Topic: The Orchard Apartments Murders | August 1979 (Read 6170 times)

Chris · « **Reply #25 on:** May 18, 2009, 09:13:45 AM »

Wow, these are unsolved cases? I had never heard of those. By chance is there anything online that you can link to so I can read more about them?

Thanks

vizavis · « **Reply #26 on:** May 18, 2009, 11:58:41 PM »

Chris,
Try this. I hope it works:
http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/T/TEXAS_DECAPITATION_murders.php
I'm not very good at using links. Maybe you can copy and paste this address.
Vizavis

Chris · « **Reply #27 on:** May 19, 2009, 05:42:54 AM »

Thanks. That's perfect. I'll check that out.

petmama · « **Reply #28 on:** May 21, 2009, 01:33:30 PM »

It is frightening to think that these murders have not been solved or the murderers captured. I don't like to lurk too much on this board because it will really creep you out. I am wondering if anyone had consulted a psychic about these murders? If you don't know the victims personally, it is a little easier to distance yourself. The mind that could command its body to do something terrible such as this.!
It just gives you the chills!!! For many years, I had stewed about my friend's eerie and horrific death and tried to find information about it online. Then one day, out of the blue, I found this link and and read all of the postings. One that was really intense was the one written by Cecil Wingo. I found it to be very strange because of all the details and the spelling errors. Then a short time later, I was researching him and I had found that he had died of an illness (cancer?). There are so many loose ends about this series of murders and unusual coincidental circumstances...

vizavis · « **Reply #29 on:** May 23, 2009, 02:05:06 PM »

I agree that these murders are horrific and that I question the sanity of anyone who isn't bothered by these crimes. Even so, I also believe that it is still possible to solve them, even though we are approaching 30 years since they occurred. The person responsible, if these are the crimes of one person, should not go unknown for the sake of the families and loved ones who could find some measure of comfort from the truth. I pray everytime I recall them that justice may be served. This site is a possible means for that to take place. The victims must never be forgotten. The name of the first victim was Alyce Rankin and she was only 33.
Here is a site regarding Dr. Wingo's passing:
http://thefacts.com/story2.lasso?ewcd=d38e924077574574
Wow! What a great man he was and a trooper to the very end. God bless him. I know he received his eternal reward for giving so much to others.

petmama · « **Reply #30 on:** May 24, 2009, 11:28:42 AM »

Very interesting article about Cecil Wingo. I am wondering about his title "Doctor". Was he an M.D. or Ph. D? It is possible that the murderer(s) of these victims are also dead by now. If alive, perhaps they frequent boards such as this one, which is disquieting. I think that the time period of the 1970's was very fertile for this type of evil-doing. If memory serves me correctly, the "Son of Sam" murders also occurred during this decade or nearabouts. I read a very interesting book by Maury Terry about those murders. You ponder if there may be some connection between many of these events.

Chris · « **Reply #31 on:** May 27, 2009, 06:27:48 AM »

I wonder that too. Do these murderers come to this site?

if they are still alive, it must be very scary knowing that any day, someone might come and arrest them. Technology is so advanced, things they never even dreamed of in 1979. In fact, I remember in 1979 I was a kid watching shows on TV and all the techniques were so basic. Now it seems a cop has to be a scientist as much as a investigator.

petmama · « **Reply #32 on:** May 29, 2009, 12:00:08 PM »

I don't believe that the murderers are scared about anything, including being captured. I think they crave the thrill aspect of their killing and are predators. But I would say that no two are exactly alike. I am remembering Jeffrey Dahmer and his killings. Also David Berkowitz, who claims to have found Jesus now that he has served more than 30 years of his sentence. Then there is the female serial killer. I cannot remember her name. There was a movie about her life and Charlize Theron played the murderer. Getting back to this site, someone out there must know something about these events. It is hard to imagine that no one knows anything. They say that there is not such thing as a perfect crime. It is too bad that all of the scientific forensic tools were not available back in the 1970's. Still, there could have been a small missed detail or two that might have given a clue or hint. If someone was brought to justice these many years later, the famiily members of the dead ones would, at least, have some type of closure.

Chris · « **Reply #33 on:** May 31, 2009, 04:16:18 PM »

Quote

Getting back to this site, someone out there must know something about these events.

I agree with that. I sure hope those people would ahve the courage to call the police or crime stoppers.

petmama · « **Reply #34 on:** June 29, 2009, 12:19:41 PM »

Interesting article on AOL today about Son of Sam aka David Berkowitz. He has been corresponding with someone from the outside and claims to have remorse about his killings. I believe that the person who he is corresponding with is from Houston, TX. If I can, I will post a link to this article.

