Gerald Mason
Encyclopedia
Gerald Fit Mason is an American
cop killer
and rapist. Mason's 2003 arrest and prosecution for the 1957 murder of two El Segundo
police officers made national headlines.
, he was arrested and did time for burglary in that state in 1956. After his release in 1957, then aged 23, he hitchhiked his way to California, stopping in Shreveport, Louisiana
where he purchased a revolver using an alias
. He would later say that it was purchased for protection while hitchhiking.
In Hawthorne
, California
, Mason came upon four teenagers at a local lover's lane
. Drawing his revolver, Mason bound, blindfolded, and stripped four teenagers. He then rape
d one of the girls, who was fifteen years old at the time. After leaving the scene in a stolden 1949 Ford car, Mason ran a red light
and was pulled over by the El Segundo Police Department; Officers Richard Phillips and Milton Curtis.
Mason later recalled, "I thought, 'If I don't get them, they're gonna get me.' So when the officer turned away from me, I shot both officers, got back in the car and drove away."
Despite being wounded by a bullet from Officer Phillips, Mason dumped the car before hitchiking his way to safety. This sparked one of the largest manhunts in California history.
In 1960, the murder weapon was recovered a mile from the crime in a back yard. The serial number was traced to a purchase at Sear's in Shreveport, Louisiana under the alias George D. Wilson. The signature was matched to "Wilson's" signature on a YMCA
receipt, located near the gun store. El Segundo detectives proceeded to track down every George D. Wilson in the United States
. However, all were ruled out and the investigation went cold.
For the next forty-five years, Mason was a law-abiding citizen, never getting so much as a parking ticket. He bought a chain of service stations, became wealth
y, married and raised a family. He was later described by friends and neighbors as friendly and helpful.
Taking 46 years, this had become one of the oldest unsolved murder cases in California's history.
the evidence was also based on matching handwriting, linking him to the murder weapon.
Police located Mason, who had returned to and was still living in his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina
. He was a wealthy retiree and grandfather, quietly living with his family in a suburban neighborhood. Then, in January 2003, a large group of police officers called at his door. Mason was completely shocked and had asked where they were from. The police officers had said, "We are from Los Angeles Police department." Mason then said, "You're homicide detectives? I think I need a lawyer." The police officer then told him that they were there because of the murder of two police officers in 1957. Horrified, Mason responded, "You're here for that?"
Following his arrest, Mason was further identified by the bullet graze wound scar on his back, from a bullet fired by Officer Phillips in 1957.
Confronted with so much evidence, Mason admitted to detectives that he stumbled upon the teenagers while intoxicated. Afterwards, he shot both police officers in an attempt to cover up the rape, robbery, and theft of the car. Mason further told detectives, "I really don't have an explanation for why this happened. I wish I did."
. At his sentencing hearing, Mason tearfully apologized to the families of Officers Phillips and Curtis. He said, "It's impossible to express to so many people how sorry I am. I do not understand why I did this. It does not fit in my life. It is not the person I know. I detest these crimes."
One El Segundo Detective commented, "He was remorseful. But I think he was more sad and more sorry for having been caught."
Mason was turned down for parole in 2009. He will be eligible for parole
again in 2017. California prosecutors have vowed that he will never be released.
Mason is currently incarcerated in South Carolina, as his plea bargain
granted him approval to serve his prison sentence near his family.
The widow of Officer Curtis commented, "I'm not his victim anymore. My son is not his victim anymore. I'm so grateful, and I had to wait this long. It's worth the wait."
In a 2003 interview with People Magazine, Terri Mason Whittaker said, "There really aren't words to describe the range of emotions we've gone through." Even so, she insisted, "I could not have had a better father."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cop killer
Cop Killer
Cop Killer or cop killer may refer to:*A person who kills a police officer*"Cop Killer" , a 1992 song by Body Count*Cop Killer , the English translation of the ninth book in the detective series written by Sjöwall and Wahlöö...
and rapist. Mason's 2003 arrest and prosecution for the 1957 murder of two El Segundo
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
police officers made national headlines.
Criminal career
Born in Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, he was arrested and did time for burglary in that state in 1956. After his release in 1957, then aged 23, he hitchhiked his way to California, stopping in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
where he purchased a revolver using an alias
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
. He would later say that it was purchased for protection while hitchhiking.
