A.K.A.: "Red Bird" - "Crazy Bill"
Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Rape - Sadist
Number of victims: 8 +
Date of murders: 1983 - 1996
Date of arrest: December 29, 1996
Date of birth: March 18, 1935
Victims profile: Lisa Foley / Anita Stevens McQuaig / Connie Terrell / Lashawna Streeter / Cheryl Lucas / Donetha Snead-Haile / Diana Richardson / Lucy Arnett Raymer
Method of murder: Several
Location: North Carolina/Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to 30 years in prison in Florida, 1999. Died in prison April 17, 2001
William Darrell Lindsey
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Darrell Lindsey
Born May 18, 1935
Palatka, Florida, U.S
Died April 17, 2001 (aged 66)
Marion Correctional Institute, Ocala, Florida, U.S
Other names "Crazy Bill"
Criminal status Deceased
Spouses
Willa Jean
(m. 1958; div. 1975)
Annie Langley
(m. 1975; died 1992)
Children 7
Conviction(s) Second-degree murder (x6)
Criminal penalty 30 years imprisonment
Details
Victims 7–25 (six convictions)
Span of crimes 1983–1996
Country United States
State(s) Florida
North Carolina
Target(s) Prostitutes
Date apprehended December 1996
William Darrell "Bill" Lindsey (born Armstrong; May 18, 1935 – April 17, 2001), also known as Crazy Bill, was an American serial killer who murdered six women in St. Augustine, Florida, and one in Asheville, North Carolina, between 1983 and 1996. As part of a plea deal, he pleaded guilty to six of the murders and received a 30-year sentence in Florida. On April 17, 2001, he died of cancer whilst imprisoned.
Early life
refer to caption
Lindsey as a junior in high school
William Darrell Lindsey was born William Armstrong Jr. in Palatka on March 18, 1935, the only child of William, a roofer, and Mabel Armstrong, a homemaker. On August 18, 1935, when Lindsey was five months old, he was in the car with his parents when, for unknown reasons, the car swerved off the road and crashed. William and Mabel, in the front and passenger seats, died on impact. Lindsey, found wedged between the front and back seats, only sustained minor scratches and bruises.[1]
A local couple from St. Augustine, Cecil and Olean Lindsey, who had recently experienced the loss of their infant son, adopted William. Besides William, the Lindseys had three other children, two older daughters and a son. Cecil, his adoptive father, was a well-liked man who worked multiple jobs, his favorite being an actor for a local town attraction. Olean, his adoptive mother, was a nurse. Olean, a religious woman, was physically and emotionally abusive to her children. She viewed what was typically considered regular mischievousness as sinful, and felt it was her duty to punish those who perpetrated these actions. She frequently beat her children with frying pans and leather straps, pulled their hair, pinched them, and berated them. Cecil was submissive to his wife, allowing her to discipline their children and control all other household matters while he focused on work and other community events.[1]
During his childhood, William tortured multiple cats, killing one. He also set a hut on fire that other boys in his neighborhood had built. In school, he was described as a c-grade student with low intelligence. He had been held back several times, reaching grade 12 at age 21. A small, meek child, he was bullied by classmates and other children in his neighborhood.[2] Lindsey had no close friends and did not participate in any extracurricular activities. He did, however, have a job as a busboy at a local restaurant.[1]
Victims
# Name Age Date of death Place of death Cause of death Weapon used
1 Lisa Foley 24 October 9, 1983 West Pope Road, St. Augustine Beach, Florida Strangulation Hands
1 Anita McQuaig Stevens 27 November 29, 1988 Fish Island Road, St. Augustine, Florida Bludgeoning Wood plank
2 Constance Marie "Connie" Terrell 26 June 10, 1989 Holmes Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida Gunshot wound to the head .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle
3 Lashawna Streeter 27 March 1, 1992 Four Mile Road, St. Augustine, Florida Beating Hands
4 Donetha Snead-Haile 32 April 1993[N 1] King Street, St. Augustine, Florida Unknown Unknown
5 Cheryl Denise ""Niecey" Lucas 32 Mid-June 1995 Palmer Street, St. Augustine, Florida Bludgeoning Metal nail bar
6 Diana Richardson 48 October 12, 1995 Holmes Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida Beating Hands
7 Lucy Arnett Raymer 32 December 25, 1996 Chunns Cove Rd, Asheville, North Carolina Blows to the head
Source:[3]
Arrest and legal proceedings
Lindsey was arrested for Lucy Raymer's murder after a taxi driver witnessed her going into Lindsey's trailer on the night of her murder. Detectives soon linked him to the Florida murders as well, and Lindsey made a full confession.[4][5]
Although he was originally believed to only be responsible for the murders of six women in St. Augustine between 1988 and 1996, it was found he was also responsible for the unsolved 1983 murder of Lisa Foley. Lindsay picked her photo out of a lineup and identified her as a woman he strangled during an argument after sex. Lisa was last seen with Lindsay at the Tradewinds Lounge in downtown St. Augustine on October 9, 1983. Her body was found in a marshy area on West Pope Road near St. Augustine Beach five days later. Lindsey wasn't linked to her murder until January 1997.
