Euzebe Vidrine

Serial Killer

Euzebe Vidrine: Louisiana's Early Serial Killer

Background and Early Life

Euzebe Vidrine was born on July 12, 1898, in Ville Platte, Louisiana. He grew up in the rural, French-speaking community of Evangeline Parish and was initially regarded as a hardworking and generally well-behaved young man. He married a woman named Lillian and attempted to support himself through farming and other forms of manual labor. People who knew Vidrine later claimed that his personality changed when he reached his early twenties. He reportedly became increasingly withdrawn, emotionally unstable and prone to periods of intense sadness. Members of his family described episodes in which he remained inside his home for days, brooding and weeping. Vidrine would later blame alcohol, emotional instability and an overpowering desire to kill for his crimes, although these explanations were based largely on his own statements and writings. Between 1921 and 1924, Vidrine murdered five men in Louisiana and Texas. Several of his victims encountered him while he was traveling on foot and offered him transportation. Vidrine exploited their kindness, shooting them in isolated locations and stealing small amounts of money, watches, firearms or automobiles. He was convicted only of his final murder, but shortly before his execution he confessed to the other four killings in a written account of his life.

The Murder of Pierre Vidrine

Vidrine's first known victim was approximately 70-year-old farmer Pierre Vidrine. Despite sharing a surname, the two men were reportedly not closely related. Pierre lived and worked near Ville Platte in Evangeline Parish. The conflict began after several hogs disappeared from Pierre's farm. Pierre reportedly told neighbors that he had seen Euzebe near the property around the time of the thefts. There had already been tension between the men because Euzebe's dog had killed one of Pierre's sheep. When Euzebe learned that Pierre suspected him of stealing the hogs, he became enraged and spent several days brooding over the accusation. Historical accounts disagree on whether the murder occurred on April 23 or April 25, 1921. Vidrine armed himself with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and went to the field where Pierre was plowing. He concealed himself behind a tree and waited until the farmer came within range. Vidrine then fired both barrels of the shotgun, killing Pierre in the field. Vidrine returned home, hid the weapon and later joined the group of local men searching for the killer. His behavior raised suspicion because he appeared to know details about the crime that had not been publicly disclosed. He was arrested and prosecuted for Pierre's murder, but he calmly maintained his innocence. The jury acquitted him, and the judge reportedly apologized for the suspicion and inconvenience caused by his arrest. Vidrine later admitted in his memoir that he had committed the murder. ...

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Robert Wiggins Jr. Age: (27), Date of Death: 1924-05-19

The Life (and Death) of Euzebe Vidrine - Country Roads Magazine