In Hawthorne
Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city at the 2010 census had a population of 84,293, up from 84,112 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Mason came upon four teenagers at a local lover's lane
Lover's lane
Lovers' lane is a generic term for secluded areas where people kiss or make out. These areas range from parking lots in secluded rural areas to places with extraordinary views of a cityscape or other feature....
. Drawing his revolver, Mason bound, blindfolded, and stripped four teenagers. He then rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d one of the girls, who was fifteen years old at the time. After leaving the scene in a stolden 1949 Ford car, Mason ran a red light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
and was pulled over by the El Segundo Police Department; Officers Richard Phillips and Milton Curtis.
Mason later recalled, "I thought, 'If I don't get them, they're gonna get me.' So when the officer turned away from me, I shot both officers, got back in the car and drove away."
Despite being wounded by a bullet from Officer Phillips, Mason dumped the car before hitchiking his way to safety. This sparked one of the largest manhunts in California history.
In 1960, the murder weapon was recovered a mile from the crime in a back yard. The serial number was traced to a purchase at Sear's in Shreveport, Louisiana under the alias George D. Wilson. The signature was matched to "Wilson's" signature on a YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
receipt, located near the gun store. El Segundo detectives proceeded to track down every George D. Wilson in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. However, all were ruled out and the investigation went cold.
For the next forty-five years, Mason was a law-abiding citizen, never getting so much as a parking ticket. He bought a chain of service stations, became wealth
Wealth
Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
y, married and raised a family. He was later described by friends and neighbors as friendly and helpful.
Taking 46 years, this had become one of the oldest unsolved murder cases in California's history.
Evidence, arrest and admission
In 2002, with advances of computerized finger-printing technology, the FBI decided to expand the system to include prints collected during arrests in all 50 states. A match based on the partial left thumb prints lifted from the steering wheel of the stolen car, came back about a man convicted of burglary in 1956 in Columbia. He had served time for that case. Besides the matching fingerprintFingerprint
A fingerprint in its narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges...
the evidence was also based on matching handwriting, linking him to the murder weapon.
Police located Mason, who had returned to and was still living in his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. He was a wealthy retiree and grandfather, quietly living with his family in a suburban neighborhood. Then, in January 2003, a large group of police officers called at his door. Mason was completely shocked and had asked where they were from. The police officers had said, "We are from Los Angeles Police department." Mason then said, "You're homicide detectives? I think I need a lawyer." The police officer then told him that they were there because of the murder of two police officers in 1957. Horrified, Mason responded, "You're here for that?"
Following his arrest, Mason was further identified by the bullet graze wound scar on his back, from a bullet fired by Officer Phillips in 1957.
Confronted with so much evidence, Mason admitted to detectives that he stumbled upon the teenagers while intoxicated. Afterwards, he shot both police officers in an attempt to cover up the rape, robbery, and theft of the car. Mason further told detectives, "I really don't have an explanation for why this happened. I wish I did."
Sentencing
Mason pled guilty and was sentenced to two consecutive life termsLife imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
. At his sentencing hearing, Mason tearfully apologized to the families of Officers Phillips and Curtis. He said, "It's impossible to express to so many people how sorry I am. I do not understand why I did this. It does not fit in my life. It is not the person I know. I detest these crimes."
One El Segundo Detective commented, "He was remorseful. But I think he was more sad and more sorry for having been caught."
Mason was turned down for parole in 2009. He will be eligible for parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
again in 2017. California prosecutors have vowed that he will never be released.
Mason is currently incarcerated in South Carolina, as his plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
granted him approval to serve his prison sentence near his family.
The widow of Officer Curtis commented, "I'm not his victim anymore. My son is not his victim anymore. I'm so grateful, and I had to wait this long. It's worth the wait."
In a 2003 interview with People Magazine, Terri Mason Whittaker said, "There really aren't words to describe the range of emotions we've gone through." Even so, she insisted, "I could not have had a better father."
Sources
- "The Ghosts Of El Segundo: Cold-Blooded Crime Haunts Investigators For Half A Century", CBS NewsCBS NewsCBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, October 2, 2004. (URL last accessed November 17, 2006). - "Final Justice: The Past Catches Up with Gerald Mason, a Murderer on the Lam Since 1957", People Magazine, Author: Patrick Rogers, Date: May 19, 2003. (accessed August 11, 2010).
- "The Ghosts Of El Segundo: Cold-Blooded Crime Haunts Investigators For Half A Century", CBS NewsCBS NewsCBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, Author: Rebecca Leung, Date: October 2, 2004. (accessed August 11, 2010).