Episode 576: Veronica Gedeon & the Easter Sunday Murders (Part 2)

Bob Irwin's life story is marked by personal tragedy, criminal activities, and the difficult battle with severe mental illness that ultimately overshadowed his artistic talents.

Irwin's traumatic upbringing with a mentally ill, religious mother and criminal siblings

Irwin's early life in a fanatical Christian cult household, abandoned by his father

Born in 1906 in Pasadena, California, Bob Irwin was raised in an extreme religious environment. His father, Benjamin Irwin, founder of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church, left the family early in Bob's life, abandoning him and his two brothers, Vidalen and Pember, to the care of their mother, Mary. Described as fanatically religious, Mary focused more on her beliefs than on nurturing her sons.

Irwin and his brothers fell into criminal activities and trouble with the law as teenagers

This lack of parental guidance led Bob and his brothers into a life of crime from a young age. With their father absent, the brothers frequently found themselves in reform schools, jails, and prisons, entwined in a cycle of criminal activities.

Irwin's struggles with severe mental illness and delusional thinking

Irwin's artistic talents were undermined by his paranoia and explosive anger

While Bob Irwin was recognized as a gifted artist, his potential was constantly undercut by mental health issues. He secured apprenticeships with notable artists but was unable to maintain these opportunities due to his paranoia and bouts of explosive anger.

Irwin received his first official diagnosis of hebephrenia, a subtype of schizophrenia

Bob's mental health struggles reached a critical point when he attempted self-harm and sought medical assistance. Upon his admission to a psychiatric ward and subsequent transfer to Rockland State Hospital, he was officially diagnosed with hebephrenia, a subtype of schizophrenia characterized by disorganized behavior and thought processes. In modern terms, he would likely be diagnosed with schizophrenia instead.

Irwin's long history of instability and troubling behavior

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The tragic Gideon family murders lay bare a story of unrequited love, obsession, and violence. At the heart of the incident is Bob Irwin, whose fixation on Ethel Gideon and subsequent actions have become infamous.

Irwin's fixation on Ethel Gideon and failed romantic advances

After Irwin moved into Mary Gideon's boarding house in 1932, he quickly became enamored with Ethel Gideon, who reminded him of an ex-girlfriend. Despite Mary's advice to look elsewhere, Irwin's affection only grew stronger, and even after Ethel's marriage to her first husband was annulled, Irwin persisted in his pursuit upon his return to the boarding house.

Despite Ethel's marriage to Joe Kudner and her clear rejection of Irwin's advances, Irwin continued to hold onto his obsessive desire for her. Ethel had only considered their interactions as flirtation, but Irwin, misled by his beliefs in visualization and his misunderstanding of Ethel's relationship status with Joe Coodner, insisted against reality, eventually leading to his intent to kill.

The brutal murders of Ronnie, Mary, and Frank Burns

Irwin, overcome by his obsession, entered the Gideon household with premeditated intent to kill Ethel. However, Ethel was not home, and Ronnie, Mary, and boarder Frank Burns were present. Irwin's rationale for the killings arose out of his vain attempt to preserve Ethel's beauty; he planned to stab her in the back of the neck with an ice pick to avoid doing harm to her appearance. Nevertheless, in a fit of violence, he brutally murdered Ronnie, Mary, and Frank.

Irwin's chilling rationale for killing Ronnie, Mary, and the boarder Frank

His rationale was a mix of criminal and ordered thinking. Although Irwin understood his thoughts were wrong, he could not reconcile his wish to be with E ...

Police struggles to locate the suspect Irwin after the murders

Following the murders, an intense search began for Bob Irwin. More than 18,000 officers were mobilized across the city, and investigators launched an extensive manhunt.

The citywide manhunt and Irwin's disappearance from the Gideon boarding house

Irwin had vanished from the Gideon boarding house, triggering a citywide alert. Ethel Gideon, who did not believe Irwin could be the killer, was engulfed in doubt over her mother and sister's deaths. Eventually, Irwin's former landlady, from a different boarding house, recognized the description and contacted police, but by the time authorities arrived, he had already fled.

The key clue from Irwin's landlady about his distinctive suitcase

In a critical turn, investigators discovered a suitcase belonging to Bob at Grand Central Station, which his landlady remembered due to its distinctive strap and large buckle. The suitcase contained a small alarm clock, which matched the description of one missing from Ethel's sister's dressing table, further implicating Bob in the horrific crime.

Irwin's voluntary confession and the Chicago Tribune's unethical involvement

Bob Irwin’s confession came with the help of the Chicago Tribune in a shocking arrangement that raised ethical questions.

Irwin's self-reported confession to the Chicago Tribune for cash

Irwin, cunningly, offered the Chicago Tribune an exclusive confession in return for $5,000, a white linen suit, and a Panama hat. Posing as a friend of himself, he contacted the Tribune and bargained his story. The Tribune agreed to the terms, and after the murders of Ronnie, Mary, and ...

The trial of Bob Irwin captivated public attention as it delved deeply into the relationship between criminal behavior and mental health.

The insanity defense and debates over Irwin's mental state

Bob Irwin's trial was marked by intense scrutiny of his mental state, as both sides presented evidence related to his sanity at the time of his disturbing crimes.

Psychiatric assessments and testimony portraying Irwin's disturbing behaviors

Dr. Leland Hinssey and Dr. Bernard Glueck, two leading psychiatrists, evaluated Irwin for nearly 70 hours and testified about his frightening and erratic behaviors. Irwin's inability to contain his emotions was evident as he would excessively talk, become outraged when interrupted, and display aggressive behaviors, such as pounding a table and yelling. Mr. Leibowitz, aiming to establish a defense based on Irwin's insanity, portrayed him as having a dual personality and described him as sometimes calm and collected but a "raving maniac" at other times.

During his time at Rockland State Hospital, Irwin's behavioral issues continued, with several escape attempts reported.

Prosecution arguments that Irwin's actions showed criminal awareness and intent

The prosecution challenged the insanity defense, pointing to Irwin's actions that indicated his criminal awareness and intent. The District Attorney highlighted Irwin's attempts to hide information regarding his crimes, his lucid state during the murders, and his efforts to avoid detection and identification by concealing his involvement.

Furthermore, the prosecution contended that Irwin had, upon arrest, considered the possibility of being committed to an institution due to insanity, which demonstrated his keen comprehension of his situation.

The ultimate verdict and sentencing

Irwin's trial concluded with an intense debate over his mental state but resulted in him facing the consequences of his crimes.

Irwin's guilty plea to second-degree murder and lengthy prison sentence

Irwin decided to plead guilty to second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 139 years in prison—99 years for the murder of Burns and 20 years for the murders of Mary and Veroni ...