The Greatest Murder Story Never Told: The Grisly Crimes of Douglas Gretzler and Willie Steelman

The Deadly Duo

In the annals of American criminal history, few partnerships have wreaked as much havoc in such a short span as Douglas Edward Gretzler and Willie Luther Steelman. Between October 18 and November 7, 1973, this pair embarked on a murderous rampage across Arizona and California that left seventeen people dead. These brutal killings were motivated by robbery, the elimination of eyewitnesses, and perhaps even sadistic pleasure. Their actions were so heinous that they have been described as the "Greatest Murder Story Never Told."

Early Life of Douglas Gretzler

Douglas Edward Gretzler was born in the Bronx, New York, on May 21, 1951, the second of four children in a seemingly upstanding family. His father, Norton Tillotson Gretzler, was a prominent figure as the President of the Tuckahoe School District, while his mother, Janet, was a homemaker. Despite this outward respectability, the Gretzler household was fraught with tension. Norton was a strict disciplinarian, demanding obedience and academic excellence, often resorting to physical and mental punishment. Unlike his older brother Mark, who was the apple of his father’s eye, Douglas struggled academically and socially, often receiving the brunt of his father's disappointment.

The family dynamics took a tragic turn in August 1966 when Mark, then 17, took his own life. The suicide followed a scandal where Mark had distributed stolen examination answers. His death left a lasting scar on the family, with Douglas often being reminded by his intoxicated father that it should have been him instead.

Adolescence and Young Adulthood

In the aftermath of his brother’s death, Douglas’s life spiraled further. He turned to drugs—first marijuana, then mescaline and LSD—causing an irreparable rift with his father. Despite his troubled home life, Douglas managed to graduate from Tuckahoe High School in 1969. He briefly worked as an auto mechanic before marrying Judith Eyl in 1970. The couple had a daughter, Jessica, in 1972, but Douglas soon grew weary of family life. He left his family abruptly in 1972, embarking on a journey westward that would eventually lead him into the company of Willie Steelman.

Willie Steelman's Troubled Path

Born on March 21, 1945, in San Joaquin County, California, Willie Luther Steelman also had a tumultuous upbringing. The youngest of three children, he was largely raised by his older sister due to his parents' work commitments. After his father died when he was 13, Willie dropped out of school, turning to petty crime. Despite his mother’s efforts, he refused to change his ways. By 1962, he had enlisted in the Navy, only to be discharged after a few months.

Steelman’s life was a series of arrests and short-lived marriages. His first marriage was annulled after he was jailed for cashing stolen checks. Later, he was institutionalized for mental health issues and served time for forgery. Despite attempts at reform, he continued his life of crime, ultimately leading him to Denver, where he would meet Douglas Gretzler.

The Meeting of Minds

In Denver during the summer of 1973, fate brought Gretzler and Steelman together through mutual acquaintances. Both men, disillusioned and seeking quick money, found a kindred spirit in each other. Steelman, with his tales of bravado, became a mentor of sorts to Gretzler, who saw himself as the follower in their dynamic. The pair soon began plotting a series of crimes that would escalate into a bloody spree.

The Killing Spree

Their murderous trail began on October 18, 1973, and for three harrowing weeks, the duo left a path of destruction across two states. Each victim was shot, strangled, or stabbed, often during robberies or to eliminate potential witnesses. The violence was unrelenting, and by the time they were apprehended on November 8, 1973, they had claimed seventeen lives.

Justice and Execution

The legal system swiftly moved to bring the killers to justice. Tried separately, both Gretzler and Steelman were convicted for eleven murders. In Arizona, they received the death penalty for two murders, while in California, they were sentenced to life imprisonment for nine murders committed in Victor. Steelman never faced execution; he died of liver cirrhosis on August 7, 1986, while on death row. Douglas Gretzler, however, met his fate on June 3, 1998, executed by lethal injection at Florence State Prison.

The Legacy

The story of Douglas Gretzler and Willie Steelman is a chilling reminder of how quickly life can be snuffed out by those lost to their own demons. Their crimes, though not widely publicized, remain etched in the memories of those who lived through the terror they unleashed.

Sources

For further information on Douglas Gretzler, visit Wikipedia.