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In 1988, John List’s photo came out on the list of America’s Most Wanted and one of his neighbours managed to identify him.
John List was concerned with the future of his children. (Photo Credits: X)
On November 9, 1971, John List disappeared after killing all of his family members in their 19-storey Westfield mansion in New Jersey. He murdered five people– his 84-year-old mother, Alma, his wife Helen and their three kids, Patricia, John and Frederick. List did confess to the gruesome crime. He left a letter at his residence along with the bodies discovered after a month. List confessed to the gruesome crime in a letter he left behind at his residence, alongside the bodies, which were discovered a month later. However, there was no trace of him—an accountant and Sunday school teacher—who had seemingly relocated to Colorado to start a new life.
He reportedly changed his identity to avoid further enquiry and remarried as well. Later in 1988, his photo came out on America’s Most Wanted. One of his neighbours managed to identify List and informed the police. The list was eventually arrested, as reported by ABC News.
On the day of the murders, John List first sent all three children to school, following his routine. He then took out three guns from his garage and entered the house. He first killed his wife of 20 years and dragged her body to the ballroom from the kitchen.
List then went to the third floor and murdered his mother. He then shot his children after they returned from school. Their bodies were also found next to their mother in the ballroom, as per People magazine.
In 1971, 46-year-old John List lost his job at a bank and couldn’t bear to tell his family the truth. After a failed job search, he would later say that he had only one option: murdering his family and disappearing forever. He believed without money, his family would turn… pic.twitter.com/tGJJAEWh6b
— Fascinating (@fasc1nate) February 18, 2025
At that time, List was reportedly dealing with financial issues. He was also quite concerned with the future of his children. A devout Lutheran, List feared poverty would destroy his family. His mother was also a Lutheran, the ABC News report added.
List had stayed in Colorado for 18 years, successfully avoiding police with his new identity. He described everything in the letter, from planning the murders to executing them. By the time the police arrived, List had already fled off the scene.
Before killing his children, John List informed their school that they would visit a sick family member at a distant place. He also made sure to stop milk, mail and newspaper deliveries, the History Channel reported. Nine months after the crime, the entire house was damaged in a fire.
After almost two decades, List was captured and sentenced to five consecutive life terms in prison. In 2018, The New York Times reported that he died at the New Jersey State Prison.
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