Maudie Hassell, a 13-year-old girl, was tragically murdered on December 5, 1926, in Farwell, Texas. She was one of several victims in a horrific crime committed by her uncle and stepfather, George Jefferson Hassell. Hassell, an American serial killer and mass murderer, killed his wife and eight children, including Maudie, in a brutal attack that shocked the community.
The crime unfolded after an argument between Hassell and his wife, Susan Ferguson, regarding his sexual assault and impregnation of Maudie. Enraged, Hassell struck his wife repeatedly in the face with a ballpeen hammer, killing her. He then proceeded to murder each of the other family members in their bedrooms, using a straight razor and stockings to kill them in order from youngest to oldest. The two eldest boys awoke during the attack, leading to a violent struggle in which Hassell killed them using a shotgun and an axe. The bodies were then stored in a newly dug root cellar near the house.
Hassell attempted to cover up the crime by selling the family's belongings and claiming they had left for Oklahoma. However, suspicions arose when a wagon passed over the root cellar, leading to an investigation. Hassell later attempted suicide but survived, and authorities uncovered the remains of his victims. He confessed to the murders, and his trial quickly became a spectacle in Farwell and its neighboring town, Texico, New Mexico.
Hassell was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On February 2, 1928, he was executed in the electric chair, becoming the 27th person to be executed in Texas. His crimes were motivated by a history of violence, including previous murders in California, embezzlement, and military desertion. A psychiatric evaluation at the time characterized him as a sociopath. His actions remain one of the most shocking cases of family annihilation in U.S. history.
