Gordon Bloomfield Wolcott, a 57-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, was tragically murdered on August 5, 1967, in Georgetown, Texas. He was a college professor at Southwestern University and lived with his wife, Elizabeth Williams Wolcott, and their 17-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. The family was well-known in the community, and their home was located near the university on College Street.
On the morning of the murders, Gordon was found in the living room with two gunshot wounds to his
chest, while his wife was discovered in her bed with two shots to the left side of her head. Their daughter was found in her bed with one shot above her right eye and another to the heart. All three were shot with a .22 caliber rifle. Gordon and Elizabeth Sr. were pronounced dead at the scene, while Elizabeth Jr. died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The shocking revelation came when the Wolcott family's 15-year-old son, James Gordon Wolcott, was arrested for the murders. James, who had a history of good grades and high IQ, was also known for his peace activism and involvement in Methodist youth work. He confessed to the murders, stating that he was tired of his mother's loud chewing, his sister's "bad accent," and his father's disapproval of his anti-Vietnam pins and peace marches. James felt that his family was conspiring against him to drive him out of his mind.
James was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to a psychiatric hospital until 1974. After his release, he faded into obscurity and later became a university professor under the name James St. James.
The case remains a tragic and haunting memory for the Georgetown community, as it involved a family well-respected and admired by many.
