The Stepfather is Based on the True Story of John List - Wicked Horror Flanery lived next door to John List, who was going by Robert Clark, and his second wife, Delores Clark, in Aurora, Colorado from 1985 to 1988. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. He grew up as an only child with strict German parents, he had an overly protective and domineering mother (sort of like Norman Bates). Born in Bay City, Michigan, List was the only child of German-American parents John Frederick List (18591944) and Alma Barbara Florence List (18871971). Daly said that if no one comes forward, the remains would eventually be returned to the state Department of Corrections, which has had custody of List since his conviction in 1990. Spouse/Ex-: Delores Miller Clark (m. 19851989), Helen List (m. 19511971), children: Frederick List, John, Jr. "I'm sure that if we recognize each other that we'll like each other's company just as we did here, when times were better.". He settled in New Jersey and took a job at a local bank. The episode, "Murder House", premiered on November 18, 2015. John confessed to committing the murders in February 1990. He was the only child born to German-Americans John Frederick List and Alma Maria Barbara Florence List. FBI agents visited his unsuspecting second wife in Virginia and handcuffed the killer, who was going by the name Robert P. Clark, at his accounting office. After making the decision, List says, there was no turning back. Based on information gleaned from dozens of interviews and hundreds of pages of police and FBI documents, Father Wants Us Dead is an in-depth and chilling narrative from two reporters with more than 25 years of combined experience. Then John, 15, after the boy put his bookbag down on a kitchen countertop. Authorities never found the cause of the fire, and a new house was built on the property years later. Of the more than 200 tips from viewers that the FBI received from the program, one said a man resembling. [12] Alma's body was flown to Frankenmuth, Michigan, and interred at the Saint Lorenz Lutheran Cemetery. John had a very normal childhood and he did not show any signs of psychological troubles. ', 'List was being bombarded by stresses,' the doctor added. The bodies of John Lists wife and three teenage children were found laid out on sleeping bags in the ballroom. Oct 9, 2018. John Sr. shot him nine more times before dragging him into the ballroom with the rest of his family. Simring said List showed "no evidence of anything that approached genuine remorse," adding, "He's a cold, cold man.". All List wanted was to reunite with his wife, mother, and children in the afterlife, where he believed there would be no pain or suffering. Then he sat down and ate lunch at the same table where he had shot his wife hours before. Then he drove to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where he left his car as a false lead and took a bus into the city. "[36] The judge was unpersuaded: "John Emil List is without remorse and without honor," he said. The arrest followed Foxs Americas Most Wanted, featuring a sculpted clay bust of Johns age-progressed face. $1 Million - $5 Million. List laid the bodies of his wife and three children on sleeping bags according to size in the home's ballroom, went to sleep after dinner, and fled the next day. In the afternoon, he killed his children as they came home first his daughter Patty, a budding actress at 16; then his youngest, 13-year-old Frederic; and finally 15-year-old John, his namesake and his favorite. List, who says he remains deeply religious today, acknowledges that his crimes violated one of the Ten Commandments: "Thou shalt not kill.". Dr. Sheldon Miller, who examined List after his arrest last year, described him Friday as a man who had already been hit by the loss of his job and then learned that his wife had deceived him for years about her medical condition. The video above will play a live video stream of the Monday, Feb. 27 proceedings in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial or a replay upon completion. When authorities entered the Westfield, New Jersey house on December 7, 1971, they heard organ music piped through the intercom system. The army discharged him in 1946, after which he joined the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He also claimed to be suffering from PTSD. In an effort to baffle the police, he cleaned the crime scenes and used scissors to remove his image from every photo in the mansion. List caught the tail end of the show with his wife, who did not know his past. Ideal YouTube Profile Picture: Size, Dimensions, Tricks, and More, Reasons To Invest In A Good Gaming Laptop, Microphone Sound Recording for Live Streaming, Delores Miller Clark: Learn More about John Lists Ex-Wife, Johanna Thiebaud- All about Shania Twains Stepdaughter, What You May Not Know About Gweneth Gonzales Thomas, Richard Thomas Daughter, Linnell S. Nobori: All there is to Know about Ted Bessells Wife, Online Pharmacies Make it Easy to Compare Medicines Prices, Katya Ariel Tylo Personal Life, Net Worth, & More, Isis Rae Boykin, Personal Life and Net Worth, Finn William Leeves Coben Lifestyle and Personal Life. March 2 (UPI) -- A Florida woman earned a Guinness World Record when she completed 23 ultra-marathon runs -- 31.1 miles -- in a 23-day period. John Sr. drove over to his school and watched him playing in a soccer game. The couple had three children together, while Helens daughter Brenda left home in 1960 after her marriage. In a three-sentence statement to the court, he said he was sorry for "the tragedy that happened in 1971." Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. John seemingly grew up without incident, reporting a normal childhood with the exception of his stringently religious upbringing, with which he identified wholeheartedly. John Emil List was born in Michigan, in 1925, the only child of John and Alma List. He was 82. [44], In 2022, NJ Advance Media released "Father Wants Us Dead," a podcast serial on the events.[45]. Net Worth in 2021. While his children were at school, he shot his wife Helen, 47, in the back of the head, and then his mother Alma, 84, above the left eye. Joshua Boucher/The State via AP, Pool. John List - Trivia, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays Help keep John List (murderer) and Delores Miller (wife) profile up to date. Salary in 2022. John List (murderer) and Delores Miller (wife) - Dating, Gossip, News, Photos list. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. John List - The Decision Lab John Emil List, 63, was profiled on the TV program Americas Most Wanted May 21. He was born as the only child in the highly religious German-American household. The Lists might have appeared to be the ideal American family, but everything was not as it seemed. If no one claims List's body, Fedekenheuer said, "we call the local funeral director, and that person will have the body cremated. [30] As the year progressed, the family's financial problems became more strained; List encouraged his children to seek part-time work, ostensibly to teach them maturity and responsibility, but in actuality to help keep the family financially solvent. In 1971, John List lost his job at the bank at age 46. March 3 (UPI) -- A New Brunswick couple who initially thought a burglar had broken into their home discovered the invader was actually a panicked deer. So he spent his days at the train station, reading the newspaper and secretly skimming money from his mothers bank accounts to pay the mortgage. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Like her sister, Rosanne Cindy inherited her father's musical talent, and by the time she was 16 she was already performing on stage with Johnny and his second wife June Carter. John List with his wife and three children. [8], On November 9, 1971, List murdered his entire immediate family, using his own 9mm Steyr 1912 semi-automatic handgun[9] and his father's Colt .22 caliber revolver. [31] Though her health progressively deteriorated, she said nothing to List or her physicians until 1969, when a thorough workup revealed the condition. He began living with a new identity in Virginia, where he was spotted by a local and got arrested. Delores kept a low profile after Johns arrest, and it is unclear what happened to her. [5] By 1959, List had risen to general supervisor of the company's accounting department; but Helen, an alcoholic, had become increasingly unstable. With his first wife, John Frederick had had a son, William George, who happened to be the same . They'll either have forgiven me or won't realize, you know, what happened," List told Downtown's Connie Chung in an interview at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, where he is serving five life sentences. His father-in-law had heard from the county sheriff: After nearly 18 years, List had been caught. John List was on the run when they met in 1985 after having murdered his family members about 14 years before. He was arrested 11 days later, and, after a jury rejected his diminished capacity defense, convicted and sentenced. The two met at a Christian religious gathering. When police officers entered the home on Dec. 7, 1971, they heard organ music on an intercom system and found the bodies of Mr. List's wife, Helen, 46; his daughter, Patricia, 16; his sons. List methodically murdered his wife Helen, his mother Alma, and their three childrenPatricia, 16; Frederick, 13; and John Jr., 15. John List, going by the name Robert Clark, rented a room in this house in Richmond, Virginia from S. Wallace Parsons, until he and Delores Clark moved into their new home. A deputy sheriff at the Henrico County Jail was tasked with watching John List after his arrest in 1989. He was finally apprehended in Virginia on June 1, 1989, after the story of his murders was broadcast on the television program America's Most Wanted. However, the marriage was not very good. ELIZABETH, N.J. -- Accused family-killer John Emil List, who had always looked to his religious faith for answers, was so overwrought over the discovery that his wife had advanced syphilis that 'like a small rubber band, he snapped,' a psychiatrist said. The New Jersey mansion he inhabited with his mother, wife, and three children had 19 rooms, including a ballroom, marble fireplaces, and a Tiffany skylight. She met Steinbeck in late 1938 or early 1939, when she was just 22. "[21][22] List was questioned by FBI investigators after his capture, but he denied any involvement in the Cooper case. It was a masterful depiction of John List. He worked hard as an accountant at a nearby bank to provide for his family. National Park Service: 'Never push a slower friend down' in a bear encounter, March 2 (UPI) -- The National Park Service offered some sage advice for park visitors who encounter bears: "Never push a slower friend down. The Rev. He married Helen and raised three children with her, while working as an accountant in many places, such as New York and New Jersey. On 9 November 1971, John murdered his wife, mother, and three children by shooting them. Then he went downstairs, dragged his wife's body into the ballroom and began scrubbing up the blood so the children would not realize what was going on when they got back from school. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He married Helen and raised three children with her, while working as an accountant in many places, such as New York and New Jersey. Also in 2022, Netflix released a seven-part dramatic fictional miniseries called The Watcher. He murdered his mother, wife and three children in November 1971, due to financial distress and other issues within the family, and fled. John Emil List (1925-2008) - Find a Grave Memorial List assumed a new identity, remarried, and eluded justice for nearly 18 years. Suspect in Family Slaying 'Not Man I Know,' Wife Says Expert psychologists believed rather that List was going through a mid-life crisis and as the prosecution pointed out, that was no excuse for killing five innocent people. The family later moved to Rochester, New York, to work with Xerox. Alex Murdaugh's defense rests after 14 witnesses over two weeks in He waited for Helen to come down for her morning coffee. He killed Patricia when she returned home from school, then the youngest son, Frederick. Aside from a few extra wrinkles, the bust was spot on. Additionally, the financial burden on the family was increasing, causing him severe psychological distress. He says he wanted to spare them the shame of losing their New Jersey mansion and to make sure they got to heaven. March 3 (UPI) -- A 7-year-old Louisiana boy with a firm grasp of baseball rules is seeking a Guinness World Record as the world's youngest umpire. Delores Clark, asking reporters to respect my right to my personal privacy during this very dramatic and uncertain time, issued a statement that was copyrighted Friday by the Richmond News Leader. John List and his family were the definition of the American Dream in 1965; they seemed to have it all. [6] In 1960, his stepdaughter Brenda married and left the household, and List moved with the remainder of his family to Rochester, New York, to take a job with Xerox. In November 1971, the mass murderer and long-time fugitive killed his wife, mother, and three children at their home in Westfield, New Jersey. John List The Boogeyman of Westfield | by A.W. Naves | Medium He also thought his children were steering off the godly course as his son wanted to be an actor. photos, . Help us build our profile of John List (murderer) and Delores Miller (wife)! Net Worth in 2022. "So eventually I got to the point where I felt that I could kill them. The new lovers wed on 1 December 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland. Delores Miller (wife) and John List are divorced. She had a young daughter from her previous marriage. List's home, a. Authorities walk John List to a plane in Richmond, Virginia in 1989 before transporting him to New Jersey to stand trial.Steve Helber/AP. [15] Destroyed along with the home was the ballroom's stained glass skylight, rumored to be a signed Tiffany original, worth at least $100,000 at the time (equivalent to $650,000 in 2021). Gallery - Father Wants Us Dead: A True Crime Podcast From NJ He left his mother's body in her apartment in the attic. Their faces were covered. The News Leaders copyright story quoted his pastor, closest friend and neighbors as saying that the arrest was unbelievable and impossible.. One night after dinner, he even asked his family what should be done with their bodies after they died. He had saved the souls of the people he loved. 1971 Family Killer Breaks Silence - ABC News "After 18 years, five months and 22 days, it is now time for the voices of Helen, Alma, Patricia, Frederick and John F. List to rise from the grave." The FBI found his car parked at Kennedy International Airport in New York City, but they never found him. His lawyer hopes to convince the jury that List should not be held legally responsible for the deaths because he thought he was saving his family's souls by killing them. Just as the kids entered from the main door, he shot both of them in the heads as well. John List: He Committed the (Almost) Perfect Murder Then, he went up to the third floor and murdered his mother in her bed. He is a quiet yet friendly man who loves his work and the people he works with.. No one has stepped forward to claim the body of mass murderer John List, who died while serving a life sentence for killing his Westfield family in 1971, authorities said today. [32][34] Welfare was an unacceptable option, he reasoned, because it would expose him and his family to ridicule and violate his authoritarian father's teachings regarding the care and protection of family members. At his trial in 1990, defense lawyers argued that List suffered from PTSD from his military service in World War II and Korea. During that time, he was associated romantically with a number of celebrities, including a nine-year affair with actress Merle Oberon. Moreover, his wife was a heavy drinker and she had also contracted Syphilis from her first marriage. Later, John took a lucrative job at Xerox and moved to New York and lived there with his family for a few years. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. [23][16] The segment featured an age-progressed clay bust, sculpted by forensic artist Frank Bender, which turned out to bear a close resemblance to List's actual appearance. He lived at 431 Hillside Avenue with his wife, Helen Morris Taylor; mother, Alma Barbara Florence List; and two children: daughter Patricia, and sons Frederick and John. 'The Watcher's John Graff is based on grim true story of family ", John List, famous murder The Crime Library, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_List_(murderer)&oldid=1139169038, American people who died in prison custody, American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, People extradited within the United States, People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by New Jersey, Prisoners who died in New Jersey detention, United States Army personnel of World War II, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 19:09. John List met Helen Morris Taylor, a young widow of an American enlisted man who had died in the Korean War. Assistant Prosecutor Eleanor Clark strongly protested telling the jury of Helen List's syphilis during bitter legal arguments over several days. Because this is one of the most. John List appeared to be the perfect son, husband, and father. Examples include "Savior," the season 6, episode 16 of the television series Law & Order; the 1987 film The Stepfather and its 2009 remake; the 1993 film Judgment Day: The John List Story, in which List was portrayed by Robert Blake;[39] and the character Keyser Sze in the 1995 film The Usual Suspects.[40]. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. [12] Neighbors noticed that all of the mansion's rooms were illuminated day and night, with no apparent activity within the house. He was apprehended 18 years later in 1989 and was sentenced to five terms of life sentence. John Sr. drove to the field and watched him play, then gave him a ride home. When they entered the house, music was still playing on the intercom, but List was long gone. John List Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements Authorities said that he had been living a quiet life--active in his church, puttering in his yard on weekends--and that he had no problems with the law while a fugitive. They got him down in Virginia.. According to trial testimony, Helen had pressured List into marriage by falsely claiming that she was pregnant, then insisted that they marry in Maryland, which did not require the premarital syphilis test mandated in most other states at the time. Overdue book returned to Massachusetts library after 56 years. . After driving John Frederick home, List shot him repeatedly because, as misfire evidence showed, his son attempted to defend himself. John List died in prison in 2008 at age 82. The episode aired on May 21, 1989 (Opens in a new tab), catching the eye of a neighbor who called the police and warned Clark's second wife, who seemed "stunned." (Opens in a new tab) List was . [16] In reporting his death, the New Jersey Star-Ledger referred to him as "The Boogeyman of Westfield. After gruesomely murdering his entire family, John List had begun living a normal life again. Wikimedia CommonsJohn List with his wife and three children. Austin Goodrich, an ABCNEWS consultant who is writing a book with John List, contributed material for this report. By 1971, he was still leaving for work every morning, but unknown to his family he was unemployed and unable to pay the bills. I thought I was being real clever," he said. [11][12], List placed the bodies of his wife and children on sleeping bags in the mansion's ballroom. John List's confession to his 2nd wife revealed in new episode of 'Father Wants Us Dead' podcast Published: Jun. The research in this book is outstanding, and Sharkey clearly put a great deal of time and effort into it. He married his second wife Delores in 1985. YouTubeForensic artist Frank Bender uses photographs to sculpt an aged bust of mass murderer John List. List is accused of killing his wife, his three children and his mother in 1971. List and his family were the embodiment of the American dream in 1965. My Life With John Steinbeck - Gwen Gonger - The Forgotten Wife He had drained his and his mothers bank accounts and fled, changing his identity. Discover The 33 Scariest Animals In The World, From The Deep Sea To The Tropical Skies, The Story Of Caril Ann Fugate And Charles Starkweather's Natural Born Killing Spree, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. John List (murderer) - Wikipedia John List | Criminal Minds Wiki | Fandom One tip came from a woman in Richmond, Virginia, who thought her next-door neighbor, Robert Clark, bore a striking resemblance to the bust. Because syphilis is not infectious in its later phases, she did not pass it on to John List or her children, although she suffered several miscarriages during her first marriage.