Latest news with #Spillman
New York Post
21-06-2025
- New York Post
How Tacoma, Washington became the serial-killer capitol of America
In 1996, Jack Spillman (a k a the Werewolf Butcher) confessed to murdering three people, two of them children and one just 9 years old. His brutality was staggering, not just raping his victims but dismembering them, drinking their blood and removing their sexual organs. Bob Keppel — the chief criminal investigator for the attorney general of Washington state, where the murders were committed and Spillman lived — told reporters that 'killers like Spillman, mutilators who commit cannibalism, vampirism, and necrophilia, are exceptionally rare, representing less than a tenth of 1 percent of all murderers,' writes Caroline Fraser in her new book, 'Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers' (Penguin Press), out June 10. 6 Despite its small size, the area around Tacoma, Wa is responsible for producing an outsized number of serial killers. Corbis via Getty Images 6 Charles Manson spent five years behind bars on Tacoma's McNeil Island during the early '60s. vmodica What he failed to mention was that many of these 'rare breed' serial killers had 'spent quality time in Tacoma, a place where paraphilias flourish like fungi,' she writes. The Pacific Northwest is known for five things, writes Fraser: lumber, aircraft, tech, coffee and serial killers. 'If you take a ruler and lay it down in 1961 and connect the dots between Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Gary Ridgway, you can practically draw a straight line,' writes Fraser. Is it just an unlucky coincidence? Or could it, wonders Fraser, have something to do with the region's high concentration of smelters, factories that release high levels of arsenic, cyanide, lead and other dangerous chemicals into the air? In 2018, Washington state's Department of Ecology launched an online resource called 'Dirt Alert,' a block‑by‑block map of lead and arsenic contamination. Of the four major 'plumes' — the largest area of contaminated soil, usually located near smelters, industrial factories used to extract metals from ore — every one of them 'has hosted the activities of one or more serial rapists or murderers,' writes Fraser. The author fully acknowledges that pollution is far from the only explanation. 'Recipes for making a serial killer may vary, including such ingredients as poverty, crude forceps deliveries, poor diet, physical and sexual abuse, brain damage, and neglect,' she writes. 'But what happens if we add a light dusting from the periodic table on top of all that trauma? 6 Ted Bundy — who confessed to murdering 30 women before being sentenced to death by electric chair in 1989 — moved to Tacoma with his mom when he was just 3. Bettmann Archive Ground zero for this theory is Tacoma, a port city 30 miles southwest of Seattle. It's been home to a staggering 53 industrial plants, including one run by the American Smelting and Refining Company. Since the early 20th century, the putrid odor of sulfur, chlorine, lye and ammonia coming from these factories has been dubbed 'the aroma of Tacoma.' 6 The now-shuttered ASARCO copper smelter in Tacoma, WA. Dept. of Ecology, State of Washington It was also the home of Spillman, who moved there with his mother at age 7. Between 1976 and 1982, he lived 6 miles from ASARCO. Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer was one of the most prolific serial killers in US history, strangling at least 49 prostitutes, runaways and teenage girls. He grew up just a few miles from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where in addition to pollution from the Tacoma smokestacks, he also ingested jet fuel fumes from airplanes still flying on leaded gas. Ted Bundy — who confessed to murdering 30 women before being sentenced to death by electric chair in 1989 — moved to Tacoma with his mom when he was just 3, to a neighborhood where smokestacks 'filled the air with redolent particulates.' 6 Book cover for 'Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers' by Caroline Fraser. Charles Manson, soon-to-be leader of a murderous cult, spent five years behind bars on Tacoma's McNeil Island during the early '60s, where 'virtually everything Manson eats and drinks comes out of the earth, where particulates from the Ruston plume have been drifting down to the ground since 1890,' writes Fraser. 