On May 21, 1999, he pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder in the cases of Anita Stevens, Constance Terrell, Lashawna Street, and Cheryl Lucas. On July 8 of that year, he pleaded guilty to the two remaining murders – those of Donetha Snead-Haile and Diana Richardson. He was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment.[6]
Death
On April 17, 2001, Lindsey died from cancer whilst imprisoned at the Marion Correctional Institute in Ocala, Florida.[7]
In media
Season five, episode eight of Investigation Discovery's 'Evil Lives Here, titled, "I Hate Being Daddy's Girl," is about the childhood of Robin Lindsey, one of Lindsey's daughters.[8]
See also "Deadly Lust" by Marie and McCay Vernon. 2005.
Notes
Snead-Haile's family reported she went missing on April 21, but Lindsey claimed to have killed her on April 4.
References
Vernon & Vernon 2005, pp. 147–151.
Shifflett, Ashley; Simmons, Michelle; Simon, Mary (2005). "William Darrell Lindsey" (PDF). Radford University Department of Psychology. Virginia. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
Ball, Julie; Dryman, Susan (April 5, 1997). "Lindsey linked to more deaths". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
Vernon & Vernon 2005, pp. 136–137.
"MAN HELD IN N. CAROLINA MAY BE SERIAL KILLER, POLICE SAY". Chicago Tribune. April 6, 1997. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
Newton, Michael (2006). The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (illustrated ed.). Infobase Publishing. p. 371. ISBN 9780816069873.
Vanapalli, Viswa (September 5, 2021). "Is William Lindsey Dead or Alive?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
Vanapalli, Viswa (September 5, 2021). "Where is William Lindsey and Willa Jean's Daughter Robin Lindsey Now?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
Bibliography
Vernon, McCay; Vernon, Marie (2005). Deadly Lust. New York: Kensington Books. ISBN 9780786016990.
Categories: 1935 births2001 deathsAmerican serial killersAmerican male criminalsAmerican people convicted of murderAmerican people who died in prison custody20th-century American criminalsCrimes against sex workers in the United StatesCriminals from FloridaFlorida National Guard personnelPeople from Palatka, FloridaPeople convicted of murder by FloridaPrisoners who died in Florida detentionSerial killers from FloridaSerial killers from North Carolina
This page was last edited on 14 October 2023, at 10:52 (UTC).
Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Rape - Sadist
Number of victims: 8 +
Date of murders: 1983 - 1996
Date of arrest: December 29, 1996
Date of birth: March 18, 1935
Victims profile: Lisa Foley / Anita Stevens McQuaig / Connie Terrell / Lashawna Streeter / Cheryl Lucas / Donetha Snead-Haile / Diana Richardson / Lucy Arnett Raymer
Method of murder: Several
Location: North Carolina/Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to 30 years in prison in Florida, 1999. Died in prison April 17, 2001
William Darrell Lindsey
Article
Talk
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Edit
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Darrell Lindsey
Born May 18, 1935
Palatka, Florida, U.S
Died April 17, 2001 (aged 66)
Marion Correctional Institute, Ocala, Florida, U.S
Other names "Crazy Bill"
Criminal status Deceased
Spouses
Willa Jean
(m. 1958; div. 1975)
Annie Langley
(m. 1975; died 1992)
Children 7
Conviction(s) Second-degree murder (x6)
Criminal penalty 30 years imprisonment
Details
Victims 7–25 (six convictions)
Span of crimes 1983–1996
Country United States
State(s) Florida
North Carolina
Target(s) Prostitutes
Date apprehended December 1996
William Darrell "Bill" Lindsey (born Armstrong; May 18, 1935 – April 17, 2001), also known as Crazy Bill, was an American serial killer who murdered six women in St. Augustine, Florida, and one in Asheville, North Carolina, between 1983 and 1996. As part of a plea deal, he pleaded guilty to six of the murders and received a 30-year sentence in Florida. On April 17, 2001, he died of cancer whilst imprisoned.
