Robert Ressler, an FBI investigator with the Behavioral Science Unit, popularized the term serial killer in the 1970s. For unknown reasons, serial killers have become a phenomenon. Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy and many other notorious serial killers are featured in books, tee shirts, comic books, movies, and documentaries.
I am old enough to remember Ted Bundy’s killing spree and all the media coverage around his capture and execution. It’s no secret that Bundy and Dahmer are familiar names among serial killers, but how many others roamed the countryside before them?
Prior to Dahmer and Bundy, Jake Bird was a vicious killer who left a trail of bodies across the country during the 1930s and 1940s. There is speculation that he killed nearly 50 women, if not more. While most serial killers are white men, Louisiana native Jake Bird was black. Born in 1901, he left home before his 20th birthday. As a railroad laborer, he roamed the country.
During his travels throughout the country, he would kill female victims. Serial killers tend to have their preferences. Bird wasn’t any different. He primarily targeted white women. Hatchets and axes were the weapons he used most often.
On October 30, 1947, Bird’s crime spree came to an end in Tacoma, Washington. He broke into the home of Bertha Kludt, 52, and her 17-year-old daughter Beverly. Bird had beaten them both to death, leaving behind an axe. A neighbor called the police after hearing screams from the house. Upon arriving at the Kludt home, Tacoma officers Sabutis and Davies saw Bird fleeing. After giving chase, the two officers apprehended Bird.
Jake Bird, who was he?
As a career criminal, he had spent a considerable amount of time in prison. He committed crimes over a 20-year period. Despite confessing to 44 murders, only 11 were confirmed. He seemed credible, due to his detailed descriptions of the different murders. Washington state was one of 12 states where he claimed to have killed various women.
On Saturday, December 6, 1947, after a trial Bird was found guilty. He was scheduled to be hanged at the Washington State Penitentiary on January 16, 1948. Then things get weird. He spoke to the court for 20 minutes after he was convicted. He cursed those responsible for his conviction. He stated, “I’m putting the Jake Bird hex on all of you who had anything to do with my being punished. Mark my words, you will die before I do.”
I’m sure his words were those of a madman. It was Bird’s claim that he would outlive those who convicted him.
Of course, no one really believes in curses, or do they?
On July 15, 1949, Bird was hanged. The serial killer’s body was buried in an unmarked grave in the prison cemetery. You’re probably wondering about that curse. Did Bird outlive those he cursed? The following is what happened to five of them:
- Edward D. Hodge, Pierce County Superior Court Judge, age 69, died January 1, 1948.
- Joseph E. Karpach, Pierce County Under-Sheriff, age 46, died April 5, 1948.
- George L. Harrigan, Pierce County court reporter, age 69, died June 11, 1948.
- Sherman W. Lyons, Tacoma Police Detective Lieutenant, age 46, died October 28, 1948.
- James W. Selden, Bird’s defense attorney, age 76, died November 26, 1948.
There was also a prison guard associated with Bird who died first. Though some consider him a sixth person, he was not involved directly in Bird’s case. Is it a coincidence that Bird outlived these men? Whether you believe the words of a deranged killer depends on your own perspective. For years, people have discussed this case and shared their opinions about curses. What are your thoughts?
Marc is a longtime resident of Clermont County and an avid reader. Contact him through his website at www.themarcabe.com. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer where he interviews family members seeking justice for their murdered loved ones. You can listen at www.catchmykiller.com.