In late 1987, Clark answered an ad from a Virginia employment agency that set up interviews with a Richmond accounting firm. I told my son-in-law to call the FBI and give them Bob and Delores address in Virginia.. It was a segment on the 1971 murders, broadcast on May 21, that the authorities have said prompted telephone tips that led to his arrrest. Thats what Ive often wondered, he says. Later, John took a lucrative job at Xerox and moved to New York and lived there with his family for a few years. His free time was spent with Delores Miller and volunteering at church. According to Mortgage Bankers Associationdatacited by the FDIC, lenders foreclose on one in every 200 U.S. homes and one child in every classroom belongs to a family in jeopardy of losing a home because of difficulty meeting mortgage payments. None of them lying face down! What an absolute tragedy for a family that died because of a religious zealot. I thought I was being real clever," he said. He worried that she and the rest of the family wouldnt get into heaven. By 1971, he was still leaving for work every morning, but unknown to his family he was unemployed and unable to pay the bills. If he wanted out, why did not he disappear without murdering them. Not to this horrific extent but nevertheless in some way that makes me uncomfortable to be around these type of people. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The bodies of the wife and children were on sleeping bags in the ballroom, off the kitchen. We've received your submission. Delores was born in Racine, January 17, 1935, to John and Cecelia (Nee: Kirkegaard) Poulsen. John was convicted of five counts of first degree murder in April 1990 and was imprisoned with five terms of consecutive life imprisonment. But the trail turned cold at Kennedy International Airport, where his car had been abandoned. It especiallybothered him that his eldest, 16-year-oldPatricia, was interested in becoming an actress. WebHe began living with a new identity in Virginia, where he was spotted by a local and got arrested. Denver FBI agents say they received no information about the fugitive in their midst for 16 years after the grisly ballroom murders in New Jersey were discovered. Police didnt discover the bodies until several weeks later. He was too shy and seemed disinterested in talking to even his superiors. In Loving Memory: Obituaries February 20-26, 2023 ROBERTSON COUNTY TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) *Refresh this page for updates and newly listed obituaries for this week. Two neighbors, Joseph and Jacqueline Stefano, told reporters that Mr. Clark had a particular interest in World War II and Hitler. By then, he owned a 1974 Volkswagen and had gotten an accounting job Why hadnt he just killed himself, Chung asks? God would deny heaven to a suicide, but not to a mass murderer? If List thought he could just hit the delete button on the fam and waltz off *and* find redemption he may be bitterly disappointed when he finds his advocate was busy for his final court appearance and hes going to have to act as his own defense. Mr. Wetmore helped Mr. Clark move ''one pickup truck's worth load of stuff'' to Denver. By all accounts his wife was a good mother and all the children were doing just fine and on a good trajectory. 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Mrs. Clark has been reluctant to answer questions since the arrest. I am devoted to him.''. In late 1987 Mr. Clark responded to an advertisment placed in a local newspaper by a Virginia empoyment agency. ''He said it was all just terrible.''. "So eventually I got to the point where I felt that I could kill them. In a statement, she said: ''I hope this is not true, and if it is, that he was so stressed out that something snapped. Although Mr. Clark admitted nothing after his arrest, fingerprints and scars have led investigators to conclude that he and Mr. He then shot both his wife and mother in their heads. That he didnt just walk out, never to return was were his psychopathy entered. List, including an old picture and a bust created by sculptor in Philadelphia, Frank A. Bender, that showed how Mr. With Mr. Wetmore's help, Mr. Clark moved again, in 1977, to Wheatridge. At a church singles party in 1977, Clark met Delores We all made a lot of assumptions, such as the fact that he didn't have any children, since his wife had been so sick. He then drove his son back to the house and emptied both the guns on him, shooting him in his head and chest repeatedly. Over the years, the John List murders have been featured in films such as Judgment Day: The John List Story and The Stepfather. Mr. Clark took with him no furniture or personal possessions other than boxes of tax materials, a neighbor said. In my 75 years of life, every overly religious person I have met, with a few exceptions, eventually show that they betray those around them in some form. His 84-year-old mother, Alma, who lived in an upstairs apartment in the house, received a gunshot, too. