Glennon Engleman
Contract Killer Investigation
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
St. Louis, Missouri
TIME PERIOD
1958-1980
VICTIMS
7 confirmed
Glennon Edward Engleman, an American dentist and contract killer, was implicated in at least five murders for financial gain between 1958 and 1980, primarily in Illinois and Missouri. His criminal activities included orchestrating the murder of his ex-wife's new husband to collect life insurance, as well as other killings executed with accomplices, including Barbara Boyle and Robert Handy. Engleman was apprehended on February 24, 1980, and was serving two life sentences in Missouri when he pleaded guilty to additional murders, ultimately dying in prison on March 3, 1999. Significant evidence against him included testimonies from accomplices and the use of various murder methods, such as firearms and explosives, although the exact number of his victims remains unknown.
Engleman is believed to have collaborated with his ex-wife in the murder of her new husband for life insurance money, a tactic he repeated in subsequent killings. Some speculate that his sociopathic tendencies allowed him to enjoy the planning and execution of his crimes without remorse. Additionally, there are theories that he may have had more victims than the ones officially attributed to him, given the length of time he operated as a contract killer.
The Deadly Dentist: The Twisted Tale of Glennon Engleman
The Birth of a Killer
Born on February 6, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri, Glennon Edward Engleman seemed like an ordinary man destined for a respectable life. Raised in a middle-class family, Engleman was the youngest of four children. His upbringing was unremarkable, characterized by a comfortable home and an average academic performance. However, beneath this veneer of normalcy lay a darker inclination that would ultimately lead him down a sinister path.
After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Engleman pursued a degree in dentistry, graduating in 1954 from Washington University in St. Louis under the GI Bill. He established himself as a dentist, but his seemingly mundane profession masked a chilling secret: Engleman was also a cold-blooded contract killer.
The Murderous Plot Unfolds
Engleman's descent into murder began in 1958 with the killing of James Stanley Bullock, a clerk at Union Electric Company of Missouri. Bullock was shot near the Saint Louis Art Museum, and his death was anything but random. The plot involved Engleman’s former wife, Edna Ruth Bullock (née Ball), who had married James Bullock just five months earlier. Engleman and Edna conspired to benefit from James's life insurance, which amounted to $64,000—approximately $698,000 in today's money.
The murders continued in 1963 with the death of Eric Frey, Engleman's business associate at Pacific Drag Strip. Engleman bludgeoned Frey with a rock, then disposed of his body by pushing it down a well and using dynamite to ensure Frey's demise. Once again, Engleman shared the insurance proceeds, this time with Frey's widow.
The Killing Spree Expands
As the years progressed, Engleman’s methods became more sophisticated and ruthless. In 1976, Peter J. Halm was shot in Pacific, Missouri. This murder was orchestrated by Carmen Miranda Halm, Peter's wife and a former dental assistant trainee who had known Engleman since childhood. Her motive was to collect a $60,000 life insurance policy, worth about $332,000 today. Engleman was convicted of capital murder for Halm's death and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 50 years.
The following year, Arthur and Vernita Gusewelle were brutally murdered at their farmhouse near Edwardsville, Illinois. Arthur was shot, and Vernita was beaten to death. Seventeen months later, their son Ronald was also killed by Engleman in East St. Louis, Illinois, allowing Ronald’s widow, Barbara Gusewelle Boyle, to claim the life insurance she had taken out on her husband. Boyle collected approximately $340,000, equivalent to $1,760,000 today. She was convicted of Ronald's murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison, although she was acquitted of his parents’ deaths. She served nearly half her sentence before being released in 2009.
Engleman's accomplice, Robert Handy, pleaded guilty to conspiring in the Gusewelle killings and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Engleman confessed to these murders and received three life sentences without parole.
The Final Blow
In 1980, Engleman's murderous activities culminated in the death of Sophie Marie Barrera, the owner of South St. Louis Dental Laboratory. Engleman owed her over $14,000, a debt that was settled in blood when Barrera died in a car bomb explosion. Engleman was convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, receiving an additional 30-year sentence. In a separate trial, he was found guilty of damaging a vehicle in interstate commerce with explosives, adding another 30 years to his sentence. For Barrera’s murder, Engleman was convicted of capital murder and received a life sentence with no parole for 50 years.
