A murder is tragical enough on its own . But when a orca cautiously leaves some kind of call card at the fit — like speech scrawled on a paries — the act accrue even more revulsion . Everybody knows the Manson Family did it . But the message assign to Chicago ’s “ Lipstick Killer ” was just as terrifying .
His message , left in September 1945 , was far less enigmatic as the Family ’s “ Helter Skelter , ” but it was far more nightmarishly sinister :
For firmament
sake catch me
before I kill more
I can not ensure myself
Worrisome , no ? This letter wasapplied to the wall in lipstickat Francis Brown ’s apartment . She ’d been prod to dying ; cop thought perhaps she ’d interrupted a burglary in advance , though nothing of value had been taken . It appeared to be a criminal with the same M.O. as whoever’d killed Josephine Ross six months prior , though there ’d been no subject matter left at that view . In January 1946 , another grim discovery : dismembered organic structure part go to a wanting six - yr - old girl , Suzanne Degnan . She ’d been kidnapped from her sleeping accommodation , and met her end soon after — though not before a ransom money note was go to her parents .
It was the note that did William Heirens in , becausehis fingermark was establish on it . In June 1946 , he was caught in the act of confide a burglary , and soon became the top target in the execution investigation ; by this time , the public was mighty dying that nobody’d yet been nabbed for Suzanne ’s murder . As the New York Times recalls in Heirens ’ necrology , what happened to him in hands was controversial . Though he was eventually convicted , some — including Ross ’ girl — came to believe over the years that he ’d been scapegoated :
While he was in custody , The Chicago Tribune , citing what it call “ unimpeachable beginning , ” reported that Mr. Heirens had confess to the Degnan execution . Four other Chicago newspapers put out interchangeable articles , basing them on The Tribune ’s explanation . The cry against him mounted .
Mr. Heirens , who said he was beat and apply “ truth blood serum ” in clink , scrap the newspaper accounts , articulate he was about to sign a confession in exchange for one life full term but renegade at “ being forced to lie to save myself . ” prosecuting officer then charge him with the Brown and Ross execution , saying they had criminate forcible evidence against him , include law-breaking - scene fingerprint and a handwriting analysis . offer three straight sprightliness terminus in exchange for a guilty plea , he accepted , on the advice of his lawyers . by and by he say he had done so only to avoid a death prison term if he had gone to trial run .
“ I profess to live , ” he tell .
When he did confess , his memory seemed ragged . Time after time during the plea bargaining , public prosecutor brought up details from The Tribune article , which he then incorporated into his testimony . Mr. Heirens recanted his confession soon afterward and maintained his innocence for the rest of his aliveness while being deny password or mercifulness numerous times . He questioned the validity of the fingerprints and other evidence , as have public interest attorney who supported him .
Heirens was the first captive in Illinoisto earn a degree from a four - twelvemonth college . ( Though he ’d had a rough puerility , he was extremely intelligent . ) Just 17 when he was arrest , he was 83 at the prison term of his death in 2012 . He was Illinois ’ longest - serving inmate at the time .
prototype : AP Photo , File;Criminal Minds
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