Ray Dempsey Gardner
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Utah, United States
TIME PERIOD
1941-1949
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Ray Dempsey Gardner, an American serial killer, was active in the 1940s, committing three murders across North Dakota, Utah, and Montana. His criminal activities culminated on July 20, 1949, when he abducted 17-year-old Shirley Gretzinger in Ogden, Utah, subsequently raping and murdering her before disposing of her body. Shortly after, he killed 39-year-old Sue Horn in Montana when she resisted his robbery attempt. Gardner was apprehended on August 14, 1949, following a hit-and-run incident, and despite initially being charged with lesser crimes, he was later convicted of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on September 29, 1951, at the Utah State Prison. Significant evidence included Gardner's possession of stolen items and a pistol at the time of his arrest, linking him to the murders.
Gardner is believed to have committed his first murder in 1941 when he strangled his cellmate, Frank Shelley, although authorities initially ruled it as natural causes. The public speculates that Gardner may have been responsible for additional unsolved murders during his crime spree across multiple states, given his extensive criminal history and the violent nature of his known crimes. Some theorists suggest that his early life experiences, including the loss of his father and time in orphanages, may have contributed to his violent behavior.
Ray Dempsey Gardner: A Tale of Crime and Consequence
Early Life and Criminal Beginnings
Ray Dempsey Gardner's life was shaped by tragedy and crime from the start. Born on October 4, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio, Gardner's childhood was marked by chaos and loss. His father died in a shootout with the police, and his mother was incarcerated, leaving Gardner to be raised in an orphanage. This tumultuous beginning set the stage for a life that would stray far from the law.
Gardner's criminal record was extensive, with over 500 crimes to his name. His early years were spent in and out of reformatories and prisons, including stints at the Indiana Boys School, the Montana State Prison, and the Wyoming State Penitentiary. These institutions became the backdrop for a life that would soon escalate to deadly violence.
The Murders
In 1941, while imprisoned in a jail in Jamestown, North Dakota, Gardner committed his first known murder. His cellmate, Frank Shelley, was found dead, and although Gardner had strangled him, officials believed Shelley died of natural causes. This misjudgment allowed Gardner to evade charges and continue his deadly trajectory.
By 1949, Gardner's crimes had taken him across multiple states. On July 20 of that year, in Ogden, Utah, he targeted 17-year-old Shirley Gretzinger. She had left her mother's home for a babysitting job, unaware that the man who called for her help was Gardner. Instead of driving her to the job, Gardner took her to a secluded gulch outside the city. When Gretzinger resisted his sexual advances, Gardner brutally stuffed wadded toilet paper down her throat, raped her, and left her mutilated body in a thicket, stealing her purse and magazines as he fled.
Gardner's next victim was Sue Horn, a 39-year-old woman in Montana seeking work as a cook on a ranch. After answering her advertisement, Gardner picked her up in Butte and drove her out of the city. When Horn resisted his attempt to rob her, slapping him and trying to escape, Gardner shot and killed her, burying her body after taking her belongings.
Capture and Confession
Gardner remained undetected until August 14, 1949, when a series of reckless actions led to his capture. Driving a new car back to his workplace, he fled after spotting one of his employer's sons. In his hurried escape, he ran a stop sign and collided with a trailer, overturning it, yet he did not stop. Arrested shortly after, Gardner was found with stolen clothing and a pistol, charging him with grand larceny, hit-and-run driving, and running a stop sign. His possession of Horn's luggage and clothing raised suspicions, and his situation worsened when he faced a federal charge of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
A polygraph test suggested Gardner had information about Horn's disappearance, leading to his confession. He directed police to Horn's shallow grave and admitted to killing both Gretzinger and Shelley. Although he attempted to retract his confession and shift the blame to an unknown accomplice, the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Trial and Execution
Gardner was initially charged with Horn's murder but only stood trial for the murder of Shirley Gretzinger in Utah. On December 13, 1949, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder after just 58 minutes of deliberation. The absence of a recommendation for mercy mandated a death sentence.
