The Twisted Path of David Edwin Mason

A Troubled Beginning

David Edwin Mason entered the world on December 2, 1956, in the small town of Statesboro, Georgia. He was the eldest son and fourth child among eight siblings born to Harris and Margie Mason. His birth was marked with tension, as his mother had attempted to induce a miscarriage, an ominous start to a life of turmoil. Shortly after David's arrival, the family packed up and moved to Oakland, California.

In this new environment, the Mason children were subjected to the strict religious practices of their fundamentalist Pentecostal parents. The family home was a place of harsh discipline, where any perceived lack of enthusiasm in religious activities could lead to severe physical, psychological, and verbal abuse. David and his siblings spent their days either confined to the house or at church, living under the oppressive weight of their parents' expectations.

From a very young age, David exhibited signs of distress. At just five years old, he attempted suicide by swallowing a handful of tablets. His parents openly admitted to using extreme physical punishment for even the smallest infractions. David recounted incidents where his mother would strike him over a hundred times during a single disciplining session. The mid-1960s saw the beginning of David's troubling behavior, such as the day when his father caught him holding a knife over his younger brother's crib. This incident resulted in another severe beating and marked the start of a pattern of behavior that would only escalate.

Unable to manage his increasingly erratic actions, David's parents resorted to locking him in his room, fortifying the window with steel bars. In one particularly cruel episode, after an 11-year-old David soiled himself while confined, his mother made him wear the soiled underwear on his head as punishment. As he grew older, David's attempts at suicide became more frequent and varied, ranging from self-immolation to hanging and self-harm.

Early Criminal Acts

By the late 1960s, David's behavior had escalated to violence against peers and teachers, and even attempts to set fire to buildings, including homes and churches. In 1970, his criminal record began with several petty offenses. During this time, he reported the abuse he endured to authorities and underwent a psychiatric evaluation. This evaluation revealed an IQ of 110 and a capacity for learning, but also signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Consequently, he was sent to a boarding school with his parents' consent.

David's time at the boarding school was tumultuous. He frequently escaped, returning home with claims of sexual abuse by staff and fellow students. Each time, he was forcibly returned. In 1973, after being arrested and convicted for arson, David spent several months in a juvenile detention center before returning home. The following year, he dropped out of high school shortly before completing the 11th grade and enlisted in the Marine Corps. However, his stint in the military was short-lived. Within four months, due to numerous infractions and a lack of interest, he was discharged.

A Descent into Violence

Back in Oakland, David scraped by through odd jobs and prostitution. His criminal activities took a darker turn on July 8, 1977, when he attacked Virginia Jansen, a store clerk in San Leandro. Armed with an ice pick, he stabbed her in the back after robbing the store, taking her pocket money and $270 from the till. Despite cleaning his fingerprints from the scene, he left Jansen alive. She later identified him from a photograph, leading to his arrest. David pleaded guilty and, in November 1977, was sentenced to three years in state prison, from which he was paroled in July 1979.

The Murder Spree

David's first known murder occurred on March 6, 1980. His victim was 73-year-old Joan Picard, a woman he had known for years and worked for in his youth. Desperate for cash, David used his knowledge of Picard's alarm system to enter her home. He demanded her collection of rare antique coins and other valuables. When Picard attempted to activate the alarm, David choked her unconscious, looted the house, and ultimately strangled her to prevent her from identifying him. He sold her coins that same evening for a mere $85. Her body was discovered two days later by her daughter amidst a bloody crime scene.

David's killing spree continued on August 18, 1980, with the murder of 83-year-old Arthur Jennings, a man with whom he had a sexual relationship. After strangling Jennings, David stole a mere $16 and a ring of sentimental value. On November 16, he broke into the apartment of 75-year-old Antoinette Brown, beat her, and strangled her with a knot made from clothing. He left her body nearly naked and fled with rings and money. A neighbor's description of a man she saw near the scene helped police create a composite sketch of the suspect.

His next victim was 72-year-old Dorothy Lang, whom he attacked on December 6, 1980. After a violent struggle, David bludgeoned her with a wrench before strangling her. He stripped her of valuables and left her body in partial undress.

Capture and Confession

David's reckless behavior caught up with him on January 6, 1981, when he sped past a police patrol on I-580. A chase ensued, ending in a residential area where David abandoned his car and fled on foot. Inside the vehicle, police found documents leading them to his parents' home. There, they discovered an audio cassette labeled "David E. Mason - Epitaph," which contained a chilling confession of his crimes, including details known only to the police.

On the strength of this evidence, an arrest warrant was issued. On February 4, 1981, David was arrested at a Holiday Inn. During interrogation, he confessed to the murder of his lover, Robert Groff, claiming the man had infected him with herpes, leading to a fatal confrontation. Despite his confession, David was never charged with Groff's murder.

Another Murder Behind Bars

While awaiting trial, David found himself embroiled in more violence. On May 8, 1982, he murdered fellow inmate Boyd Wayne Johnson, who was in the same jail awaiting trial for a separate crime. David, along with another prisoner, attacked and killed Johnson, attempting to stage the death as a suicide. Investigators quickly saw through the ruse, and David, alongside his accomplice, was implicated in the murder.

The Trial and Execution

David's trial began in late 1983. He retracted his confessions and pleaded not guilty, offering alibis for the murders of Jennings and Brown. Despite testimony from friends and family supporting his claims, the court found his evidence insufficient and convicted him of five murders, sentencing him to death on January 27, 1984. No charges were pursued in Groff's murder.

David spent his final years on death row at San Quentin State Prison, where he married a woman named Charlene. Expressing full remorse for his crimes, he withdrew his appeals in June 1993, choosing to accept his fate. On August 24, 1993, David Mason was executed in the gas chamber, the last person to face this method of execution in California. His decision to forego a final appeal was driven by a desire to prevent others from following in his footsteps.

Sources

Wikipedia: David Mason (murderer)