James Ruppert
Encyclopedia
James Urban Ruppert is an American murderer, who was responsible for the deadliest shooting inside a private residence in American history. On March 30, 1975, Easter Sunday, Ruppert murdered 11 family members in his mother's house at 635 Minor Avenue in Hamilton, Ohio
in what is referred to as the Easter Sunday Massacre. He is serving two life sentences at the Allen Correctional Institution
in Lima, Ohio
.
Leonard II became the father figure of the family and constantly picked on James during their upbringing. At 16, James was so dissatisfied with his home life that he ran away and attempted to commit suicide
by hanging himself with a sheet. He was unsuccessful and returned home.
James was envious of his older brother's successful job and family. James flunked out of college after 2 years while his brother earned a degree in electrical engineering and excelled in athletics.
Leonard II also married James' ex-girlfriend, had eight children, and held a job with General Electric
, while James was unemployed at the age of 41 and had moved back in with his 65-year old mother Charity Ruppert in Hamilton, Ohio
. Charity was frustrated with her son's inability to hold a steady job and his constant drinking; she threatened to evict him. James also owed his mother and brother money, having lost what little he had in the stock market crash of 1973-4.
On March 29, 1975, his 41st birthday, witnesses had seen him engaging in target practice shooting tin cans with his .357 Magnum
along the banks of the Great Miami River
in Hamilton.
The night before the murders James went out as he did nearly every night. At the 19th Hole Cocktail Lounge he talked with employee Wanda Bishop, a 28-year old mother of 5. She would later state that James told her he was frustrated with his mother's demands on him and his impending eviction and that he needed to solve the problem. He left the bar at 11:00 PM that night and later returned. When Bishop asked him if he had solved the problem, he replied "No, not yet." James stayed at the bar until it closed at 2:30 AM.
Leonard Ruppert II's younger brother James was upstairs in the 2-story house sleeping off his previous night of drinking while the other family members enjoyed an Easter egg hunt
in the front yard. Upon entering the house, Charity Ruppert began fixing sloppy joe
sandwiches in the kitchen while Leonard and Alma sat at the kitchen table. The majority of the children were playing in the living room at this time.
Around 4:00 PM (EDT), James awoke, loaded a .357 Magnum
, two .22 caliber handguns and a rifle and descended the staircase. He entered the kitchen and shot and killed his brother Leonard. James then killed his sister-in-law Alma and his mother Charity as she attempted to thwart her son's progress. Next, he took the life of his nephew David and his nieces Teresa and Carol all in the confines of the kitchen.
Leaving the kitchen, James entered the living room where he killed his niece Ann and his 4 remaining nephews Leonard, Michael, Thomas, and John.
During the rampage, James typically fired the first shot to disable his victim and the second through the head to finish them off. A few victims were shot a third time and one was shot through the heart. The massacre was over within 5 minutes.
After spending 3 hours in the house, James finally called police to report the shooting. He waited just inside the front door for authorities to arrive.
James was arrested and charged that day with 11 counts of aggravated homicide. He refused to answer questions asked by the police and was very uncooperative. He made it clear he would plead insanity.
County prosecutor John Holcomb viewed the crime scene and stated that there was so much blood on the first floor, it was dripping through the floorboards into the basement, which to this day can still be seen on the wood. A total of 35 shots had been fired by Ruppert and all 4 weapons were recovered at the scene.
All 11 victims were buried in Arlington Memorial Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio
. A year later, the house was opened to the public and all of its contents were auctioned off. It was then cleaned and recarpeted and sold to a family new to the area who was unaware of the murders that had taken place there.
, 125 miles north because it was believed he could not receive a fair trial in the city of Hamilton.
The second trial began in June 1975 and prosecutors revealed evidence involving the witnesses that had seen Ruppert engaging in target practice, asking about silencers for his gun collection and admitting that his mother's expectations were a problem that he needed to solve.
On appeal, a new trial was granted in 1982. Defense attorney Hugh D. Holbrock, convinced his client was insane, personally funded the hiring of expert psychiatrists and psychologists from all over the country.