Early life
refer to caption
Lindsey as a junior in high school
William Darrell Lindsey was born William Armstrong Jr. in Palatka on March 18, 1935, the only child of William, a roofer, and Mabel Armstrong, a homemaker. On August 18, 1935, when Lindsey was five months old, he was in the car with his parents when, for unknown reasons, the car swerved off the road and crashed. William and Mabel, in the front and passenger seats, died on impact. Lindsey, found wedged between the front and back seats, only sustained minor scratches and bruises.[1]
A local couple from St. Augustine, Cecil and Olean Lindsey, who had recently experienced the loss of their infant son, adopted William. Besides William, the Lindseys had three other children, two older daughters and a son. Cecil, his adoptive father, was a well-liked man who worked multiple jobs, his favorite being an actor for a local town attraction. Olean, his adoptive mother, was a nurse. Olean, a religious woman, was physically and emotionally abusive to her children. She viewed what was typically considered regular mischievousness as sinful, and felt it was her duty to punish those who perpetrated these actions. She frequently beat her children with frying pans and leather straps, pulled their hair, pinched them, and berated them. Cecil was submissive to his wife, allowing her to discipline their children and control all other household matters while he focused on work and other community events.[1]
During his childhood, William tortured multiple cats, killing one. He also set a hut on fire that other boys in his neighborhood had built. In school, he was described as a c-grade student with low intelligence. He had been held back several times, reaching grade 12 at age 21. A small, meek child, he was bullied by classmates and other children in his neighborhood.[2] Lindsey had no close friends and did not participate in any extracurricular activities. He did, however, have a job as a busboy at a local restaurant.[1]
Victims
# Name Age Date of death Place of death Cause of death Weapon used
1 Lisa Foley 24 October 9, 1983 West Pope Road, St. Augustine Beach, Florida Strangulation Hands
1 Anita McQuaig Stevens 27 November 29, 1988 Fish Island Road, St. Augustine, Florida Bludgeoning Wood plank
2 Constance Marie "Connie" Terrell 26 June 10, 1989 Holmes Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida Gunshot wound to the head .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle
3 Lashawna Streeter 27 March 1, 1992 Four Mile Road, St. Augustine, Florida Beating Hands
4 Donetha Snead-Haile 32 April 1993[N 1] King Street, St. Augustine, Florida Unknown Unknown
5 Cheryl Denise ""Niecey" Lucas 32 Mid-June 1995 Palmer Street, St. Augustine, Florida Bludgeoning Metal nail bar
6 Diana Richardson 48 October 12, 1995 Holmes Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida Beating Hands
7 Lucy Arnett Raymer 32 December 25, 1996 Chunns Cove Rd, Asheville, North Carolina Blows to the head
Source:[3]
Arrest and legal proceedings
Lindsey was arrested for Lucy Raymer's murder after a taxi driver witnessed her going into Lindsey's trailer on the night of her murder. Detectives soon linked him to the Florida murders as well, and Lindsey made a full confession.[4][5]
Although he was originally believed to only be responsible for the murders of six women in St. Augustine between 1988 and 1996, it was found he was also responsible for the unsolved 1983 murder of Lisa Foley. Lindsay picked her photo out of a lineup and identified her as a woman he strangled during an argument after sex. Lisa was last seen with Lindsay at the Tradewinds Lounge in downtown St. Augustine on October 9, 1983. Her body was found in a marshy area on West Pope Road near St. Augustine Beach five days later. Lindsey wasn't linked to her murder until January 1997.