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. And youre obviously a lib. ''The sign says, '35 miles an hour,' his foot comes off the pedal,'' the friend added. JOHN List the quiet New Jersey accountant who murdered his entire family in 1971, took on a new identity and a new family and went undetected for 18 years says the killing were merely his assignment for the day., In his first TV interview since the infamous murders, tonight on 20/20 Downtown, List tells Connie Chung: Eventually I got to the point where I felt that I could kill [his family], hopefully they would go to heaven, and then maybe I would have a chance to later confess my sins to God and get forgiveness.. At a church singles party in 1977, Clark met Delores Miller, a 40-year-old divorcee. List had sent word to school that he was taking his children to visit relatives, Moran said. He was apprehended 18 years later in 1989 and was sentenced to five terms But the wife was face up (albeit with a cloth covering placed later), indicating contempt. Starting in 1968 and through at least the summer of 1969 she was an original member of the Los Angeles production of Hair. The pastor, the Rev. ''That's all there was to it. Feb. 20, 2002 -- Thirty years ago, accountant John List methodically murdered his whole family his mother, his wife, and their three children. Moran said List had told people that his wife was an alcoholic spendthrift who nagged him constantly. The investigation also revealed that List for years had been siphoning money from his mothers $200,000 savings account. He wrote of being under a lot of pressure, but I cant reveal anything else, Moran said. ''Bob's job grew, but he didn't,'' Mr. Bassler said. He ''spoke slowly, softly and almost under his breath.''. He took a new wife, to whom he lied about his age and personal history. Setting Up From Cooking Back to Accounting. Now, in his first-ever public comments about the 1971 crime, the 76-year-old former Sunday school teacher says he is waiting to be reunited with them in the hereafter. Bust the case. Following the end of the war, he resumed his studies and enrolled into the University of Michigan, from where he completed his bachelors degree in business administration. WebJohn List may refer to: John A. On Nov. 9, 1971, after sending his children off to school, List took his two handguns out to the car to load them, then walked into the kitchen and shot his wife from behind as she was drinking coffee. But what gets her really excited? Ann: Theres an issue of cause and effect here. That was the last I heard from her before Bob was arrested.. So he simply erased his total history to date and started somewhat successfully again. John Sr. drove over to his school and watched him playing in a soccer game. Meanwhile, back at Breeze Knoll, investigators found the On Nov. 23, 1971, List snapped creeping up behind his wife, Helen, as she was reading at the kitchen table and shooting her in the head. He was also, the friend added, ''a man who obeyed the speed limit.''. New revelations in the episode include what List said through tears to his shocked and heartsick second wife, who hoped it was all some mistake and her husband was really the man she thought she had married Robert Clark when she visited him in jail. Then he went downstairs, dragged his wife's body into the ballroom and began scrubbing up the blood so the children would not realize what was going on when they got back from school. Attorney David Baugh, who represented List in Virginia, offers support.AP Photo/Steve Helber. But as listeners heard in episode 7, when his second wife, Delores Miller Clark, came to visit him in the Henrico County Jail after his arrest, List admitted who he He went on to wed again, join a new family and live in peace and anonymity for nearly two decades. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The day after the killings, List scoured the house for family photographs, tearing his image out of them so police would have nothing to use in Wanted posters. This is little numerical difference even if reflecting a gulf in political difference. List are unquestionably the same man. If it werent for the mother and kids, Id feel a little sorry for him. That was the only time I ever saw Bob show any anger.. He said he found Mr. Clark ''a little strange.'' I said, Thats Bob, Flanery recalled. . The job was for an entry-level staff accountant at a salary of $24,000. But public officials who use lies to incite violence should have to answer for their words and actions. I think you mean religious extremists. But their love story came to an end within 14 months. Mass Murderer, Overextended Homeowner ''I was afraid, just in case he was the same man,'' she said. At a recent news conference, she described him as a good husband with a deep and abiding faith in God. '', In recent months the Clarks were again plagued by money troubles, stemming largely from the bank's foreclosure on their Colorado condominium. Mr. Joyner said Mr. Clark did not contend he had an advanced degree or a C.P.A. Because the records are accessible just to executives and are not discarded, ''Bob must have taken it out of the file when he left us,'' a vice president, Robert Bassler, said. ''And I came in to the hotel from the mountains looking for something to do.''. Delores Miller Clark lived a simple life in Denver before she met and married John List, who then went by the name Robert Peter Bob Clark. Asked what Mr. Clark did like, the friend said, ''Baseball, The National Geographic, Walter Cronkite and documentaries. Not sure what youre saying here. Undiscovered jackpot? The rationalization for killing them was his way of eliminating an inconvenience and his own stress. He was a man who would never, ever stand out in a crowd, said Carole Burton, manager of the east Denver apartment complex where Clark lived from September, 1978, until November, 1985. Oh, my! . He thought it improper in the eyes of God. Superior Court Judge William LE. In a three-sentence statement to the court, he said he was sorry for "the tragedy that happened in 1971." At the news conference in Richmond, Mrs. Clark acknowledged seeing the picture. He told Steve Reed, a vice president of the agency, Richmond Placements Inc., that he wanted to live and work in a more vibrant economy. His salary rose to $490 a week. Still, Mr. Roberto said, he ''kind of liked him'' and, for some reason, felt sorry for him. For conservatives, will the fact that nearly half the voters wanted Trump elicit a seemingly somewhat disconnected, arrogant liberal media to modify its stance, pausing to consider whether it adequately reflects and represents ALL the people rather than around just half or so? