401:
at him and that he had stabbed him in self-defense. Kennedy, who was present as a witness, disputed this, claiming that when he asked Housel why he was doing it, Housel guessed that he was "crazy". After this, he showed his scars, pointing out that Housel had stabbed in the chest and slashed his throat.
400:
During trial proceedings, the prosecution procured a tape in which Housel willingly confessed and described in detail how he carried out his crimes, with him crying during the recording and whilst it was being played in the courtroom. Notably, he claimed that
Kennedy had made unwanted sexual advances
404:
At the end of the trial, in spite of pleas from his lawyer, mother and girlfriend, jurors agreed unanimously that the death penalty should be applied after an hour and 15 minutes of deliberation. As a result, Justice George
Culpepper sentenced Housel to death, as well as 20 years imprisonment on the
417:
and ex-police officer who was one of the people who found Drew's body. He approached Housel with a plea for him to confess to the full extent of his crimes, as in 1986, during an interrogation between the two of them, Housel had broken down in tears and told him that he had killed seventeen people
396:
While he had outstanding warrants on various charges in four states, it was first decided that Housel would be tried in
Georgia, where the Gwinnett County District Attorney Tom Lawler was seeking the death penalty against him. On the advice of his lawyer, Walt Britt, Housel pleaded guilty to
376:
when he answered a knock on his door and was then stabbed once in the heart by an unknown individual, the blow proving to be fatal. The latter murder took place on
October 31, 1983, when the 29-year-old Zamorano, the head cook of a local Vejar's, was stabbed and beaten to death under unclear
255:. He had invited her over to a motel, where he then threatened her with a knife and stole $ 100 and left. Lewis was able to give a detailed description of him and his vehicle, leading to his arrest only hours later. However, it is unclear if he was ever imprisoned for this crime.
339:, where he would be arrested on April 15 after attempting to pay a bill using her credit card. While inspecting his belongings, officers noticed that Housel was missing a ring he was known to wear on one of his fingers, which was later found next to the body of Jean Drew.
225:
during a six-week crime spree across four states, Housel was also responsible for at least two other murders and two non-fatal attacks, with him confessing shortly before his execution that he had killed 17 people in his lifetime, a claim which remains uncorroborated.
355:
on
January 28. While the murder shared similarities with that of Drew, investigators were unable to place Housel in the vicinity of the crime and the case went unsolved at the time. In 2010, sex offender Steven Walter Gomez would be linked to the Ricks case via
397:
vehicular theft and murder, in exchange for the prosecution dropping the rape charges. Despite this, Lawler still sought the death penalty, as he surmized that Drew's prolonged and painful torture prior to her murder warranted it.
327:, where he began conversing with 44-year-old Carolyn Jean Dellinger Drew, a local woman who sometimes sought to speak to strangers to alleviate her loneliness. After leaving the bar together, Housel brought Drew to a driveway in
367:
Two other murders for which Housel was investigated took place in Tulare: the 1981 murder of
Michael James Morgan and the 1983 murder of Eligio "Eli" Zamorano. On December 30, 1981, the 31-year-old Morgan, a truck driver from
405:
theft charge. Upon hearing the verdict, Housel sat down in his chair and began to cry. He would never be tried for his other crimes, as prosecutors from those states stated that the death sentence in
Georgia satisfied them.
377:
circumstances. Authorities at the time noted that both killings shared similarities with the later murder of Troy Smith, but Housel was never officially connected to either killing, both of which presumably remain unsolved.
486:, in the presence of approximately 20 witnesses consisting of people involved in his case and civilian observers. His last words consisted of him apologizing to his victim's family, his mother, and ultimately mouthing the
229:
His case and subsequent execution sparked controversy, as the
British government and several advocacy groups attempted to have Housel's death sentence commuted due to his dual nationality and alleged
347:
Soon after his arrest, investigators from states around the country began inquiries to see if they could connect Housel to any recent unsolved crimes in their area. As he was last known to reside in
413:
For the next seventeen years, Housel attempted to appeal his death sentence, but was ultimately unsuccessful. As his execution date was scheduled for March 2002, he was visited by John Latty, a
1005:
263:
During his six-week crime spree, Housel, using his job as a truck driver, would travel across various states and visit
Western-themed bars or gas stations, presenting himself as a
301:. Housel offered to drive him there, but on the way, he pulled out a knife and stabbed Kennedy four times, cut his throat and then left him to bleed out in a ditch near the
975:
429:
When notified about his impending execution, Housel's relatives and
British officials pleaded with the authorities in Georgia to commute his sentence. Among them were
995:
532:
351:, authorities initially suspected that he might be involved in the murder of 44-year-old Dixie Lee Ricks, who had been sexually assaulted and strangled in
733:
479:
68:
474:
In the end, Housel's death sentence was finalized and his execution was scheduled for March 12, 2002. On the aforementioned date, he was executed via
271:. He would befriend both men and women, whom he would attempt to kill in isolated locations, either after robbing, sexually assaulting them, or both.
