Hayward Bissell and the Murder of Patricia Booher

On January 24, 2000, sheriff’s deputies in Mentone, Alabama stopped an older model Lincoln with Ohio plates that they suspected was involved in a hit-and-run accident earlier that day. The driver was thirty-seven-year-old Hayward Bissell of Norwalk, Ohio and strapped into the seat beside him was the remains of his twenty-four-year-old girlfriend, Patricia Booher. To the deputies’ horror, Booher’s hand and leg had been severed from her body, her eyes had been gouged out, and her heart and liver had been torn out, but were still in the car. Further investigation revealed that, in addition to Booher’s murder, Bissell had also attempted to kill two other couples on what appeared to be a rampage across two states.

Thank you to the ever so talented David White for research assistance :)

-Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance -

Website:sczaction.org

Services: Education and support groups

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Website:nami.org

Services: General resources for mental health

Domestic Violence:

-US Hotline Number: 1(800)-799-7233

-The Battered Women's Justice Project: **We donated to them, I met with them and they are amazing**

Website: BWJP.org

Services: Free legal help

-Center For Domestic Peace

Website: Centerfordomesticpeace.org

Services: Support groups

References

Acton, Andy. 2000. "Secret Service questions man in mutilation case." Birminghm Post-Herald, January 26: 23.

Associated Press. 2002. "Mental illness plea accepted." Atlanta Constitution , February 8: D12.

—. 2000. "Couple honors heroic Labrador retrievers." Birmingham Post-Herald, March 15: 16.

—. 2001. "Man held in mutilation slaying to undergo more mental tests." Macon Telegraph, August 13: 12.

—. 2000. "Police probe mutilation death of woman." The Anniston Star, Janaury 25: 8.

—. 2000. "Suspect in mutilation death of woman to be sent to mental hsopital." The Anniston Star, January 26: 12.

Bradley, Eric. 2000. "Manty native relates tale of terror." Manitowoc Herald-Times, Jul 7: 1.

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. 2000. "Mental tests urged for slaying suspect." Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Janaury 27: 14.

Harper, Carol. 2000. "Dismay, disbelief follow mutilation death." Sandusky Register, January 26.

Johnson, Sheila. 2013. Blood Highway. New York, NY: Pinnacle Books.

Nowak, Joe. 2000. "Victim's father in prison for rape." Norwalk Reflector, January 25.

Nowak, Joe, and Jonathan Rickard. 2000. "Suspect has history of violent behavior." Norfolk Reflector, January 25.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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