Charles Ray Hatcher: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Early Life and Initial Crimes
Charles Ray Hatcher was born on July 16, 1929, in Mound City, Missouri. His early life was marked by tragedy and instability. At the age of six, he witnessed the accidental electrocution of his older brother, Arthur Allen Hatcher. This traumatic event was followed by his father's departure and his mother's subsequent remarriages. Hatcher's formative years were further complicated by bullying at school, leading him to exhibit aggressive behaviors towards his peers.
Hatcher's criminal activities began in 1947 with a conviction for auto theft in St. Joseph, Missouri, after stealing a logging truck from his employer. This incident marked the start of a series of offenses, including:
- 1948: Convicted for stealing a 1937 Buick in St. Joseph; sentenced to two years in Missouri State Penitentiary.
- 1949: Released but soon imprisoned again for forging a $10 check in Maryville, Missouri.
- 1951: Escaped prison, attempted burglary, and received an additional two-year sentence.
- 1954: Released, stole a 1951 Ford in Orrick, Missouri; sentenced to four years, plus two more for an escape attempt.
- 1959: Released after serving his sixth prison term.
Escalation to Violent Crimes
Following his 1959 release, Hatcher's criminal behavior escalated:
- June 26, 1959: Attempted to abduct 16-year-old newspaper boy Steven Pellham in St. Joseph, Missouri, threatening him with a butcher knife. Arrested in a stolen vehicle shortly after.
- July 2, 1961: Inmate Jerry Tharrington, 26, was found raped and stabbed to death in the Missouri State Penitentiary kitchen. Hatcher, the only missing kitchen crew member, was placed in solitary confinement but not charged due to insufficient evidence.
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