910:
282:. After spending most of the night drinking together, he sodomized and then bludgeoned Smith to death with a hammer, before dumping his body at a
1015:
527:
970:
985:
980:
522:
1000:
990:
517:
950:
1010:
960:
331:, where he proceeded to rape, strangle and then beat her to death with a stick. He then stole Drew's credit card and 1981 silver
433:
437:
891:
848:
826:
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648:
604:
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781:
624:
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Housel's first notable crime occurred on March 16, 1984, when he attempted to rob 27-year-old Sophia Love Lewis in
743:
667:
965:
920:
870:
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after providing them with testimony from Housel, but no specific details about the case were disclosed.
418:
throughout his lifetime. His claims were not without merit, as in 2001, Latty had helped the police in
305:, stealing his car and wallet beforehand. Kennedy was found by a passer-by and driven to a hospital in
230:
320:, then drove her to an isolated spot near the Freeman School, where he bound, raped and robbed her.
317:
609:
560:
786:
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385:
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His first confirmed murder with a known date occurred on February 20, 1985, when he picked up
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297:, when he came across 45-year-old Gary Lee Kennedy, who was hitching for a ride to
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72:
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Housel was at one time considered to be a possible suspect in at least two of the
504:
381:
306:
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934:
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218:
309:, where he survived his injuries. His car would later be found abandoned in
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582:"California man wanted in four states will go on trial in Gwinnett slaying"
459:
423:
332:
275:
46:
419:
323:
Just three days later, on April 6, Housel found himself at a Union 76 in
507:- another British-American who was also executed by the state of Georgia
316:
On April 3, Housel picked up an unnamed 18-year-old woman from a bar in
447:
440:
373:
178:
117:
458:- should be spared because of his abusive childhood, severe case of
454:, who argued that Housel - a dual British-American national born in
849:"Jury sentences Housel to death for slaying of Lawrenceville woman"
738:
214:
50:
846:
414:
264:
279:
186:
827:"Tape of Housel confession heard in push for death sentence"
1006:
People executed by Georgia (U.S. state) by lethal injection
357:
734:"Visalia Man Receives Life Sentence in Cold Case Murder"
221:. Convicted and later executed for murdering a woman in
605:"Transient found in Florida charged in attack on Iowan"
388:, but he was presumably ruled out shortly afterwards.
16:
British-American murderer and suspected serial killer
847:
Susan Laccetti and Michael Moss (February 8, 1986).
668:"Gwinnett slaying suspect is charged in crime spree"
533:
List of people executed in the United States in 2002
408:
976:People convicted of murder by Georgia (U.S. state)
731:
480:Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison
69:Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison
803:"Gwinnett seeks death penalty in woman's slaying"
782:"Police say Knox, Georgia slayings may be linked"
932:
715:"Police need information on ex-resident of area"
160:February 20 – April 6, 1985 (confirmed)
996:21st-century executions by Georgia (U.S. state)
892:"Witnesses to execution say justice was served"
625:"P'burg assault suspect may be in Fla. custody"
528:List of people executed in Georgia (U.S. state)
824:
800:
790:. December 2, 1985 – via Newspapers.com.
665:
579:
908:
868:
694:"On death row, a final plea for victim names"
649:"On death row, a final plea for victim names"
691:
646:
633:. April 19, 1985 – via Newspapers.com.
613:. April 16, 1985 – via Newspapers.com.
564:. March 16, 1984 – via Newspapers.com.
761:
721:. July 23, 1985 – via Newspapers.com.
523:List of people executed by lethal injection
391:
293:On March 30, Housel was at a truck stop in
889:
518:Capital punishment in Georgia (U.S. state)
342:
732:Winston Whitehurst (February 25, 2010).
700:. p. J3 – via Newspapers.com.
655:. p. J1 – via Newspapers.com.
575:
573:
571:
871:"Time runs out for Briton on death row"
864:
862:
820:
818:
816:
1016:British emigrants to the United States
933:
757:
755:
753:
709:
707:
217:-American murderer and self-confessed
842:
840:
599:
597:
595:
568:
550:
548:
278:truck driver Troy Smith somewhere in
213:(May 7, 1958 – March 12, 2002) was a
859:
813:
687:
685:
683:
642:
640:
971:American people executed for murder
825:Susan Laccetti (February 6, 1986).
801:Susan Laccetti (February 5, 1986).
750:
704:
580:Susan Laccetti (January 27, 1986).
13:
986:American people convicted of theft
981:British people convicted of murder
837:
592:
545:
246:
14:
1032:
1001:Executed suspected serial killers
991:British people convicted of theft
764:"Link to unsolved murders sought"
680:
666:David Pendered (April 16, 1985).
637:
409:Confession and calls for clemency
909:James Langton (April 12, 2002).
896:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
869:Matthew Engel (March 12, 2002).
853:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
831:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
807:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
698:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
673:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
653:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
586:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
362:life imprisonment without parole
951:20th-century American criminals
902:
883:
794:
774:
692:Carlos Frías (March 10, 2002).
647:Carlos Frías (March 10, 2002).
1011:British people executed abroad
961:20th-century British criminals
725:
659:
617:
556:"Suspected robber is arrested"
360:, convicted, and sentenced to
258:
1:
890:Doug Nurse (March 13, 2002).
762:Steve Breen (July 25, 1985).
538:
135:20 years imprisonment (Theft)
469:
384:, one of them being that of
241:
7:
911:"Death row Briton executed"
898:– via Newspapers.com.
879:– via Newspapers.com.
855:– via Newspapers.com.
833:– via Newspapers.com.
809:– via Newspapers.com.
770:– via Newspapers.com.
676:– via Newspapers.com.
588:– via Newspapers.com.
493:
466:during his original trial.
422:solve the 1985 murder of a
311:Spartanburg, South Carolina
10:
1037:
236:
231:diminished responsibility
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172:
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144:
139:
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115:
111:
91:
80:
57:
28:
21:
1021:People from Paget Parish
392:Trial and death sentence
318:Phillipsburg, New Jersey
956:American male criminals
768:Tulare Advance-Register
719:Tulare Advance-Register
610:The Des Moines Register
561:The Salinas Californian
343:Disproven and suspected
966:British male criminals
787:The Advocate-Messenger
337:Daytona Beach, Florida
325:Lawrenceville, Georgia
105:"Imperial Duncan Yoyo"
746:on September 3, 2023.
456:Paget Parish, Bermuda
452:Clive Stafford Smith
295:Council Bluffs, Iowa
372:, was resting at a
253:Salinas, California
156:Span of crimes
81:Cause of death
349:Tulare, California
101:Robert Allen Young
923:on June 11, 2021.
462:and his lawyer's
445:Foreign Secretary
223:Norcross, Georgia
208:
207:
190:(others possible)
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925:
924:
919:. Archived from
916:Evening Standard
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759:
748:
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742:. Archived from
729:
723:
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711:
702:
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689:
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663:
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634:
630:The Morning Call
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577:
566:
565:
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476:lethal injection
211:Tracy Lee Housel
196:Date apprehended
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130:Criminal penalty
120:
92:Other names
86:lethal injection
73:Jackson, Georgia
64:
42:
40:
33:Tracy Lee Housel
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18:
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541:
505:Nicholas Ingram
496:
472:
411:
394:
382:Redhead murders
345:
335:, and drove to
307:Omaha, Nebraska
267:or member of a
261:
249:
247:Salinas robbery
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200:April 15, 1985
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150:17 (confessed)
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133:Death (Murder)
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67:
65:(aged 43)
61:March 12, 2002
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488:Lord's Prayer
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467:
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464:many mistakes
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450:and attorney
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219:serial killer
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168:United States
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148:3 (confirmed)
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122:
119:
118:Conviction(s)
114:
110:
99:Troy Lee Lane
94:
90:
87:
84:Execution by
83:
79:
74:
70:
60:
56:
52:
48:
31:
27:
20:
921:the original
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876:The Guardian
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830:
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744:the original
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718:
697:
671:
661:
652:
628:
619:
608:
585:
559:
511:
510:
498:
497:
473:
460:hypoglycemia
428:
424:transvestite
412:
403:
399:
395:
386:Espy Pilgrim
379:
366:
346:
333:Ford Mustang
322:
315:
292:
276:South Dakota
273:
262:
250:
228:
210:
209:
63:(2002-03-12)
47:Paget Parish
23:Tracy Housel
946:2002 deaths
941:1958 births
420:Los Angeles
259:Crime spree
43:May 7, 1958
935:Categories
539:References
512:Execution:
448:Jack Straw
441:Vera Baird
374:Travelodge
269:biker gang
179:California
95:Justin Lee
39:1958-05-07
470:Execution
288:Rose City
242:Confirmed
215:Bermudian
97:Tracy Lee
499:General:
494:See also
370:Lakeside
329:Norcross
299:Atlantic
286:outside
284:Union 76
174:State(s)
107:"Cactus"
739:KMPH-TV
484:Jackson
478:at the
353:Visalia
183:Georgia
165:Country
145:Victims
140:Details
51:Bermuda
438:Redcar
431:Labour
415:deacon
265:cowboy
237:Crimes
123:Murder
103:"Yoyo"
75:, U.S.
280:Texas
187:Texas
125:Theft
436:for
303:I-80
58:Died
29:Born
482:in
358:DNA
937::
913:.
894:.
873:.
861:^
851:.
839:^
829:.
815:^
805:.
784:.
766:.
752:^
736:.
717:.
706:^
696:.
682:^
670:.
651:.
639:^
627:.
607:.
594:^
584:.
570:^
558:.
547:^
490:.
443:,
434:MP
364:.
313:.
290:.
233:.
185:,
181:,
71:,
49:,
41:)
37:(
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