32 year old Albert Dyer was employed as a school crossing guard in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California. He was convicted of the murders of three young girls who were pupils at the Centinela Elementary school which he worked at.
On Saturday 24th of June 1937, 7 year old Madeline Everett, her 9 year old sister Melba and their friend, 8 year old Jeanette Stephens went to Centinela Park near their homes in Inglewood.
They did not return for their evening meal and their parents reported them missing, sparking a state-wide alarm. The police were assisted by a large number of volunteers, including Dyer, in searching for the girls. Sadly their bodies were discovered on Monday the 26th of June in a deep gully in a remote section of Baldwin Hills, by some Boy Scouts who had volunteered in the search.
Dyer was described by those who knew him as “simpleminded,” “a nut, but good-hearted” and “goofy, but harmless”. He apparently had told other volunteers not to smoke “out of respect for the dead.
He was questioned by police, but was not initially considered a suspect. But a few days later he went to Inglewood police station and announced, “I hear you are looking for me.” The police assured him that they were not looking for him and he left. However they decided to keep him under surveillance. They received a tip from a woman who recognized his description and he was brought in for questioning and arrested on the 4th of July.
Under interrogation he told officers that the girls “looked fresh and nice.” Dyer confessed. “I had no other reason than sex.” He had “played” with the three girls earlier at the park and asked them to meet him about noon so they could go rabbit hunting. “They said their mothers didn’t want them to, but I kept telling them how much fun it was and finally they agreed to meet me.”
He explained that he had taken the girls to a bean field and then took them one at a time, purportedly to help him catch a rabbit. Madeline was the first victim and he strangled her with his hands and tied a rope around her neck. (Identical rope would later be found in his house) He then murdered Jeanette and finally Melba. He confessed that after the murders he “violated their lifeless bodies”. In fact only Madeleine had been raped.
Dyer was charged with the murders but at trial retracted his confession and his defence tried to state he was mentally incompetent. He was convicted after two days of jury deliberation and sentenced to death on the 31st of August 1937. His appeal was dismissed and Governor Merriam refused clemency.
Shortly before Dyer entered San Quentin’s execution room, Warden Court Smith asked him if he could “take it.” “Oh yes, I’ll make it,” Dyer said. At 10 a.m. on Friday the 16th of September 1938, was hanged on San Quentin’s gallows before some 80-100 witnesses, the largest number since the execution of William Edward Hickman.
Dyer died gamely with a cigarette in his hand. Escorted by two guards he walked steadily up the 13 steps and cast one glance down at the crowd of witnesses. He said nothing. Guards quickly strapped his legs and pulled down the black hood. The trap fell at 10.03 a.m. and he was pronounced dead at 10.16 a.m.
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