Reginald Perkins: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Early Life and Criminal Background
Reginald Perkins was born on April 29, 1955, in Woodruff County, Arkansas. He relocated to Texas during his youth and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1970s to be closer to his mother. Perkins held various jobs, including positions as a laborer, plumber, and truck driver. His criminal activities began in Ohio, where he was convicted of rape and attempted rape, leading to a life sentence with the possibility of parole. He was paroled in 1986 but returned to prison in 1994 for parole violations. In February 2000, he was released on parole again.
Suspected Murders in Ohio (1980–1981)
During his time in Ohio, Perkins was implicated in the strangulation deaths of three women:
- Paula Nelson (21): Found strangled in her Cleveland bedroom on October 23, 1980. She was the sister of Perkins' then-girlfriend, Ramola Nelson Washington. Days before her body was discovered, Washington overheard Perkins discussing Nelson, indicating something had happened to her.
- Jennie Morman (43): Discovered strangled in her Cleveland apartment on January 4, 1981. Morman was the mother of Perkins' girlfriend, with whom he later had a child.
- Jerry Dean Thomas: Found strangled in her Cleveland basement on January 23, 1981. She was the mother of a 12-year-old girl whom Perkins had attempted to rape in December 1980. Days before her murder, Thomas had learned about the assault on her daughter.
Despite being a suspect in these cases, there was insufficient evidence at the time to charge Perkins with the murders.
Confirmed Murders in Texas (1991–2000)
After his parole in 1990, Perkins moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he committed additional murders:
- Hattie Wilson (79) and Shirley Douglas (44): Both women were found strangled in Wilson's Fort Worth apartment on May 6, 1991. Perkins had been dating Wilson's granddaughter at the time. In November 2008, DNA tests linked Perkins to these murders.
- Gertie Mae Perkins (64): Perkins' stepmother was reported missing on December 4, 2000, after failing to pick up her grandson from school. Her body was later found in the trunk of her car in a parking garage. Perkins had pawned her wedding ring and was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender. He led authorities to her car, where her body was discovered.
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