That night Wallace raped and killed Henderson while she held her son. Police were stunned at the enormity of his crimes, McFadden says. In February 1993, Wallace raped and killed Taco Bell co-workerShawna Hawk. Henry had a difficult childhood because Lottie was a disciplinarian, and when she felt the need to punish her kids, she would reportedly sometimes ask them to whip each other. Crime Magazine reports that Henry Louis Wallace's life unraveled after his stint in the Navy. After high school, he worked off and on for 1 1/2 years at WBAW-FM in Barnwell as a deejay. This holds when comparing Wallace to the serial killer profile. Montaldo, Charles. In September, Wallace raped and murdered another Taco Bell co-worker, Michelle Stinson, who was stabbed and raped in front of her oldest son. His spree ended with Betty Baucom, who he killed like his other victims. Another co-worker,Audrey Spain, was murdered by Wallace the following June. The Murders Tashanda "Shan" Bethea (suspected) March 18, 1990 Barnwell, South Carolina Wallace met Tashanda "Shan" Bethea in 1989. Like Love, she was raped prior to being strangled (via Caselaw). (ABCs 20/20). They are like, I was her masterpiece.. Charles Montaldo is a writer and former licensed private detective who worked with law enforcement and insurance firms investigating crime and fraud. After Henry graduated high school in 1983, he spent some time at college before joining the US Naval Reserve. Neither school would confirm that he was a student. "Serial Killer Henry Louis Wallace." The defense didnt deny Wallace strangled or stabbed the women between 1991 and 1994, but said he was mentally ill. These actions led to his eventual arrest and prosecution. In February 1991, Wallace broke into his old high school and the radio station where he once worked. A serial killer terrorized Charlotte for years, murdering several young Black women. Henry Louis Wallace, shown in a undated file photo, was convicted in Charlotte, N.C., on Jan. 7, 1997, of raping and killing nine women over a 20-month period. Obvious, obvious connections in my humble opinion, blatantly ignored.. In 1998, Wallace married prison nurse Rebecca Torrijas, a woman 23 years his senior. He also strangled her son, but the boy survived. His breathing was labored and he barely survived. The two had recently welcomed a newborn son. Woods was found with a ligature wrapped around his neck. However, he believes its because society as a whole devalues Black lives, and law enforcements efforts are unduly pressured by media coverage of white crime victims, he says. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone. He knew both of them, and both lived at the complex. It's just that we were overwhelmed with the cases, he later added. While stationed in Washington, he was served with burglary warrants for crimesin theSeattlemetro area. Wallace grew up with his mother working long hours as a textile worker. "The Taco Bell Strangler") was given death penalty on nine counts and is awaiting the sentence to be carried out. Burrell and Woods lost touch, but they were reunited in Charlotte a few weeks ago. His close brush with death at just 10 months has molded him as a man. One person being a chameleon, he will adapt to anything, any environment, any situation, hes very well respected, very well-liked person, he almost lures the women in for the other person.. He wouldnt have lied to me for two years while my sister was missing and then killed all those other women, said Kathy Love, whose sister disappeared while she was a roommate of Wallaces girlfriend. He said he didnt know who it was at the time, but didnt worry because it seemed like she trusted the person. He raped and strangled most of his victims, who unsuspectingly let him into their homes. By then, he had a criminal history; he had committed sexual crimes, burglary, and larceny in the past. Hes hugging me and patting me on the back, saying, Oh my God, Shawna was the sweetest person ever.'. Brandi told me when she had Tyrece that she felt like her life was complete., READ MORE: Woman claims accused serial killer assaulted her 22 years ago. https://www.thoughtco.com/serial-killer-henry-louis-wallace-973140 (accessed March 1, 2023). She is continuing to support Mothers of Murdered Offspring, but is not as actively involved anymore. Wiping tears, Wallace sat down as a victims cousin shouted: Why did you kill them?. It was not until weeks later that her body was discovered. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. ThoughtCo. Two of those women lived in the same apartment complex. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. During a press conference following Wallaces arrest, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Deputy Chief Larry Snider said police worked tremendously hard and did an excellent job investigating the cases. A lot of those cases were on desks of six homicide detectives in the '90s, said McFadden. Henry Louis Wallace (born November 4, 1965) is an American serial killer who killed 10 women in Charlotte, North Carolina and is awaiting execution at Central Prison in Raleigh. Sumpter is focused on making life better for others in honor of a life taken from her. They were overworked, unbeknownst to me underpaid and they just didnt give a damn. Id be afraid Id say something I shouldnt say., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Her body was discovered floating on a pond in March of that year. By Susan Welsh, Joseph Diaz, Andrew Paparella, and Haley Yamada May 12, 2022, 12:34 PM 7:34 Dee Sumpter holds a photo of her daughter Shawna Hawk in 