List of murdered American children
Updated: 5/24/2026, 6:56:35 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of murdered American children that details notable murders among thousands of cases of subjects who were or are believed to have been under the age of 18 upon their deaths. Cases listed are stated to be unsolved or solved. This list is inclusive only of subjects who have an existing article on the English-language Wikipedia. Note that this list does not include deaths where there is an on-going investigation without a conviction due to Wikipedia's policy at WP:BLPCRIME. For this reason pending cases are typically not included in this list, and unsolved cases are only included when there is no living suspect.
Tables
· 20th century › Before 1920
Lemuel Earll
Lemuel Earll
Victim(s)
Lemuel Earll
Date of death
c. February 14, 1902
Age
11
Location
Welsh, Louisiana
Status
Solved
Description
Victims of the Earll family murders. Perpetrator was tried and hanged.
Fay Earll
Fay Earll
Victim(s)
Fay Earll
Date of death
15
Fannie Whitten
Fannie Whitten
Victim(s)
Fannie Whitten
Date of death
September 19, 1902
Age
11
Location
Dexter, Maine
Status
Solved
Description
Poisoned by her mother.
Jennie Whitten
Jennie Whitten
Victim(s)
Jennie Whitten
Date of death
November 27, 1902
Age
9
Location
Dexter, Maine
Status
Solved
Description
Poisoned by her mother.
Roy C. Davis
Roy C. Davis
Victim(s)
Roy C. Davis
Date of death
August 13, 1903
Age
15
Location
Winfield, Kansas
Status
Solved
Description
Youngest victim of the Winfield massacre.
Joachim Andrus
Joachim Andrus
Victim(s)
Joachim Andrus
Date of death
February 24, 1911
Age
3
Location
Lafayette, Louisiana
Status
Solved
Description
Victims of a Serial Killer.
Agnes Andrus
Agnes Andrus
Victim(s)
Agnes Andrus
Date of death
11 Months
Elsie Paroubek
Elsie Paroubek
Victim(s)
Elsie Paroubek
Date of death
c. April 8, 1911
Age
4
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Status
Unsolved
Description
Murdered and dumped into a drainage canal.
Paul Vernon
Paul Vernon
Victim(s)
Paul Vernon
Date of death
June 9-10, 1912
Age
5
Location
Villisca, Iowa
Status
Unsolved
Description
Family and two guests bludgeoned to death.
Arthur Boyd
Arthur Boyd
Victim(s)
Arthur Boyd
Date of death
7
Mary Katherine
Mary Katherine
Victim(s)
Mary Katherine
Date of death
10
Herman Montgomery
Herman Montgomery
Victim(s)
Herman Montgomery
Date of death
11
Ina May
Ina May
Victim(s)
Ina May
Date of death
8
Lena Stilinger
Lena Stilinger
Victim(s)
Lena Stilinger
Date of death
11
Philip Rintoul
Philip Rintoul
Victim(s)
Philip Rintoul
Date of death
June 9, 1911
Age
8
Location
Ardenwald, Oregon
Status
Unsolved
Description
Murdered along with their parents. Considered one of Oregon's most brutal mass murders.
