Nathaniel Code
Louisiana Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Shreveport, Louisiana
TIME PERIOD
1984-1987
VICTIMS
8 confirmed
Nathaniel Robert Code, Jr., an American serial killer, committed a series of murders in Shreveport, Louisiana, between 1984 and 1987, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, including the mass murder of four members of the Cheney-Culbert family in 1985. Code was apprehended on August 6, 1987, and subsequently tried for the Cheney-Culbert murders, for which he was found guilty and sentenced to death in December 1990. Key evidence included DNA and forensic analysis linking him to the crime scenes, as well as eyewitness testimonies. As of now, Code remains incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where he continues to serve his sentence.
Nathaniel Code is believed to have committed his murders as part of a pattern targeting families in their homes, leading to speculation about a potential motive rooted in his troubled upbringing and violent tendencies. Some theorize that his history of violence, including childhood incidents like animal cruelty and being shot by a relative, contributed to his later actions. Investigators and the public also discuss the possibility that Code may have had accomplices or that his crimes were influenced by a desire for control and power over his victims.
The Sinister Legacy of Nathaniel Code: The Cedar Grove Killer
A Troubled Beginning
Born on March 12, 1956, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Nathaniel Robert Code Jr., known to many as "Junior," had a childhood marked by instability and early signs of extreme behavior. His parents divorced when he was a mere six months old, leaving him in the care of his great-aunt Josephine Code and his grandfather William T. Code. Nathaniel's adolescence was marred by disturbing incidents, such as setting animals on fire, and his peculiar habit of suddenly stopping mid-sentence to stare blankly before resuming his speech.
Struggling academically, Nathaniel dropped out of high school after failing ninth grade and moved in with his uncle Johnny Boyd. An argument with Boyd in 1971 escalated into violence, resulting in Boyd shooting Nathaniel four times. Remarkably, Nathaniel managed to run several blocks before collapsing in the street, where he was found by patrolmen. He identified Boyd, whom he referred to as "Uncle Joe," as the shooter, leading to Boyd's arrest.
Nathaniel's brushes with the law continued in 1975 when he was charged with aggravated rape and burglary following the assault of a 20-year-old woman. Pleading guilty to attempted aggravated rape, he received a 15-year prison sentence but was released in January 1984 for good behavior. Transitioning back into society, he found employment at Fitzgerald's Contractors, but his temper remained a problem, culminating in an altercation with a coworker in 1985. His personal life seemed to stabilize briefly when he married Vera Code in February 1986, but his darker impulses would soon resurface.
The Murders Begin
On the night of August 31, 1984, Nathaniel Code slipped into the home of 25-year-old Debra Ann Ford by prying open a bathroom window. In a chilling confrontation in the living room, he bound Ford's hands, gagged her, and then brutally stabbed her multiple times, ultimately slitting her throat. He fled the scene, leaving Ford's lifeless body face-down on a sofa. The crime baffled investigators, who described it as "a regular whodunnit." With scant evidence, a $1,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest, but Nathaniel remained at large.
The following year, on July 19, 1985, Nathaniel unleashed terror in the Cedar Grove neighborhood, committing a mass murder on 72nd Street. His victims included Vivian Chaney, 34; Billy Joe Harris, 28; Carlitha Culbert, 15; and Jerry Culbert, 25. The brutality was unparalleled: Billy Joe Harris was shot twice in the head and chest, his throat slashed, and his hands and ankles bound with shoelaces. Jerry Culbert was shot in the head while asleep. Carlitha was found bound with an electrical cord, her throat cut so severely she was nearly decapitated. Vivian Chaney, found slumped over a bathtub, had been beaten, strangled, and drowned. Notably, Chaney's dress was stained with Carlitha's blood, indicating she was forced to witness her daughter's murder. Miraculously, two young girls, aged 7 and 10, survived the massacre, discovered by a relative, Shirley Culbert, who had arrived by taxi.
Assistant police chief Sam Burns, seasoned by 25 years on the force, remarked on the viciousness of the murders. Retired FBI profiler John E. Douglas noted the similarities between this and Debra Ann Ford's murder, citing the "manipulation, domination, and control" characteristic of the killer's modus operandi.
On August 5, 1987, Nathaniel's murderous spree reached a personal crescendo when he viciously killed his grandfather, William Code, stabbing him 13 times. He also murdered two young boys present in the home: 12-year-old Joe Robinson Jr. and 8-year-old Eric Williams. Both boys were bound, gagged, and strangled. The brutality suggested a deeply personal connection to the victims.
Nathaniel was linked to other unsolved murders, including Wes Burks and Monica Barnum in 1985 and Johnny Jenkins and Jake Mills in 1986, though no concrete evidence tied him to these crimes.
