Asbury Respus
American Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
North Carolina, United States
TIME PERIOD
1910-1931
VICTIMS
8 confirmed
Asbury Respus, an American serial killer, confessed to at least eight murders committed between 1910 and 1931 across North Carolina and Virginia. His criminal activities came to light during his trial for the murder of 9-year-old Vera Leonard, which occurred on September 30, 1931, in North Carolina. Respus's victims included individuals of various ages and racial backgrounds, with his first known murders involving two black women in the early 1910s. He was apprehended in 1931, convicted of first-degree murder for Leonard's death, and subsequently executed by electrocution on January 8, 1932, at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina. Significant evidence included his detailed confession and the corroboration of multiple murder cases linked to him throughout the investigation.
Asbury Respus's unique victim profile has led to speculation that his choice of targets was influenced by a psychological compulsion rather than a specific motive, as he killed individuals of various ages and races. Additionally, some believe that his confession during the trial was a strategic move to manipulate public perception and cast doubt on the legitimacy of his guilt. There are also theories suggesting that his childhood head injury may have contributed to his violent tendencies, raising questions about the impact of trauma on his behavior.
Asbury Respus: The Unrepentant Killer
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
In the heart of North Carolina, around 1878, Asbury Respus was born to Miles and Ellen Respus. The surname, often spelled as Respass in local records, perhaps hinted at the duality in Asbury’s life—one that would eventually unravel into a series of horrific crimes. Asbury’s childhood was marked by a traumatic accident: he fell from a barn, injuring his head. This incident left a permanent indentation in his skull, which he later blamed for his violent tendencies and lifelong mental struggles.
In 1900, at the age of 22, Asbury married Ophelia Harrell in Northampton County. Despite this semblance of normalcy, dark shadows loomed over his future.
A Path of Violence Begins
Respus’s path to infamy began with the murder of two black women—Lizzie Banks and Zenie Britt—prior to 1912. He shot Banks and brutally beat Britt to death. In Boykins, Virginia, around 1910, he claimed the life of another black woman, Becky Storr, by bludgeoning her with a stick. The violence escalated in 1912 when Respus shot Ed B. Wynne in Severn, North Carolina. This crime led to a conviction of second-degree murder and a 15-year prison sentence, commencing on August 31, 1912.
However, Respus's time in prison was cut short when he was declared "criminally insane" in February 1913 and transferred to a state mental hospital. At some point, he was deemed mentally fit and returned to prison, where he worked as a cook. On September 13, 1916, Respus and three fellow inmates escaped, using a fake key to scale the prison walls. The escapees evaded capture, and Respus remained at large until his arrest in 1931.
A Decade of Murder
After his escape, Respus returned first to Virginia, then back to North Carolina, resuming his deadly spree. On January 14, 1918, near Greensboro, housewife Jennie Gilbreath died in a fire that consumed her home—a fire initially deemed accidental. This marked Respus’s first white victim. On July 21, 1920, he drowned 4-year-old Robert Neal Osborn. Respus confessed years later that he held the boy’s head underwater with his feet, staging the death as an accident.
Respus’s brutality knew no bounds. On July 17, 1925, he murdered 82-year-old widow Eunice Stevenson, staging her death as a suicide by hanging. He avoided suspicion in these and other cases until his arrest for a subsequent murder.
The Murder of Vera Leonard
The morning of September 30, 1931, marked a turning point. Nine-year-old Vera Leonard left home for school, only to encounter Respus. Initially suspected of a sexual motive, Respus later denied it, claiming that alcohol and drugs had driven him into a violent frenzy. He beat Vera to death, wrapped her body in a blanket, and set her family’s house on fire. The fire was discovered by passersby who noticed smoke and attempted to salvage belongings, stumbling upon blood pools. They alerted Vera’s father, Thomas Leonard, who arrived to find his home in flames and his daughter’s body under a bed, her skull crushed.
Respus's suspicious behavior near the crime scene led to his arrest later that day. A search of his home revealed bloodstained overalls, matching footprints at the scene. Respus, known then as Will Moore, was a farmhand working near the Leonard home. He initially denied involvement but confessed after police confronted him with the blood evidence.
Trial and Execution
On October 26, 1931, Asbury Respus faced charges of murder, criminal assault, and arson—each a capital offense. His defense hinged on questioning his sanity, but psychiatric evaluations deemed him sane. Mob violence loomed, prompting the deployment of National Guardsmen to protect the courthouse during his trial.