Dorothy Rintoul
Dorothy Rintoul
Victim(s)
Dorothy Rintoul
Date of death
5
| Victim(s) | Date of death | Age | Location | Status | Description |
| Lemuel Earll | c. February 14, 1902 | 11 | Welsh, Louisiana | Solved | Victims of the Earll family murders. Perpetrator was tried and hanged. |
| Fay Earll | 15 | ||||
| Fannie Whitten | September 19, 1902 | 11 | Dexter, Maine | Solved | Poisoned by her mother. |
| Jennie Whitten | November 27, 1902 | 9 | Dexter, Maine | Solved | Poisoned by her mother. |
| Roy C. Davis | August 13, 1903 | 15 | Winfield, Kansas | Solved | Youngest victim of the Winfield massacre. |
| Joachim Andrus | February 24, 1911 | 3 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Solved | Victims of a Serial Killer. |
| Agnes Andrus | 11 Months | ||||
| Elsie Paroubek | c. April 8, 1911 | 4 | Chicago, Illinois | Unsolved | Murdered and dumped into a drainage canal. |
| Paul Vernon | June 9-10, 1912 | 5 | Villisca, Iowa | Unsolved | Family and two guests bludgeoned to death. |
| Arthur Boyd | 7 | ||||
| Mary Katherine | 10 | ||||
| Herman Montgomery | 11 | ||||
| Ina May | 8 | ||||
| Lena Stilinger | 11 | ||||
| Philip Rintoul | June 9, 1911 | 8 | Ardenwald, Oregon | Unsolved | Murdered along with their parents. Considered one of Oregon's most brutal mass murders. |
| Dorothy Rintoul | 5 |
· 20th century › 1920s
Geneva Hardman
Geneva Hardman
Victim(s)
Geneva Hardman
Date of death
c. February 4, 1920
Age
10
Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Status
Solved
Description
Victim of serial killer Will Lockett.
Martha Wolf
Martha Wolf
Victim(s)
Martha Wolf
Date of death
April 22, 1920
Age
3
Location
Turtle Lake, North Dakota
Status
Solved
Description
Killed by their neighbor Henry Layer.
Liddia Wolf
Liddia Wolf
Victim(s)
Liddia Wolf
Date of death
5
Edna Wolf
Edna Wolf
Victim(s)
Edna Wolf
Date of death
7
Maria Wolf
Maria Wolf
Victim(s)
Maria Wolf
Date of death
9
Bertha Wolf
Bertha Wolf
Victim(s)
Bertha Wolf
Date of death
12
Jacob Holfer
Jacob Holfer
Victim(s)
Jacob Holfer
Date of death
13
Robert Neal Osborn
Robert Neal Osborn
Victim(s)
Robert Neal Osborn
Date of death
July 21, 1920
Age
4
Location
Kinston, North Carolina
Status
Solved
Description
Murdered by serial killer Asbury Respus.
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Victim(s)
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Date of death
1920 or 1921
Age
5–7
Location
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Status
Unsolved, unidentified
Description
Found dead in a quarry.
Bobby Franks
Bobby Franks
Victim(s)
Bobby Franks
Date of death
May 21, 1924
Age
14
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Status
Solved
Description
The two perpetrators confessed soon after the murder.
Richard Russell
Richard Russell
Victim(s)
Richard Russell
Date of death
June 4, 1925
Age
0 (4 months)
Location
Hamilton, Ohio
Status
Solved
Description
Killed by their uncle.
Paul Russell
Paul Russell
Victim(s)
Paul Russell
Date of death
3
Robert Russell
Robert Russell
Victim(s)
Robert Russell
Date of death
8
George Francis Russell
George Francis Russell
Victim(s)
George Francis Russell
Julia Russell
Julia Russell
Victim(s)
Julia Russell
Date of death
12
Arthur Schumacher
Arthur Schumacher
Victim(s)
Arthur Schumacher
Date of death
July 1925
Age
8
Location
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Status
Unsolved
Description
Went missing on July 24, 1925. His body was found 3 weeks later.
Bath School disaster
Bath School disaster
Victim(s)
Bath School disaster
Date of death
May 18, 1927
Age
7-14
Location
Bath Charter Township, Michigan
Status
Solved
Description
Perpetrator set off two explosions that killed 38 children. Perpetrator died in the second explosion.
Frank Wong
Frank Wong
Victim(s)
Frank Wong
Date of death
August 22, 1928
Age
0 (10-11 days old)
Location
Fairfield, California
Status
Solved
Description
Victims of the 1928 Fairfield murders.