The Arrest and Trial
Following the 1987 murders, Nathaniel became a suspect due to his relationship with one of the victims. During a police interview, he made an incriminating statement while denying involvement. Crucially, his fingerprints matched those found at the crime scenes, leading to his arrest on August 6, 1987. Further evidence connected him to the 1985 Cedar Grove massacre, and the similarities in modus operandi linked him to Debra Ford's murder.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Nathaniel's family and acquaintances struggled to reconcile their image of him with that of a serial killer. His wife insisted on his innocence, and a former coworker described him as quick-tempered but not violent. Nonetheless, Nathaniel faced eight counts of first-degree murder, steadfastly denying his guilt.
The trial for the Chaney/Culbert murders commenced in September 1990. Prosecutors argued Nathaniel had stalked his victims at night, riding his bike through the streets. Oscar Washington, an acquaintance, testified to seeing Nathaniel with blood on his arms on the night of the murders. The prosecution presented a compelling case, describing the murders as methodical and brutal. Nathaniel's defense argued that the murders required more than one person and highlighted his mental health issues, including borderline personality disorder.
After a trial featuring over 450 pieces of evidence and 106 witnesses, the jury swiftly returned a guilty verdict on four counts of first-degree murder, sentencing Nathaniel to death.
Incarceration and Appeals
Nathaniel filed an appeal in July 1991, claiming he had been overwhelmed during the trial, leading to poor legal decisions. He continued to deny his guilt, arguing the implausibility of one person committing the murders. The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld his death sentence, setting an execution date for September 1994. However, appeals postponed the execution multiple times.
In 2013, Nathaniel and other inmates sued over the extreme heat in Louisiana State Penitentiary, citing health risks. The families of Nathaniel's victims vehemently opposed this, arguing he forfeited such privileges through his heinous acts. Albert Culbert Jr., brother of victim Carlitha Culbert, remarked that Nathaniel's actions placed him on death row, not the families.
Sources
For further reading and detailed references, visit the original Wikipedia entry on Nathaniel Code: Nathaniel Code Wikipedia
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First Murder Committed
Nathaniel Code murders Debra Ann Ford in her home.
Mass Murder of Cheney-Culbert Family
Code brutally murders four members of the Cheney-Culbert family in Cedar Grove.
Code Arrested
Nathaniel Code is arrested after fingerprints link him to the murders.
Trial Begins
Trial for the murders of the Cheney-Culbert family begins.
Found Guilty
Nathaniel Code is found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder.
Sentenced to Death
Code is sentenced to death for the murders.
Execution Date Set
A judge schedules Code's execution by lethal injection.
Execution Delayed
Execution date postponed due to planned appeals.
Nathaniel Robert Code, Jr., an American serial killer, committed a series of murders in Shreveport, Louisiana, between 1984 and 1987, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, including the mass murder of four members of the Cheney-Culbert family in 1985. Code was apprehended on August 6, 1987, and subsequently tried for the Cheney-Culbert murders, for which he was found guilty and sentenced to death in December 1990. Key evidence included DNA and forensic analysis linking him to the crime scenes, as well as eyewitness testimonies. As of now, Code remains incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where he continues to serve his sentence.
Nathaniel Code is believed to have committed his murders as part of a pattern targeting families in their homes, leading to speculation about a potential motive rooted in his troubled upbringing and violent tendencies. Some theorize that his history of violence, including childhood incidents like animal cruelty and being shot by a relative, contributed to his later actions. Investigators and the public also discuss the possibility that Code may have had accomplices or that his crimes were influenced by a desire for control and power over his victims.
The Sinister Legacy of Nathaniel Code: The Cedar Grove Killer
A Troubled Beginning
Born on March 12, 1956, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Nathaniel Robert Code Jr., known to many as "Junior," had a childhood marked by instability and early signs of extreme behavior. His parents divorced when he was a mere six months old, leaving him in the care of his great-aunt Josephine Code and his grandfather William T. Code. Nathaniel's adolescence was marred by disturbing incidents, such as setting animals on fire, and his peculiar habit of suddenly stopping mid-sentence to stare blankly before resuming his speech.
Struggling academically, Nathaniel dropped out of high school after failing ninth grade and moved in with his uncle Johnny Boyd. An argument with Boyd in 1971 escalated into violence, resulting in Boyd shooting Nathaniel four times. Remarkably, Nathaniel managed to run several blocks before collapsing in the street, where he was found by patrolmen. He identified Boyd, whom he referred to as "Uncle Joe," as the shooter, leading to Boyd's arrest.
Nathaniel's brushes with the law continued in 1975 when he was charged with aggravated rape and burglary following the assault of a 20-year-old woman. Pleading guilty to attempted aggravated rape, he received a 15-year prison sentence but was released in January 1984 for good behavior. Transitioning back into society, he found employment at Fitzgerald's Contractors, but his temper remained a problem, culminating in an altercation with a coworker in 1985. His personal life seemed to stabilize briefly when he married Vera Code in February 1986, but his darker impulses would soon resurface.
