Charles Ray Hatcher

Serial Killer

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.

Confirmed Murders and Victims

Hatcher's confirmed murders spanned from 1969 to 1982, primarily targeting young boys and teenagers. Notable victims include:

• William Freeman, 12: Abducted and strangled on August 27, 1969, in Antioch, California. Hatcher confessed to luring Freeman to a creek before killing him.
• Gilbert Martinez, 6: Abducted on August 29, 1969, in San Francisco, California. Martinez was found being assaulted by Hatcher, who was arrested at the scene under an alias. Martinez survived the attack.
• Eric Christgen, 4: Disappeared on May 26, 1978, in St. Joseph, Missouri. His body was later found along the Missouri River; he had been sexually abused and suffocated. An innocent man, Melvin Reynolds, was wrongfully convicted for this crime and served four years before Hatcher's confession led to his release.
• James Churchill, 28: Murdered on June 20, 1981, in Rock Island, Illinois. Hatcher stabbed Churchill multiple times after a night of heavy drinking. He later led authorities to Churchill's buried remains.
• Michelle Steele, 11: Reported missing on July 29, 1982, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Her body was found the next day near the Missouri River; she had been beaten and strangled.

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Confirmed Victims: (5)

William Freeman Age: (12), Date of Death: 1969-08-27

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Charles Ray Hatcher - Wikipedia

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