The Unraveling of a Sociopath
Throughout his criminal career, Engleman manipulated women, including ex-wives and lovers, to assist in his elaborate murder schemes. One of his lovers, Barbara Boyle, served time for her complicity, while Engleman's charm and financial allure helped him orchestrate his deadly plans. His weaponry ranged from rifles and sledgehammers to explosives, leaving a trail of devastation across Illinois and Missouri.
Glennon Engleman died on March 3, 1999, at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. His death at the age of 72 marked the end of a life spent in pursuit of money through murder. Despite his death, the chilling legacy of the "Deadly Dentist" lives on in books and television, as his crimes continue to captivate and horrify audiences.
In Media
Engleman's life inspired Susan Crane Bakos' book "Appointment for Murder" and served as the basis for the 1996 film "The Dentist." His gruesome acts were also featured in the "Deadly Dentists" episode of the Investigation Discovery series, highlighting the twisted mind of a man who turned murder into a macabre profession.
Sources
For detailed references, visit the original Wikipedia article on Glennon Engleman.
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First Known Murder
Engleman is suspected in the murder of James Bullock, his ex-wife's new husband, for life insurance money.
Murder of Eric Frey
Engleman kills business associate Eric Frey, using a rock and dynamite to dispose of the body.
Capital Murder Conviction
Engleman is convicted of capital murder for killing Peter Halm, ordered by Halm's wife for insurance money.
Gusewelle Family Murders
Engleman murders Arthur and Vernita Gusewelle, and later their son Ronald, for insurance payouts.
Arrest
Engleman is apprehended for multiple murders and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Mail Fraud Conviction
Engleman is found guilty of mail fraud and conspiracy related to the murder of Sophie Barrera.
Life Sentence
Engleman receives a life sentence for the murder of Sophie Barrera, with no possibility of parole.
Pleads Guilty
Engleman pleads guilty to three counts of murder related to the Gusewelle family killings.
Death
Glennon Engleman dies in prison at the age of 72.
Glennon Edward Engleman, an American dentist and contract killer, was implicated in at least five murders for financial gain between 1958 and 1980, primarily in Illinois and Missouri. His criminal activities included orchestrating the murder of his ex-wife's new husband to collect life insurance, as well as other killings executed with accomplices, including Barbara Boyle and Robert Handy. Engleman was apprehended on February 24, 1980, and was serving two life sentences in Missouri when he pleaded guilty to additional murders, ultimately dying in prison on March 3, 1999. Significant evidence against him included testimonies from accomplices and the use of various murder methods, such as firearms and explosives, although the exact number of his victims remains unknown.
Engleman is believed to have collaborated with his ex-wife in the murder of her new husband for life insurance money, a tactic he repeated in subsequent killings. Some speculate that his sociopathic tendencies allowed him to enjoy the planning and execution of his crimes without remorse. Additionally, there are theories that he may have had more victims than the ones officially attributed to him, given the length of time he operated as a contract killer.
The Deadly Dentist: The Twisted Tale of Glennon Engleman
The Birth of a Killer
Born on February 6, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri, Glennon Edward Engleman seemed like an ordinary man destined for a respectable life. Raised in a middle-class family, Engleman was the youngest of four children. His upbringing was unremarkable, characterized by a comfortable home and an average academic performance. However, beneath this veneer of normalcy lay a darker inclination that would ultimately lead him down a sinister path.
After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Engleman pursued a degree in dentistry, graduating in 1954 from Washington University in St. Louis under the GI Bill. He established himself as a dentist, but his seemingly mundane profession masked a chilling secret: Engleman was also a cold-blooded contract killer.
The Murderous Plot Unfolds
Engleman's descent into murder began in 1958 with the killing of James Stanley Bullock, a clerk at Union Electric Company of Missouri. Bullock was shot near the Saint Louis Art Museum, and his death was anything but random. The plot involved Engleman’s former wife, Edna Ruth Bullock (née Ball), who had married James Bullock just five months earlier. Engleman and Edna conspired to benefit from James's life insurance, which amounted to $64,000—approximately $698,000 in today's money.
