On a tragic day in Bessemer, Alabama, John Tatum, Jr., a 36-year-old male, was killed on January 7, 1977. His life was cut short in a triple homicide that also claimed the lives of his 34-year-old wife, Lois Jean Tatum, and his 60-year-old mother-in-law, Willie Mae Hammock.
The perpetrator of this brutal act was Walter Hill, a man with a history of violent crimes. Hill was reportedly romantically interested in a 13-year-old girl who was the ward of Willie Mae Hammock.
On that fateful January afternoon, Hill went to the Hammock residence and asked for permission to marry the young girl. When Hammock refused, Hill's violent rage was unleashed. He followed her into a bedroom and fatally shot her in the back of the head.
After murdering Willie Mae Hammock, Hill proceeded to the dining room where he shot John Tatum, Jr. twice in the head. He then pursued Lois Jean Tatum through the house, ultimately shooting her in the back of the head as well. The horrific events were witnessed by the 13-year-old girl and her adopted brother, whom Hill then forced to leave with him.
Following the murders, Hill kidnapped the two teenagers and fled towards Georgia. His escape was cut short when his car broke down in North Carolina. The girl managed to escape and alert the authorities, leading to Hill's arrest. The murder weapon was found in his possession.
Walter Hill was charged with capital murder for the deaths of John Tatum, Jr., Lois Jean Tatum, and Willie Mae Hammock. His trial in October 1977 resulted in a conviction and a death sentence. Despite a retrial being granted due to technical errors, Hill was once again found guilty of capital murder in August 1979 and sentenced to death. After numerous appeals, Walter Hill was executed in Alabama's electric chair on May 2, 1997.
