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Alton Wilson

Case from Franklinton, LA dated Jun 27, 1977

Victim Details

Alton Wilson

Male

Black / African American

Franklinton

LA

1977-06-27

66

Alton

Wilson

06/27/2026

Case Description

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In the summer of 1977, a wave of violence swept through three states, leaving a trail of victims in its wake, including a 66-year-old African American man from Franklinton, Louisiana. Alton Wilson, a local fisherman, tragically lost his life on June 27, 1977, at the hands of two escaped convicts, Paul Ruiz and Earl Van Denton. The duo had broken out of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester just four days prior and embarked on a brutal crime spree.

The harrowing ordeal for Alton Wil ...
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Links to Additional Sources (6)

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  • Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Encyclopedia of Arkansas
  • Family, residents reflect on 1977 Magazine slayings
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    Forum Posts (2)

    Hi everyone,
    I've been thinking a lot about Alton Wilson and Ray Jones lately. The fact that thes... ...Read More
    10/24/2023
    I've been thinking a lot about the terrifying ordeal that Alton Wilson and Ray Jones went through du... ...Read More
    09/26/2023
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