The murders continued in 1963 with the death of Eric Frey, Engleman's business associate at Pacific Drag Strip. Engleman bludgeoned Frey with a rock, then disposed of his body by pushing it down a well and using dynamite to ensure Frey's demise. Once again, Engleman shared the insurance proceeds, this time with Frey's widow.
The Killing Spree Expands
As the years progressed, Engleman’s methods became more sophisticated and ruthless. In 1976, Peter J. Halm was shot in Pacific, Missouri. This murder was orchestrated by Carmen Miranda Halm, Peter's wife and a former dental assistant trainee who had known Engleman since childhood. Her motive was to collect a $60,000 life insurance policy, worth about $332,000 today. Engleman was convicted of capital murder for Halm's death and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 50 years.
The following year, Arthur and Vernita Gusewelle were brutally murdered at their farmhouse near Edwardsville, Illinois. Arthur was shot, and Vernita was beaten to death. Seventeen months later, their son Ronald was also killed by Engleman in East St. Louis, Illinois, allowing Ronald’s widow, Barbara Gusewelle Boyle, to claim the life insurance she had taken out on her husband. Boyle collected approximately $340,000, equivalent to $1,760,000 today. She was convicted of Ronald's murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison, although she was acquitted of his parents’ deaths. She served nearly half her sentence before being released in 2009.
Engleman's accomplice, Robert Handy, pleaded guilty to conspiring in the Gusewelle killings and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Engleman confessed to these murders and received three life sentences without parole.
The Final Blow
In 1980, Engleman's murderous activities culminated in the death of Sophie Marie Barrera, the owner of South St. Louis Dental Laboratory. Engleman owed her over $14,000, a debt that was settled in blood when Barrera died in a car bomb explosion. Engleman was convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, receiving an additional 30-year sentence. In a separate trial, he was found guilty of damaging a vehicle in interstate commerce with explosives, adding another 30 years to his sentence. For Barrera’s murder, Engleman was convicted of capital murder and received a life sentence with no parole for 50 years.
The Unraveling of a Sociopath
Throughout his criminal career, Engleman manipulated women, including ex-wives and lovers, to assist in his elaborate murder schemes. One of his lovers, Barbara Boyle, served time for her complicity, while Engleman's charm and financial allure helped him orchestrate his deadly plans. His weaponry ranged from rifles and sledgehammers to explosives, leaving a trail of devastation across Illinois and Missouri.
Glennon Engleman died on March 3, 1999, at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. His death at the age of 72 marked the end of a life spent in pursuit of money through murder. Despite his death, the chilling legacy of the "Deadly Dentist" lives on in books and television, as his crimes continue to captivate and horrify audiences.
In Media
Engleman's life inspired Susan Crane Bakos' book "Appointment for Murder" and served as the basis for the 1996 film "The Dentist." His gruesome acts were also featured in the "Deadly Dentists" episode of the Investigation Discovery series, highlighting the twisted mind of a man who turned murder into a macabre profession.
Sources
For detailed references, visit the original Wikipedia article on Glennon Engleman.
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...
First Known Murder
Engleman is suspected in the murder of James Bullock, his ex-wife's new husband, for life insurance money.
Murder of Eric Frey
Engleman kills business associate Eric Frey, using a rock and dynamite to dispose of the body.
Capital Murder Conviction
Engleman is convicted of capital murder for killing Peter Halm, ordered by Halm's wife for insurance money.
Gusewelle Family Murders
Engleman murders Arthur and Vernita Gusewelle, and later their son Ronald, for insurance payouts.
Arrest
Engleman is apprehended for multiple murders and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Mail Fraud Conviction
Engleman is found guilty of mail fraud and conspiracy related to the murder of Sophie Barrera.
Life Sentence
Engleman receives a life sentence for the murder of Sophie Barrera, with no possibility of parole.
Pleads Guilty
Engleman pleads guilty to three counts of murder related to the Gusewelle family killings.
Death
Glennon Engleman dies in prison at the age of 72.