The Sinister Path of Gary Rardon

Early Life and Underlying Turmoil

Born on September 4, 1943, in Wayne County, North Carolina, Gary Duane Rardon seemed destined for an ordinary life. His father, William Harley Rardon, was a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, and Gary himself described his family as "perfect," almost too perfect. "My father didn't drink, didn't run around, didn't neglect us. Smoking was his only vice," Gary recalled. Yet, beneath this veneer of normalcy, he harbored feelings of inadequacy, believing he failed to meet his parents' high expectations. These feelings would soon manifest in deadly ways. Rardon attended Maconaquah High School in Bunker Hill, Indiana, a place that failed to temper the brewing storm within him.

The First Murder: Seeds of Violence

On July 7, 1962, the life of 23-year-old James Homer Smith ended abruptly and violently. Smith, a former Marine, had innocently offered a ride east from a train station in Indianapolis, a gesture of trust that would seal his fate. Rardon, then a 19-year-old AWOL sailor, accepted the offer. By the end of the day, Smith lay dead, shot twice in the head, his body stuffed into his own car. It was discovered 12 days later in Washington, Pennsylvania. Arrested on December 5, 1962, Rardon claimed self-defense, alleging that Smith had made unwanted advances. Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on April 19, 1963, receiving a sentence of 2 to 21 years. In prison, tragedy struck again when his father died of a heart attack in 1966, a loss that haunted Rardon, who recalled, "He told me that my father died of a broken heart."

Psychological Evaluations and Parole

In 1965, a psychiatrist labeled Rardon as "near psychotic" and "very dangerous." Yet, remarkably, just two years later, the same psychiatrist noted a "minimal" chance of future violence, a conclusion reached after Rardon had worked in the psychiatrist's office as a medical records keeper. Paroled on May 8, 1967, Rardon continued his troubled path, ending up in Connecticut by 1969, where he was sentenced to 3 to 5 years for robbery.

The 1974 Crime Spree: A Relentless Descent

By November 1974, Rardon, now divorced from his first wife and remarried, found himself unemployed and disenchanted. Discontent turned deadly as he fashioned a sawed-off shotgun from his father-in-law's weapon, embarking on a four-day killing spree that would rock Chicago to its core.

On November 14, 1974, Gene R. Ravenscraft, a 28-year-old working overtime to support his pregnant wife, was Rardon's first victim. Alone in his office, Ravenscraft was shot in the neck, and Rardon left with $23 and Ravenscraft's coat.

Two days later, on November 16, cab driver Herbert Noakes of Hammond, Indiana, was slain just a week before his wedding. As Noakes turned to face Rardon, who had entered his cab with a concealed shotgun, he was shot in the neck, his life extinguished for a mere $63.

The spree culminated on November 18 with the murder of 50-year-old Asher Gruenberg of Skokie, Illinois. A World War II veteran and devoted family man, Gruenberg was shot at his desk. Rardon took his wallet, credit cards, and approximately $75. The stolen credit cards led authorities to track Rardon as he fled through Indiana and Kentucky.

Capture and Confession

Rardon's reckless use of Gruenberg's credit cards left a trail that ended at a Sears store in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 16, 1975. Arrested by FBI agents, Rardon wore Ravenscraft's coat and carried Gruenberg's identification. In custody, he quickly confessed to the murders.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Rardon faced three counts of murder and armed robbery in Illinois, alongside federal charges of transporting a stolen vehicle and possessing an unregistered firearm. Pleading guilty to the federal charges in 1976, he received a 12-year sentence. Illinois followed suit with three concurrent sentences of 40 to 100 years each, to be served consecutively with the federal term. Judge James Michael Bailey, reflecting on the brutality, remarked, "I haven't seen anything as bad before in all my years on the bench." Assistant State's Attorney Mike Ficaro voiced a sentiment shared by many: "You should be electrocuted."

Life Behind Bars and Parole Denials

While incarcerated primarily at Danville and Graham Correctional Centers, Rardon pursued education, earning a certificate in cooking and studying business. Despite these efforts, his parole was consistently denied, with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board citing the "cold-blooded" nature of his crimes. Rardon expressed remorse, acknowledging he had changed, yet the board remained unmoved, stating, "These are crimes for which remorse is simply not enough."

Release and Death

After completing his state sentence on September 30, 2016, Rardon served his federal sentence, eventually gaining release on December 17, 2020. His freedom was short-lived; he died in Indianapolis on March 16, 2024, at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy of violence and remorse that cast long shadows over the lives of his victims and their families.

Sources

• Wikipedia