Episode 574: The Kidnapping & Murder of Marion Parker (Part 2)

In a grim recount of one of the most horrifying crimes of the early 20th century, the hosts discuss the chilling case of Marion Parker's kidnapping, murder, and mutilation by Edward Hickman, a man whose actions revealed a haunting lack of humanity.

Hickman's heinous crimes against the 12-year-old victim

Edward Hickman, who became infamous for his chilling crimes, kidnapped the 12-year-old Marion Parker, eventually murdering and mutilating her in a way that indicates an appalling absence of remorse. He dismembered her body, and in an act that exemplifies his grotesque attention to detail, he sewed Marion Parker’s eyes open and applied makeup to her face. The macabre state in which Marion’s body was discovered communicated a message of terror; her limbs were thrown into various locations by Hickman, who initially denied being involved in the girl's kidnapping or murder.

With a criminal record already including small-time armed robberies, Hickman's violence escalated. The podcast hosts share a declaration from Hickman expressing a disturbing desire to dismember a human being. Before his descent into infamy, Hickman killed a pharmacist and wounded an LAPD officer during a robbery. But the heinous acts he performed on Marion Parker were beyond comprehension, as Hickman sewed the little girl's eyes open to make it appear as if she was still alive when presenting her body to her father upon attempting to collect ransom.

Ash Kelley expresses justified contempt for Hickman, citing the horrific nature of his crimes, while the defense’s closing statement during his trial gave a graphic account of how he committed the murder.

Hickman's changing stories and attempts to evade responsibility

Throughout the investigation and trial, Hickman attempted to evade responsibility for his actions, initially fabricating stories of accomplices named Andrew Kramer and June Dunning, and claiming he never meant for Marion to be hurt. However, it was revealed that these supposed accomplices could not have been involved; one Andrew Kramer had been in jail since August 1927, and June Dunning was the sister of a former girlfriend of another incarcerated Andrew Kramer.

Hickman's multiplicity of stories and his attempt to strategize around his legal defense displayed a manipulative intelligence. Observers noted how he immediately began laying the groundwork for an insanity defense upon arrest. Despite his attempts to portray himself as religious and potentially ...

The kidnapping case that unfolded in Los Angeles in 1927 captivated the public to an exceptional degree, with the media playing a critical role in the engagement and emotional investment of the population.

The case garnered unprecedented media attention, with Hickman's photograph plastered across California

From the onset, the kidnapping investigation became one of the largest in Los Angeles history, with newspapers offering extensive and fervent coverage. The daily deluge of information could span up to five pages, reflecting the public's growing anger and desire for justice. The sheer scale of the coverage was unparalleled for the time, drawing parallels to the intense media frenzy surrounding later high-profile cases like the OJ Simpson car chase and the disappearance of Gabby Petito.

William Hickman's photo became a ubiquitous part of Californian life; it was virtually impossible to avoid his likeness, such was the extent to which media had disseminated his image. As the manhunt for Hickman gained momentum, so too did the level of media attention, with front-page stories reaching audiences not only in California but across the Pacific Northwest.

The public was deeply invested in the case, feeling a personal connection to the young victim

This barrage of media coverage fostered a deep sense of emotional investment among the public. People felt personally ...

Psychological evaluations and courtroom strategies paint a conflicting picture of Hickman’s mental health during his trial.

Psychiatrists evaluated Hickman and found him to be intelligent and lacking signs of true insanity

Psychiatrist Dr. McNary's evaluation of Hickman revealed no evidence to support the claim that Hickman's criminal actions were a result of extreme religiosity. Despite Hickman's attempts to convince Dr. McNary that his aversion to women and religious beliefs had driven him to criminal acts, McNary dismissed these explanations. He told a reporter that Hickman’s religiosity wasn't strong enough to induce hallucinations prompting him to commit his crimes.

Moreover, psychiatrists concluded Hickman was sane, based on his coherent responses about the murder and dismemberment of Marion Parker. These responses painted a picture of a man who was not only sane but also intelligent, with advanced communication skills.

The defense tried to portray Hickman as mentally unstable, but their arguments were disjointed and unconvincing

T ...

The trial and subsequent sentencing of Hickman for the kidnapping and murder of Marion Parker drew significant attention, culminating in a swift jury decision and the rejection of an insanity defense.

Hickman was found guilty and sentenced to death for the kidnapping and murder of Marion Parker

Hickman's trial date was set for January 25th. After the proceedings began on February 2nd, it did not take long for the case to reach its conclusion. The jury, after only 43 minutes of deliberation, found Hickman sane at the time he kidnapped and murdered Marion Parker and sentenced him to death. Despite facing a separate trial with a friend for another murder, Hickman's sentence from his earlier conviction to death rendered the subsequent trial less significant. His execution date was set for October 19, following the exhaustion of his appeals.

The judge and jury rejected Hickman's insanity defense, concluding that he was a calculating criminal

Attempts to delay the trial were minimized as the presiding judge took on the task of examining jury members himself to expedite the process. This decision was spurred by the intensive news coverage and strong public sentiment that had the potential to impact the jury selection.

From the outset of the trial, the focus was on Hickman's mental state with DA Asa Keys presenting the theory that Hickman acted out of vengeance and not due to mental illness. Marion Parker met her tragic end as part of Hickman's scheme to retaliate against her father's bank, according to the state's argument. Detective Lieutenant Richard Lucas bolstered this claim by testifying that Hickman seemed to b ...

The execution of Hickman was marked by a ghastly scene of botched justice that elicited varied reactions from the assembled spectators.

Hickman's execution was marked by a gruesome botched hanging, in which he strangled to death rather than having his neck broken

On the morning of October 19th, Hickman faced a grim fate as he was led to the gallows before a crowd. After fainting when the hood was placed over his head, Hickman's body collapsed just before the trap door release, lessening the force of his drop. Consequently, his neck failed to snap as intended. Instead, Hickman endured a prolonged and agonizing death by strangulation. The onlookers watched for nearly ten minutes as Hickman's body convulsed on the rope before he was finally pronounced dead, showcasing the morbid spectacle of a botched execution.

The crowd of onlookers reacted with mixed emotions to Hickman's fate

While the crowd had demonstrated a chilling sense of satisfaction at Hickman's sentencing—cheering upon hearing the guilty verdict—the actual execution elicited a mixture of responses. As some observed the executioner's missteps, the crowd's anticipation turned to shock. The b ...