On this day, June 11, in 1983, Texas Rangers arrested Henry Lee Lucas, once listed as America’s most prolific serial killer.
Lucas was born in Blacksburg, Va., and his first known victim was his mother, a slaying for which he served 10 years in prison. He then drifted throughout the South until his arrest on a gun charge in Texas eight years later.
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Within days, police charged him with the murder of his niece and another woman.
During his arraignment, Lucas blurted that he had killed 100 women. He later claimed 600. A media storm ensued and a task force was created to investigate the claims. The group concluded that it was possible Lucas killed 350 people, but two state attorneys general called those claims a hoax.
Lucas died in prison in 2001.
— Scott McCabe