Despite multiple charges, the prosecutor focused solely on Vera Leonard's murder. A jury from Forsyth County, not Guilford, where the crime occurred, found Respus guilty after a swift one-day trial. He was sentenced to die in the electric chair on January 8, 1932.
Respus's confession to further murders only surfaced post-trial. He allegedly killed two more in Guilford County and four in Northampton County, revelations that did little to sway the course of justice.
His last bid for clemency was denied, and Respus awaited his fate with grim acceptance. On January 8, 1932, he met his end at the Central Prison in Raleigh, singing hymns as he faced the electric chair. No one claimed his body, leaving it in a local morgue.
A Killer’s Profile
Asbury Respus's victims defied typical serial killer patterns, spanning races and ages. His confessions included four black and four white victims, with ages ranging from children like Robert Neal Osborn and Vera Leonard to octogenarians like Eunice Stevenson. Respus attributed his crimes to uncontrollable "spells," claiming, "I just wanted to kill." His final act of violence, driven by intoxication, resulted in Vera Leonard's tragic death.
Sources
For more details, visit the original Wikipedia article on Asbury Respus.
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First Murders
Asbury Respus commits his first murders, killing two black women, Lizzie Banks and Zenie Britt.
Conviction for Ed Wynne Murder
Respus is convicted of second degree murder for the killing of Ed B. Wynne and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Prison Escape
Respus escapes from prison with three other inmates using a fake key.
Murder of Jennie Gilbreath
Respus murders housewife Jennie Gilbreath, marking his first white victim.
Murder of Robert Neal Osborn
Respus drowns 4-year-old Robert Neal Osborn, initially ruled an accident.
Murder of Vera Leonard
Respus murders 9-year-old Vera Leonard and sets her house on fire, leading to his arrest.
Arrest and Confession
Respus is arrested and confesses to the murder of Vera Leonard, revealing his involvement in multiple other murders.
Trial Begins
Respus is arraigned on charges of murder, criminal assault, and arson, with a trial set for October 28.
Conviction
Respus is convicted of the murder of Vera Leonard and sentenced to death.
Execution
Asbury Respus is executed by electric chair at Central Prison in Raleigh.
Asbury Respus, an American serial killer, confessed to at least eight murders committed between 1910 and 1931 across North Carolina and Virginia. His criminal activities came to light during his trial for the murder of 9-year-old Vera Leonard, which occurred on September 30, 1931, in North Carolina. Respus's victims included individuals of various ages and racial backgrounds, with his first known murders involving two black women in the early 1910s. He was apprehended in 1931, convicted of first-degree murder for Leonard's death, and subsequently executed by electrocution on January 8, 1932, at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina. Significant evidence included his detailed confession and the corroboration of multiple murder cases linked to him throughout the investigation.
Asbury Respus's unique victim profile has led to speculation that his choice of targets was influenced by a psychological compulsion rather than a specific motive, as he killed individuals of various ages and races. Additionally, some believe that his confession during the trial was a strategic move to manipulate public perception and cast doubt on the legitimacy of his guilt. There are also theories suggesting that his childhood head injury may have contributed to his violent tendencies, raising questions about the impact of trauma on his behavior.
Asbury Respus: The Unrepentant Killer
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
In the heart of North Carolina, around 1878, Asbury Respus was born to Miles and Ellen Respus. The surname, often spelled as Respass in local records, perhaps hinted at the duality in Asbury’s life—one that would eventually unravel into a series of horrific crimes. Asbury’s childhood was marked by a traumatic accident: he fell from a barn, injuring his head. This incident left a permanent indentation in his skull, which he later blamed for his violent tendencies and lifelong mental struggles.
In 1900, at the age of 22, Asbury married Ophelia Harrell in Northampton County. Despite this semblance of normalcy, dark shadows loomed over his future.
A Path of Violence Begins
Respus’s path to infamy began with the murder of two black women—Lizzie Banks and Zenie Britt—prior to 1912. He shot Banks and brutally beat Britt to death. In Boykins, Virginia, around 1910, he claimed the life of another black woman, Becky Storr, by bludgeoning her with a stick. The violence escalated in 1912 when Respus shot Ed B. Wynne in Severn, North Carolina. This crime led to a conviction of second-degree murder and a 15-year prison sentence, commencing on August 31, 1912.
