Jake Bird
Serial Killer Investigation
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Tacoma, Washington
TIME PERIOD
1930-1947
VICTIMS
13 confirmed
Jake Bird, an American serial killer, was apprehended on October 30, 1947, after the brutal murders of Bertha Kludt and her daughter, Beverly June Kludt, in their Tacoma home. Bird, armed with an axe, killed both women during a reported burglary, and was captured by police shortly after fleeing the scene. He had a lengthy criminal history and was known to have committed at least 13 confirmed murders across several states from 1930 to 1947, with claims of involvement in up to 46 additional killings. Following his conviction for two counts of first-degree murder on November 26, 1947, Bird was sentenced to death and executed by hanging on July 15, 1949, at the Washington State Penitentiary. Significant evidence included Bird's confession and his established pattern of violence against women, which challenged prevailing stereotypes of serial killers at the time.
Jake Bird is believed to have been responsible for at least thirteen confirmed murders, with some speculating he may have been involved in up to 46 murders across various states. Investigators and criminologists highlight Bird's case as a challenge to stereotypes about serial killers, noting that he was an African-American man who targeted primarily white women, which contradicts traditional profiles that often associate such killers with Caucasian males. Additionally, there is speculation about the extent of his criminal activities, with some suggesting he may have operated in a broader geographical area than previously documented.
The Grim Legacy of Jake Bird: The Tacoma Ax-Killer
The Birth of a Serial Killer
Jake Bird was born on December 14, 1901, in Louisiana. The details of his early life are shrouded in mystery, much like the fog that would later envelop the scenes of his gruesome deeds. Bird's life was one of transience, as he drifted from place to place working as a manual laborer and railroad gandy dancer, laying and maintaining tracks. His nomadic lifestyle kept him moving across various states, leaving a trail of death in his wake.
By the time Bird was apprehended, he had confessed to a staggering number of murders, claiming responsibility for up to 46 heinous acts. He was officially convicted for the brutal slayings of two women in Tacoma, Washington, in 1947, but suspicions and implications tied him to at least 11 other confirmed victims across multiple states between 1930 and 1947. Despite the chilling breadth of his crimes, Bird's story challenges the stereotypical profile of serial killers. Criminologist Eric W. Hickey noted that Bird, an African-American man, defied the common perceptions that such killers were predominantly Caucasian.
The Kludt Murders
The sinister chapter of Jake Bird's tale that captured the public's attention unfolded on a chilling night in Tacoma, Washington. On October 30, 1947, Bird broke into the home of Bertha Kludt and her daughter, Beverly June Kludt. Armed with an axe, Bird hacked Bertha to death when she attempted to defend herself. Beverly, who came downstairs to confront the intruder, met the same gruesome fate.
Responding to reports of screams from the Kludt residence, two police officers arrived just in time to witness a man fleeing the scene. A swift chase ensued, culminating in the capture of Jake Bird. Under interrogation at the Tacoma City Jail, Bird confessed to the murders, claiming they were the result of a botched burglary. This was just the tip of the iceberg of his extensive criminal record, which included numerous counts of burglary and attempted murder, and 31 years spent in various state prisons across Michigan, Iowa, and Utah.
The Bird Hex
Bird's trial was swift and decisive. On November 26, 1947, he was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, and the jury sentenced him to death by hanging. Despite a motion for a new trial, the judge denied it, and Bird's lawyer, J.W. Selden, declared his inability to defend Bird further. Selden remarked, "I feel whenever any man 45 years old gets an idea that no lives are safe to anyone, except his own, that man is a detriment to society and should be obliterated."
In a dramatic courtroom moment, Bird was given the chance to speak before his sentencing. His 20-minute diatribe included accusations that his lawyers had failed him, and he ominously declared, "All you guys who had anything to do with this case are going to die before I do." This chilling pronouncement would become infamous as the "Jake Bird Hex," as five individuals connected to his trial died of heart attacks within a year. Among them were Judge Edward D. Hodge, Joseph E. Karpach, Sherman W. Lyons, court reporter George L. Harrigan, and Bird's own attorney, J.W. Selden. Additionally, Arthur A. Steward, a death row guard, died of pneumonia two months before Bird's execution.