On May 21, 1999, he pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder in the cases of Anita Stevens, Constance Terrell, Lashawna Street, and Cheryl Lucas. On July 8 of that year, he pleaded guilty to the two remaining murders – those of Donetha Snead-Haile and Diana Richardson. He was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment.[6]
Death
On April 17, 2001, Lindsey died from cancer whilst imprisoned at the Marion Correctional Institute in Ocala, Florida.[7]
In media
Season five, episode eight of Investigation Discovery's 'Evil Lives Here, titled, "I Hate Being Daddy's Girl," is about the childhood of Robin Lindsey, one of Lindsey's daughters.[8]
See also "Deadly Lust" by Marie and McCay Vernon. 2005.
Notes
Snead-Haile's family reported she went missing on April 21, but Lindsey claimed to have killed her on April 4.
References
Vernon & Vernon 2005, pp. 147–151.
Shifflett, Ashley; Simmons, Michelle; Simon, Mary (2005). "William Darrell Lindsey" (PDF). Radford University Department of Psychology. Virginia. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
Ball, Julie; Dryman, Susan (April 5, 1997). "Lindsey linked to more deaths". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
Vernon & Vernon 2005, pp. 136–137.
"MAN HELD IN N. CAROLINA MAY BE SERIAL KILLER, POLICE SAY". Chicago Tribune. April 6, 1997. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
Newton, Michael (2006). The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (illustrated ed.). Infobase Publishing. p. 371. ISBN 9780816069873.
Vanapalli, Viswa (September 5, 2021). "Is William Lindsey Dead or Alive?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
Vanapalli, Viswa (September 5, 2021). "Where is William Lindsey and Willa Jean's Daughter Robin Lindsey Now?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
Bibliography
Vernon, McCay; Vernon, Marie (2005). Deadly Lust. New York: Kensington Books. ISBN 9780786016990.
Categories: 1935 births2001 deathsAmerican serial killersAmerican male criminalsAmerican people convicted of murderAmerican people who died in prison custody20th-century American criminalsCrimes against sex workers in the United StatesCriminals from FloridaFlorida National Guard personnelPeople from Palatka, FloridaPeople convicted of murder by FloridaPrisoners who died in Florida detentionSerial killers from FloridaSerial killers from North Carolina
This page was last edited on 14 October 2023, at 10:52 (UTC).
A.K.A.: "Red Bird" - "Crazy Bill"
Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Rape - Sadist
Number of victims: 8 +
Date of murders: 1983 - 1996
Date of arrest: December 29, 1996
Date of birth: March 18, 1935
Victims profile: Lisa Foley / Anita Stevens McQuaig / Connie Terrell / Lashawna Streeter / Cheryl Lucas / Donetha Snead-Haile / Diana Richardson / Lucy Arnett Raymer
Method of murder: Several
Location: North Carolina/Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to 30 years in prison in Florida, 1999. Died in prison April 17, 2001
William Darrell Lindsey
Article
Talk
Read
Edit
View history
Tools
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Darrell Lindsey
Born May 18, 1935
Palatka, Florida, U.S
Died April 17, 2001 (aged 66)
Marion Correctional Institute, Ocala, Florida, U.S
Other names "Crazy Bill"
Criminal status Deceased
Spouses
Willa Jean
(m. 1958; div. 1975)
Annie Langley
(m. 1975; died 1992)
Children 7
Conviction(s) Second-degree murder (x6)
Criminal penalty 30 years imprisonment
Details
Victims 7–25 (six convictions)
Span of crimes 1983–1996
Country United States
State(s) Florida
North Carolina
Target(s) Prostitutes
Date apprehended December 1996
William Darrell "Bill" Lindsey (born Armstrong; May 18, 1935 – April 17, 2001), also known as Crazy Bill, was an American serial killer who murdered six women in St. Augustine, Florida, and one in Asheville, North Carolina, between 1983 and 1996. As part of a plea deal, he pleaded guilty to six of the murders and received a 30-year sentence in Florida. On April 17, 2001, he died of cancer whilst imprisoned.