2022. In addition to becoming a husband, he also took on the role of stepfather to Brabham's daughter. We didn't have the technology. According to Crime Magazine, Wallace went on trial in September 1996, with a jury returning a verdict of guilty on January 7, 1997. To cover up the crime, his sister's friend attempted to burn her body. He is believed to be the first documented serial killer who knew all of his victims. (Watch the video below: Interview: Sister of last known victim killed by Charlotte serial killer Henry Wallace), Interview: Sister of last known victim killed by Charlotte serial killer Henry Wallace. Wallace was the manager of a Taco Bell restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Henry Louis Wallace, known as The Charlotte Strangler and The Taco Bell Strangler, murdered 11 Black women in the span of four years in the 1990s. He worked at the plant from May 1989 to October 1990. We worked under very difficult conditions, says McFadden, now sheriff in Mecklenburg County. He is known as the Taco Bell Strangler.. Wallace's mother provided for him and his older sister the best she could, but her low-paying job at a local textile mill didn't yield much income. (2021, July 30). by Jason Lapeyre When he was arrested on Feb. 4, 1994, in Charlotte, N.C., Henry Louis Wallace had already raped and strangled to death five young black women. This continued into the 1990s, and after an arrest for breaking and entering in 1992, Henry was given an honorable discharge from the Navy (because of his trouble-free service record). Friends said Wallace liked to drink beer, listen to rap music and hang out at Granville Apartments on North Sharon Amity Road, where neighbors said he had lived since August. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Lottie Mae Wallace says she wont be going to the jail anytime soon. Those lives didnt have to be taken, Yvonne Wallace said. Henry Louis Wallace breaks the mold of the typical serial killer. Under interrogation, Wallace admitted to the murders of 10 women, most of whom he had also sexually assaulted(via ThoughtCo). His mother, Brandi Henderson, was in the same bedroom, murdered -- strangled to death. Henry Louis Wallace preyed on women known to him, and the next life he took was a friend of his sister's, Valencia M. Jumper, in August 1993. According to Crime Magazine, serial killer expert and FBI agent Robert Ressler testified during Wallace's trial. Eventually, he developed an addiction to crack cocaine. At the time, Wallace worked part-time as a disc jockey, which he preferred to college. On February 19, 1993, Wallace strangled Shawna Hawk at her home after first having sex with her and later went to her funeral. Theres the good Henry, and then the bad Henry, Wallace told police. She had none. Navy officials wouldn't immediately disclose Wallace's service record. One of those women was Brandi Henderson. Ms. Bethea had lived with her aunt and uncle in the same Barnwell neighborhood as the Wallace family. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. The home Wallace shared with his older sister (by three years), his mother, and his great-grandmother had no plumbing or electricity. For the first time in the 25 years since his conviction, we look inside the mind of a cold-blooded killer. Now it was up to authorities to determine the number of lives that Wallace took on his murderous rampage. In 1994, he murdered two women on the same day. Recruiting started during Wallaces trial and eventually the homicide unit grew four times larger, McFadden says. After the murder, Wallace moved to Charlotte and resumed his crimes in 1992. Later, Sumpter ran into him at a store. One person being a chameleon, he will adapt to anything, any environment, any situation, hes very well respected, very well-liked person, he almost lures the women in for the other person., Henry Wallace jailhouse interviews A special episode of ABCs 20/20 examines a never-before-broadcasted jailhouse interview with the killer. The police beefed up patrols in east Charlotte after two bodies of young Black women were found at The Lake apartment complex. On the night of her murder, Henderson asked him to come over. Henry Louis Wallace was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, son of Lottie Mae Wallace and a married schoolteacher who walked out on Lottie when he found out she was pregnant. The outlet reported that, after eight years enlisted, he got into trouble on a burglary charge. In late 1991, he moved to east Charlotte. They didnt give enough value to Black womens lives. The Lake Apartments off Albemarle Road was the beginning of the end of Henry Wallaces killing spree. These admissions, if true, could put his total murder count up to as many as 20. Four days later, Wallace committed his last known murder Deborah Ann Slaughter, who worked with Wallace's girlfriend, was stabbed 38 times and left to die. Friends said he lived in Glen Hollow Apartments on Central Avenue, where two women were found strangled, one on June 25, 1993, and one last Saturday. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. He also had one victim in his hometown in South Carolina. When the murder and rape was taking place, who I was seeing was her and not the victim.. In May of 1992, Wallace committed murder again. According to various accounts, Wallace was raised by a single mother who abused him physically and psychologically while growing up in Barnwell, South Carolina. . Like Betty, she was strangled with a ligature and sexually assaulted. Wallace, an African American, did not fit the profile of the typical serial murderer, who is almost always caucasian. But the agency looked at the evidence and Wallace and declared that the murders were not the work of a serial killer. The phone rings constantly with calls from reporters and friends, asking how Henry Louis Wallace came to be charged with killing 10 women in Charlotte, N.C., during the past two years. I think the majority of the victims remind me of her in some way, Wallace said. Why are we still having these debates? The only survivor was a 10-month-old boy, Tyrese Woods. The following article contains information regarding sexual assault and murder. She was a harsh disciplinarian, constantly criticizing her son for even the smallest mistakes. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Serial killer Henry Louis Wallace was given nine death sentences Wednesday and then broke the silence he had maintained during his trial by apologizing for the crimes. He went on to rape and murder nine women in Charlotte, North Carolina between 1992 and 1994. On Friday, a special episode of ABCs 20/20 examined a jailhouse interview with the killer. We definitely didn't have the manpower and we definitely didn't have the resources.. Of the women who were his victims, three of them worked at Taco Bell and ten overall were friends and casual acquaintances (via A&E). After her daughters murder in 1993, Sumpter created a nonprofit organization called Mothers of Murdered Offspring to bring together families who have also lost loved ones to violent crimes. MOMO provides support to families affected by violence. (Watch the video below: Mothers of Murdered Offspring started in wake of Henry Wallaces murder spree), Mothers of Murdered Offspring started in wake of Henry Wallace's murder spree. Police say they were thrown off Wallaces trail by variations in the cases. Authorities said Wednesday they had a warrant charging Wallace with her murder. He is currently awaiting execution at Central Prison in Raleigh. His mother and sister are the only ones who call him ``Bubba. He has been on death row for more than 20 years. Wallace had tied a pair of shorts around his neck to stop his crying, according to investigators, but the baby survived. She was reported missing by her sister in March 1992. He was sentenced to death. ET. Im so sorry,' Sumpter recalls. On the night of her murder, Henderson asked him to come over. Brandi Henderson holding her newborn son Tyrece Woods. On the evening of March 8, 1994, Woods and his mother, Brandi June Henderson, were at home in Charlotte, N.C., when a man named Henry Louis Wallace entered their apartment. Wallace confessed during questioning and in 1997, he received nine death sentences. https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/henry-louise-wallace-victims. During the investigation, it was discovered that Wallace had personally known most of his victims and the media dubbed him the "Taco Bell Killer" because he had met or connected with a majority of his victims through working at various fast food chains. In fact, many of these women had known him so well that they gave him a certain level of trust. . He diligently removed fingerprints from everything he touched and even set a fire after killing one of his victims, which resulted in the medical examiner claiming she died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Never miss a story by signing up for the newsletter now. Several days after the murder, Wallace and his sister attended Jumper's funeral. For 12 hours, he confessed to the murders of 10 women in Charlotte. Authorities say Wallace confessed to sexually assaulting and strangling an 11th person, 17-year-old Tashanda Bethea, in March 1990. He is believed to be the first documented serial killer who knew all of his victims. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Caregiver accused in Manhattan Beach child sexual abuse case believed to be in Philippines, Prosecution presents closing arguments in Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Intel agencies say theres no sign adversaries were behind Havana syndrome, Spain approves menstrual leave, teen abortion and trans laws, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was severely understaffed and could not support the exploding murder rate of Charlotte, North Carolina. Between 1992 and 1994, nine young black women in Charlotte, North Carolina, were raped and strangled to death, the murders increasing in ferocity and rapidity. To get the money to pay for the drug, Wallace began breaking into homes and businesses to steal property that he could later pawn. It was the same earring that police had previously caught on bank security camera footage after Wallace had tried to use one of his victims bank cards but did not have the correct PIN. Early on, investigators didn't recognize that they were dealing with a dangerous serial killer. Police Chief Jack Boger rejected accusations by some that the investigation was slow because of the victims were all working-class blacks. Police in Barnwell questioned Wallace in April 1990 about the disappearance of 18-year-old Tashanda Bethea, who was strangled and found in a pond outside Barnwell. ABC News 20/20: Lock the Door Behind You chronicles the work that went into the arrest and the allegations surrounding the polices attitude toward the victims. Over 21 months, four women who worked at Bojangles in Charlotte, North Carolina, were murdered. Wallace enjoyed high school and the positive feedback he received from other students, but academically his performance was less than stellar. 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