Willie Wong
Willie Wong
Victim(s)
Willie Wong
Date of death
3
Johnnie Wong
Johnnie Wong
Victim(s)
Johnnie Wong
Date of death
4
Nellie Wong
Nellie Wong
Victim(s)
Nellie Wong
Date of death
15
Lawson family murders
Lawson family murders
Victim(s)
Lawson family murders
Date of death
December 25, 1929
Age
0-17; 4 months
Location
Germanton, North Carolina
Status
Solved
Description
Murder–suicide and familicide.
| Victim(s) | Date of death | Age | Location | Status | Description |
| Geneva Hardman | c. February 4, 1920 | 10 | Lexington, Kentucky | Solved | Victim of serial killer Will Lockett. |
| Martha Wolf | April 22, 1920 | 3 | Turtle Lake, North Dakota | Solved | Killed by their neighbor Henry Layer. |
| Liddia Wolf | 5 | ||||
| Edna Wolf | 7 | ||||
| Maria Wolf | 9 | ||||
| Bertha Wolf | 12 | ||||
| Jacob Holfer | 13 | ||||
| Robert Neal Osborn | July 21, 1920 | 4 | Kinston, North Carolina | Solved | Murdered by serial killer Asbury Respus. |
| Little Lord Fauntleroy | 1920 or 1921 | 5–7 | Waukesha, Wisconsin | Unsolved, unidentified | Found dead in a quarry. |
| Bobby Franks | May 21, 1924 | 14 | Chicago, Illinois | Solved | The two perpetrators confessed soon after the murder. |
| Richard Russell | June 4, 1925 | 0 (4 months) | Hamilton, Ohio | Solved | Killed by their uncle. |
| Paul Russell | 3 | ||||
| Robert Russell | 8 | ||||
| George Francis Russell | |||||
| Julia Russell | 12 | ||||
| Arthur Schumacher | July 1925 | 8 | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin | Unsolved | Went missing on July 24, 1925. His body was found 3 weeks later. |
| Bath School disaster | May 18, 1927 | 7-14 | Bath Charter Township, Michigan | Solved | Perpetrator set off two explosions that killed 38 children. Perpetrator died in the second explosion. |
| Frank Wong | August 22, 1928 | 0 (10-11 days old) | Fairfield, California | Solved | Victims of the 1928 Fairfield murders. |
| Willie Wong | 3 | ||||
| Johnnie Wong | 4 | ||||
| Nellie Wong | 15 | ||||
| Lawson family murders | December 25, 1929 | 0-17; 4 months | Germanton, North Carolina | Solved | Murder–suicide and familicide. |
· 20th century › 1930s
Mary Haven
Mary Haven
Victim(s)
Mary Haven
Date of death
c. February 9, 1930
Age
0 (2 months)
Location
Schafer, North Dakota
Status
Solved
Description
Victims of Charles Bannon, the last person to be lynched in North Dakota..
Charles Haven
Charles Haven
Victim(s)
Charles Haven
Date of death
2
Leland Haven
Leland Haven
Victim(s)
Leland Haven
Date of death
14
Anabel Eicher
Anabel Eicher
Victim(s)
Anabel Eicher
Date of death
c. June 23, 1931
Age
9
Location
Park Ridge, Illinois
Status
Solved
Description
Killed by serial killer Harry Powers.
Harry Eicher
Harry Eicher
Victim(s)
Harry Eicher
Date of death
12
Greta Eicher
Greta Eicher
Victim(s)
Greta Eicher
Date of death
14
Vera Leonard
Vera Leonard
Victim(s)
Vera Leonard
Date of death
September 30, 1931
Age
9
Location
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Status
Solved
Description
Final victim of serial killer Asbury Respus.
Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr.
Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr.
Victim(s)
Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr.
Date of death
March 2, 1932
Age
1
Location
Hopewell Township, New Jersey
Status
Solved
Description
Son of Famous Aviator, who was kidnapped and murdered.
Fileman Martinez
Fileman Martinez
Victim(s)
Fileman Martinez
Date of death
October 7, 1932
Age
16
Location
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Status
Solved
Description
Murdered by his stepfather.