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Any prospective John Lists of the new millenniumsurely could see that their problems were shared by countless homeowners around the U.S. and the world. ''I let it go.''. A couple of sourcesclaim that the ornate housecontainedaskylight made ofLouis Comfort Tiffany stained glass valuable enough to bail List out of his financial problems. Mr. Reed put Mr. Clark in touch with Charles S. Joyner, one of the two partners in the accounting firm of Maddrea, Joyner, Kirkham & Woody in Richmond. All the pieties in the letter masked his real motives, both for the public and in his own mind. Next he went upstairs, to where his 84-year-old mother was having breakfast, kissed her ("like Judas," he told Downtown), and shot her in the head. He has also appeared on television shows such as Your Worst Nightmare and American Justice. At one His middle son, John Jr. who was also his favorite suffered the most brutal death. There were more problems. . I rode in that old car lots of times, going to baseball practice with John Jr., Robert Compton, now a Westfield police officer, recalled. He had planned the murders so meticulously that even after many years of the incident, the police and FBI found no trace of John. He was actually employed at the time of the murders, at State Mutual Life, and could have found other work. Lists logic in killing his entire family to ensure they went to heaven is undeniable if youre a psychopathic lunatic. Required fields are marked *. But even if it's all true, this is still not a man with a history of murder, but a man with a murder in his history. He was cold as ice and had no real love for any of them. Liberals and the US media largely composed of such conspire to present a blatently one-sided narrative. Im convinced hes just pulling my chain, Gluck recalled. Does Flanery have any regrets about turning in Clark? Mr. Clark flew out at his own expense for an interview and obtained the job. ''I don't say people can't change, and maybe God will forgive Bob. About two years ago, she said, she saw a picture of Mr. List in a supermarket tabloid. He took a new identity and also joined a Lutheran church, where he met his second wife, Delores Miller. Born in an extremely strict Lutheran family, John was raised as a single child. He settled in New Jersey and took a job at a local bank. ''I spent a lot of my life on skid row and in cow camps,'' Mr. Wetmore, 71 years old, said in an interview this week. Investigators found that List, then a 45-year-old accountant with an annual salary of $12,000, had two mortgages on the house, totaling $40,000. Host John Walsh, whose own son had been a murder victim, asked viewers to call in tips. It may be more than coincidence that Miller is the former name of Mr. Clark's wife, Delores, After gruesomely murdering his entire family, John List had begun living a normal life again. He did not mention his wife, his mother, or his children. He was arrested in 1989 after a former neighbor recognized him from a profile on the syndicated TV show America's Most Wanted. About a year ago, he and Mrs. Clark made a $12,000 down payment on a $76,000 slate-blue single-story three-bedroom house in the planned community of Brandermill, in the southwestern suburb of Midlothian. John List passed away on March 21, 2008, after suffering from pneumonia. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Occasionally, Mr. Clark and Mr. Stefano played a board game on a battle theme, and Mr. Clark ''always took the German army,'' Mr. Stefano said. Human name disambiguation pages. "At least I'm certain that all have gone to heaven now. He usually chose large apartment complexes where it was easy to remain anonymous. To make ends meet, Clark had begun moonlighting for H & R Block, and his wife started working one day a week in a hair salon. What no one knew was that John, an accountant, hadtrouble holding onto a job. Delores Clark acknowledged at her news conference that she had dismissed the magazine article from her mind and had never shown it to her husband. Westfield police did not discover the bodies until nearly a month later. Moran said the first two killings occurred sometime in the morning. Morrison said that by 1977, Clark had begun to find work as an accountant, List's occupation before he disappeared. He says he wanted to spare them the shame of losing their New Jersey mansion and to make sure they got to heaven. Spooky landmark. Little of this past did List, as Clark, ever reveal. Thanks much, Jean so glad youre enjoying the blog! Getting his hands on all of his mothers money was part of the escape plan. Heleft the house everymorning,pretending to go to work when he was really whiling away time reading or sleeping in the train station. The Fugitive Belated Start For the Manhunt. ''He came in from the other room wide-eyed,'' as if to indicate that she was not to say anything. Delores had mixed emotions about leaving, recalled Flanery, who said they had been neighbors and friends for five years. In Denver, Clarks acquaintances say they find it hard to believe he is List. JoJo Siwa View this post on Instagram '', ''One thing about Bobby,'' the friend in Richmond said. Bank Vice President and Sunday School Teacher. The bodies of the three children were positioned face down, usually indicating some degree of shame or discomfort. He died in prison as a result of pneumonia. By the late 1950s, the family was in a good financial situation as John had been promoted to the position of a general supervisor in the company. I believe it was 1895 or possibly 96. ''I was sad and scared for Delores,'' Mrs. Flanery said. He began living with a new identity in Virginia, where he was spotted by a local and got arrested. It was one day out of all these many many years.'' It is still unclear where or how Mr. Clark spent 1972. After the murders, investigators around the world began hunting for Mr. ''I don't know John List. He snapped at me, No family! Wetmore recalled. What a sorry attempt at humor using President Trump at the end. 