# Killer goes free, kin takes revenge-any true stories? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2006, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949 "2006-05-16T08:46:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AnabolicDoberman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@AnabolicDoberman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnabolicDoberman)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/1 "2006-05-16T08:46:14Z")
There are alot of fiction stories where a killer gets free on a technicallity, and one of the friends or relatives of the victims kills them in revenge. What are some true cases of this occuring? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/2 "2006-05-16T15:16:26Z")
Former prosecutor and magistrate here, involved in criminal justice system since 1991. I’ve never heard of this happening outside of Hollywood and books, but I’m sure it has, sometime and somewhere. It’s a big country. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/3 "2006-05-16T15:24:31Z")
I can’t recall the details, but there was a woman in Calif. who shot a guy in the courtroom. I think he had molested her daughter. Don’t remember if the trial was over or still in progress. I think she was found guilty and received a fairly light sentence. Some here will probably recall her name and be able to Google it. This was around a decade back. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/4 "2006-05-16T15:48:49Z")
The cast of [Ken Rex McElroy](http://www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson6.html) is one of the most famous ones. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/5 "2006-05-16T17:42:48Z")
[QUOTE=AnabolicDoberman] There are alot of fiction stories where a killer gets free on a technicallity, and one of the friends or relatives of the victims kills them in revenge. What are some true cases of this occuring? [/QUOTE] Whatever you’re considering, if anything, **forget it**. The Cops never stop looking for a killer. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/6 "2006-05-16T19:15:36Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] I can’t recall the details, but there was a woman in Calif. who shot a guy in the courtroom. I think he had molested her daughter. Don’t remember if the trial was over or still in progress. I think she was found guilty and received a fairly light sentence. Some here will probably recall her name and be able to Google it. This was around a decade back. [/QUOTE] That was the case of Ellie Nesler. I’m having a hard time finding an objective telling of her story online. She shot a man named Donald Driver, who was accused of molesting her son, in a Tuolumne County courtroom in 1993. She was convicted of manslaughter and served four years of a ten-year sentence. Some sources spell her last name as “Nessler”. I believe her son was later charged with murder in an unrelated incident. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/7 "2006-05-16T19:32:04Z")
[QUOTE=BobT] That was the case of Ellie Nesler. I’m having a hard time finding an objective telling of her story online. She shot a man named Donald Driver, who was accused of molesting her son, in a Tuolumne County courtroom in 1993. She was convicted of manslaughter and served four years of a ten-year sentence. Some sources spell her last name as “Nessler”. I believe her son was later charged with murder in an unrelated incident. [/QUOTE] That’s the one I was thinking of. I Googled her name, but you’re right, I couldn’t find any objective sites. It was at a pre-trial hearing where she shot the guy, he was accused of molesting her son. She rec’d. a 10 year sentence, but was released after 4 years when she was granted a new trial. The state declined to retry her. This doesn’t really answer the OP, because Nessler didn’t allow the justice system to do it’s work. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/8 "2006-05-16T19:35:48Z")
Also Ms. Nes(s)ler has some other psychological issues and drug problems it seems. She might have also been a victim of abuse as a child. ---
**Author:** ![AnabolicDoberman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@AnabolicDoberman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnabolicDoberman)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/9 "2006-05-17T02:15:56Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] The cast of [Ken Rex McElroy](http://www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson6.html) is one of the most famous ones. [/QUOTE] Wow that was a bad man. He got exactly what he deserved. I spent 30 minutes reading about him [here](http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/classics/ken_mcelroy/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/10 "2006-05-17T07:29:06Z")
Three or four years ago, in a small town north of Seattle a man, dressed in an FBI cap and vest, went to a house where three registered sex offenders lived. One was just leaving for work. He spoke with the guy for a minute before leaving. The guy said he was coming to interview the three of them, because he had reports of threats against the three of them from one of their neighbors. The working roommate went to work. He came home to find both of the others dead in their living room. They had been killed by single gunshots to the backs of their heads. The police caught the FBI impersonator. It was unclear if he was related to anyone any of them might have assaulted. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/11 "2006-05-17T11:28:03Z")
[QUOTE=AnabolicDoberman] Wow that was a bad man. He got exactly what he deserved. I spent 30 minutes reading about him [here](http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/classics/ken_mcelroy/index.html) [/QUOTE] I used to live in the area, when the killing happened. My wife lived in a neighboring town as a child and remembers being told to come inside when his truck was seen nearby. To this day, if you ask anyone from Skidmore what happened; the universal answer is: “I didn’t see anything.” ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/12 "2006-05-17T12:49:21Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] The Cops never stop looking for a killer. [/QUOTE] The OP is talking about the situation where they already found the person they think did it. Why would they continue looking, if they already found him? Did you maybe mean they continue to look for evidence to attempt to convict in a civil trial? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/13 "2006-05-17T12:57:55Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] The OP is talking about the situation where they already found the person they think did it. Why would they continue looking, if they already found him? Did you maybe mean they continue to look for evidence to attempt to convict in a civil trial? [/QUOTE] I _mean_ that if the OP is contemplating something _stupid & illegal_, the OP should _forget_ it, _that’s_ what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/14 "2006-05-17T13:37:47Z")
Of course I agree, I was only addressing your “The Cops never stop looking for a killer” point which does not seem to apply to the subject of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/15 "2006-05-17T13:49:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Of course I agree, I was only addressing your “The Cops never stop looking for a killer” point which does not seem to apply to the subject of this thread. Sometimes, I think, it’s too obvious that you miss it. Bosda was saying that if the poster had any plans to kill such an off-on-a-technicality killer, he should forget such notions, since the police would never stop looking for him (the poster, should he actually kill the guy). I think Bosda’s gettin’ too jumpy. This is the kind of question I’d ask, and i don’t have any personal grudge. At the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/16 "2006-05-17T14:22:01Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Sometimes, I think, it’s too obvious that you miss it. Bosda was saying that if the poster had any plans to kill such an off-on-a-technicality killer, he should forget such notions, since the police would never stop looking for him (the poster, should he actually kill the guy). [/QUOTE] :smack: :smack: :smack: I did indeed misunderstand. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/17 "2006-05-17T15:11:24Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] I think Bosda’s gettin’ too jumpy. This is the kind of question I’d ask, and i don’t have any personal grudge. At the moment. [/QUOTE] Yes, I’m a little jumpy lately. Always am, this time of year. The main reason I’d raised the point was cause the O-poster is a Guest, & some of them come here with some pretty odd notions buzzing around their noggins. ---
**Author:** ![Mislav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/18 "2015-10-06T19:56:33Z")
Wow, I know that this is a zombie thread… But nobody has mentioned Gary Plauche, seriously? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/19 "2015-10-07T04:52:39Z")
> [@Mislav](#): > > Wow, I know that this is a zombie thread… > But nobody has mentioned Gary Plauche, seriously? The OP: > [@AnabolicDoberman](#): > > There are alot of fiction stories\*\* where a killer gets free on a technicallity\*\*, and one of the friends or relatives of the victims kills them in revenge. What are some true cases of this occuring? (Bolding mine) Probably because the killer didn’t go free on a technicality, or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949/20 "2015-10-08T05:05:47Z")
> [@AnabolicDoberman](#): > > There are alot of fiction stories where a killer gets free on a technicallity, and one of the friends or relatives of the victims kills them in revenge. What are some true cases of this occuring? Gulf War 2 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-goes-free-kin-takes-revenge-any-true-stories/356949.md?page=2)