Douglas, John - Crime Classification Manual by Douglas John

Author:Douglas, John [Douglas, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2013-03-18T04:00:00+00:00

Case Study: 142.02: Extremist Homicide, Religious

Background

On January 11, 1983, Memphis Police officer R. S. “Bob” Hester, along with two other patrolmen, responded to a bogus tip about a shoplifting warrant for Lindberg Sanders, who resided at 2239 Shannon Street. Upon entering the residence, a group of individuals later described as religious fanatics attacked the three officers in an apparent attempt to capture them. One officer was shot in the face but managed to escape. The second officer was severely beaten about the face and head but also managed to escape.

At 3:15 a.m. on January 13, members of the Memphis Police Department TACT team swept into the house through a back door and found Officer Hester dead. The seven offenders who had held him hostage were subsequently killed when they engaged police in a gun battle.

Victimology

Patrolman Hester, age 34, was one month shy of his 10-year anniversary as a Memphis police officer when he was taken hostage. He had worked the North Precinct most of his career. He was hurt once in the line of duty in 1977 when he was attacked by a man in a pool hall.

Officer Hester had the reputation for making a great deal of quality felony arrests. He had received several commendations as well. He also was active with the police department athletics.

Crime Scene Indicators

The crime scene combined the last known hostage location and place of confrontation with police: both usually contain indicators crucial to any hostage-murder. The incident involving Officer Hester never left the confines of the Shannon Street house.

Forensic Findings

The autopsy report of Officer Hester stated he had suffered numerous injuries caused by blunt-force trauma. Most of the injury was focused on his face and head. His skull was fractured in at least one place along the hairline. There were numerous scrapes and lacerations on Hester's head and face in addition to bruises on his upper thigh and abdomen near the groin. There were lacerations behind the elbows and below both knees. A blunt instrument had produced two puncture wounds on his right leg. Cause of death was summarized as “beaten to death.” Hester's time of death was estimated to be around 12 to 14 hours before the house was stormed.

Investigation

Lindberg Sanders, the leader of the “Shannon Street Seven,” was described by friends as once being an easy-going, dependable craftsman. He began to undergo a change in 1973 when he was hospitalized for psychiatric problems. After several more hospitalizations and outpatient treatment, Lindberg was diagnosed as a schizophrenic with religious delusions. He quit working altogether in 1975 and devoted his time to reading the Bible and holding meetings at his Shannon Street home. From these meetings, a small group of followers emerged who adopted Sander's beliefs and routinely gathered with him to fast, smoke marijuana, and read the Bible. Lindberg believed that pork and scavenger fish should not be eaten, and water could be drunk only if it was colored. His followers would put mustard, Kool-Aid, or ketchup in their water so it was not clear.

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