George Hassell: The Family Axeman

On the evening of December 24, 1926, a farmer in Farwell, Texas, called the sheriff to report that his neighbor, George Hassell, had been acting very strangely in recent days and he had been telling conflicting stories about the whereabouts of his family, who had been missing for several days. When the sheriff arrived at the Hassell farm, he began questioning George about where his family had gone, but mid conversation, Hassell removed a pocket knife from his pocket and stabbed himself three times in the chest.

Hassell was taken to the hospital, where he was not expected to survive, but against the odds, George pulled through. With no option for escape and having given law enforcement good reason to suspect him in the disappearance of his family, George began confessing to multiple murders. At first, it was assumed he had flown into a rage and murdered his family a week earlier, but the more Hassell talked, the clearer it became that George Hassell violent and murderous behavior went well beyond the walls of his home in Farwell.

References

Associated Press. 1927. "Hassell death edict to stand." Fort Worth Record-Telegram, February 15: 1.

—. 1928. "Hassell is fifth white man to chair." Fort Worth Record-Telegram, February 10: 1.

—. 1926. "Sheriff expects full statement from Hassell." San Antonio Express-News, December 26: 1.

—. 1928. "Slayer of 13 thanks judge for sentence." San Antonio Express-News, January 11: 1.

Church, Marlowe. 2019. "Hassell offered detailed confession." Eastern New Mexico News, September 3.

Morning Press . 1927. "Texas killer's name heard in Whittier case." Morning Press (Santa Barbara, CA), January 1: 1.

Roth, Michael. 2022. Man with the Killer Smile: The Life and Crimes of a Serial Mass Murderer. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press.

San Antonio Express-News. 1927. "Hassell's California victims identified." San Antonio Express-News, February 12: 5.

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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