Reprieve and Execution
Initially scheduled for execution on January 16, 1948, Bird's fate took a temporary turn. Claiming involvement in 44 other murders, he offered authorities his assistance in solving these cases. Washington Governor Monrad C. Wallgren granted him a 60-day reprieve, allowing law enforcement from multiple states to interview Bird. His knowledge of the crimes was credible enough that 11 murders were verified, and he became a prime suspect in the remaining cases. These revelations helped police departments across Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin close numerous open murder cases.
Despite his cooperation, Bird's appeals to the Washington State Supreme Court and federal courts, including three petitions to the United States Supreme Court, were denied. On July 15, 1949, at 12:20 a.m., Jake Bird was executed by hanging at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. Witnessed by 125 people, his death marked the end of a dark chapter in American criminal history. Bird was laid to rest in an unmarked grave within the prison cemetery, leaving behind a legacy of fear and a story that continues to challenge the understanding of serial killers.
Sources
- Newton, Michael (1990). Hunting Humans: An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers. Loompanics Unlimited. ISBN 9781559500265.
- Hickey, Eric W. (2009). Serial Murderers and their Victims, 5th Edition. Wadsworth. ISBN 978-4-95600814-3.
- "Police capture serial killer Jake Bird after he murders two Tacoma women on October 30, 1947. - HistoryLink.org".
- Nash, Jay Robert (1990). Encyclopedia of World Crime: A-C. CrimeBooks. ISBN 978-0923582012.
- Davis, Jefferson (2008). Weird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets. Sterling. ISBN 978-1402745454.
- Nash 1990, p. 374.
- Schechter, Schechter (2003). The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0345465665.
- Wolcott, Martin Gilman (2004). The Evil 100. Citadel. ISBN 978-0806525556.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia article on Jake Bird.
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Kludt Murders
Jake Bird murders Bertha and Beverly Kludt with an axe.
Bird Arrested
Jake Bird is captured by police after fleeing the Kludt residence.
Conviction
Bird is found guilty of two counts of first degree murder.
Sentenced to Death
Bird is sentenced to death by hanging.
Execution Delayed
Bird's execution is postponed due to his claims of additional murders.
Reprieve Granted
Governor Wallgren grants Bird a 60-day reprieve for interviews about other murders.
Execution
Jake Bird is executed by hanging at the Washington State Penitentiary.
Jake Bird, an American serial killer, was apprehended on October 30, 1947, after the brutal murders of Bertha Kludt and her daughter, Beverly June Kludt, in their Tacoma home. Bird, armed with an axe, killed both women during a reported burglary, and was captured by police shortly after fleeing the scene. He had a lengthy criminal history and was known to have committed at least 13 confirmed murders across several states from 1930 to 1947, with claims of involvement in up to 46 additional killings. Following his conviction for two counts of first-degree murder on November 26, 1947, Bird was sentenced to death and executed by hanging on July 15, 1949, at the Washington State Penitentiary. Significant evidence included Bird's confession and his established pattern of violence against women, which challenged prevailing stereotypes of serial killers at the time.
Jake Bird is believed to have been responsible for at least thirteen confirmed murders, with some speculating he may have been involved in up to 46 murders across various states. Investigators and criminologists highlight Bird's case as a challenge to stereotypes about serial killers, noting that he was an African-American man who targeted primarily white women, which contradicts traditional profiles that often associate such killers with Caucasian males. Additionally, there is speculation about the extent of his criminal activities, with some suggesting he may have operated in a broader geographical area than previously documented.
The Grim Legacy of Jake Bird: The Tacoma Ax-Killer
The Birth of a Serial Killer
Jake Bird was born on December 14, 1901, in Louisiana. The details of his early life are shrouded in mystery, much like the fog that would later envelop the scenes of his gruesome deeds. Bird's life was one of transience, as he drifted from place to place working as a manual laborer and railroad gandy dancer, laying and maintaining tracks. His nomadic lifestyle kept him moving across various states, leaving a trail of death in his wake.
By the time Bird was apprehended, he had confessed to a staggering number of murders, claiming responsibility for up to 46 heinous acts. He was officially convicted for the brutal slayings of two women in Tacoma, Washington, in 1947, but suspicions and implications tied him to at least 11 other confirmed victims across multiple states between 1930 and 1947. Despite the chilling breadth of his crimes, Bird's story challenges the stereotypical profile of serial killers. Criminologist Eric W. Hickey noted that Bird, an African-American man, defied the common perceptions that such killers were predominantly Caucasian.
