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Ruthie Mae McCoy's life was a challenging one, marked by mental health issues that had a profound impact on her ability to live a stable life. Here's a look into her background and the struggles she faced.

Ruthie Mae McCoy faced significant personal challenges throughout her life

Born in Arkansas, Ruthie Mae McCoy moved to Chicago with her family when she was a child. McCoy was one of nine siblings and left school in the 10th grade. In her 20s, she began to show signs of mental illness, with her behavior becoming markedly erratic.

She was born in Arkansas and moved to Chicago as a child, dropping out of high school in 10th grade

Ruthie faced significant personal struggles from an early age. Moving from Arkansas to Chicago brought about changes that, combined with her dropping out of school early, set the tone for her later years.

She began exhibiting signs of mental illness in her 20s, including angry outbursts and paranoia

Ruthie's behavior indicated mental illness - she would often talk to herself, curse at strangers, and lash out angrily, illustrating an inability to control her emotions.

Her mental health issues often prevented her from maintaining steady employment, leaving her reliant on public aistance

Ruthie occasionally found work as a housekeeper or laundromat attendant, but due to her condition – a mild form of schizophrenia – she couldn't hold onto these jobs. When not medicated, her paranoia and agitation flared, greatly impacting her work ability. Consequently, she depended on public assistance for most of her adult life.

Despite these difficulties, she maintained a close relationship with her daughter Vernita

Despite her mental health challenges, Ruthie shared a strong bond with her daughter, Vernita, whom she had at 27. They maintained a close relationship despite the turmoil and instability marking Ruthie's life.

Ruthie's mental health deteriorated in the years before her death

In the years leading to her death, Ruthie's mental well-being sharply declined. She became obsessed with her safety and would compulsively check locks, a behavior fueled by an intense fear of burglary or assault. A social worker was helping her collect supplemental social security, recognizing her profound mental difficulties.

She became increasingly paranoid about her safety and would compulsively check doors and locks

This paranoia had become a defining aspect of Ruthie's life. She insisted on checking car locks and lecturing others about the importance of sec ...

The Abbott Homes, part of an expansive, impoverished public housing complex known as "the ville," are notorious for their high crime rates and substandard living conditions.

The dire state of "the ville"

Life amid high crime rates

Residents of the Abbott Homes, located within the larger area referred to as "the ville," face daily violence, with the risk of violent crime more than doubling compared to the rest of Chicago. In one reported year, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) housing projects recorded 4,228 violent crimes, cementing "the ville" as a dangerous place to live.

Poor living conditions

The physical state of the Abbott Homes was deplorable, with frequent infrastructure issues such as out-of-service elevators, backed-up sewage, nonfunctional heating systems during harsh winters, exposure to mold, and lead from age-old, peeling paint. Falling plaster and accumulating garbage due to inadequate trash chutes added to the residents' woes.

Ruthie's struggles in Abbott Homes

Ruthie Mae McCoy's vulnerability

Ruthie Mae McCoy, a resident of Abbott Homes, lived alone in an 11th-floor apartment and contended with the challenges posed by both the building's poor conditions and the high crime environment. She felt compelled to carry a stick for protection whenever she ventured out, indicating her sense of vulnerability.

Housing hardships and gang intimidation

Forced to move to Abbott Homes after her previous apartment flooded, Ruthie disliked the complex from the start. She was disturbed by the constant presence of gang members, the blaring music, ongoing partying, and frequent bre ...

The murder of Ruthie Mae McCoy, marked by a troubling law enforcement response, underscores systemic failures and critical delays by police to prioritize and respond adequately to emergency situations.

Ruthie reported an intruder

At 8:47 PM, Ruthie Mae McCoy made an urgent 911 call to report an intruder in her apartment, fearing for her safety. Tragically, this call was not correctly logged as a break-in in progress. Consequently, it was not given the immediate attention it required.

