Jeanette "Mickey" Wade, a 26-year-old woman, was tragically murdered on August 20, 1976. She was attacked in her home after returning from work. The perpetrator, Anthony Joe LaRette Jr., broke into her residence and confronted her in the kitchen. He proceeded to stab her multiple times before ultimately slashing her throat.
LaRette, a serial killer and rapist, was later convicted of one murder in St. Charles, Missouri, in 1980.
However, he confessed to thirty-one murders across eleven states, dating back to the late 1960s. Wade's murder was among his confirmed victims. Following his arrest, LaRette was sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection in 1995.
Despite a witness providing a description of the suspect, LaRette initially evaded capture. He fled the scene and hitchhiked out of the city, avoiding authorities for several years. His crime spree continued until his eventual apprehension on August 7, 1980.
Wade's murder was part of a broader pattern of violent crimes committed by LaRette. Just three days after her death, he killed another victim, Betty H. Brunton, in St. Petersburg, Florida. His method of operation often involved stalking his victims, breaking into their homes, and attacking them with a knife.
The case of Jeanette "Mickey" Wade remains a harrowing example of the brutality inflicted by serial offenders. Her tragic death was one of many that ultimately led to LaRette's conviction and execution, bringing some measure of justice to his victims and their families.