The Kludt Murders
The sinister chapter of Jake Bird's tale that captured the public's attention unfolded on a chilling night in Tacoma, Washington. On October 30, 1947, Bird broke into the home of Bertha Kludt and her daughter, Beverly June Kludt. Armed with an axe, Bird hacked Bertha to death when she attempted to defend herself. Beverly, who came downstairs to confront the intruder, met the same gruesome fate.
Responding to reports of screams from the Kludt residence, two police officers arrived just in time to witness a man fleeing the scene. A swift chase ensued, culminating in the capture of Jake Bird. Under interrogation at the Tacoma City Jail, Bird confessed to the murders, claiming they were the result of a botched burglary. This was just the tip of the iceberg of his extensive criminal record, which included numerous counts of burglary and attempted murder, and 31 years spent in various state prisons across Michigan, Iowa, and Utah.
The Bird Hex
Bird's trial was swift and decisive. On November 26, 1947, he was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, and the jury sentenced him to death by hanging. Despite a motion for a new trial, the judge denied it, and Bird's lawyer, J.W. Selden, declared his inability to defend Bird further. Selden remarked, "I feel whenever any man 45 years old gets an idea that no lives are safe to anyone, except his own, that man is a detriment to society and should be obliterated."
In a dramatic courtroom moment, Bird was given the chance to speak before his sentencing. His 20-minute diatribe included accusations that his lawyers had failed him, and he ominously declared, "All you guys who had anything to do with this case are going to die before I do." This chilling pronouncement would become infamous as the "Jake Bird Hex," as five individuals connected to his trial died of heart attacks within a year. Among them were Judge Edward D. Hodge, Joseph E. Karpach, Sherman W. Lyons, court reporter George L. Harrigan, and Bird's own attorney, J.W. Selden. Additionally, Arthur A. Steward, a death row guard, died of pneumonia two months before Bird's execution.
Reprieve and Execution
Initially scheduled for execution on January 16, 1948, Bird's fate took a temporary turn. Claiming involvement in 44 other murders, he offered authorities his assistance in solving these cases. Washington Governor Monrad C. Wallgren granted him a 60-day reprieve, allowing law enforcement from multiple states to interview Bird. His knowledge of the crimes was credible enough that 11 murders were verified, and he became a prime suspect in the remaining cases. These revelations helped police departments across Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin close numerous open murder cases.
Despite his cooperation, Bird's appeals to the Washington State Supreme Court and federal courts, including three petitions to the United States Supreme Court, were denied. On July 15, 1949, at 12:20 a.m., Jake Bird was executed by hanging at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. Witnessed by 125 people, his death marked the end of a dark chapter in American criminal history. Bird was laid to rest in an unmarked grave within the prison cemetery, leaving behind a legacy of fear and a story that continues to challenge the understanding of serial killers.
Sources
- Newton, Michael (1990). Hunting Humans: An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers. Loompanics Unlimited. ISBN 9781559500265.
- Hickey, Eric W. (2009). Serial Murderers and their Victims, 5th Edition. Wadsworth. ISBN 978-4-95600814-3.
- "Police capture serial killer Jake Bird after he murders two Tacoma women on October 30, 1947. - HistoryLink.org".
- Nash, Jay Robert (1990). Encyclopedia of World Crime: A-C. CrimeBooks. ISBN 978-0923582012.
- Davis, Jefferson (2008). Weird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets. Sterling. ISBN 978-1402745454.
- Nash 1990, p. 374.
- Schechter, Schechter (2003). The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0345465665.
- Wolcott, Martin Gilman (2004). The Evil 100. Citadel. ISBN 978-0806525556.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia article on Jake Bird.
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...
Kludt Murders
Jake Bird murders Bertha and Beverly Kludt with an axe.
Bird Arrested
Jake Bird is captured by police after fleeing the Kludt residence.
Conviction
Bird is found guilty of two counts of first degree murder.
Sentenced to Death
Bird is sentenced to death by hanging.
Execution Delayed
Bird's execution is postponed due to his claims of additional murders.
Reprieve Granted
Governor Wallgren grants Bird a 60-day reprieve for interviews about other murders.
Execution
Jake Bird is executed by hanging at the Washington State Penitentiary.