Gordon Stewart Northcott Explained

Birth Date:November 9, 1906
Birth Place:Bladworth, Saskatchewan, Canada
Death Place:San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, U.S.
Cause:strangulation due to botched execution by hanging
Conviction:First degree murder (3 counts)
Sentence:Death
Victims:3–20
Beginyear:1926
Endyear:1928
States:California
Apprehended:September 19, 1928
Criminal Status:Executed
Known For:Wineville Chicken Coop murders

Gordon Stewart Northcott (November 9, 1906 – October 2, 1930) was a Canadian serial killer, child rapist, and child abductor who was convicted of the murders of three young boys in California, U.S., and confessed to the murders of nine in total.Sentenced to death, he was executed on October 2, 1930.

Biography

Gordon Stewart Northcott was born in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, and raised in British Columbia. He moved to Los Angeles with his parents in 1924.

Northcott asked his father to purchase a plot of land in Wineville, California. On this land, he built a chicken ranch and a house with the help of his father—who was in the construction business—and his nephew, Sanford Clark. It was under this pretext that Northcott brought Sanford from Bladworth to the United States.

Wineville Chicken Coop murders

See main article: Wineville Chicken Coop murders. While residing at his chicken ranch, Northcott abducted an undetermined number of boys and sexually abused them. Typically, after abusing a victim, he would drive the boy home and let him go. Four of them, however, he murdered at the ranch.

Canadian police arrested Northcott and his mother on September 19, 1928.[1] Due to errors in the extradition paperwork, they were not returned to Los Angeles until November 30.[2] [3] Northcott was implicated in the murder of Walter Collins, but because Northcott's mother had confessed to murdering Collins and had been sentenced for it, the state chose not to prosecute Northcott in that murder.[4]

It was speculated that Northcott may have killed as many as 20 boys, but the state of California could not produce evidence to support that speculation. Ultimately, the state only brought an indictment against Northcott for the murders of an unidentified underage Mexican national later to be identified as Alvin Gothea—known as the "Headless Mexican"—and the brothers Lewis and Nelson Winslow (aged 12 and 10, respectively).[5] The brothers had been reported missing from Pomona on May 16, 1928.[6]

In early 1929, Northcott's trial was held before Judge George R. Freeman in Riverside County, California. The jury heard that he kidnapped, molested, tortured, and murdered the Winslow brothers and the "Headless Mexican" in 1928. On February 8, the 27-day trial ended with Northcott being convicted of those murders. On February 13, Freeman sentenced him to death.[7] He was hanged on October 2, 1930, at San Quentin State Prison. The rope failed to break Northcott's neck, resulting in taking 13 minutes for him to die from strangulation.[8] [9]

Popular culture

Clint Eastwood directed Changeling in 2008, in which Gordon Northcott was portrayed by Jason Butler Harner.[10] [11]

American Horror Story referenced Northcott in season 5, Hotel. Maid Hazel Evers' (Mare Winningham) son is abducted and killed on the farm.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Murder Farm' Fugitive Held: Young Northcott Arrested by Canadian Police Mother Also Believed to be in Their Custody Blood Found on Suspects' Ranch Called Human. Los Angeles Times. September 20, 1928. https://archive.today/20130104110754/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/368263112.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+20,+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A1&desc=MURDER+FARM'+FUGITIVE+HELD. dead. January 4, 2013. 2010-04-24 .
  2. News: Error in Extradition Papers to Delay Northcott's Return: Officers Go On To See Suspect State Aides Discover Flaws in Legal Documents Burying Alive Charge Laid to Sanford Clark Examination Continues of "Death Farm" Clews. Los Angeles Times. September 26, 1928. https://archive.today/20130131201004/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/368281002.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+26,+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A2&desc=Error+in+Extradition+Papers+to+Delay+Northcott's+Return. dead. January 31, 2013. 2010-04-24 .
  3. News: Youth's Nerves At High Tension: Northcott Embarrassed on Debarking from Train Request for Picture Brings Defiant Refusal Prisoner Lodged in Cell That Housed Hickman. Los Angeles Times. November 30, 1928. https://archive.today/20130201015349/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/367450522.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+1,+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A2&desc=YOUTH'S+NERVES+AT+HIGH+TENSION. dead. February 1, 2013. 2010-04-24 .
  4. Book: Paul, James Jeffrey. Nothing is Strange with You: The Life and Crimes of Gordon Stewart Northcott. 2008. Xlibris. Bloomington, Indiana. 978-1436366267. 141.
  5. News: Northcott Convicted of Slaying Three Boys; His Last Dramatic Plea Fails to Move Jury. The New York Times. February 7, 1929. January 16, 2008 .
  6. Web site: Wetsch. Elisabeth. Chicken Murders. Serial Killer Crime Index. 1995. 2008-01-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20120106024432/http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/N/NORTHCOTT_gordon_stewart.php. 2012-01-06. dead.
  7. News: Northcott put in Doomed Row: Slayer Becomes No. 46,597 at San Quentin Meeting With "Mother" May be Arranged Later Youth "Wisecracks" About Forthcoming Hanging. Los Angeles Times. February 13, 1929. 2008-01-26. 2008-10-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20081009202725/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/369683682.html?dids=369683682:369683682&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+13%2C+1929&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=NORTHCOTT+PUT+IN+DOOMED+ROW. dead.
  8. Web site: Kurz. John. Mira Loma History, Riverside County, California: Wineville Chicken Murders. Rubidoux Historical Society. 1988-12-15. 2008-01-26.
  9. Web site: Gribben. Mark. Poetic Justice. The Malefactor's Register. 2007-02-27. 2008-01-26 .
  10. Web site: Changeling. Universal Studios official website. 30 January 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080202232508/http://www.universalpictures.com/index.html. 2 February 2008.
  11. News: King. Susan. Changeling actor reveres his boss: Clint Eastwood. Los Angeles Times. 7 September 2008. 5 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081011062508/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-changeling7-2008sep07,0,3529964.story. 11 October 2008.