Michael J. Hickey
Proxy Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Wyoming, United States
TIME PERIOD
1977-1979
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Mark Allen Hopkinson, a former football player, orchestrated the murders of Vincent Vehar, Beverly Vehar, and John Vehar on August 7, 1977, as well as the murder of key witness Jeffrey Green in May 1979, all in Wyoming. These crimes were motivated by ongoing disputes over water rights and personal grievances, particularly against attorney Vincent Vehar. Hopkinson was sentenced to death for his role in Green's murder, which he arranged from federal prison in California, where he was serving time for an earlier conspiracy to commit murder. He was executed by lethal injection on January 22, 1992, making him the only individual executed in Wyoming since the 1960s. Significant evidence included Hopkinson's communications from prison and testimonies linking him to the murders, which were pivotal in securing his conviction.
Mark Hopkinson is believed to have orchestrated the murders of multiple individuals to eliminate witnesses against him, with particular focus on Jeffrey Green, who was seen as a key threat to his freedom. There are speculations that Hopkinson continued to plan further murders even while on death row, indicating a persistent criminal mindset. Additionally, some theorize that his background in sports and previous criminal activities may have contributed to his violent behavior and manipulative tactics.
The Unforgiving Trail of Mark Hopkinson
The Man Behind the Crimes
Born in Evanston, Wyoming on October 8, 1949, Mark Allen Hopkinson would grow to become a name synonymous with terror and manipulation. A former football player, his life took a sinister turn that led him to orchestrate a series of murders that would haunt the Bridger Valley area and beyond. On January 22, 1992, at the age of 42, Hopkinson was executed by lethal injection in Wyoming State Penitentiary, making him the first person to face such a fate in the state since the 1960s.
The Return to Bridger Valley
Hopkinson’s journey back to Bridger Valley in 1975 was far from a peaceful homecoming. Having left the region for a football scholarship at the University of Arizona, he returned with a criminal record, having been convicted of delivering controlled substances in 1971. His release from federal prison marked the beginning of a series of disputes and deadly plots.
Brewing Disputes
Two significant legal battles marked Hopkinson’s return. The first was a heated conflict between the Hopkinson and Roitz families over water rights. Joe Hopkinson, Mark’s father, had disrupted a water ditch serving the Roitzes while preparing land for a trailer court. Legal proceedings followed, with Vincent Vehar representing the Roitzes and achieving a favorable judgment against the Hopkinsons. Mark, assuming control of the trailer court, fiercely contested this decision.
In April 1976, Mark Hopkinson took a more confrontational approach, visiting the Roitzes to propose an out-of-court settlement. Their refusal led to a violent altercation where Mark, followed by his father armed with a hammer, assaulted Frank Roitz. Despite the Roitzes’ attempt to press charges, the county attorney, Jim Phillips, who was also Mark’s legal representative, refused to take any action.
Water Board Tensions
Meanwhile, Joe Hopkinson’s efforts to annex his trailer court to the Fort Bridger Sewer and Water Board sparked another battle. Negotiations led to a contract signed on March 13, 1976, demanding a $300 hookup fee per trailer. Mark Hopkinson, however, refused to honor the agreement, resulting in threats against board members and a lawsuit filed by Vehar on January 28, 1977, demanding compliance and $50,000 in damages for intimidation.
The Introduction of Jeff Green
It was during this tumultuous period that Hopkinson hired Jeff Green, a carpenter with a penchant for criminal activity, introducing him to associates like Mike Hickey and Jamey Hysell. This group engaged in various petty crimes, setting the stage for more sinister plans.
The Murder of Kellie Wyckhuyse
The first murder linked to this network was that of Kellie Wyckhuyse, a 15-year-old girl, on June 27, 1976. After implicating Jamey Hysell in a drug-related arrest, she became the target of a deadly plot. Mike Hickey, following Hysell’s orders, killed her in a remote area and mutilated her body to provide proof of the deed.
Early Murder Plots
Late in 1976, Mark Hopkinson began soliciting Harold James Taylor to attack Vincent Vehar, eventually escalating to a murder plot. However, Taylor backed out, prompting Hopkinson to seek other means to eliminate Vehar.
In March 1977, Hopkinson turned to Kenny Near, offering a bribe for false testimony in the ongoing Sewer Board dispute, but Near refused. Hopkinson’s desperation led him to Jeff Green and Mike Hickey, brainstorming ways to murder Vehar, but none materialized immediately.
A Bombing Gone Wrong
On April 4, 1977, Jeff Green’s arrest in Utah with a bomb destined for George Mariscal’s car revealed Hopkinson’s broader criminal intentions. Despite bailing Green out, Hopkinson excluded him from further plans against Vehar, focusing instead on Mike Hickey.