Despite multiple appeals, Gardner's fate was sealed. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole rejected his plea for leniency, which he argued could allow him to serve as a "guinea pig" for science. The prosecution painted him as a dangerous sadist, and Gardner, given the choice, opted for execution by firing squad.
On September 29, 1951, Gardner faced his end at Utah State Prison. As Sheriff Mac Wade gave the order, "Ready, aim, fire," five rifles discharged in unison, ending his life. Gardner's final words were a stark acknowledgment of his life, "I'm ready to go. No one will miss me. My life has been worthless."
In a poignant coda, the prison warden's letter to Gardner's grandmother, his closest surviving relative, was met with a terse response. The family, having learned of Gardner's crimes only through media reports, declined responsibility for his remains, suggesting they be used for medical science as the law directed.
Sources
- The Unforgiven – 05
- M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives, "Summary of the execution of Ray Gardner," September 29, 1951.
- Justia Law, "State v. Gardner," Retrieved 2022-05-11.
- The Ogden Standard-Examiner, "Clipped From The Ogden Standard-Examiner," December 14, 1949, p. 1.
- The Salt Lake Tribune, "Clipped From The Salt Lake Tribune," September 4, 1949, p. 3.
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First Murder Committed
Ray Gardner strangles his cellmate, Frank Shelley, in jail.
Shirley Gretzinger Murdered
Gardner abducts and murders 17-year-old Shirley Gretzinger in Utah.
Sue Horn Murdered
Gardner kills 39-year-old Sue Horn after she resists his robbery attempt.
Gardner Apprehended
Gardner is arrested after a hit-and-run incident, leading to murder suspicions.
Convicted of Murder
Gardner is found guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of Shirley Gretzinger.
Execution Appeals Fail
Gardner's appeals for execution leniency are rejected by the Utah Board of Pardons.
Executed by Firing Squad
Ray Gardner is executed by firing squad at Utah State Prison.
Ray Dempsey Gardner, an American serial killer, was active in the 1940s, committing three murders across North Dakota, Utah, and Montana. His criminal activities culminated on July 20, 1949, when he abducted 17-year-old Shirley Gretzinger in Ogden, Utah, subsequently raping and murdering her before disposing of her body. Shortly after, he killed 39-year-old Sue Horn in Montana when she resisted his robbery attempt. Gardner was apprehended on August 14, 1949, following a hit-and-run incident, and despite initially being charged with lesser crimes, he was later convicted of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on September 29, 1951, at the Utah State Prison. Significant evidence included Gardner's possession of stolen items and a pistol at the time of his arrest, linking him to the murders.
Gardner is believed to have committed his first murder in 1941 when he strangled his cellmate, Frank Shelley, although authorities initially ruled it as natural causes. The public speculates that Gardner may have been responsible for additional unsolved murders during his crime spree across multiple states, given his extensive criminal history and the violent nature of his known crimes. Some theorists suggest that his early life experiences, including the loss of his father and time in orphanages, may have contributed to his violent behavior.
Ray Dempsey Gardner: A Tale of Crime and Consequence
Early Life and Criminal Beginnings
Ray Dempsey Gardner's life was shaped by tragedy and crime from the start. Born on October 4, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio, Gardner's childhood was marked by chaos and loss. His father died in a shootout with the police, and his mother was incarcerated, leaving Gardner to be raised in an orphanage. This tumultuous beginning set the stage for a life that would stray far from the law.
Gardner's criminal record was extensive, with over 500 crimes to his name. His early years were spent in and out of reformatories and prisons, including stints at the Indiana Boys School, the Montana State Prison, and the Wyoming State Penitentiary. These institutions became the backdrop for a life that would soon escalate to deadly violence.