Early life
refer to caption
Lindsey as a junior in high school
William Darrell Lindsey was born William Armstrong Jr. in Palatka on March 18, 1935, the only child of William, a roofer, and Mabel Armstrong, a homemaker. On August 18, 1935, when Lindsey was five months old, he was in the car with his parents when, for unknown reasons, the car swerved off the road and crashed. William and Mabel, in the front and passenger seats, died on impact. Lindsey, found wedged between the front and back seats, only sustained minor scratches and bruises.[1]
A local couple from St. Augustine, Cecil and Olean Lindsey, who had recently experienced the loss of their infant son, adopted William. Besides William, the Lindseys had three other children, two older daughters and a son. Cecil, his adoptive father, was a well-liked man who worked multiple jobs, his favorite being an actor for a local town attraction. Olean, his adoptive mother, was a nurse. Olean, a religious woman, was physically and emotionally abusive to her children. She viewed what was typically considered regular mischievousness as sinful, and felt it was her duty to punish those who perpetrated these actions. She frequently beat her children with frying pans and leather straps, pulled their hair, pinched them, and berated them. Cecil was submissive to his wife, allowing her to discipline their children and control all other household matters while he focused on work and other community events.[1]
During his childhood, William tortured multiple cats, killing one. He also set a hut on fire that other boys in his neighborhood had built. In school, he was described as a c-grade student with low intelligence. He had been held back several times, reaching grade 12 at age 21. A small, meek child, he was bullied by classmates and other children in his neighborhood.[2] Lindsey had no close friends and did not participate in any extracurricular activities. He did, however, have a job as a busboy at a local restaurant.[1]
Victims
# Name Age Date of death Place of death Cause of death Weapon used
1 Lisa Foley 24 October 9, 1983 West Pope Road, St. Augustine Beach, Florida Strangulation Hands
1 Anita McQuaig Stevens 27 November 29, 1988 Fish Island Road, St. Augustine, Florida Bludgeoning Wood plank
2 Constance Marie "Connie" Terrell 26 June 10, 1989 Holmes Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida Gunshot wound to the head .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle
3 Lashawna Streeter 27 March 1, 1992 Four Mile Road, St. Augustine, Florida Beating Hands
4 Donetha Snead-Haile 32 April 1993[N 1] King Street, St. Augustine, Florida Unknown Unknown
5 Cheryl Denise ""Niecey" Lucas 32 Mid-June 1995 Palmer Street, St. Augustine, Florida Bludgeoning Metal nail bar
6 Diana Richardson 48 October 12, 1995 Holmes Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida Beating Hands
7 Lucy Arnett Raymer 32 December 25, 1996 Chunns Cove Rd, Asheville, North Carolina Blows to the head
Source:[3]
Arrest and legal proceedings
Lindsey was arrested for Lucy Raymer's murder after a taxi driver witnessed her going into Lindsey's trailer on the night of her murder. Detectives soon linked him to the Florida murders as well, and Lindsey made a full confession.[4][5]
Although he was originally believed to only be responsible for the murders of six women in St. Augustine between 1988 and 1996, it was found he was also responsible for the unsolved 1983 murder of Lisa Foley. Lindsay picked her photo out of a lineup and identified her as a woman he strangled during an argument after sex. Lisa was last seen with Lindsay at the Tradewinds Lounge in downtown St. Augustine on October 9, 1983. Her body was found in a marshy area on West Pope Road near St. Augustine Beach five days later. Lindsey wasn't linked to her murder until January 1997.
On May 21, 1999, he pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder in the cases of Anita Stevens, Constance Terrell, Lashawna Street, and Cheryl Lucas. On July 8 of that year, he pleaded guilty to the two remaining murders – those of Donetha Snead-Haile and Diana Richardson. He was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment.[6]
Death
On April 17, 2001, Lindsey died from cancer whilst imprisoned at the Marion Correctional Institute in Ocala, Florida.[7]
In media
Season five, episode eight of Investigation Discovery's 'Evil Lives Here, titled, "I Hate Being Daddy's Girl," is about the childhood of Robin Lindsey, one of Lindsey's daughters.[8]
See also "Deadly Lust" by Marie and McCay Vernon. 2005.
Notes
Snead-Haile's family reported she went missing on April 21, but Lindsey claimed to have killed her on April 4.
References
Vernon & Vernon 2005, pp. 147–151.
Shifflett, Ashley; Simmons, Michelle; Simon, Mary (2005). "William Darrell Lindsey" (PDF). Radford University Department of Psychology. Virginia. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
Ball, Julie; Dryman, Susan (April 5, 1997). "Lindsey linked to more deaths". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
Vernon & Vernon 2005, pp. 136–137.
