37. America's Most Famous Cold Case- The John List Murders

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On November 9th, 1971, John List walked behind his wife at the breakfast table and shot her in the back of the head. After moving her to the ballroom of the families mansion, he went upstairs to his mothers private apartment and killed her. While he waited for the school day to end he stopped the mail, ran to the bank, had lunch, and then he executed his three children and pulled them next to their mother in the ballroom. Then he drove to JFK airport where he abandoned his car and then took a train back into the city.

And he disappeared like a shadow. His family was found a month after their murders and for nearly 18 years- John got away with it. He was able to fade into the invisibility of a "normal" life until America's Most Wanted agreed to air the case. That episode contained the updated facial reconstruction that had been aged but a forensic sculpture, a sculpture so accurate, he even accurately picked what time of glasses John would be wearing.

Lets his the road to New Jersey villages outside of bustling NYC and a very very very- cold case

Sources:

ABC News. (2002, February 20). 1971 family killer breaks silence. ABC News.

Associated Press. (1990a, March 29). Killer's letter: "After it was all over I said some prayers" (as published by The Roanoke Times).

Associated Press. (1990b, March 29). Letter says family killed to ensure their salvation (as published by The Roanoke Times).

Associated Press. (1990c, May 1). List gets five life terms in murders; parole not possible (as published by The Roanoke Times).

Cullen, D., Yuille, J. C., Porter, S., & Ritchie, C. (2019). A typology of familicide perpetrators in Australia. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article 2956.

Douthat, S. (1989, June 18). The fugitive: In 18 years on the run, slaying suspect's life comes to resemble his old one [Associated Press story as published by Los Angeles Times].

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). FBI Richmond history. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Liem, M., & Koenraadt, F. (2008). Familicide: A comparison with spousal and child homicide by mentally disordered perpetrators. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 18, 306–318.

Los Angeles Times. (1989, June 18). The fugitive: In 18 years on the run, slaying suspect's life comes to resemble his old one.

Los Angeles Times. (1990, April 10). 17 years later, town gets answers to family killings.

New York Times. (1990, March 29). Suspect wrote about killing family in '71. The New York Times.

NJ.com. (2008, March 25). Body of killer John List remains unclaimed.

O'Donnell, S. (1994). Forensic imaging and age progression: The John List case. Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

People. (2022, October 19). 'The Watcher': John Graff is inspired by family murderer John List. People.

Priest, D., & Kelleher, S. (1989, July 1). A double life for 17 years? VA accountant denies he's mass murder suspect. The Washington Post.

Scholar.lib.vt.edu. (1990, May 1). LIST GETS FIVE LIFE TERMS IN MURDERS; PAROLE NOT POSSIBLE.

Shorty Awards. (n.d.). Father wants us dead. The Shorty Awards.

State v. List, 270 N.J. Super. 252 (Law Div. 1990).

State v. List, 270 N.J. Super. 169 (App. Div. 1993).

UPI. (1990, March 28). Incriminating List letter can be used at murder trial.

UPI. (2008, March 23). John List, killer of family, dies at 82.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2002). TOTAL POPULATION Town of Westfield and Union County 1930 - 2000.