Daniel Hittle
Serial Killer and Mass Murderer
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Dallas and Garland, Texas
TIME PERIOD
1989
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
Daniel Joe Hittle, an American serial killer, committed a spree of violence in Dallas and Garland, Texas, in 1989, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, including a police officer. This incident occurred on November 15, 1989, while Hittle was on parole for the 1973 murders of his adoptive parents in Motley, Minnesota. Following his apprehension, Hittle was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection on December 6, 2000. Significant evidence from the Texas crimes included ballistic analysis linking Hittle to the shootings, as well as eyewitness accounts that placed him at the crime scenes during the rampage.
Daniel Hittle is believed to have harbored a deep-seated resentment towards his adoptive parents, particularly his stepmother, which may have contributed to his violent behavior and eventual parricide. Some speculate that his struggles with addiction and history of abuse towards partners and animals indicate a pattern of escalating violence that culminated in his spree killings. Additionally, there is a theory that his violent outbursts were exacerbated by alcohol consumption, leading to unpredictable and deadly actions during his rampage.
The Dark Path of Daniel Hittle
Early Life and Parricide
On a quiet farm in Motley, Minnesota, Daniel Joe Hittle's life took a sinister turn. Born on March 1, 1950, in Perry County, Indiana, Daniel was adopted by Henry and Margaret Hittle. Friends and acquaintances saw him as a quiet and polite individual, but beneath this facade lay a volatile temper, especially when he was under the influence of alcohol. His high school best friend, Gary Wentworth, would later reveal that Daniel harbored deep-seated resentment towards his stepmother, whom he found overbearing and strict. This animosity was fueled by Daniel's addiction to hard drugs, which warped his perception and judgment.
Within the confines of his relationships, Daniel's darker tendencies emerged. His ex-wives and girlfriends recounted episodes of physical and verbal abuse. His cruelty extended to animals, as he often tortured them. In one chilling instance, he shot a neighbor's dog for barking, and in another, he executed the family dog, believing it was killing farm animals. He tied the animal to a tree, shot it, and left its body there as a grim testament to his rage.
The simmering tension in the Hittle household reached its boiling point on April 4, 1973. An argument over the family dog scratching his truck led to a violent confrontation with his stepmother, Margaret. She allegedly taunted Daniel, saying he wouldn't dare shoot her. In a fit of rage, Daniel retrieved his shotgun and proved her wrong, shooting her dead. As Henry attempted to arm himself, Daniel shot him as well. Police, alerted by horrified neighbors, arrived swiftly to arrest him. The bodies of his adoptive parents were found inside the front door of their home, a stark reminder of Daniel's capacity for violence.
Charged with two counts of first-degree murder, Daniel pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, receiving two concurrent 30-year sentences at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater.
Parole and the Killing Spree
In a twist of fate, a bill sponsored by State Representative James E. Ulland enabled Daniel's early parole in 1984. The bill allowed convicts with at least a 20-year sentence to be released early if they were model inmates. Thus, Daniel moved to Garland, Texas, under the watchful eyes of authorities.
Despite his new surroundings, Daniel's life remained enmeshed in drugs, supplied by his dealer, Mary Goss. Their relationship was tumultuous, marked by arguments over debts and incidents like Daniel slashing Mary's tires, for which she had him arrested.
The events of November 15, 1989, would mark Daniel's descent into infamy. After being ejected from a party and arguing with his wife, an enraged Daniel armed himself with a 20-gauge shotgun and drove toward Mary's house. En route, he was pulled over by Officer Gerald Ray Walker for speeding. Fearing discovery of his weapon, Daniel shot the officer in the chest and fled, leaving Walker to die from his injuries.
At Mary Goss's residence, Daniel's rampage continued. He burst in, shooting Mary and her friends, Richard Joseph Cook and Raymong Scott Gregg. Reloading, he turned his weapon on Goss's 4-year-old daughter, Christy Condon, shooting her in the face.
Arrest and Trial
An off-duty firefighter at the scene of Officer Walker's murder had radioed for help, which led to Daniel's capture after a truck crash and subsequent gunfight with police. He surrendered only when he ran out of ammunition.
Christy Condon, miraculously still alive, was rushed to Baylor University Medical Center but was soon declared brain dead. Her family agreed to turn off life support, donating her organs to science.
Daniel was charged with capital murder and three counts of attempted capital murder. After a lengthy trial, he was convicted on all counts in August 1990 and sentenced to death. Witnesses described his carefree demeanor during the proceedings, with some recalling his boasts about his parents' murders and threats against police officers.
Though he appealed his sentence at both state and federal levels, each attempt failed. On January 10, 1994, the Supreme Court of the United States denied his final appeal.
Execution
On December 6, 2000, Daniel Hittle met his fate via lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit. His final words, "Sant Ajaib Singh. That's it," referenced an Indian guru. Among the witnesses to his execution were Officer Walker's widow and another police officer, who expressed gratitude to the state of Texas for carrying out justice.
Sources
For further reading and references, visit: Wikipedia: Daniel Hittle
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...
Parents Murdered
Daniel Hittle kills his adoptive parents during an argument.
Paroled to Texas
Hittle is paroled after serving time for the murders of his parents.
Killing Spree Begins
Hittle shoots a police officer and three others during a violent rampage.
Hittle Arrested
Hittle is apprehended after a shootout with police following his rampage.
Convicted of Murder
Hittle is convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.
Final Appeal Denied
Hittle's final appeal to the Supreme Court is denied, upholding his death sentence.
