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Description
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Wesley Harms Peery: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Early Life and Background

Wesley Harms Peery was born on August 19, 1924, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Floyd Melvin Peery and Marzetta Mae Carter. He was the third of six children. Peery's early life remains largely undocumented, but his criminal activities began to surface in the mid-20th century.

Criminal Activities and Convictions

1956: Burglary and Assault
On January 15, 1956, Peery broke into the residence of E.H. Masters in Lincoln, Nebraska, stealing a .38 caliber Colt Detective Special revolver and a holster. Shortly after, on January 21, 1956, Peery used this stolen firearm to abduct and assault Mary Billingsley near Gretna, Nebraska. He forced her into his vehicle at gunpoint, drove to a secluded area, and sexually assaulted her. Peery was later apprehended, identified by Billingsley, and convicted for the assault.
1975: Murder of Marianne Mitzner
On June 6, 1975, Marianne Mitzner was found dead in the bathroom of her coin shop, Mitzner Rare Coin Shop, located at 6106 Havelock Avenue, Lincoln, Nebraska. Her hands and feet were bound, and she had been shot three times in the head. Evidence linked Peery to the crime scene, including stolen coins found in his possession and rope matching that used to bind Mitzner, which was identical to rope found at Peery's workplace. Peery was convicted of first-degree murder and robbery, receiving a death sentence for the murder and a consecutive prison term for the robbery.

Confessions and Additional Crimes

While on death row, Peery confessed to his attorneys about committing multiple murders across several states, including Nebraska, Oregon, Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio. However, he prohibited them from disclosing this information until after his death. One significant confession was the rape and murder of Nancy Parker in 1955, a crime for which her husband, Darrel Parker, had been wrongfully convicted. Peery's detailed confession, revealed posthumously, led to Darrel Parker's exoneration and a full pardon in 1991. ...Read More
Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (2)
  • Marianne Mitzner Age: (50), Date of Death: 1975-06-06
  •     ...View 1 additional victims
    Killer's Details

    Wesley Harms

    Peery

    August 19, 1924 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

    July 3, 1988 (aged 64) Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

    Heart attack

    Male

    White

    Murder

    Death

    1 - 8

    1943 - 1975

    Nebraska, Oregon (confessed), Illinois (confessed), Missouri (confessed), Ohio (confessed)

    1975

    Nebraska State Penitentiary — Lincoln, Nebraska

    07/03/2025