November 4, 1965) is an American serial killer who killed 10 women in Charlotte, North Carolina and is awaiting execution at Central Prison in Raleigh. Love was a friend of Wallace's girlfriend. This is where the racial disparity comes in. He went on to rape and murder nine women in Charlotte, North Carolina between 1992 and 1994. On June 22, he raped and strangled coworker Audrey Spain. I think the majority of the victims remind me of her in some way, Wallace said. Police arrested Wallace on March 13, 1994, the day after he murdered his last victim, and he confessed to 11 murders. Wallace was found guilty in January 1997 of nine murders, plus rape, sexual offenses and robbery. We definitely didn't have the manpower and we definitely didn't have the resources.. Dee Sumpter holds a photo of her daughter Shawna Hawk in 2022. Ms. Betheas aunt, Margerite Henry, came to see Ms. Wallace on Tuesday. Heres a list. Another co-worker,Audrey Spain, was murdered by Wallace the following June. But while incarcerated, Wallace admitted to additional murders. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Ten Charlotte women had been killed by the man known as "The Charlotte Strangler" before police realized what the victims had in common, aside from being young, poor, and black. She is continuing to support Mothers of Murdered Offspring, but is not as actively involved anymore. Friends said Wallace liked to drink beer, listen to rap music and hang out at Granville Apartments on North Sharon Amity Road, where neighbors said he had lived since August. Furthermore, security footage from a bank showed a man with a distinct earring trying to use Vanessa Macks bank card. He has been on death row for more than 20 years. Like Love, she was raped prior to being strangled (via Caselaw). She saw Wallaces photo on the screen, followed by her daughters. For the first time in the 25 years since his conviction, we look inside the mind of a cold-blooded killer. Henry Louis Wallace, known as "The Charlotte Strangler" and "The Taco Bell Strangler," murdered 11 Black women in the span of four years in the 1990s. As he was familiar with the victim, he was questioned by police about her murder weeks later after her body was found (per ThoughtCo). Montaldo, Charles. Dee Sumpters daughter, Shawna Denise Hawk, was Wallaces friend and third victim. In addition to becoming a husband, he also took on the role of stepfather to Brabham's daughter. At one time, Wallace was married. Burrell has carried a burden for 28 years and thats one of the reasons he had been hesitant to see Woods. Wallaces race also might have played a role in allowing him to prey on women undetected, according to a 2004 case study on Wallace published in Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology. He is currently awaiting execution at Central Prison in Raleigh. In late 1991, he moved to east Charlotte. (Watch the video below: Mothers of Murdered Offspring started in wake of Henry Wallaces murder spree). Wallace was arrested on March 13, 1994. It was the same earring that police had previously caught on bank security camera footage after Wallace had tried to use one of his victims bank cards but did not have the correct PIN. Hes hugging me and patting me on the back, saying, Oh my God, Shawna was the sweetest person ever.'. They did nothing to me that warranted their death, he said as relatives of his victims sobbed. George Burrell is the cousin of Brandi Henderson. Vanessa was murdered at her apartment in February 1994. He was arrested on March 13, 1994. 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