Edward Bates Soper

Serial Killer

Edward Bates Soper: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Early Life and Background

Edward Bates Soper was born on February 7, 1855, in Kearney, Missouri, as the second of eight children to John Lewis Soper and Sarah Hyatt Soper (née Estes). Little is documented about his early years, but at the age of 20, he committed his first known crime by stealing a horse and selling it in Kansas City. This act marked the beginning of a series of heinous crimes that would later unfold.

Murder of His Father: John Lewis Soper

On January 30, 1880, Edward harbored deep animosity towards his father, John. He organized a literary society near their family home in Kearney and invited his father to join. As John approached the meeting, Edward ambushed him from a hiding spot in a feeding lot, shooting him four times and resulting in his death. To divert suspicion, Edward disposed of the weapon in a nearby creek and returned to the society meeting, acting as if nothing had occurred. Tragically, another man, Thomas Maib, was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for this crime.

Marriage to Ardela Hunt and Subsequent Murders

After serving a two-year sentence for horse theft, Edward returned to Clay County and married 35-year-old Ardela Hunt, a divorcée with two children: Maude (6) and Gillis (3). Initially, their marriage appeared harmonious, but tensions arose when Ardela decided to join a local Christian church, conflicting with Edward's spiritualist beliefs. On April 21, 1891, while Ardela and her children slept at their farm in Archie, Missouri, Edward brutally murdered them with an axe. He then penned letters claiming he couldn't provide for them and preferred their death over a life of misery. After locking the house, he left town, alleging he had discovered an illegal saloon and was relocating due to moral objections. Three days later, neighbors discovered the decomposing bodies of Ardela and her children. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (0)

Edward Bates Soper - Wikipedia

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