The Murders Begin
On the night of August 31, 1984, Nathaniel Code slipped into the home of 25-year-old Debra Ann Ford by prying open a bathroom window. In a chilling confrontation in the living room, he bound Ford's hands, gagged her, and then brutally stabbed her multiple times, ultimately slitting her throat. He fled the scene, leaving Ford's lifeless body face-down on a sofa. The crime baffled investigators, who described it as "a regular whodunnit." With scant evidence, a $1,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest, but Nathaniel remained at large.
The following year, on July 19, 1985, Nathaniel unleashed terror in the Cedar Grove neighborhood, committing a mass murder on 72nd Street. His victims included Vivian Chaney, 34; Billy Joe Harris, 28; Carlitha Culbert, 15; and Jerry Culbert, 25. The brutality was unparalleled: Billy Joe Harris was shot twice in the head and chest, his throat slashed, and his hands and ankles bound with shoelaces. Jerry Culbert was shot in the head while asleep. Carlitha was found bound with an electrical cord, her throat cut so severely she was nearly decapitated. Vivian Chaney, found slumped over a bathtub, had been beaten, strangled, and drowned. Notably, Chaney's dress was stained with Carlitha's blood, indicating she was forced to witness her daughter's murder. Miraculously, two young girls, aged 7 and 10, survived the massacre, discovered by a relative, Shirley Culbert, who had arrived by taxi.
Assistant police chief Sam Burns, seasoned by 25 years on the force, remarked on the viciousness of the murders. Retired FBI profiler John E. Douglas noted the similarities between this and Debra Ann Ford's murder, citing the "manipulation, domination, and control" characteristic of the killer's modus operandi.
On August 5, 1987, Nathaniel's murderous spree reached a personal crescendo when he viciously killed his grandfather, William Code, stabbing him 13 times. He also murdered two young boys present in the home: 12-year-old Joe Robinson Jr. and 8-year-old Eric Williams. Both boys were bound, gagged, and strangled. The brutality suggested a deeply personal connection to the victims.
Nathaniel was linked to other unsolved murders, including Wes Burks and Monica Barnum in 1985 and Johnny Jenkins and Jake Mills in 1986, though no concrete evidence tied him to these crimes.
The Arrest and Trial
Following the 1987 murders, Nathaniel became a suspect due to his relationship with one of the victims. During a police interview, he made an incriminating statement while denying involvement. Crucially, his fingerprints matched those found at the crime scenes, leading to his arrest on August 6, 1987. Further evidence connected him to the 1985 Cedar Grove massacre, and the similarities in modus operandi linked him to Debra Ford's murder.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Nathaniel's family and acquaintances struggled to reconcile their image of him with that of a serial killer. His wife insisted on his innocence, and a former coworker described him as quick-tempered but not violent. Nonetheless, Nathaniel faced eight counts of first-degree murder, steadfastly denying his guilt.
The trial for the Chaney/Culbert murders commenced in September 1990. Prosecutors argued Nathaniel had stalked his victims at night, riding his bike through the streets. Oscar Washington, an acquaintance, testified to seeing Nathaniel with blood on his arms on the night of the murders. The prosecution presented a compelling case, describing the murders as methodical and brutal. Nathaniel's defense argued that the murders required more than one person and highlighted his mental health issues, including borderline personality disorder.
After a trial featuring over 450 pieces of evidence and 106 witnesses, the jury swiftly returned a guilty verdict on four counts of first-degree murder, sentencing Nathaniel to death.
Incarceration and Appeals
Nathaniel filed an appeal in July 1991, claiming he had been overwhelmed during the trial, leading to poor legal decisions. He continued to deny his guilt, arguing the implausibility of one person committing the murders. The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld his death sentence, setting an execution date for September 1994. However, appeals postponed the execution multiple times.
In 2013, Nathaniel and other inmates sued over the extreme heat in Louisiana State Penitentiary, citing health risks. The families of Nathaniel's victims vehemently opposed this, arguing he forfeited such privileges through his heinous acts. Albert Culbert Jr., brother of victim Carlitha Culbert, remarked that Nathaniel's actions placed him on death row, not the families.
Sources
For further reading and detailed references, visit the original Wikipedia entry on Nathaniel Code: Nathaniel Code Wikipedia
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 Murder Committed
Nathaniel Code murders Debra Ann Ford in her home.
Mass Murder of Cheney-Culbert Family
Code brutally murders four members of the Cheney-Culbert family in Cedar Grove.
Code Arrested
Nathaniel Code is arrested after fingerprints link him to the murders.
Trial Begins
Trial for the murders of the Cheney-Culbert family begins.
Found Guilty
Nathaniel Code is found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder.
Sentenced to Death
Code is sentenced to death for the murders.
Execution Date Set
A judge schedules Code's execution by lethal injection.
Execution Delayed
Execution date postponed due to planned appeals.