James Cordie Check
James Cordie Check
Victim(s)
James Cordie Check
Date of death
December 15, 1933
Age
17
Location
Maury County, Tennessee
Status
Solved
Description
Murdered for being falsely accused of rape.
Babes in the Wood murders (Pine Grove Furnace)
Babes in the Wood murders (Pine Grove Furnace)
Victim(s)
Babes in the Wood murders (Pine Grove Furnace)
Date of death
November 24, 1934
Age
8–12
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Status
Solved
Description
Murder–suicide and familicide.
| Victim(s) | Date of death | Age | Location | Status | Description |
| Mary Haven | c. February 9, 1930 | 0 (2 months) | Schafer, North Dakota | Solved | Victims of Charles Bannon, the last person to be lynched in North Dakota.. |
| Charles Haven | 2 | ||||
| Leland Haven | 14 | ||||
| Anabel Eicher | c. June 23, 1931 | 9 | Park Ridge, Illinois | Solved | Killed by serial killer Harry Powers. |
| Harry Eicher | 12 | ||||
| Greta Eicher | 14 | ||||
| Vera Leonard | September 30, 1931 | 9 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Solved | Final victim of serial killer Asbury Respus. |
| Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. | March 2, 1932 | 1 | Hopewell Township, New Jersey | Solved | Son of Famous Aviator, who was kidnapped and murdered. |
| Fileman Martinez | October 7, 1932 | 16 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | Solved | Murdered by his stepfather. |
| James Cordie Check | December 15, 1933 | 17 | Maury County, Tennessee | Solved | Murdered for being falsely accused of rape. |
| Babes in the Wood murders (Pine Grove Furnace) | November 24, 1934 | 8–12 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Solved | Murder–suicide and familicide. |
· 20th century › 1940s
Margaret Lynch
Margaret Lynch
Victim(s)
Margaret Lynch
Date of death
September 14, 1942
Age
7
Location
Bedford Village, New York
Status
Solved
Description
Murdered by Edward Haight.
Helen Lynch
Helen Lynch
Victim(s)
Helen Lynch
Date of death
8
Willie James Howard
Willie James Howard
Victim(s)
Willie James Howard
Date of death
January 2, 1944
Age
15
Location
Live Oak, Florida
Status
Solved
Description
Lynched by a man who was upset his daughter received a Christmas card from Howard.
Thora Chamberlain
Thora Chamberlain
Victim(s)
Thora Chamberlain
Date of death
c. November 2, 1945
Age
14
Location
Campbell, California
Status
Solved
Description
Murdered by Thomas McMonigle.
Suzanne Degan
Suzanne Degan
Victim(s)
Suzanne Degan
Date of death
c. January 7, 1946
Age
6
Location
Edgewater, Chicago
Status
Solved
Description
Murdered by serial killer William Heirens.
Samuel Hill
Samuel Hill
Victim(s)
Samuel Hill
Date of death
November 6, 1948
Age
7
Location
Chester, Pennsylvania
Status
Solved
Description
Youngest victim of the Market Street Massacre.
Thelma Taylor
Thelma Taylor
Victim(s)
Thelma Taylor
Date of death
August 6, 1949
Age
15
Location
Portland, Oregon
Status
Solved
Description
Killed by Morris Leleand.
Thomas Hamilton
Thomas Hamilton
Victim(s)
Thomas Hamilton
Date of death
September 6, 1949
Age
2
Location
Camden, New Jersey
Status
Solved
Description
Victims of the Camden Shootings.
