In the spring of 1966, a wave of terror gripped the city of Richmond, Virginia, as a string of senseless and brutal murders unfolded. One of the victims in this tragic series of events was James Carter, a 52-year-old white man from Sandston. On May 21, 1966, Carter’s life was violently cut short when he was shot twelve times in the stomach, back, and head.
His body was later discovered discarded in a wooded area in rural Henrico County, just to the east of the city.
The investigation into Carter’s death soon revealed that it was not an isolated incident but rather the work of two brothers, 25-year-old William Penn and 18-year-old Thomas Lee Penn. For a harrowing six-week period, from April 10 to May 22, 1966, the Penn brothers engaged in a violent crime spree that claimed the lives of six individuals and left another victim for dead. The randomness of their attacks added another layer of fear to the community, as their victims varied in age, gender, and ethnicity, seemingly chosen without a discernible pattern.
Among the other victims of the Penn brothers' rampage were Mozelle Leon Spencer, a 78-year-old Black night clerk who was robbed and killed; Willie Sexton, a 21-year-old Black man who was shot nine times; and Cynthia Johnson, a 16-year-old Black girl who was shot twice in the chest. On the same day that James Carter was murdered, the bodies of two other white men, 20-year-old Addison Wilkins and 41-year-old Malcolm Norment, were found dumped near Oakwood Cemetery.
The reign of terror orchestrated by the Penn brothers came to an end thanks to the bravery of a 14-year-old girl. After being assaulted, shot twice, and left for dead by Thomas Lee Penn, the young girl managed to survive and identify her attacker. Her courageous testimony provided the crucial breakthrough that law enforcement needed. Based on her identification, warrants were issued for Thomas Lee Penn's arrest, and his brother William was also taken into custody by May 29, 1966. Following his capture, Thomas Lee Penn confessed to several of the murders, including his involvement in the killing of James Carter. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for his role in the deadly crime spree.