"MAN HELD IN N. CAROLINA MAY BE SERIAL KILLER, POLICE SAY". Chicago Tribune. April 6, 1997. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
Newton, Michael (2006). The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (illustrated ed.). Infobase Publishing. p. 371. ISBN 9780816069873.
Vanapalli, Viswa (September 5, 2021). "Is William Lindsey Dead or Alive?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
Vanapalli, Viswa (September 5, 2021). "Where is William Lindsey and Willa Jean's Daughter Robin Lindsey Now?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
Bibliography
Vernon, McCay; Vernon, Marie (2005). Deadly Lust. New York: Kensington Books. ISBN 9780786016990.
Categories: 1935 births2001 deathsAmerican serial killersAmerican male criminalsAmerican people convicted of murderAmerican people who died in prison custody20th-century American criminalsCrimes against sex workers in the United StatesCriminals from FloridaFlorida National Guard personnelPeople from Palatka, FloridaPeople convicted of murder by FloridaPrisoners who died in Florida detentionSerial killers from FloridaSerial killers from North Carolina
This page was last edited on 14 October 2023, at 10:52 (UTC).
Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Rape - Sadist
Number of victims: 8 +
Date of murders: 1983 - 1996
Date of arrest: December 29, 1996
Date of birth: March 18, 1935
Victims profile: Lisa Foley / Anita Stevens McQuaig / Connie Terrell / Lashawna Streeter / Cheryl Lucas / Donetha Snead-Haile / Diana Richardson / Lucy Arnett Raymer
Method of murder: Several
Location: North Carolina/Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to 30 years in prison in Florida, 1999. Died in prison April 17, 2001
William Darrell Lindsey
Article
Talk
Read
Edit
View history
Tools
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Darrell Lindsey
Born May 18, 1935
Palatka, Florida, U.S
Died April 17, 2001 (aged 66)
Marion Correctional Institute, Ocala, Florida, U.S
Other names "Crazy Bill"
Criminal status Deceased
Spouses
Willa Jean
(m. 1958; div. 1975)
Annie Langley
(m. 1975; died 1992)
Children 7
Conviction(s) Second-degree murder (x6)
Criminal penalty 30 years imprisonment
Details
Victims 7–25 (six convictions)
Span of crimes 1983–1996
Country United States
State(s) Florida
North Carolina
Target(s) Prostitutes
Date apprehended December 1996
William Darrell "Bill" Lindsey (born Armstrong; May 18, 1935 – April 17, 2001), also known as Crazy Bill, was an American serial killer who murdered six women in St. Augustine, Florida, and one in Asheville, North Carolina, between 1983 and 1996. As part of a plea deal, he pleaded guilty to six of the murders and received a 30-year sentence in Florida. On April 17, 2001, he died of cancer whilst imprisoned.
Early life
refer to caption
Lindsey as a junior in high school
William Darrell Lindsey was born William Armstrong Jr. in Palatka on March 18, 1935, the only child of William, a roofer, and Mabel Armstrong, a homemaker. On August 18, 1935, when Lindsey was five months old, he was in the car with his parents when, for unknown reasons, the car swerved off the road and crashed. William and Mabel, in the front and passenger seats, died on impact. Lindsey, found wedged between the front and back seats, only sustained minor scratches and bruises.[1]
A local couple from St. Augustine, Cecil and Olean Lindsey, who had recently experienced the loss of their infant son, adopted William. Besides William, the Lindseys had three other children, two older daughters and a son. Cecil, his adoptive father, was a well-liked man who worked multiple jobs, his favorite being an actor for a local town attraction. Olean, his adoptive mother, was a nurse. Olean, a religious woman, was physically and emotionally abusive to her children. She viewed what was typically considered regular mischievousness as sinful, and felt it was her duty to punish those who perpetrated these actions. She frequently beat her children with frying pans and leather straps, pulled their hair, pinched them, and berated them. Cecil was submissive to his wife, allowing her to discipline their children and control all other household matters while he focused on work and other community events.[1]
During his childhood, William tortured multiple cats, killing one. He also set a hut on fire that other boys in his neighborhood had built. In school, he was described as a c-grade student with low intelligence. He had been held back several times, reaching grade 12 at age 21. A small, meek child, he was bullied by classmates and other children in his neighborhood.[2] Lindsey had no close friends and did not participate in any extracurricular activities. He did, however, have a job as a busboy at a local restaurant.[1]
