Martin Stickles

Serial Killer

Martin Stickles: The Kelso Killer

Overview

Martin Stickles, commonly known as the "Kelso Killer," was an American serial killer responsible for three murders in Cowlitz County, Washington, between November 1899 and November 1900. His victims were attacked inside their rural homes while they were eating supper. In each case, Stickles remained outside and fired a rifle through a window, giving his victims little or no opportunity to defend themselves. Robbery appears to have been the primary motive behind the killings. After shooting his victims, Stickles entered their homes and searched for money, watches, keys, and other valuables. He attempted to conceal the first murder by setting the victim's cabin on fire. The similarities between the attacks eventually led investigators to conclude that the same person had committed all three murders.

Early Life

Martin Stickles was born on February 7, 1870, in Adams County, Iowa. When he was approximately 18 months old, his family moved to Washington. Accounts of his childhood described him as physically sickly and behaviorally unusual. His mother later claimed that he had always seemed unnatural and was prone to unpredictable episodes of anger. Little reliable information survives about Stickles' education, employment, or personal relationships. By adulthood, he had become an isolated fisherman who lived aboard a scow, a flat-bottomed boat used on shallow waterways. He traveled along the Columbia, Cowlitz, and Coweeman rivers and apparently had few close connections within the communities surrounding Kelso and Castle Rock. His secluded lifestyle allowed him to move through the region without attracting much attention. Stickles was familiar with the rural roads, river routes, farms, and isolated residences of Cowlitz County. This knowledge helped him approach his victims' homes after dark and escape before neighbors or law-enforcement officers could respond. ...

Confirmed Victims: (3)

William B. Shanklin , Date of Death: 1899-11-22

Martin Stickles - Wikipedia