The Vehar Murders
By August 1977, Hopkinson had orchestrated a plan with Hickey involving a bomb to eliminate Vincent Vehar. On August 6, Hickey executed the plan, bombing the Vehar home in Evanston at 3:35 a.m., killing Vincent, his wife Beverly, and their son John. Another son, Tony, survived the blast but was injured.
The Downfall Begins
Following the bombing, Hopkinson distanced himself from Hickey, withholding the promised payment. The unraveling began in the fall when Jamey Hysell, under police pressure, exposed past crimes, leading authorities to Hickey in California. Despite initial denials, Hickey was drawn back to Wyoming, facing charges for Wyckhuyse’s murder.
Green’s Testimony and Betrayal
Jeff Green, facing his own legal troubles, eventually broke down under pressure, revealing Hopkinson and Hickey’s involvement in the Vehar murders and retracting false statements against Hysell. Green’s testimony dismantled the case against Hysell and placed Hopkinson under intense scrutiny.
The Mariscal Trial and Further Plots
In March 1979, Hopkinson stood trial in Cheyenne for the attempted bombing of Mariscal’s car, resulting in a 10-year sentence in Lompoc, California. Despite imprisonment, Hopkinson continued plotting, using phone calls to orchestrate the murder of Jeff Green, fearing his testimony.
The Murder of Jeff Green
Jeff Green’s murder in May 1979, just before a grand jury investigation, was brutal. His body bore 140 cigarette burns and a fatal gunshot wound. On May 20, his death silenced a key witness, but further implicated Hopkinson when Kristi King received a mysterious $15,000 deposit linked to the payment for Green’s murder.
Justice Served
Mark Hopkinson’s criminal reign ended with his conviction and eventual execution in 1992. His story remains a chilling reminder of how manipulation and violence can unravel lives, leaving a scar on those left behind.
Sources
For further detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Mark Hopkinson
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Vehar Family Murdered
Mark Hopkinson arranges the bombing that kills Vincent, Beverly, and John Vehar.
Jeff Green Murdered
Jeff Green, a key witness against Hopkinson, is found murdered after being shot and burned.
Hopkinson Trial Begins
Mark Hopkinson is tried for the murders of the Vehar family and Jeff Green.
Conviction and Sentencing
Hopkinson is convicted on multiple counts, sentenced to death for Green's murder.
Execution
Mark Hopkinson is executed by lethal injection at the Wyoming State Penitentiary.
Mark Allen Hopkinson, a former football player, orchestrated the murders of Vincent Vehar, Beverly Vehar, and John Vehar on August 7, 1977, as well as the murder of key witness Jeffrey Green in May 1979, all in Wyoming. These crimes were motivated by ongoing disputes over water rights and personal grievances, particularly against attorney Vincent Vehar. Hopkinson was sentenced to death for his role in Green's murder, which he arranged from federal prison in California, where he was serving time for an earlier conspiracy to commit murder. He was executed by lethal injection on January 22, 1992, making him the only individual executed in Wyoming since the 1960s. Significant evidence included Hopkinson's communications from prison and testimonies linking him to the murders, which were pivotal in securing his conviction.
Mark Hopkinson is believed to have orchestrated the murders of multiple individuals to eliminate witnesses against him, with particular focus on Jeffrey Green, who was seen as a key threat to his freedom. There are speculations that Hopkinson continued to plan further murders even while on death row, indicating a persistent criminal mindset. Additionally, some theorize that his background in sports and previous criminal activities may have contributed to his violent behavior and manipulative tactics.
The Unforgiving Trail of Mark Hopkinson
The Man Behind the Crimes
Born in Evanston, Wyoming on October 8, 1949, Mark Allen Hopkinson would grow to become a name synonymous with terror and manipulation. A former football player, his life took a sinister turn that led him to orchestrate a series of murders that would haunt the Bridger Valley area and beyond. On January 22, 1992, at the age of 42, Hopkinson was executed by lethal injection in Wyoming State Penitentiary, making him the first person to face such a fate in the state since the 1960s.
The Return to Bridger Valley
Hopkinson’s journey back to Bridger Valley in 1975 was far from a peaceful homecoming. Having left the region for a football scholarship at the University of Arizona, he returned with a criminal record, having been convicted of delivering controlled substances in 1971. His release from federal prison marked the beginning of a series of disputes and deadly plots.
Brewing Disputes
Two significant legal battles marked Hopkinson’s return. The first was a heated conflict between the Hopkinson and Roitz families over water rights. Joe Hopkinson, Mark’s father, had disrupted a water ditch serving the Roitzes while preparing land for a trailer court. Legal proceedings followed, with Vincent Vehar representing the Roitzes and achieving a favorable judgment against the Hopkinsons. Mark, assuming control of the trailer court, fiercely contested this decision.
