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Description
See any errors? Let us know!Henry Louis Wallace: The "Taco Bell Strangler"
Early Life
Henry Louis Wallace was born on November 4, 1965, in Barnwell, South Carolina. Raised by his single mother, Lottie Mae Wallace, he experienced a strict and challenging upbringing. Despite these hardships, Wallace was active in high school, serving on the student council and participating as a cheerleader. After graduating in 1983, he briefly attended college before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1985. During his service, he developed a dependency on drugs, including crack cocaine, leading to a series of burglaries and his eventual discharge in 1988.Criminal Activities and Murders
Wallace's descent into violent crime began in the early 1990s. His victims were predominantly young African American women, many of whom he knew personally. Below is a chronological list of his known victims, detailing the dates, names, and locations of each crime:- March 8, 1990: Tashanda Bethea – An 18-year-old high school student from Barnwell, South Carolina. Wallace raped and strangled her, later disposing of her body in a lake. Her remains were discovered on April 1, 1990.
- May 27, 1992: Sharon Nance – A 33-year-old convicted drug dealer and prostitute in Charlotte, North Carolina. After she demanded payment for her services, Wallace beat her to death and left her body near railroad tracks.
- June 15, 1992: Caroline Love – A 20-year-old friend and roommate of Wallace's girlfriend in Charlotte. He raped and strangled her in her apartment, later dumping her body in a wooded area. Her remains were found nearly two years later, in March 1994.
- February 19, 1993: Shawna Hawk – A 20-year-old college student and Taco Bell employee under Wallace's supervision in Charlotte. He raped and strangled her at her home; her body was found submerged in a bathtub. Wallace attended her funeral.
- June 22, 1993: Audrey Spain – A 24-year-old Taco Bell manager and coworker of Wallace in Charlotte. He raped and strangled her; her body was discovered on June 25, 1993.
- August 10, 1993: Valencia Jumper – A 21-year-old college student and friend of Wallace's sister in Charlotte. After raping and strangling her, Wallace set her body on fire to conceal the crime. He later attended her funeral.
- September 14, 1993: Michelle Stinson – A 20-year-old college student, single mother, and friend of Wallace in Charlotte. He raped, strangled, and stabbed her in her apartment, committing the crime in the presence of her oldest son.
- February 20, 1994: Vanessa Mack – A 25-year-old acquaintance through Wallace's coworker in Charlotte. He raped and strangled her in her apartment.
- March 8, 1994: Betty Jean Baucom – A 24-year-old assistant manager at Bojangles and coworker of Wallace's girlfriend in Charlotte. Wallace robbed, raped, and strangled her in her apartment, stealing valuables and her car, which he later abandoned.
- March 8, 1994: Brandi June Henderson – An 18-year-old high school student and mother in Charlotte. Wallace attacked her in her apartment, raping and strangling her while she held her infant son. He also attempted to strangle the baby, who survived.
- March 12, 1994: Debra Ann Slaughter – A 35-year-old former coworker of Wallace's girlfriend in Charlotte. He raped, strangled, and stabbed her multiple times in her apartment, stealing money to support his drug habit.
Arrest and Trial
Wallace was arrested on March 13, 1994. During a 12-hour interrogation, he confessed to the murders of 10 women in Charlotte, providing detailed accounts of each crime. His trial commenced in September 1996, and on January 7, 1997, he was found guilty of nine murders. Subsequently, on January 29, 1997, he was sentenced to nine death sentences. ...Read MoreVictims
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Confirmed Victims: (11)
Tashanda Bethea Age: (18), Date of Death: 1990-03-08 ...View 10 additional victims
Links to Additional Sources (11)
See any mistakes? Let us know!Killer's Details
Henry Louis
Wallace
November 4, 1965 (age 59) Barnwell, South Carolina, United States
Male
Black
The Taco Bell Strangler
First degree rape (x8), Second degree rape, First degree sexual offense (x2), Second degree sexual offense (x2)
Death
11
March 8, 1990 - March 8, 1994
South Carolina, North Carolina
March 12, 1994
Central Prison (Offender Number: 0422350) — Raleigh, North Carolina
07/15/2025










