William Henry Hance
Military Base Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Columbus, Georgia
TIME PERIOD
1977-1978
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
William Henry Hance, an American serial killer, was active primarily in 1977 and 1978, targeting women around military bases in Georgia and Indiana. He was apprehended on April 4, 1978, amidst a series of murders in Columbus, Georgia, where several women, including two young Black sex workers, were found dead. Hance was convicted of murdering three women and is suspected of four additional murders, with his crimes linked to a hoax involving a letter from a fictitious group claiming to hold a hostage, which was intended to mislead investigators. He was executed by electric chair on March 31, 1994, following his conviction in December 1978. Significant evidence included the profiles developed by FBI profilers, which ultimately led to his identification and arrest.
Investigators and the public theorize that William Henry Hance may have been involved in a larger network of violence, possibly linked to the so-called "Forces of Evil," given the unusual letter sent to the police chief. Some believe that Hance's crimes could be part of a broader pattern of violence against women in the area, especially considering the racial dynamics and the involvement of military personnel. Additionally, speculation exists that Hance might have had accomplices or that his actions were influenced by the chaotic environment surrounding the military base at the time.
The Case of William Henry Hance: A Dark Chapter in True Crime
A Soldier's Descent into Murder
William Henry Hance, born on November 10, 1951, in the United States, would become a name etched in the annals of American crime history. Known as the "Chairman of the Forces of Evil," Hance was a soldier turned serial killer who preyed on women around military bases. His heinous acts spanned from 1977 to 1978, during which he is suspected of murdering four women and molesting three others. Arrested in 1978, Hance would eventually be executed by the state of Georgia on March 31, 1994, via the electric chair at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison in Jackson, Georgia.
A Wave of Terror in Georgia
The year was 1978, and Columbus, Georgia, was gripped by fear. The city was experiencing a series of murders targeting women. Among the victims were several elderly white women, their deaths attributed to the so-called Stocking Strangler. Meanwhile, the bodies of two young Black sex workers were discovered outside Fort Benning, adding to the chilling atmosphere.
A letter sent to the local police chief on U.S. Army stationery linked these disparate cases. The letter, purportedly from a gang of seven white men, claimed they were holding a Black woman hostage and would kill her unless the Stocking Strangler, believed at the time to be a Black man, was apprehended. This group, calling themselves the "Forces of Evil," demanded communication through radio or television and later requested a $10,000 ransom to spare the supposed hostage, Gail Jackson, also known by aliases including Brenda Gail Faison.
The Hoax Unraveled
The letters and phone calls from the "Forces of Evil" were nothing more than a smokescreen, a sinister hoax designed to divert attention from the real killer. Gail Jackson had already been murdered five weeks before her body was discovered in April 1978. She was only 21 years old.
Following the instructions in another call from the "Forces of Evil," the body of a second Black woman, Irene Thirkield, aged 32, was found at a rifle range at Fort Benning. As the investigation progressed, FBI profiler Robert K. Ressler developed a profile of the killer: a single Black man, likely a low-ranking soldier in his late twenties stationed at the fort.
The Arrest and Confession
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, armed with Ressler's profile, focused their search on bars frequented by Black patrons near the fort. Their investigation quickly led them to William Hance, a Specialist (E-4) attached to an artillery unit, serving as a truck driver at Fort Benning. Hance's military career had begun in the Marine Corps before he joined the Army.
Confronted with evidence that included handwriting, voice recordings, and shoe prints from the crime scenes, Hance confessed to the murders of Gail Jackson and Irene Thirkield, as well as the killing of Karen Hickman, a 24-year-old white Army private known to date Black soldiers. Hance was not charged with Hickman's murder in the civilian system but faced a court martial for her death.
Hance was also linked to the murder of a young Black woman at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, though he was not charged with this crime.
Legal Proceedings: Military and Civilian Courts
Hance's legal journey was complex, involving both military and civilian courts. In military court, he was convicted for the murder of Irene Thirkield but not tried in civilian courts. His court martial for Karen Hickman's murder resulted in a life sentence, which was later reversed due to questions about his mental capacity for premeditation. Ultimately, his final court martial sentence for the deaths of Hickman and Thirkield was life at hard labor, but these convictions were set aside in 1980 and not retried.