On July 23, 1982, a second 3-judge panel found James Ruppert guilty of first degree murder in the case of his mother and brother but this time, they found him not guilty on the other 9 counts of murder by reason of insanity. He received life sentences for each of the two charges to be served consecutively rather than concurrently.
Because capital punishment
had been suspended in the United States from 1972 to 1976 as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in Furman v. Georgia
, and because the massacre on Minor Avenue had occurred in 1975, James Ruppert could not receive the death penalty for his crimes.
. In June 1995, he was granted a visit before the state Parole Board at the age of 61, but his release was denied. He will not receive another hearing until 2035. After the Virginia Tech massacre on April 16, 2007 became the deadliest homicidal incident in American history, Ruppert's murderous spree dropped to the 9th deadliest massacre in U.S. history.
Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
in what is referred to as the Easter Sunday Massacre. He is serving two life sentences at the Allen Correctional Institution
Allen Correctional Institution
The Allen Correctional Institution is a prison located in Lima, Ohio, USA. It is part of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Its most well-known inmate is mass murderer James Ruppert, II, the Hamilton, Ohio resident who killed 11 family members at his mother's house on Easter...
in Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
.
Early life
James Ruppert's early life was troubled. His mother Charity said she would have rather had a daughter and his father Leonard had a violent temper and little affection for his two sons. Leonard died in 1947 when James and his brother Leonard II were 12 and 14 respectively.Leonard II became the father figure of the family and constantly picked on James during their upbringing. At 16, James was so dissatisfied with his home life that he ran away and attempted to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by hanging himself with a sheet. He was unsuccessful and returned home.
Adulthood
As an adult, James stood 5'6", 135 pounds, described as a modest and helpful man who was unremarkable and quiet. He had no police record.James was envious of his older brother's successful job and family. James flunked out of college after 2 years while his brother earned a degree in electrical engineering and excelled in athletics.
Leonard II also married James' ex-girlfriend, had eight children, and held a job with General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, while James was unemployed at the age of 41 and had moved back in with his 65-year old mother Charity Ruppert in Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
. Charity was frustrated with her son's inability to hold a steady job and his constant drinking; she threatened to evict him. James also owed his mother and brother money, having lost what little he had in the stock market crash of 1973-4.
The final month
A month before the massacre, James inquired about silencers for his weapons while purchasing ammunition. His behavior in general became more unusual as he neared the breaking point, battling a deep depression.On March 29, 1975, his 41st birthday, witnesses had seen him engaging in target practice shooting tin cans with his .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
along the banks of the Great Miami River
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
in Hamilton.
The night before the murders James went out as he did nearly every night. At the 19th Hole Cocktail Lounge he talked with employee Wanda Bishop, a 28-year old mother of 5. She would later state that James told her he was frustrated with his mother's demands on him and his impending eviction and that he needed to solve the problem. He left the bar at 11:00 PM that night and later returned. When Bishop asked him if he had solved the problem, he replied "No, not yet." James stayed at the bar until it closed at 2:30 AM.
The murders
On Easter Sunday, March 30, 1975, Charity Ruppert's older son Leonard II was visiting her house on Minor Avenue. He and his wife Alma brought their 8 children (ranging in age from 4 to 17) to see their grandmother.Leonard Ruppert II's younger brother James was upstairs in the 2-story house sleeping off his previous night of drinking while the other family members enjoyed an Easter egg hunt
Egg hunt
Egg hunt is a game during which decorated eggs, real hard-boiled ones or artificial, filled with or made of chocolate candies, of various sizes, are hidden in various places for children to find. The game may be both indoors and outdoors...
in the front yard. Upon entering the house, Charity Ruppert began fixing sloppy joe
Sloppy joe
A sloppy joe is an American dish of ground beef, onions, sweetened tomato sauce or ketchup and other seasonings, served on a hamburger bun. Commercially made sauces are also available. Textured vegetable protein may be used as a vegetarian substitute for the meat...
sandwiches in the kitchen while Leonard and Alma sat at the kitchen table. The majority of the children were playing in the living room at this time.