However, Respus's time in prison was cut short when he was declared "criminally insane" in February 1913 and transferred to a state mental hospital. At some point, he was deemed mentally fit and returned to prison, where he worked as a cook. On September 13, 1916, Respus and three fellow inmates escaped, using a fake key to scale the prison walls. The escapees evaded capture, and Respus remained at large until his arrest in 1931.
A Decade of Murder
After his escape, Respus returned first to Virginia, then back to North Carolina, resuming his deadly spree. On January 14, 1918, near Greensboro, housewife Jennie Gilbreath died in a fire that consumed her home—a fire initially deemed accidental. This marked Respus’s first white victim. On July 21, 1920, he drowned 4-year-old Robert Neal Osborn. Respus confessed years later that he held the boy’s head underwater with his feet, staging the death as an accident.
Respus’s brutality knew no bounds. On July 17, 1925, he murdered 82-year-old widow Eunice Stevenson, staging her death as a suicide by hanging. He avoided suspicion in these and other cases until his arrest for a subsequent murder.
The Murder of Vera Leonard
The morning of September 30, 1931, marked a turning point. Nine-year-old Vera Leonard left home for school, only to encounter Respus. Initially suspected of a sexual motive, Respus later denied it, claiming that alcohol and drugs had driven him into a violent frenzy. He beat Vera to death, wrapped her body in a blanket, and set her family’s house on fire. The fire was discovered by passersby who noticed smoke and attempted to salvage belongings, stumbling upon blood pools. They alerted Vera’s father, Thomas Leonard, who arrived to find his home in flames and his daughter’s body under a bed, her skull crushed.
Respus's suspicious behavior near the crime scene led to his arrest later that day. A search of his home revealed bloodstained overalls, matching footprints at the scene. Respus, known then as Will Moore, was a farmhand working near the Leonard home. He initially denied involvement but confessed after police confronted him with the blood evidence.
Trial and Execution
On October 26, 1931, Asbury Respus faced charges of murder, criminal assault, and arson—each a capital offense. His defense hinged on questioning his sanity, but psychiatric evaluations deemed him sane. Mob violence loomed, prompting the deployment of National Guardsmen to protect the courthouse during his trial.
Despite multiple charges, the prosecutor focused solely on Vera Leonard's murder. A jury from Forsyth County, not Guilford, where the crime occurred, found Respus guilty after a swift one-day trial. He was sentenced to die in the electric chair on January 8, 1932.
Respus's confession to further murders only surfaced post-trial. He allegedly killed two more in Guilford County and four in Northampton County, revelations that did little to sway the course of justice.
His last bid for clemency was denied, and Respus awaited his fate with grim acceptance. On January 8, 1932, he met his end at the Central Prison in Raleigh, singing hymns as he faced the electric chair. No one claimed his body, leaving it in a local morgue.
A Killer’s Profile
Asbury Respus's victims defied typical serial killer patterns, spanning races and ages. His confessions included four black and four white victims, with ages ranging from children like Robert Neal Osborn and Vera Leonard to octogenarians like Eunice Stevenson. Respus attributed his crimes to uncontrollable "spells," claiming, "I just wanted to kill." His final act of violence, driven by intoxication, resulted in Vera Leonard's tragic death.
Sources
For more details, visit the original Wikipedia article on Asbury Respus.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murders
Asbury Respus commits his first murders, killing two black women, Lizzie Banks and Zenie Britt.
Conviction for Ed Wynne Murder
Respus is convicted of second degree murder for the killing of Ed B. Wynne and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Prison Escape
Respus escapes from prison with three other inmates using a fake key.
Murder of Jennie Gilbreath
Respus murders housewife Jennie Gilbreath, marking his first white victim.
Murder of Robert Neal Osborn
Respus drowns 4-year-old Robert Neal Osborn, initially ruled an accident.
Murder of Vera Leonard
Respus murders 9-year-old Vera Leonard and sets her house on fire, leading to his arrest.
Arrest and Confession
Respus is arrested and confesses to the murder of Vera Leonard, revealing his involvement in multiple other murders.
Trial Begins
Respus is arraigned on charges of murder, criminal assault, and arson, with a trial set for October 28.
Conviction
Respus is convicted of the murder of Vera Leonard and sentenced to death.
Execution
Asbury Respus is executed by electric chair at Central Prison in Raleigh.