In civilian courts, Hance's conviction and death sentence for Gail Jackson's murder were upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court. Hance's numerous appeals, including those to the United States Supreme Court and the federal appellate court for the 11th Circuit, were unsuccessful. Despite a federal appellate court ordering a new sentencing phase trial due to prosecutorial misconduct and jury selection issues, Hance's death sentence was reaffirmed in a second trial.
Execution and Controversy
Hance's execution on March 31, 1994, marked him as the 231st inmate executed in the United States since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976 and the 18th in Georgia. Hours before his death, the Supreme Court declined to consider his appeal, despite Justice Harry Blackmun's dissent, citing substantial evidence of Hance's mental impairment and the potential racial bias in his trial.
Hance's IQ, measured between 75 and 79, placed him in the range of "borderline intellectual functioning." Controversy surrounded his trial, particularly allegations of racial prejudice within the jury. A juror, Patricia Lemay, reported racial slurs directed at Hance, while another juror, Gayle Lewis Daniels, a Black woman, faced pressure and intimidation from other jurors.
The media and legal experts criticized the handling of Hance's case, suggesting he was denied due process and victimized by racial bias. Attorney Ronald J. Tabak later highlighted the impact of race on Hance's sentence at a law school conference.
Cultural Reflection
William Henry Hance's chilling story found its way into popular culture, with actor Corey Allen portraying him in the second season of the Netflix series "Mindhunter."
Sources
For further details, the original Wikipedia article on William Henry Hance can be accessed here.
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First Murder
William Henry Hance commits his first known murder at Fort Benning.
Arrest of Hance
William Henry Hance is arrested after being identified as a suspect in the murders of two women.
Conviction for Murder
Hance is convicted of the murder of Gail Jackson and sentenced to death.
Life Sentence Overturned
Hance's life sentence for the murder of Irene Thirkield is reversed due to jurors deciding he lacked mental capacity.
Death Sentence Affirmed
The Georgia Supreme Court affirms Hance's death sentence for the murder of Gail Jackson.
Habeas Appeal Denied
The Eleventh Circuit Court denies Hance's habeas corpus appeal regarding the Jackson murder.
Execution
William Henry Hance is executed by electric chair in Georgia.
William Henry Hance, an American serial killer, was active primarily in 1977 and 1978, targeting women around military bases in Georgia and Indiana. He was apprehended on April 4, 1978, amidst a series of murders in Columbus, Georgia, where several women, including two young Black sex workers, were found dead. Hance was convicted of murdering three women and is suspected of four additional murders, with his crimes linked to a hoax involving a letter from a fictitious group claiming to hold a hostage, which was intended to mislead investigators. He was executed by electric chair on March 31, 1994, following his conviction in December 1978. Significant evidence included the profiles developed by FBI profilers, which ultimately led to his identification and arrest.
Investigators and the public theorize that William Henry Hance may have been involved in a larger network of violence, possibly linked to the so-called "Forces of Evil," given the unusual letter sent to the police chief. Some believe that Hance's crimes could be part of a broader pattern of violence against women in the area, especially considering the racial dynamics and the involvement of military personnel. Additionally, speculation exists that Hance might have had accomplices or that his actions were influenced by the chaotic environment surrounding the military base at the time.
The Case of William Henry Hance: A Dark Chapter in True Crime
A Soldier's Descent into Murder
William Henry Hance, born on November 10, 1951, in the United States, would become a name etched in the annals of American crime history. Known as the "Chairman of the Forces of Evil," Hance was a soldier turned serial killer who preyed on women around military bases. His heinous acts spanned from 1977 to 1978, during which he is suspected of murdering four women and molesting three others. Arrested in 1978, Hance would eventually be executed by the state of Georgia on March 31, 1994, via the electric chair at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison in Jackson, Georgia.
A Wave of Terror in Georgia
The year was 1978, and Columbus, Georgia, was gripped by fear. The city was experiencing a series of murders targeting women. Among the victims were several elderly white women, their deaths attributed to the so-called Stocking Strangler. Meanwhile, the bodies of two young Black sex workers were discovered outside Fort Benning, adding to the chilling atmosphere.