Chris · « **Reply #35 on:** July 02, 2009, 01:58:02 PM »

I woulod be interested in reading that.

Chris · « **Reply #36 on:** August 17, 2009, 02:48:43 AM »

Here is an article that was published in the Pittsberg newspaper today

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09229/991366-53.stm

vizavis · « **Reply #37 on:** August 19, 2009, 01:32:52 AM »

Chris,
Wow! I can hardly believe it. Your site has been quoted in the Pittsburgh, PA paper! Wouldn't it be great if we could get the Houston Chronicle to do a similar retrospective article? How did you know they'd used quotes from your site? I am so glad I checked to see what has been going on. Thanks for the info. What do you think about maybe a petition and a copy of the other article from the PA newspaper being sent to the chronicle? Or maybe to the Houston Homicide Dept.? Maybe they would reopen the case. I have often thought the guy is still alive and that he knew them both. Might have been a delivery person, or someone they both used for car repair, pizza delivery... I wonder if they might have used a credit card at the same place of business?

Chris · « **Reply #38 on:** August 19, 2009, 02:59:03 AM »

was the site quoted? I did not see that. Good to hear.

It would be great if the paper would do a article about some of these cold cases more often. It sure does help!

Victimof · « **Reply #39 on:** August 19, 2009, 11:48:32 PM »

Thanks for posting that, Chris! Would like to see this in the Houston paper but I'm sure the closed case unit has endless cases. How do they even determine where to start in reviewing unsolved crimes?

Chris · « **Reply #40 on:** August 20, 2009, 04:37:32 AM »

I'm not sure what determines that. I'd guess it is a combination of ones that family members are still bugging the police to solve/ ones the investigators feel strongly they can solve and ones where the crimes was so mean and cruel that they badly want that person caught.

I too would like the news to do more cases. There are so many free murderers wondering around it would be nice to put some away.

gypsylife · « **Reply #41 on:** February 21, 2010, 01:25:20 AM »

I grew up in the Conroe, Houston area in the 70's as a teen and am now dealing with living in an area that has 8+ murders of young women in Jennings, La in less then 5 years, hence the reason I was just scanning the boards. I stumbled on this one right after reading this from Montgomery cold cases (http://www.woodlandsonline.com/dbs/sheriff/files/File/COLDCASE.pdf) Its case number #02A000645. In 2002, in Cleveland, Tx the MCSO met with a citizen that had just purchased an Iron Cauldron with books on the occult and a human skull. The items had been purchased from a flea market located in Houston after non-payment of rent. I have no idea if this might be of some help, but the families might look into it.

Fantasy · « **Reply #42 on:** March 03, 2010, 01:11:02 AM »

I remember the murder of one of the "Headless Murders at the Orchard Apartments". It's been a long time ago but I was dating the roomate of one of the women that was murdered. I can't remeber if it happened the weekend that I took the room mate to San Antonio for a job interview at one of the military bases. I do remeber that I was at work one day after that and heard a news report about the body being found. I totaly freaked out. Tonight, even the name of the girl I took to San Antonio eludes me. I lived several blocks down the road at Gulfton Gardens Apartments but went to the Orchard club regulary. I don't even remember what the roomates name was, I believe that in this case the body was fond in the bath tub but I could be wrong. If anyone can clear that up for me I would appreciate it.

rodman · « **Reply #43 on:** March 04, 2010, 04:53:12 PM »

Sounds like the time period when the serial killer Coral Eugene Watts was in the area I recently
watched an episode of Cold Case Files and it featured him. this sounds quite eerily like his MO.

Chris · « **Reply #44 on:** May 02, 2010, 05:05:06 AM »

It does sound like Watts, but could it be both?

reving19 · « **Reply #45 on:** June 07, 2010, 01:55:29 PM »

Are the Orchard Apartments still there? The name must have changed because it is not listed in Houston Apartments as of today.

Chris · « **Reply #46 on:** June 07, 2010, 09:11:24 PM »

they probably did change the name, but I am sure they still exist.

reving19 · « **Reply #47 on:** June 09, 2010, 06:13:49 PM »

I found an old story about the murders in Houston Chronicle archives online. It was about a detective retiring and this is one of the murders he wished he could have solved. The story said the Orchard Apartments were in the 5900 block of Glenmont. I think they are now called Las Americas Apartments. They look old enough and have three stories. The story ran in 1999. The Chron should have run a story last year on the 30th anniversary, but apparently did not.

Author Topic: The Orchard Apartments Murders | August 1979 (Read 6170 times)