It's hard to discard humanity's morbid curiosity. We're always seeking details to try to solve catastrophes we come across, no matter if it's a wreck we pass on the highway or our staying tuned to see if the culprit on the evening news is brought to justice. It's hard not to get wrapped up in true crime, especially since there have been multiple serial killers in Arkansas. Sometimes that craving gets the best of us and we're stuck with wanting to know the whole story. With somber earnest, let's tiptoe through the Arkansas murder house, where tragedy struck in 1964.
This house once belonged to the Degges family.
Unfortunately, it's also part of a crime scene - the murder of Mrs. Maudine Degges happened here.
A young mother of three, Mrs. Degges dropped off her two older children at school one September morning.
Later that morning a neighbor spotted the youngest child, a four-year-old boy, wandering the streets. The neighbor brought the child to his grandparents and together they went to the Degges house.
Mrs. Degges was nowhere to be found.
The only things left over were a plugged-in iron and one of her shoes.
Her body was found the next day about three miles southeast of the house.
Blunt force head trauma was the cause of death. A wrench, the assumed murder weapon, was recovered at the scene.
Investigators were able to piece together what had happened.
A neighbor had seen a black and white 1956 Buick pulling out of the Dregges' driveway. The driver had suspiciously sped off without stopping. Two men working on a nearby telephone line also witnessed the odd Buick.
Police followed the trail and found the owner of the Buick.
The owner, James Williams, worked near the Dregges' neighborhood. Police noticed a large burn on Williams' chest during questioning. He brushed it off saying it was caused by the muffler of the chainsaw he was operating in the woods.
Williams claimed to have been working at the time of the attack.
About two weeks after the policemen's first contact with Williams, they were able to obtain a warrant and disprove his alibi. Also at this time Williams' burn had healed to the point where a match could be made between its shape and the shape of the iron Mrs. Degges had been using.
Williams' had broken in through a window and attacked Mrs. Degges.
Mrs. Degges fought back, but was overpowered when Williams used the wrench.
Williams was arrested for first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death by electrocution.
He appealed but the Supreme Court of Arkansas denied his hearing.
Justice came quicker than expected.
Williams died in prison before his sentence could be carried out.
Mrs. Degges was given a proper burial and flowers are still left on her grave to this day.
Share your thoughts about this harrowing crime with us in the comments - we love to hear from you. For a much-needed palate cleanser, read about this delightful small town pie shop. After all, who doesn't love pie?
But if you'd like more true crime creepiness, however, then read about a notorious serial killer in Arkansas. Or visit this museum that has the weapons of multiple serial killers in Arkansas.
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