Orris Martin Smith
Orris Martin Smith
Victim(s)
Orris Martin Smith
Date of death
6
John M. Wilson
John M. Wilson
Victim(s)
John M. Wilson
Date of death
10
| Victim(s) | Date of death | Age | Location | Status | Description |
| Margaret Lynch | September 14, 1942 | 7 | Bedford Village, New York | Solved | Murdered by Edward Haight. |
| Helen Lynch | 8 | ||||
| Willie James Howard | January 2, 1944 | 15 | Live Oak, Florida | Solved | Lynched by a man who was upset his daughter received a Christmas card from Howard. |
| Thora Chamberlain | c. November 2, 1945 | 14 | Campbell, California | Solved | Murdered by Thomas McMonigle. |
| Suzanne Degan | c. January 7, 1946 | 6 | Edgewater, Chicago | Solved | Murdered by serial killer William Heirens. |
| Samuel Hill | November 6, 1948 | 7 | Chester, Pennsylvania | Solved | Youngest victim of the Market Street Massacre. |
| Thelma Taylor | August 6, 1949 | 15 | Portland, Oregon | Solved | Killed by Morris Leleand. |
| Thomas Hamilton | September 6, 1949 | 2 | Camden, New Jersey | Solved | Victims of the Camden Shootings. |
| Orris Martin Smith | 6 | ||||
| John M. Wilson | 10 |
· 20th century › 1950s
Kathy Tongay
Kathy Tongay
Victim(s)
Kathy Tongay
Date of death
May 6, 1953
Age
5
Location
Miami, Florida
Status
Solved
Bobby Greenlease
Bobby Greenlease
Victim(s)
Bobby Greenlease
Date of death
September 28, 1953
Age
6
Location
Kansas City, Missouri
Status
Solved
Description
Murdered by Bonnie Heady and Carl Austin Hall.
Emmett Till
Emmett Till
Victim(s)
Emmett Till
Date of death
August 28, 1955
Age
14
Location
Money, Mississippi
Status
Solved
Description
Lynched/murdered by Roy Bryant and J . Milam.
Patricia Grimes
Patricia Grimes
Victim(s)
Patricia Grimes
Date of death
December 28, 1956
Age
12
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Status
Unsolved
Barbara Grimes
Barbara Grimes
Victim(s)
Barbara Grimes
Date of death
15
Joseph Augustus Zarelli
Joseph Augustus Zarelli
Victim(s)
Joseph Augustus Zarelli
Date of death
February 1957
Age
4
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Status
Unsolved, identified
Description
Previously known as "The Boy in the Box": Unidentified until 2022.
Maria Ridulph
Maria Ridulph
Victim(s)
Maria Ridulph
Date of death
December 3, 1957
Age
7
Location
Sycamore, Illinois
Status
Unsolved
Description
A suspect was convicted in 2012, but was eventually exonerated in 2016.
Betty Jean Bartlett
Betty Jean Bartlett
Victim(s)
Betty Jean Bartlett
Date of death
January 22, 1958
Age
2
Location
Lincoln, Nebraska
Status
Solved
Description
Victims of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate.
Carol King
Carol King
Victim(s)
Carol King
Date of death
January 27, 1958
Age
16
Robert Jensen
Robert Jensen
Victim(s)
Robert Jensen
Date of death
17
Kenyon Clutter
Kenyon Clutter
Victim(s)
Kenyon Clutter
Date of death
November 15, 1959
Age
15
Location
Holcomb, Kansas
Status
Solved
Description
Murdered with their parents in robbery
Nancy Clutter
Nancy Clutter
Victim(s)
Nancy Clutter
Date of death
16
Debbie Walker
Debbie Walker
Victim(s)
Debbie Walker
Date of death
December 19, 1959
Age
1
Location
Osprey, Florida
Status
Unsolved
Description
Murdered along with their parents.
