Clarence Victor

Overview

Clarence Victor (November 1, 1932 – May 5, 2015) was an American serial killer whose heinous crimes spanned over two decades in Omaha, Nebraska. Victor's chilling rampage left three victims dead between 1964 and 1987, with his second and third murders occurring just shortly after he was released on parole. Initially sentenced to death for his final murder, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, a fate he endured until his death in 2015.

Quick Facts

• Born: November 1, 1932, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
• Died: May 5, 2015 (aged 82) at Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
• Convictions:
  • First-degree murder
  • Second-degree murder
  • Manslaughter
  • Use of a firearm to commit a felony
• Criminal Penalty: Death; commuted to life imprisonment
• Victims: 3
• Span of Crimes: 1964–1987
• Country: United States
• State: Nebraska
• Date Apprehended: December 29, 1987

The Murders

Hilda Williams

The grim saga of Clarence Victor began on March 20, 1964, when a heated argument erupted between him and 40-year-old Hilda Marian Williams over money. When Hilda refused to part with any cash, Victor's rage turned deadly. He physically assaulted her, ultimately strangling her to death. In a calculated move to conceal his crime, he stuffed her lifeless body into a garbage can located in his garage. Days later, he dumped her remains in Adams Park.

Hilda's husband reported her missing that same day, but it wasn't until Victor's arrest about a week later that the truth emerged. Initially, he was charged with murder but managed to strike a plea deal, resulting in a conviction for manslaughter and an 8-year prison sentence.

Jerry Black

After serving just over three years, Victor was paroled in 1967 and returned to Omaha, where he seemingly attempted to reintegrate into society. He entered a relationship with Iona Chase, found work as a foundry worker, and even took in several children. However, he kept a low profile and rarely interacted with his neighbors.

This façade crumbled on April 26, 1976, when Victor broke into the home of 24-year-old Jerry Black, a clerk at Northwestern Bell. At the time, she was engaged in a phone conversation with a friend. When Jerry demanded he leave, Victor lunged at her with a pocket knife, inflicting a brutal four-inch gash across her throat. In a shocking twist, he discarded the murder weapon in a nearby yard and enlisted Iona's help in covering up the crime. Their efforts were futile; the next day, they were both arrested, and the children living in their apartment were placed into foster care.

Faced with murder charges once again, Victor opted to plead guilty to second-degree murder, resulting in a 20-year prison sentence from District Judge Donald Hamilton.

Alyce Singleton

After spending over a decade behind bars, Victor was paroled yet again in September 1986. Struggling to find stable employment due to his criminal past, he turned to gardening work. Among his clients was 82-year-old Alyce Singleton, who lived alone.

On December 26, 1987, Victor visited Singleton's home under the pretense of work but had sinister motives in mind. He brutally attacked her in her kitchen, incapacitating her with a metal pipe and breaking several of her ribs before finally slashing her throat with a knife. After ransacking the house, Victor fled the scene, unaware that observant neighbors had taken notice of his vehicle.

Just three days later, authorities arrested Victor and charged him with felony murder related to Singleton's death. This time, he faced the grim possibility of a mandatory life sentence or even the death penalty.

Arrest and Trial

Before his trial commenced, Victor was placed in Douglas County Hospital, though the reasons—whether for psychiatric evaluation or medical treatment—remain unclear. During the trial, his attorneys argued that the evidence presented by the prosecution for first-degree murder was insufficient. However, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, leading to a dramatic sentencing phase where Victor was sentenced to death. At age 56, he became the oldest inmate to be placed on Nebraska's death row at the time, displaying no visible emotion during the proceedings.

Appeals, Commutation, and Death

In a surprising turn of events, Victor's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in June 1999, following the enactment of a state law prohibiting the execution of individuals with an IQ below 70. Victor's IQ had previously been measured at 65, leading to his commutation. His defense attorney, Mark Weber, reported that Victor expressed gratitude during the hearings.

The following year, Nebraska Attorney General Don Stenberg attempted to have Victor's death sentence reinstated, but this motion was denied by the Nebraska Supreme Court. Consequently, Victor continued to serve his life term until May 5, 2015, when he passed away in a nursing facility at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. While the official cause of death was not disclosed, it is believed to have been linked to a long-term medical condition.

Sources

• "Omahan Held In Strangulation Death of Woman." Fremont Tribune. March 27, 1964 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Omahan Meted 8-Year Term." Lincoln Journal Star. April 25, 1964 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Victor Charged With Murder." Lincoln Journal Star. April 27, 1976 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Still no bond set." Fremont Tribune. May 4, 1976 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Sentence Imposed In Killing." Lincoln Journal Star. November 18, 1976 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Omahan convicted of 2 earlier slayings faces murder charge." Lincoln Journal Star. January 1, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Judge orders trial in Omaha murder case." Lincoln Journal Star. January 16, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Omahan convicted in woman's death." Lincoln Journal Star. July 23, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Victor gets death sentence for murder of Omaha woman." Lincoln Journal Star. November 23, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
• Tim Korte (June 30, 1999). "Low IQ Leads To Death Row Reversal." Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022.
• Alissa Skelton (May 6, 2015). "Nebraskan convicted of 3 separate killings dies in prison." Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022.

For further information, you can access the full article on Wikipedia.