Vernon Booher
Vernon Elwood Booher (1907 – April 24, 1929) was a Canadian mass murderer who killed four people, including his mother and brother, in Mannville, Alberta on July 9, 1928. He shot his victims with a rifle. Booher was convicted of all four murders, sentenced to death, and executed in 1929.
Vernon Elwood Booher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1907 |
| Died | April 24, 1929 (aged 21) |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (4 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Date | July 9, 1928 |
| Country | Canada |
| Location(s) | Mannville, Alberta |
| Killed | 4 |
| Weapons | Rifle |
Murders and confession
On July 9, 1928, Booher fatally shot his mother, Eunice, his brother, Fred, and two farm hands, Gabriel Grombey and Wasyl Rozak, with a rifle. He was arrested not long after.[1]
Booher's case drew attention after Adolph Langsner, a psychiatrist who claimed to be able to read minds, correctly guessed that Booher was the murderer and where he had hidden the weapon used. Booher confessed and said he killed his mother since she did not like his girlfriend, and killed the others since they were witnesses. Booher was charged with four counts of murder, found guilty, and received a mandatory death sentence without a recommendation for mercy.[2]
On appeal, Booher won a new trial and had his confession suppressed. He was convicted a second time and received another mandatory death sentence without a recommendation for mercy. Booher was executed at Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Gaol on April 24, 1929.[1]
References
- BIGELOW, S. TUPPER. "THE MIND READER AND THE MURDERER | Maclean's | March 15, 1950". Maclean's | The Complete Archive. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
- "Vernon Booher | True Crime Library". 2015-10-20. Retrieved 2022-04-13.