The Murders
In 1941, while imprisoned in a jail in Jamestown, North Dakota, Gardner committed his first known murder. His cellmate, Frank Shelley, was found dead, and although Gardner had strangled him, officials believed Shelley died of natural causes. This misjudgment allowed Gardner to evade charges and continue his deadly trajectory.
By 1949, Gardner's crimes had taken him across multiple states. On July 20 of that year, in Ogden, Utah, he targeted 17-year-old Shirley Gretzinger. She had left her mother's home for a babysitting job, unaware that the man who called for her help was Gardner. Instead of driving her to the job, Gardner took her to a secluded gulch outside the city. When Gretzinger resisted his sexual advances, Gardner brutally stuffed wadded toilet paper down her throat, raped her, and left her mutilated body in a thicket, stealing her purse and magazines as he fled.
Gardner's next victim was Sue Horn, a 39-year-old woman in Montana seeking work as a cook on a ranch. After answering her advertisement, Gardner picked her up in Butte and drove her out of the city. When Horn resisted his attempt to rob her, slapping him and trying to escape, Gardner shot and killed her, burying her body after taking her belongings.
Capture and Confession
Gardner remained undetected until August 14, 1949, when a series of reckless actions led to his capture. Driving a new car back to his workplace, he fled after spotting one of his employer's sons. In his hurried escape, he ran a stop sign and collided with a trailer, overturning it, yet he did not stop. Arrested shortly after, Gardner was found with stolen clothing and a pistol, charging him with grand larceny, hit-and-run driving, and running a stop sign. His possession of Horn's luggage and clothing raised suspicions, and his situation worsened when he faced a federal charge of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
A polygraph test suggested Gardner had information about Horn's disappearance, leading to his confession. He directed police to Horn's shallow grave and admitted to killing both Gretzinger and Shelley. Although he attempted to retract his confession and shift the blame to an unknown accomplice, the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Trial and Execution
Gardner was initially charged with Horn's murder but only stood trial for the murder of Shirley Gretzinger in Utah. On December 13, 1949, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder after just 58 minutes of deliberation. The absence of a recommendation for mercy mandated a death sentence.
Despite multiple appeals, Gardner's fate was sealed. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole rejected his plea for leniency, which he argued could allow him to serve as a "guinea pig" for science. The prosecution painted him as a dangerous sadist, and Gardner, given the choice, opted for execution by firing squad.
On September 29, 1951, Gardner faced his end at Utah State Prison. As Sheriff Mac Wade gave the order, "Ready, aim, fire," five rifles discharged in unison, ending his life. Gardner's final words were a stark acknowledgment of his life, "I'm ready to go. No one will miss me. My life has been worthless."
In a poignant coda, the prison warden's letter to Gardner's grandmother, his closest surviving relative, was met with a terse response. The family, having learned of Gardner's crimes only through media reports, declined responsibility for his remains, suggesting they be used for medical science as the law directed.
Sources
- The Unforgiven – 05
- M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives, "Summary of the execution of Ray Gardner," September 29, 1951.
- Justia Law, "State v. Gardner," Retrieved 2022-05-11.
- The Ogden Standard-Examiner, "Clipped From The Ogden Standard-Examiner," December 14, 1949, p. 1.
- The Salt Lake Tribune, "Clipped From The Salt Lake Tribune," September 4, 1949, p. 3.
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No Evidence Submitted
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First Murder Committed
Ray Gardner strangles his cellmate, Frank Shelley, in jail.
Shirley Gretzinger Murdered
Gardner abducts and murders 17-year-old Shirley Gretzinger in Utah.
Sue Horn Murdered
Gardner kills 39-year-old Sue Horn after she resists his robbery attempt.
Gardner Apprehended
Gardner is arrested after a hit-and-run incident, leading to murder suspicions.
Convicted of Murder
Gardner is found guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of Shirley Gretzinger.
Execution Appeals Fail
Gardner's appeals for execution leniency are rejected by the Utah Board of Pardons.
Executed by Firing Squad
Ray Gardner is executed by firing squad at Utah State Prison.