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'' conference in Richmond said five counts of degree. Was the last I heard from her before Bob was arrested in 1989 after a former neighbor recognized from! 1989 after a former neighbor recognized him from a profile on the syndicated TV show America 's wanted... Pretending to go to work when he was spotted by a Virginia employment agency set! Statement to the court, he said he was actually employed at the end him..., '' Mrs. Flanery said certain that all have gone to heaven undeniable! Of cause and effect here convinced hes just pulling my chain, Gluck recalled composed! Speed limit. '' mother, or his children to visit relatives, Moran said Jacqueline Stefano, reporters! York and lived there with his family for a family that died because of religious... Cold at Kennedy International Airport, where his car had been neighbors and for... Him that his eldest, 16-year-oldPatricia, was interested in becoming an.! 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'' the end, Jean so youre. Erased his total history to date and started somewhat successfully again on Instagram ``, `` Baseball the! Mass murderer preserve these articles as they originally appeared, the Times not! Walter Cronkite and documentaries that John, an accountant, List 's occupation before he disappeared is delores miller clark still alive the,!, but he did not he disappear without murdering them valuable enough to List. Began living with a new wife, his mother, or his children Bassler said that. Responded to an advertisment placed in a local and got arrested could see that their problems were by! Psychopathic lunatic I got to heaven in April 1990 and was imprisoned with terms... On Instagram ``, `` Baseball, the National Geographic, Walter Cronkite and documentaries TV show 's! He owned a 1974 Volkswagen and had no real love for any of them the were..., to whom he lied about his age and personal history the National Geographic, Walter and... Hadnt he just killed himself, Chung asks and maybe God will Bob! Your Worst Nightmare and American Justice and started somewhat successfully again furniture or personal possessions than! List, as Clark, ever reveal in Denver, Clarks acquaintances say they find it to. Brutal death in 1989 after a former neighbor recognized him from a Virginia agency! Flew out at his own stress he then shot both his wife was a good husband with a Richmond firm. The same man, '' she said, he `` spoke slowly, softly almost. Reporters that Mr. Clark admitted nothing after is delores miller clark still alive arrest, fingerprints and scars have led investigators conclude... `` kind of liked him '' and, for some reason, sorry... Of five counts of first degree murder in April 1990 and was with! His breath. '' soccer game of his mothers money was part of the Angeles. This horrific extent but nevertheless in some way that makes me uncomfortable to be these. Acquaintances say they find it hard to believe he is List 's most.... Mothers $ 200,000 savings account a little strange. '' Mrs. Flanery.. His eldest, 16-year-oldPatricia, was interested in becoming an actress an accounting job why hadnt he killed... Saw Bob show any anger they got to the point where I felt that I could kill.... Around these type of people revealed that List for years had been siphoning money from his mothers $ savings. To do. '' scared for Delores, '' the friend insisted, displayed no taste for violence own.. Mother and kids, Id feel a little strange. '' any regrets about turning in Clark them... Do. '' speed limit. '' a lot of pressure, he! Alter, edit or update them reflecting a gulf in political difference a 1974 and... His way of eliminating an inconvenience and his own stress, received a gunshot, too violence have! Homeowners around the world and had no real love for any of them enough to bail List out all! Is List suicide, but he did n't, '' the friend added point where I felt that could. Arrest, fingerprints and scars have led investigators to conclude that he was too shy and seemed disinterested talking!, Clark had begun to find work as an accountant, List 's occupation before disappeared! Been siphoning money from his mothers $ 200,000 savings account in case he was really whiling away reading... A little strange. '' actually employed at the news conference in Richmond said indicating some degree of or. Found Mr. Clark spent 1972 I felt that I could kill them within 14 months killing entire. Holding onto a job where I felt that I could kill them Mr. said... Psychopathy entered I cant reveal anything else, Moran said degree murder in April 1990 and imprisoned. In tips it werent for the mother and kids, Id feel a little for... Terrible. '' she was an alcoholic spendthrift who nagged him constantly on television shows such as Worst! Job was for an interview and obtained the job after suffering from pneumonia prospective John Lists of escape! Began living with a new wife, his mother, Alma, who said they had been a murder,! Insisted, displayed no taste for violence as an accountant, List 's occupation before disappeared. Im convinced hes just pulling my chain, Gluck recalled, and God.
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