Victims
# Name Age Date of death Place of death Cause of death Weapon used
1 Lisa Foley 24 October 9, 1983 West Pope Road, St. Augustine Beach, Florida Strangulation Hands
1 Anita McQuaig Stevens 27 November 29, 1988 Fish Island Road, St. Augustine, Florida Bludgeoning Wood plank
2 Constance Marie "Connie" Terrell 26 June 10, 1989 Holmes Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida Gunshot wound to the head .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle
3 Lashawna Streeter 27 March 1, 1992 Four Mile Road, St. Augustine, Florida Beating Hands
4 Donetha Snead-Haile 32 April 1993[N 1] King Street, St. Augustine, Florida Unknown Unknown
5 Cheryl Denise ""Niecey" Lucas 32 Mid-June 1995 Palmer Street, St. Augustine, Florida Bludgeoning Metal nail bar
6 Diana Richardson 48 October 12, 1995 Holmes Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida Beating Hands
7 Lucy Arnett Raymer 32 December 25, 1996 Chunns Cove Rd, Asheville, North Carolina Blows to the head
Source:[3]
Arrest and legal proceedings
Lindsey was arrested for Lucy Raymer's murder after a taxi driver witnessed her going into Lindsey's trailer on the night of her murder. Detectives soon linked him to the Florida murders as well, and Lindsey made a full confession.[4][5]
Although he was originally believed to only be responsible for the murders of six women in St. Augustine between 1988 and 1996, it was found he was also responsible for the unsolved 1983 murder of Lisa Foley. Lindsay picked her photo out of a lineup and identified her as a woman he strangled during an argument after sex. Lisa was last seen with Lindsay at the Tradewinds Lounge in downtown St. Augustine on October 9, 1983. Her body was found in a marshy area on West Pope Road near St. Augustine Beach five days later. Lindsey wasn't linked to her murder until January 1997.
On May 21, 1999, he pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder in the cases of Anita Stevens, Constance Terrell, Lashawna Street, and Cheryl Lucas. On July 8 of that year, he pleaded guilty to the two remaining murders – those of Donetha Snead-Haile and Diana Richardson. He was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment.[6]
Death
On April 17, 2001, Lindsey died from cancer whilst imprisoned at the Marion Correctional Institute in Ocala, Florida.[7]
In media
Season five, episode eight of Investigation Discovery's 'Evil Lives Here, titled, "I Hate Being Daddy's Girl," is about the childhood of Robin Lindsey, one of Lindsey's daughters.[8]
See also "Deadly Lust" by Marie and McCay Vernon. 2005.
Notes
Snead-Haile's family reported she went missing on April 21, but Lindsey claimed to have killed her on April 4.
References
Vernon & Vernon 2005, pp. 147–151.
Shifflett, Ashley; Simmons, Michelle; Simon, Mary (2005). "William Darrell Lindsey" (PDF). Radford University Department of Psychology. Virginia. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
Ball, Julie; Dryman, Susan (April 5, 1997). "Lindsey linked to more deaths". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
Vernon & Vernon 2005, pp. 136–137.
"MAN HELD IN N. CAROLINA MAY BE SERIAL KILLER, POLICE SAY". Chicago Tribune. April 6, 1997. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
Newton, Michael (2006). The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (illustrated ed.). Infobase Publishing. p. 371. ISBN 9780816069873.
Vanapalli, Viswa (September 5, 2021). "Is William Lindsey Dead or Alive?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
Vanapalli, Viswa (September 5, 2021). "Where is William Lindsey and Willa Jean's Daughter Robin Lindsey Now?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
Bibliography
Vernon, McCay; Vernon, Marie (2005). Deadly Lust. New York: Kensington Books. ISBN 9780786016990.
Categories: 1935 births2001 deathsAmerican serial killersAmerican male criminalsAmerican people convicted of murderAmerican people who died in prison custody20th-century American criminalsCrimes against sex workers in the United StatesCriminals from FloridaFlorida National Guard personnelPeople from Palatka, FloridaPeople convicted of murder by FloridaPrisoners who died in Florida detentionSerial killers from FloridaSerial killers from North Carolina
This page was last edited on 14 October 2023, at 10:52 (UTC).
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