Jesse Donald Sumner: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Early Life and Initial Criminal Activities
Jesse Donald Sumner was born on January 9, 1937, in McLean, Illinois. His early life remains largely undocumented, but his criminal activities began to surface in the early 1960s. Alongside his accomplice, Herschel Williams Jr., Sumner engaged in several robberies, notably targeting the Farmers State Bank in Heyworth and a credit union in Bloomington.
Murder of Herschel Williams Jr.
On March 25, 1963, a fatal altercation occurred between Sumner and Williams. During a visit to Sumner's barber shop in Danville, an argument ensued, leading Sumner to slash Williams' throat with a razor. In an attempt to conceal the crime, Sumner encased Williams' body in concrete within a 55-gallon barrel and buried it in a Bloomington landfill. The body remained undiscovered until June 1, 1964, when authorities located it following Sumner's arrest for unrelated robbery charges.
Conviction and Parole
Sumner was convicted of Williams' murder and sentenced to 35 to 75 years in prison. However, his conviction was overturned in 1969, leading to a reduced sentence of 10 to 15 years for voluntary manslaughter. Demonstrating good behavior, Sumner was paroled in January 1972 after serving approximately six and a half years. Upon release, he secured employment and enrolled as a junior at Illinois State University.
...Read More
Account
