In a tragic event that unfolded in Indianapolis, Indiana, four-year-old Bertina Michelle Bell, a female, lost her life on August 21, 1981. She was not the sole victim of this horrific act. Her three siblings, her mother, and her grandmother were also killed in the same incident. The family was discovered in their home, with the children, including Bertina, found laid in a row on a bed in the basement, each having been shot in the head.
The perpetrator of this mass murder was identified
as King Edward Bell, the father of the children. Neighbors described him as a religious fanatic. The apparent motive for the killings was a troubled relationship with his estranged wife, who had recently moved out of their home. Evidence of his disturbed mental state was found at the scene. Scrawled in chalk on a basement wall were the words, 'Jesus take them all to heaven,' and a sign that read, 'The family that prays together stays together'.
King Edward Bell was arrested at the scene of the crime, holding a shotgun. He repeatedly begged the police to kill him. Following his arrest, he was charged with six counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, as he had also critically wounded his wife's boyfriend during the rampage. His trial was marked by erratic behavior and multiple suicide attempts. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and his defense requested extensive mental competency tests. Despite these attempts to delay the trial, he was ultimately found guilty of the murders.
