Billie Burk Curtis, a 9-year-old boy, tragically lost his life on March 16, 1938, in Shelby County, Texas. His death was part of a devastating event in which his mother, Lillie Mae Curtis, fatally shot six of her children while they slept. The incident occurred at their home in the West Hamilton Community, approximately 22 miles east of Center, Texas.
Lillie Mae Curtis, 38 years old at the time, carried out the killings after putting her children to bed around 9 p.m. and waiting for them to fall asleep. She methodically shot each child, starting with her 13-year-old son, T.O., followed by Margie Ree, 7, Billie Burke, 10, Robert, 9, Gloria Jean, 11, and Marcie Jack, 5. According to reports, she kissed each child before and after shooting them. Her 16-year-old son, James Travis, was spared, as she sent him to call the sheriff.
The motive behind the killings was reportedly financial distress, as Lillie Mae Curtis claimed she had no money and believed her children were "better off dead". She had previously shot and killed her husband, Robert Curtis, in June 1935, citing his involvement in illegal activities and infidelity. Despite this, she was given a suspended sentence due to her large family’s dependence on her.
Following the murders, Lillie Mae Curtis was arrested and charged. The case was widely covered in newspapers and even featured in crime magazines. She ultimately passed away in 1980, and all the deceased children were buried in West Hamilton Cemetery. The tragedy remains one of the most harrowing events in Shelby County’s history.