Police officers took over 25 minutes to arrive at Ruthie's apartment complex. Upon reaching her door at 9:10 PM, without hearing a response from inside, they failed to force entry. They contacted the dispatcher to attempt a callback, only to have it ring incessantly, a clear sign of trouble ahead.

Neighbors heard gunshots, police still did not enter

The critically slow response was compounded by the fact that at 9:02 PM, and again a few minutes later, neighbors reported gunshots emanating from Ruthie's apartment. These additional calls of distress did not spur the officers to take action; the police remained outside, not breaching the apartment even though they considered the possibility of someone being held hostage inside.

The officers' futile efforts included seeking a workable key from the building management, speaking with a janitor, and canvassing the neighboring residents—all without success. They left without resolving the situation, exiting the building at 9:48 PM, and leaving Ruthie without immediate help.

Ruthie's body discovered over 41 hours later

It was not until over 41 hours after her initial call for help that Ruthie Mae McCoy's body was finally discovered, marking a profound and somber failure to protect an individual in imminent danger. This extensive delay was ...

Kaya Henderson and Myles E. Johnson discuss the investigation and court proceedings surrounding the murder of Ruthie Mae McCoy, focusing on the role of suspects John Hundras and Edward Turner, as well as the witness testimony that led to their eventual acquittal.

Police identified two suspects, John Hundras and Edward Turner, based on witness testimony

Tim Brown gave a statement that he was with John Hondras, Edward Turner, and Ronald Coleman, also known as Bo, in an apartment adjacent to McCoy’s. He alleged that Hondras and Turner entered McCoy’s apartment through the medicine cabinet opening. Following this account, Hondras and Turner were charged with multiple felonies, including murder and armed robbery.

Brown had claimed that Hondras and Turner had persuaded various women to hide stolen items like a rocking chair and TV. Theola, John’s girlfriend, testified that they had shown up with such items without explaining their origin. Edward Turner, however, denied on the stand having shot Ruthie McCoy or being in her apartment during the incident. He maintained an alibi placing him elsewhere at the murder's time.

During the trial, Brown's story changed. He testified under oath that John and Bo had gone to the bathroom together, and during their absence, he heard gunshots. He retracted his previous allegations, stating that Edward was on the couch at the time, and swore that his original statement was made under duress from a detective who had coerced him.

Both Hundras and Turner were eventually acquitted, despite evidence that they had been in Ruthumie's apartment.

John’s bond was set at 10 million dollars, while Edward Turner was held without bond with the death penalty sought against him. The prosecution’s case hinged on testimony from Tim Brown, who was later deemed unreliable. There was no physical evidence linking the suspects to the crime scene; no fingerprints were recovered, and though potentially incriminating items were found, no DNA evidence tied them to Hundras or Turner.

Edward Turner implicated himself inadvertently by admitting he’d removed a TV from McCoy's apartment post-mortem, but did not ...

In the wake of Ruthie's murder, her daughter Vernita took legal action, and the accused faced continued legal troubles, illustrating deeper systemic issues within public housing and law enforcement.

Ruthie's daughter, Vernita, filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Housing Authority and its security company for negligence

Vernita, Ruthie Mae’s daughter, sued the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and its security company for negligence and the wrongful death of her mother. She was demanding 1.5 million dollars in damages. The CHA quietly settled the lawsuit, although the exact settlement amount remains undisclosed, leaving the public with little to no details about the arrangements made.

The lives of the accused, John Hundras and Edward Turner, continued to spiral after their acquittals

John Hundras, now approximately 58 years old, appears to have settled in Kansas. His post-acquittal life included time in prison for robbery and drug possession charges. John has faced legal actions for numerous evictions and unpaid child support. He has struggled with schizophrenia, which led to a missing person search in Kansas when he could have been at risk without medication; fortunately, he was found safe after five days.

Edward Turner, around the age of 56 and residing in Florida, racked up a criminal record post-trial, including a two-year sentence in Illinois State Prison for felony drug manufacturing and possession with intent to sell. He has also ...