The Life and Crimes of Euzebe Vidrine
Early Life
Euzebe Vidrine was born on July 12, 1898, in Ville Platte, Louisiana. He was known as a hard-working and well-behaved young man who never displayed violent tendencies. However, in his early twenties, those close to him noticed a shift in his demeanor, marked by dark moods and fits of weeping. This inner turmoil eventually manifested in a series of violent acts.
Criminal Acts
Between 1921 and 1924, Vidrine embarked on a killing spree that claimed the lives of at least five individuals. His crimes were characterized by sudden, unprovoked violence, often targeting those who extended kindness to him.
Victims
- Pierre Vidrine
- Date: April 25, 1921
- Location: Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
- Details: Seventy-year-old farmer Pierre Vidrine, unrelated to Euzebe, had accused Euzebe's dog of killing one of his sheep and suspected him of stealing hogs. Enraged by these accusations, Euzebe shot Pierre in his field, nearly tearing him in two with a 12-gauge shotgun. He then joined the posse searching for the killer, arousing suspicion by mentioning details unknown to others. Despite this, he was acquitted due to lack of evidence.
- Charles Garbo
- Date: December 2, 1921
- Location: Near Lafayette, Louisiana
- Details: Garbo offered Vidrine a ride. During the trip, Garbo stopped to check a tire, and Vidrine seized the moment to shoot him in the head with a .32 caliber pistol. He took $4 from Garbo's pocket, placed the body in the back seat, and abandoned the car in a ditch before heading to the Lafayette train station.
- John Roy
- Date: December 3, 1921
- Location: Near Eunice, Louisiana
- Details: Vidrine met Roy at the Lafayette train station, where Roy offered him a ride to Eunice. A mile outside of Eunice, Vidrine asked Roy to stop for a cigarette break. As they stood by the roadside, Vidrine shot Roy in the head, stealing a nickel and a cheap watch before continuing his journey.
- Lee Duke
- Date: Late December 1921
- Location: Near Beaumont, Texas
- Details: After Duke offered Vidrine a ride to Beaumont, Vidrine requested a stop for a cigarette. During this pause, he shot Duke, taking 75 cents, a .38 caliber pistol, and a watch. An innocent man, Frank Smith, was later wrongfully convicted of this murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was exonerated after Vidrine's confession.
- Robert Leo Wiggins
- Date: May 19, 1924
- Location: Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
- Details: Wiggins, the 27-year-old son of the local sheriff, offered Vidrine, a childhood friend, a ride. Vidrine shot Wiggins twice, dragged his body behind a tree, and attempted to drive away but abandoned the car when it stalled. Bloodhounds traced the scent from the crime scene to Vidrine's home, leading to his arrest.
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