In April 1976, Mark Hopkinson took a more confrontational approach, visiting the Roitzes to propose an out-of-court settlement. Their refusal led to a violent altercation where Mark, followed by his father armed with a hammer, assaulted Frank Roitz. Despite the Roitzes’ attempt to press charges, the county attorney, Jim Phillips, who was also Mark’s legal representative, refused to take any action.
Water Board Tensions
Meanwhile, Joe Hopkinson’s efforts to annex his trailer court to the Fort Bridger Sewer and Water Board sparked another battle. Negotiations led to a contract signed on March 13, 1976, demanding a $300 hookup fee per trailer. Mark Hopkinson, however, refused to honor the agreement, resulting in threats against board members and a lawsuit filed by Vehar on January 28, 1977, demanding compliance and $50,000 in damages for intimidation.
The Introduction of Jeff Green
It was during this tumultuous period that Hopkinson hired Jeff Green, a carpenter with a penchant for criminal activity, introducing him to associates like Mike Hickey and Jamey Hysell. This group engaged in various petty crimes, setting the stage for more sinister plans.
The Murder of Kellie Wyckhuyse
The first murder linked to this network was that of Kellie Wyckhuyse, a 15-year-old girl, on June 27, 1976. After implicating Jamey Hysell in a drug-related arrest, she became the target of a deadly plot. Mike Hickey, following Hysell’s orders, killed her in a remote area and mutilated her body to provide proof of the deed.
Early Murder Plots
Late in 1976, Mark Hopkinson began soliciting Harold James Taylor to attack Vincent Vehar, eventually escalating to a murder plot. However, Taylor backed out, prompting Hopkinson to seek other means to eliminate Vehar.
In March 1977, Hopkinson turned to Kenny Near, offering a bribe for false testimony in the ongoing Sewer Board dispute, but Near refused. Hopkinson’s desperation led him to Jeff Green and Mike Hickey, brainstorming ways to murder Vehar, but none materialized immediately.
A Bombing Gone Wrong
On April 4, 1977, Jeff Green’s arrest in Utah with a bomb destined for George Mariscal’s car revealed Hopkinson’s broader criminal intentions. Despite bailing Green out, Hopkinson excluded him from further plans against Vehar, focusing instead on Mike Hickey.
The Vehar Murders
By August 1977, Hopkinson had orchestrated a plan with Hickey involving a bomb to eliminate Vincent Vehar. On August 6, Hickey executed the plan, bombing the Vehar home in Evanston at 3:35 a.m., killing Vincent, his wife Beverly, and their son John. Another son, Tony, survived the blast but was injured.
The Downfall Begins
Following the bombing, Hopkinson distanced himself from Hickey, withholding the promised payment. The unraveling began in the fall when Jamey Hysell, under police pressure, exposed past crimes, leading authorities to Hickey in California. Despite initial denials, Hickey was drawn back to Wyoming, facing charges for Wyckhuyse’s murder.
Green’s Testimony and Betrayal
Jeff Green, facing his own legal troubles, eventually broke down under pressure, revealing Hopkinson and Hickey’s involvement in the Vehar murders and retracting false statements against Hysell. Green’s testimony dismantled the case against Hysell and placed Hopkinson under intense scrutiny.
The Mariscal Trial and Further Plots
In March 1979, Hopkinson stood trial in Cheyenne for the attempted bombing of Mariscal’s car, resulting in a 10-year sentence in Lompoc, California. Despite imprisonment, Hopkinson continued plotting, using phone calls to orchestrate the murder of Jeff Green, fearing his testimony.
The Murder of Jeff Green
Jeff Green’s murder in May 1979, just before a grand jury investigation, was brutal. His body bore 140 cigarette burns and a fatal gunshot wound. On May 20, his death silenced a key witness, but further implicated Hopkinson when Kristi King received a mysterious $15,000 deposit linked to the payment for Green’s murder.
Justice Served
Mark Hopkinson’s criminal reign ended with his conviction and eventual execution in 1992. His story remains a chilling reminder of how manipulation and violence can unravel lives, leaving a scar on those left behind.
Sources
For further detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Mark Hopkinson
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...
Vehar Family Murdered
Mark Hopkinson arranges the bombing that kills Vincent, Beverly, and John Vehar.
Jeff Green Murdered
Jeff Green, a key witness against Hopkinson, is found murdered after being shot and burned.
Hopkinson Trial Begins
Mark Hopkinson is tried for the murders of the Vehar family and Jeff Green.
Conviction and Sentencing
Hopkinson is convicted on multiple counts, sentenced to death for Green's murder.
Execution
Mark Hopkinson is executed by lethal injection at the Wyoming State Penitentiary.