Jimmie Walker
Jimmie Walker
Victim(s)
Jimmie Walker
Date of death
3
Maryann Mitchell
Maryann Mitchell
Victim(s)
Maryann Mitchell
Date of death
December 28, 1959
Age
16
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Status
Solved
Description
Kidnapped, raped and murdered by Elmo Lee Smith, who was sentenced to death and executed in 1962 by the electric chair.
| Victim(s) | Date of death | Age | Location | Status | Description |
| Kathy Tongay | May 6, 1953 | 5 | Miami, Florida | Solved | |
| Bobby Greenlease | September 28, 1953 | 6 | Kansas City, Missouri | Solved | Murdered by Bonnie Heady and Carl Austin Hall. |
| Emmett Till | August 28, 1955 | 14 | Money, Mississippi | Solved | Lynched/murdered by Roy Bryant and J . Milam. |
| Patricia Grimes | December 28, 1956 | 12 | Chicago, Illinois | Unsolved | |
| Barbara Grimes | 15 | ||||
| Joseph Augustus Zarelli | February 1957 | 4 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Unsolved, identified | Previously known as "The Boy in the Box": Unidentified until 2022. |
| Maria Ridulph | December 3, 1957 | 7 | Sycamore, Illinois | Unsolved | A suspect was convicted in 2012, but was eventually exonerated in 2016. |
| Betty Jean Bartlett | January 22, 1958 | 2 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Solved | Victims of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. |
| Carol King | January 27, 1958 | 16 | |||
| Robert Jensen | 17 | ||||
| Kenyon Clutter | November 15, 1959 | 15 | Holcomb, Kansas | Solved | Murdered with their parents in robbery |
| Nancy Clutter | 16 | ||||
| Debbie Walker | December 19, 1959 | 1 | Osprey, Florida | Unsolved | Murdered along with their parents. |
| Jimmie Walker | 3 | ||||
| Maryann Mitchell | December 28, 1959 | 16 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Solved | Kidnapped, raped and murdered by Elmo Lee Smith, who was sentenced to death and executed in 1962 by the electric chair. |
References
- The Daily Advertiserhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-jefferson-davis-015/45262808/
- The Saint Paul Globehttps://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1902-11-30/ed-1/seq-1/
- New York Daily Tribunehttps://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1902-11-30/ed-1/seq-5/#date1=1902&sort=date&rows=20&words=Hattie+Whitten&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=6&state=&date2=1902&proxtext=Hattie+Whitten&y=17&x=12&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
- Newspapershttps://www.newspapers.com/image/80482296/
- Chicago Tribunehttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/104500343/start-big-search-for-girls-slayer/
- Smithsonian Magazinehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-ax-murderer-who-got-away-117037374/
- Why Some Men Kill; Or, Murder Mysteries Revealedhttps://books.google.com/books?id=CDAMAAAAYAAJ
- Greenwood Commonwealthhttps://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045389/1920-03-09/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1920&sort=date&date2=1920&words=Kimbrough+Petrie&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=2&state=&rows=20&proxtext=Petrie+Kimbrough&y=9&x=18&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
- The Lineuphttps://the-line-up.com/undefined
- The Free Presshttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-free-press-robert-neal-osbornes-dea/94715582/
- doenetworkhttp://doenetwork.org/cases/1377umwi.html
- HISTORYhttps://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-21/leopold-and-loeb-gain-national-attention
- The Independent-Recordhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-record/149591570/
- OnMilwaukeehttp://onmilwaukee.com/ent/articles/buddyschumacher.html
- The Brooklyn Daily Timeshttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/46916375/times-union/
- Buffalo Evening Newshttps://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2021/Buffalo%20NY%20Evening%20News/Buffalo%20NY%20Evening%20News%201927/Buffalo%20NY%20Evening%20News%201927%20b%20-%201167.pdf
- Eugene Register-Guardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=DyNZAAAAIBAJ&dq=loy+yeung&pg=PA1&article_id=5605,6135920
- White Christmas, Bloody Christmashttps://archive.org/details/whitechristmasbl00jone
- wwwhttps://www.ndcourts.gov/about-us/history/north-dakotas-last-lynching
- New York Daily Newshttps://www.nydailynews.com/2009/04/04/lonely-hearts-murderer/