Anthony Joe Larette

Serial Killer

Anthony Joe LaRette Jr.: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Overview

Anthony Joe LaRette Jr. (October 1, 1951 – November 29, 1995) was an American serial killer and rapist. Convicted of one murder in St. Charles, Missouri, in 1980, he later confessed to thirty-one murders across eleven states dating back to the late 1960s. Fifteen of these cases were closed based on information he provided. LaRette was executed by lethal injection in 1995.

Confirmed Victims

• Jeanette "Mickey" Wade
  • Age: 26
  • Date of Death: August 20, 1976
  • Location: Marathon, Florida
  • Details: LaRette broke into Wade's home as she returned from work. Confronting her in the kitchen, he stabbed her multiple times before slashing her throat. He then fled the scene, hitchhiking out of the city. Despite a witness providing a description, he was not apprehended at the time.
• Betty H. Brunton
  • Age: 52
  • Date of Death: August 23, 1976
  • Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
  • Details: Brunton, an employee at Memorial Park Cemetery, returned home for lunch when LaRette followed her. He entered her house and stabbed her to death, leaving the knife in her abdomen. Co-workers, concerned when she didn't return, discovered her body. There were no signs of forced entry or struggle.
• Beverly Wortmann
  • Age: 24
  • Date of Death: December 7, 1977
  • Location: Kansas City, Missouri
  • Details: Wortmann, a reporter and photographer, was returning to her apartment after buying cigarettes. LaRette followed her inside, stabbing her 19 times before slashing her throat. A man reading the Bible outside her apartment was initially arrested but later released due to lack of evidence.
• Helen Alderson Hall
  • Age: 60
  • Date of Death: May 20, 1978
  • Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
  • Details: Hall was found bludgeoned to death in her bedroom by her son. There were no signs of forced entry, and her 1971 light-green Lincoln Continental was missing, presumed stolen by her killer. At the time, authorities couldn't identify any suspects.
• Tracey Gladys Miller
  • Age: 26
  • Date of Death: November 2, 1978
  • Location: Manhattan, Kansas
  • Details: A secretary from a law firm went to check on Miller when she missed lunch with colleagues. She was found in her stairway, having been stabbed multiple times with her throat slashed. Despite investigations, no substantial clues were found, and no arrests were made.
• Mary Michelle Fleming
  • Age: 18
  • Date of Death: July 25, 1980
  • Location: St. Charles, Missouri
  • Details: Fleming was returning to her parents' apartment from grocery shopping when LaRette followed her. After ensuring she was alone, he attacked, attempting to rape her. He stabbed her twice in the chest and slashed her throat before fleeing. Fleming managed to reach a neighbor's home before collapsing and later died at the hospital.

Apprehension and Confessions

LaRette was arrested on August 7, 1980, after being identified from a sketch released by police. Upon arrest, he attempted suicide by slashing his neck and wrist but survived. During interrogation, he confessed to thirty-one murders across eleven states dating back to the late 1960s. Fifteen of these cases were closed based on the information he provided. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Jeanette Mickey Wade Age: (26), Date of Death: August 20, 1976

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Anthony LaRette - Wikipedia

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