MI MI- William Parsons, 70 & sisters, Hilda, 80, & Monica "Lenore", 68, murdered, Livonia, 23 July 1964
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Snoopster
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Such an intriguing case!
The fact that William Parsons had just been released from prison for providing abortions could very well be related to the murders. And, his sister also worked at the 'chiropractic clinic'. Was someone angry with them for the type of services they provided?
I recently read the book, "Looking for Jane". It's excellent. It's fictional history about motherhood, adoption, unwed mothers' homes and the abortion movement back in the early 1960s (and subsequent). I highly recommend it.
Other possible motives:
- as others mentioned, revenge by the blackmailers from 15 years prior.
- searching medical records (an angry 'partner' of a woman who had an abortion looking for evidence?)
- robbery (drugs?)
- disgruntled family member who either disagrees with the nature of the family business or who is impatiently waiting for an inheritance.
Melquiades
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Yeah, when some otherwise unremarkable elderly people who happen to run an underground abortion clinic end up getting murdered it’s hard not to think that that’s the reason.
Especially when their case had recently been in the papers with the brother’s arrest.
Catching murderers who probably didn’t know the victims after 60 years is probably pretty unlikely, though. Wonder if there was any other anti-abortion violence in the Detroit area at this time.
60 years ago...
Because William Parsons had only recently been released from prison, and because the triple murder took place inside his home, it would seem that he was specifically targeted.
He might have met his killer in prison, and became a target for robbery. Or maybe he was attacked out of revenge by someone who had to wait for him to get released.
It is possible that he knew the killer or killers and that they were allowed into the house after the dog was put in the basement. Ransacking the house might mean they were searching for something. The sisters might have been killed first as a way to get William Parsons to talk or give up something.
This case is one that should be looked into again with an eye to who Parsons interacted with while in prison, and also where earlier blackmail perpetrators were at the time of the murders.
Because William Parsons had only recently been released from prison, and because the triple murder took place inside his home, it would seem that he was specifically targeted.
He might have met his killer in prison, and became a target for robbery. Or maybe he was attacked out of revenge by someone who had to wait for him to get released.
It is possible that he knew the killer or killers and that they were allowed into the house after the dog was put in the basement. Ransacking the house might mean they were searching for something. The sisters might have been killed first as a way to get William Parsons to talk or give up something.
This case is one that should be looked into again with an eye to who Parsons interacted with while in prison, and also where earlier blackmail perpetrators were at the time of the murders.