Winona Ola Freeman

Serial Killer

Winona Ola Freeman: The Crimes of the Woman Known as the "Cat Woman"

Winona Ola Freeman, more commonly identified in historical records as Winnie Ola Freeman, Winona Green, or Winnie Ola Spriggs, was an American murderer whose violent history stretched across several decades and three states. She was born Winnie Ola Spriggs on October 21, 1900, in Blue Mountain, Arkansas. Modern accounts frequently describe her as a serial killer because she was connected to four shooting deaths between 1924 and 1953. The historical record is more complicated than that label suggests: Freeman was convicted of two murders, confessed to a third, and was formally accused but never convicted in connection with a fourth.

The 1924 Murder of J.R. Green

Freeman married Leroy P. Green in Oklahoma City in 1922 and became part of the Green family. The first known killing connected to her occurred in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the early morning hours of August 17, 1924. Her father-in-law, J.R. Green, was a railroad employee who had been working at a Little Rock rail yard. Shortly after midnight, he left work and began making his way home. He was shot and killed before reaching his destination. The killing initially offered investigators few obvious answers. Freeman later became a central suspect, however, particularly after another member of the same family disappeared. When questioned, she eventually admitted responsibility for J.R. Green's death. Contemporary accounts described financial disagreements within the family, although reports differed over the precise nature of those disputes. What became far more significant was Freeman's own confession and the subsequent murder case brought against her. A jury found Freeman guilty of murdering J.R. Green on January 19, 1925. She was formally sentenced later that month to life imprisonment. The conviction established beyond the criminal standard of proof that Freeman had deliberately killed her father-in-law.

The Murder of Lena Green

Freeman also confessed to killing her mother-in-law, Lena Green. The murder occurred in August 1924, after the death of J.R. Green. Historical records do not establish a sufficiently reliable exact day of death for Lena, so only the verified month and year should be stated. According to Freeman's confession, she persuaded Lena to travel with her from Arkansas into Oklahoma. Accounts of the case state that Freeman used a story involving property or oil interests to encourage the trip. Once they reached a secluded area near Fisher, Oklahoma, Freeman shot Lena and concealed her body in a wooded location. Lena's unexplained disappearance increased suspicion surrounding the Green family. After prolonged questioning in October 1924, Freeman confessed to killing both of her in-laws. She provided investigators with information about the location of Lena's remains, and authorities subsequently recovered the body. Newspapers at the time treated the discovery as confirmation of a remarkable double-murder confession. Some investigators reportedly wondered whether Freeman had received assistance, but she maintained responsibility for the killings herself. Freeman was also reported to have discussed or considered killing her husband, Leroy Green, during this period. He survived, and the allegation never became another homicide case. Leroy later divorced her following her murder conviction. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

J. R. Green Age: (49), Date of Death: August 17, 1924

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