Priscilla Ford
Mass Murder by Vehicle
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Reno, Nevada
TIME PERIOD
November 27, 1980
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
On November 27, 1980, at approximately 3:00 PM, Priscilla Joyce Ford drove her 1974 Lincoln Continental onto the sidewalk along Virginia Street in Reno, Nevada, during a Thanksgiving Day parade, killing six people and injuring 23 others. Ford, who had a documented history of paranoid schizophrenia and had been treated at multiple mental health facilities, was found to have a blood-alcohol level of .162 at the time of the incident. Following her arrest, she exhibited a disturbing demeanor, expressing indifference to the fatalities. Initially deemed incompetent to stand trial, Ford was held for mental treatment before being convicted of six counts of first-degree murder and 23 counts of attempted murder. Despite numerous appeals, she remained on death row until her death from emphysema in prison on January 29, 2005.
Priscilla Ford's actions on Thanksgiving Day were believed by some to be influenced by her long history of mental illness, particularly her paranoid schizophrenia, which included violent tendencies. There are speculations that her decision to drive into the crowd may have been a manifestation of her mental state rather than a premeditated act of murder. Additionally, some discussions suggest that her high blood-alcohol level at the time of the incident could have further impaired her judgment, contributing to the tragic event.
The Tragic Tale of Priscilla Ford
A Thanksgiving Day of Horror
On a chilly Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1980, the festive air of Reno, Nevada, was shattered by an unexpected tragedy. Priscilla Joyce Ford, a former schoolteacher, turned mass murderer, unleashed chaos upon the crowded streets. Behind the wheel of a 1974 Lincoln Continental, Ford drove onto the sidewalk along Virginia Street, plowing through a gathering crowd celebrating the holiday parade. In the wake of her rampage, six people lay dead, and 23 others suffered injuries from her horrific attack.
The Crime Scene and Arrest
The chaos that ensued was immediate and terrifying. Amidst the confusion, police officers managed to stop Ford and ordered her to exit the vehicle. She complied without resistance, a calm demeanor masking the horror she had just inflicted. Her blood-alcohol level was later found to be .162, significantly above the legal limit. However, it was her chilling response that unnerved those present. When Deputy District Attorney John Oakes informed her of the casualties, she coldly replied, "Good." An officer further reported her saying, "The more dead, the better."
The Troubled Past of Priscilla Ford
Born on February 10, 1929, in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Priscilla's early life was unremarkable. She pursued a career in teaching, instructing young minds in New York. However, her life was marred by mental illness. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, she had violent and religious delusions. Her troubled mind led her in and out of seven different hospitals before she relocated to Reno in 1980.
Her personal life was equally tumultuous. Ford married twice and had three children. In 1957, a violent confrontation with her second husband resulted in her shooting him in self-defense. She also attempted to take her own life but survived. Her daughter Wynter Scott was born in 1962, but Ford's arrest for trespassing and assault led to Wynter being placed with relatives in Los Angeles.
The Trial of the Century
The legal proceedings against Ford began with her arrest. Her Public Defender immediately requested a mental evaluation, and by January 29, 1981, she was deemed incompetent to stand trial. Ford was sent to Lake's Crossing for treatment and reported hearing voices of public figures, including Joan Bennett Kennedy and Barbara Walters. On April 29, 1981, she began drug therapy, and by August 4, she was found competent to stand trial.
Ford's trial was historic, lasting nearly five months and standing as the longest in Northern Nevada's history. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and thus incapable of sin. Her Public Defender, Lew Carnahan, urged the jury to consider her severe mental illness and argued against the death penalty, suggesting life in a mental institution as a more just sentence. In stark contrast, District Attorney Cal Dunlap painted Ford as "evil personified" and insisted she was legally sane during the attack.
After 13 hours of deliberation, the jury found Ford guilty on six counts of murder and 23 counts of attempted murder on March 19, 1982. A separate decision on March 28, 1982, resulted in the jury voting for the death penalty.
A Life Concluded in Isolation
Ford spent the remaining years of her life on death row at the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Center in North Las Vegas, isolated and battling emphysema, a condition exacerbated by her long-standing smoking habit. Ford's appeals were numerous, yet she remained in prison until her death from emphysema on January 29, 2005, at the age of 75.
Legacy and Reflection
The case of Priscilla Ford left an indelible mark on Reno and serves as a somber reminder of the potential depths of human suffering and mental illness. Her life, filled with turmoil, violence, and tragedy, ultimately ended in confinement, reflecting the complexities of justice and mental health in the criminal justice system.
Sources
For more information, visit the Wikipedia article on Priscilla Ford.
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Thanksgiving Day Attack
Priscilla Ford drives her car into a crowd, killing six and injuring 23.
Arrest of Priscilla Ford
Ford is arrested at the scene, found to have a blood-alcohol level of .162.
Incompetent to Stand Trial
Ford is found incompetent to stand trial and sent for mental treatment.
Competent for Trial
Ford is declared competent to stand trial after mental treatment.
Guilty Verdict
Jury finds Ford guilty of six counts of murder and 23 counts of attempted murder.
Death Penalty Sentenced
Jury votes in favor of the death penalty for Priscilla Ford.