Executed
Daniel Hittle is executed by lethal injection in Texas.
Daniel Joe Hittle, an American serial killer, committed a spree of violence in Dallas and Garland, Texas, in 1989, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, including a police officer. This incident occurred on November 15, 1989, while Hittle was on parole for the 1973 murders of his adoptive parents in Motley, Minnesota. Following his apprehension, Hittle was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection on December 6, 2000. Significant evidence from the Texas crimes included ballistic analysis linking Hittle to the shootings, as well as eyewitness accounts that placed him at the crime scenes during the rampage.
Daniel Hittle is believed to have harbored a deep-seated resentment towards his adoptive parents, particularly his stepmother, which may have contributed to his violent behavior and eventual parricide. Some speculate that his struggles with addiction and history of abuse towards partners and animals indicate a pattern of escalating violence that culminated in his spree killings. Additionally, there is a theory that his violent outbursts were exacerbated by alcohol consumption, leading to unpredictable and deadly actions during his rampage.
The Dark Path of Daniel Hittle
Early Life and Parricide
On a quiet farm in Motley, Minnesota, Daniel Joe Hittle's life took a sinister turn. Born on March 1, 1950, in Perry County, Indiana, Daniel was adopted by Henry and Margaret Hittle. Friends and acquaintances saw him as a quiet and polite individual, but beneath this facade lay a volatile temper, especially when he was under the influence of alcohol. His high school best friend, Gary Wentworth, would later reveal that Daniel harbored deep-seated resentment towards his stepmother, whom he found overbearing and strict. This animosity was fueled by Daniel's addiction to hard drugs, which warped his perception and judgment.
Within the confines of his relationships, Daniel's darker tendencies emerged. His ex-wives and girlfriends recounted episodes of physical and verbal abuse. His cruelty extended to animals, as he often tortured them. In one chilling instance, he shot a neighbor's dog for barking, and in another, he executed the family dog, believing it was killing farm animals. He tied the animal to a tree, shot it, and left its body there as a grim testament to his rage.
The simmering tension in the Hittle household reached its boiling point on April 4, 1973. An argument over the family dog scratching his truck led to a violent confrontation with his stepmother, Margaret. She allegedly taunted Daniel, saying he wouldn't dare shoot her. In a fit of rage, Daniel retrieved his shotgun and proved her wrong, shooting her dead. As Henry attempted to arm himself, Daniel shot him as well. Police, alerted by horrified neighbors, arrived swiftly to arrest him. The bodies of his adoptive parents were found inside the front door of their home, a stark reminder of Daniel's capacity for violence.
Charged with two counts of first-degree murder, Daniel pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, receiving two concurrent 30-year sentences at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater.
Parole and the Killing Spree
In a twist of fate, a bill sponsored by State Representative James E. Ulland enabled Daniel's early parole in 1984. The bill allowed convicts with at least a 20-year sentence to be released early if they were model inmates. Thus, Daniel moved to Garland, Texas, under the watchful eyes of authorities.
Despite his new surroundings, Daniel's life remained enmeshed in drugs, supplied by his dealer, Mary Goss. Their relationship was tumultuous, marked by arguments over debts and incidents like Daniel slashing Mary's tires, for which she had him arrested.
The events of November 15, 1989, would mark Daniel's descent into infamy. After being ejected from a party and arguing with his wife, an enraged Daniel armed himself with a 20-gauge shotgun and drove toward Mary's house. En route, he was pulled over by Officer Gerald Ray Walker for speeding. Fearing discovery of his weapon, Daniel shot the officer in the chest and fled, leaving Walker to die from his injuries.
At Mary Goss's residence, Daniel's rampage continued. He burst in, shooting Mary and her friends, Richard Joseph Cook and Raymong Scott Gregg. Reloading, he turned his weapon on Goss's 4-year-old daughter, Christy Condon, shooting her in the face.
Arrest and Trial
An off-duty firefighter at the scene of Officer Walker's murder had radioed for help, which led to Daniel's capture after a truck crash and subsequent gunfight with police. He surrendered only when he ran out of ammunition.
Christy Condon, miraculously still alive, was rushed to Baylor University Medical Center but was soon declared brain dead. Her family agreed to turn off life support, donating her organs to science.
Daniel was charged with capital murder and three counts of attempted capital murder. After a lengthy trial, he was convicted on all counts in August 1990 and sentenced to death. Witnesses described his carefree demeanor during the proceedings, with some recalling his boasts about his parents' murders and threats against police officers.
Though he appealed his sentence at both state and federal levels, each attempt failed. On January 10, 1994, the Supreme Court of the United States denied his final appeal.
Execution
On December 6, 2000, Daniel Hittle met his fate via lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit. His final words, "Sant Ajaib Singh. That's it," referenced an Indian guru. Among the witnesses to his execution were Officer Walker's widow and another police officer, who expressed gratitude to the state of Texas for carrying out justice.
Sources
For further reading and references, visit: Wikipedia: Daniel Hittle
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...
Parents Murdered
Daniel Hittle kills his adoptive parents during an argument.
Paroled to Texas
Hittle is paroled after serving time for the murders of his parents.
Killing Spree Begins
Hittle shoots a police officer and three others during a violent rampage.
Hittle Arrested
Hittle is apprehended after a shootout with police following his rampage.
Convicted of Murder
Hittle is convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.
Final Appeal Denied
Hittle's final appeal to the Supreme Court is denied, upholding his death sentence.
Executed
Daniel Hittle is executed by lethal injection in Texas.