A letter sent to the local police chief on U.S. Army stationery linked these disparate cases. The letter, purportedly from a gang of seven white men, claimed they were holding a Black woman hostage and would kill her unless the Stocking Strangler, believed at the time to be a Black man, was apprehended. This group, calling themselves the "Forces of Evil," demanded communication through radio or television and later requested a $10,000 ransom to spare the supposed hostage, Gail Jackson, also known by aliases including Brenda Gail Faison.
The Hoax Unraveled
The letters and phone calls from the "Forces of Evil" were nothing more than a smokescreen, a sinister hoax designed to divert attention from the real killer. Gail Jackson had already been murdered five weeks before her body was discovered in April 1978. She was only 21 years old.
Following the instructions in another call from the "Forces of Evil," the body of a second Black woman, Irene Thirkield, aged 32, was found at a rifle range at Fort Benning. As the investigation progressed, FBI profiler Robert K. Ressler developed a profile of the killer: a single Black man, likely a low-ranking soldier in his late twenties stationed at the fort.
The Arrest and Confession
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, armed with Ressler's profile, focused their search on bars frequented by Black patrons near the fort. Their investigation quickly led them to William Hance, a Specialist (E-4) attached to an artillery unit, serving as a truck driver at Fort Benning. Hance's military career had begun in the Marine Corps before he joined the Army.
Confronted with evidence that included handwriting, voice recordings, and shoe prints from the crime scenes, Hance confessed to the murders of Gail Jackson and Irene Thirkield, as well as the killing of Karen Hickman, a 24-year-old white Army private known to date Black soldiers. Hance was not charged with Hickman's murder in the civilian system but faced a court martial for her death.
Hance was also linked to the murder of a young Black woman at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, though he was not charged with this crime.
Legal Proceedings: Military and Civilian Courts
Hance's legal journey was complex, involving both military and civilian courts. In military court, he was convicted for the murder of Irene Thirkield but not tried in civilian courts. His court martial for Karen Hickman's murder resulted in a life sentence, which was later reversed due to questions about his mental capacity for premeditation. Ultimately, his final court martial sentence for the deaths of Hickman and Thirkield was life at hard labor, but these convictions were set aside in 1980 and not retried.
In civilian courts, Hance's conviction and death sentence for Gail Jackson's murder were upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court. Hance's numerous appeals, including those to the United States Supreme Court and the federal appellate court for the 11th Circuit, were unsuccessful. Despite a federal appellate court ordering a new sentencing phase trial due to prosecutorial misconduct and jury selection issues, Hance's death sentence was reaffirmed in a second trial.
Execution and Controversy
Hance's execution on March 31, 1994, marked him as the 231st inmate executed in the United States since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976 and the 18th in Georgia. Hours before his death, the Supreme Court declined to consider his appeal, despite Justice Harry Blackmun's dissent, citing substantial evidence of Hance's mental impairment and the potential racial bias in his trial.
Hance's IQ, measured between 75 and 79, placed him in the range of "borderline intellectual functioning." Controversy surrounded his trial, particularly allegations of racial prejudice within the jury. A juror, Patricia Lemay, reported racial slurs directed at Hance, while another juror, Gayle Lewis Daniels, a Black woman, faced pressure and intimidation from other jurors.
The media and legal experts criticized the handling of Hance's case, suggesting he was denied due process and victimized by racial bias. Attorney Ronald J. Tabak later highlighted the impact of race on Hance's sentence at a law school conference.
Cultural Reflection
William Henry Hance's chilling story found its way into popular culture, with actor Corey Allen portraying him in the second season of the Netflix series "Mindhunter."
Sources
For further details, the original Wikipedia article on William Henry Hance can be accessed here.
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
William Henry Hance commits his first known murder at Fort Benning.
Arrest of Hance
William Henry Hance is arrested after being identified as a suspect in the murders of two women.
Conviction for Murder
Hance is convicted of the murder of Gail Jackson and sentenced to death.
Life Sentence Overturned
Hance's life sentence for the murder of Irene Thirkield is reversed due to jurors deciding he lacked mental capacity.
Death Sentence Affirmed
The Georgia Supreme Court affirms Hance's death sentence for the murder of Gail Jackson.
Habeas Appeal Denied
The Eleventh Circuit Court denies Hance's habeas corpus appeal regarding the Jackson murder.
Execution
William Henry Hance is executed by electric chair in Georgia.