Death of Priscilla Ford
Ford dies of emphysema while on death row at age 75.
On November 27, 1980, at approximately 3:00 PM, Priscilla Joyce Ford drove her 1974 Lincoln Continental onto the sidewalk along Virginia Street in Reno, Nevada, during a Thanksgiving Day parade, killing six people and injuring 23 others. Ford, who had a documented history of paranoid schizophrenia and had been treated at multiple mental health facilities, was found to have a blood-alcohol level of .162 at the time of the incident. Following her arrest, she exhibited a disturbing demeanor, expressing indifference to the fatalities. Initially deemed incompetent to stand trial, Ford was held for mental treatment before being convicted of six counts of first-degree murder and 23 counts of attempted murder. Despite numerous appeals, she remained on death row until her death from emphysema in prison on January 29, 2005.
Priscilla Ford's actions on Thanksgiving Day were believed by some to be influenced by her long history of mental illness, particularly her paranoid schizophrenia, which included violent tendencies. There are speculations that her decision to drive into the crowd may have been a manifestation of her mental state rather than a premeditated act of murder. Additionally, some discussions suggest that her high blood-alcohol level at the time of the incident could have further impaired her judgment, contributing to the tragic event.
The Tragic Tale of Priscilla Ford
A Thanksgiving Day of Horror
On a chilly Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1980, the festive air of Reno, Nevada, was shattered by an unexpected tragedy. Priscilla Joyce Ford, a former schoolteacher, turned mass murderer, unleashed chaos upon the crowded streets. Behind the wheel of a 1974 Lincoln Continental, Ford drove onto the sidewalk along Virginia Street, plowing through a gathering crowd celebrating the holiday parade. In the wake of her rampage, six people lay dead, and 23 others suffered injuries from her horrific attack.
The Crime Scene and Arrest
The chaos that ensued was immediate and terrifying. Amidst the confusion, police officers managed to stop Ford and ordered her to exit the vehicle. She complied without resistance, a calm demeanor masking the horror she had just inflicted. Her blood-alcohol level was later found to be .162, significantly above the legal limit. However, it was her chilling response that unnerved those present. When Deputy District Attorney John Oakes informed her of the casualties, she coldly replied, "Good." An officer further reported her saying, "The more dead, the better."
The Troubled Past of Priscilla Ford
Born on February 10, 1929, in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Priscilla's early life was unremarkable. She pursued a career in teaching, instructing young minds in New York. However, her life was marred by mental illness. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, she had violent and religious delusions. Her troubled mind led her in and out of seven different hospitals before she relocated to Reno in 1980.
Her personal life was equally tumultuous. Ford married twice and had three children. In 1957, a violent confrontation with her second husband resulted in her shooting him in self-defense. She also attempted to take her own life but survived. Her daughter Wynter Scott was born in 1962, but Ford's arrest for trespassing and assault led to Wynter being placed with relatives in Los Angeles.
The Trial of the Century
The legal proceedings against Ford began with her arrest. Her Public Defender immediately requested a mental evaluation, and by January 29, 1981, she was deemed incompetent to stand trial. Ford was sent to Lake's Crossing for treatment and reported hearing voices of public figures, including Joan Bennett Kennedy and Barbara Walters. On April 29, 1981, she began drug therapy, and by August 4, she was found competent to stand trial.
Ford's trial was historic, lasting nearly five months and standing as the longest in Northern Nevada's history. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and thus incapable of sin. Her Public Defender, Lew Carnahan, urged the jury to consider her severe mental illness and argued against the death penalty, suggesting life in a mental institution as a more just sentence. In stark contrast, District Attorney Cal Dunlap painted Ford as "evil personified" and insisted she was legally sane during the attack.
After 13 hours of deliberation, the jury found Ford guilty on six counts of murder and 23 counts of attempted murder on March 19, 1982. A separate decision on March 28, 1982, resulted in the jury voting for the death penalty.
A Life Concluded in Isolation
Ford spent the remaining years of her life on death row at the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Center in North Las Vegas, isolated and battling emphysema, a condition exacerbated by her long-standing smoking habit. Ford's appeals were numerous, yet she remained in prison until her death from emphysema on January 29, 2005, at the age of 75.
Legacy and Reflection
The case of Priscilla Ford left an indelible mark on Reno and serves as a somber reminder of the potential depths of human suffering and mental illness. Her life, filled with turmoil, violence, and tragedy, ultimately ended in confinement, reflecting the complexities of justice and mental health in the criminal justice system.
Sources
For more information, visit the Wikipedia article on Priscilla Ford.
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...
Thanksgiving Day Attack
Priscilla Ford drives her car into a crowd, killing six and injuring 23.
Arrest of Priscilla Ford
Ford is arrested at the scene, found to have a blood-alcohol level of .162.
Incompetent to Stand Trial
Ford is found incompetent to stand trial and sent for mental treatment.
Competent for Trial
Ford is declared competent to stand trial after mental treatment.
Guilty Verdict
Jury finds Ford guilty of six counts of murder and 23 counts of attempted murder.
Death Penalty Sentenced
Jury votes in favor of the death penalty for Priscilla Ford.
Death of Priscilla Ford
Ford dies of emphysema while on death row at age 75.