Around 4:00 PM (EDT), James awoke, loaded a .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
, two .22 caliber handguns and a rifle and descended the staircase. He entered the kitchen and shot and killed his brother Leonard. James then killed his sister-in-law Alma and his mother Charity as she attempted to thwart her son's progress. Next, he took the life of his nephew David and his nieces Teresa and Carol all in the confines of the kitchen.
Leaving the kitchen, James entered the living room where he killed his niece Ann and his 4 remaining nephews Leonard, Michael, Thomas, and John.
During the rampage, James typically fired the first shot to disable his victim and the second through the head to finish them off. A few victims were shot a third time and one was shot through the heart. The massacre was over within 5 minutes.
After spending 3 hours in the house, James finally called police to report the shooting. He waited just inside the front door for authorities to arrive.
Aftermath
The murders shocked the town of Hamilton and the entire country. Those who knew James Ruppert did not think he was capable of violence, especially at the magnitude of this particular massacre. By all accounts, neighbors considered the Rupperts a nice family.James was arrested and charged that day with 11 counts of aggravated homicide. He refused to answer questions asked by the police and was very uncooperative. He made it clear he would plead insanity.
County prosecutor John Holcomb viewed the crime scene and stated that there was so much blood on the first floor, it was dripping through the floorboards into the basement, which to this day can still be seen on the wood. A total of 35 shots had been fired by Ruppert and all 4 weapons were recovered at the scene.
All 11 victims were buried in Arlington Memorial Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. A year later, the house was opened to the public and all of its contents were auctioned off. It was then cleaned and recarpeted and sold to a family new to the area who was unaware of the murders that had taken place there.
Prosecution
The original trial was held in Hamilton, Ohio. The 3-judge panel found Ruppert guilty on all 11 counts of murder and sentenced him to life in prison. A mistrial was declared and it was decided that the retrial would be held in Findlay, OhioFindlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
, 125 miles north because it was believed he could not receive a fair trial in the city of Hamilton.
The second trial began in June 1975 and prosecutors revealed evidence involving the witnesses that had seen Ruppert engaging in target practice, asking about silencers for his gun collection and admitting that his mother's expectations were a problem that he needed to solve.
On appeal, a new trial was granted in 1982. Defense attorney Hugh D. Holbrock, convinced his client was insane, personally funded the hiring of expert psychiatrists and psychologists from all over the country.
On July 23, 1982, a second 3-judge panel found James Ruppert guilty of first degree murder in the case of his mother and brother but this time, they found him not guilty on the other 9 counts of murder by reason of insanity. He received life sentences for each of the two charges to be served consecutively rather than concurrently.
Because capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
had been suspended in the United States from 1972 to 1976 as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in Furman v. Georgia
Furman v. Georgia
Furman v. Georgia, was a United States Supreme Court decision that ruled on the requirement for a degree of consistency in the application of the death penalty. The case led to a de facto moratorium on capital punishment throughout the United States, which came to an end when Gregg v. Georgia was...
, and because the massacre on Minor Avenue had occurred in 1975, James Ruppert could not receive the death penalty for his crimes.
Current status
James Ruppert remains incarcerated in the Allen Correctional Institution in Lima, OhioLima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
. In June 1995, he was granted a visit before the state Parole Board at the age of 61, but his release was denied. He will not receive another hearing until 2035. After the Virginia Tech massacre on April 16, 2007 became the deadliest homicidal incident in American history, Ruppert's murderous spree dropped to the 9th deadliest massacre in U.S. history.
Victims
- Charity Ruppert, 65
- Leonard Ruppert II, 42
- Alma Ruppert, 38
- Leonard Ruppert, III, 17
- Michael Ruppert, 16
- Thomas Ruppert, 15
- Carol Ruppert, 13
- Ann Ruppert, 12
- David Ruppert, 11
- Teresa Ruppert, 9
- John Ruppert, 4