'He'll live on McNeil Island longer than he's lived in any place in his life.' Even David Brame, a former police chief at Tacoma, became a killer, murdering his wife in front of his two young children, 8 and 5, and also allegedly raping a woman at gunpoint in 1988. Studies have backed up Fraser's theory, proving again and again that 'childhood lead exposure is associated with aggression, psychopathy, and crime,' writes Fraser. 6 The connection between air quality and serial killing may have a longer history than we realize, writes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Caroline Fraser. A 2001 study examined homicide rates and air lead levels in 3,111 counties across the US. Researchers found that 'the incidence of homicide is nearly 4 percent higher in counties with high air lead concentration than in counties with no lead,' writes Fraser. The connection between air quality and serial killing may have a longer history than we realize. As Fraser points out, Jack the Ripper, who terrorized London in 1888, was breathing air contaminated by burning bituminous coal, which produced 'prodigious amounts of soot, smoke, gas, and ash,' writes Fraser. The ASARCO smokestack was finally demolished in 1993, and many other smelters soon followed. 'Their profitability slashed by falling prices and by EPA regulations,' writes Fraser. But the damage is still lingering. 'Whatever's left in the environment is still there,' writes Fraser. 'It coats the medians and byways of every major interstate . . . It's in the bodies and bones and teeth of everyone who grew up with it.' Every once in a while, she writes, 'it sets loose another Frankenstein's monster.'
New York Post
03-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Disney-inspired 70K-square-foot mansion — the largest single-family home in Utah — hits the auction block
Utah's largest home comes with 70,000 square feet of space and Disney-fied decor. Left partially unfinished, the resort-like mansion is headed to auction on Friday with starting bids expected up to $8 million. Located on a 154-acre ranch in Hyrum, Utah, the gargantuan home was the brain child of a wealthy tech founder, Cache Valley Daily reported. Its impressive size and theme park-like decor has attracted strong reactions from online looky-loos. Advertisement 10 A view of the property. Summit Sotheby's 10 The grand entrace to the Western ranch-style abode. Summit Sotheby's 10 A 'Swiss Family Robinson'-themed bunk room. Summit Sotheby's Advertisement The listing, a little over an hour north of Salt Lake City, is held by Summit Sotheby's International Realty's Kerry Oman. 'This estate is truly unlike anything else in the western United States,' Oman told the outlet. 'It offers an unmatched combination of space, luxury and versatility — creating a perfect environment to live, entertain and make memories that will last a lifetime. The home, known as Lazy R Ranch, was constructed six years ago by Richard Spillman, the outlet reported. Spillman made his fortune in 2016 when his software company, Spillman Technologies Inc., was acquired by Motorola. 10 The 42-person dining room. Summit Sotheby's Advertisement 10 The primary bedroom with vaulted ceilings. Summit Sotheby's With his giant Western ranch-style megamansion, Spillman aimed to host large family and company retreats. The five-level main house, built in 2019, is currently listed for $19.5 million on Zillow. Its eight bedrooms offer the usual mansion trappings — vaulted ceilings, walk-in closets, wet bars and ensuite bathrooms — but the themed rooms make the home quirky. There's a 'Swiss Family Robinson'-inspired bunkroom, a replica of Disneyland's Tiki Room, a 'Cars'-themed raceway and a Frontierland-themed shooting range. Advertisement 10 This room is a replica of Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Hut, according to the listing. Summit Sotheby's 10 Spillman envisioned the home as a colorful space for family and corporate retreats. Summit Sotheby's 10 An underground, wooden house. Summit Sotheby's Spillman put the residence on the market before it was completed, including an in-construction pool barn rising 53 feet tall and spanning 27,080 square feet. The space is poised to host a swimming pool, an exercise area and an event space, according to the listing. The barn is connected to the main house by a 2,266-square-foot concrete tunnel reminiscent of a secret base in 'Star Wars.' The property also offers a guest house and a five-bay shop. 10 The 'Star Wars'-like tunnel leading to the giant pool barn. Summit Sotheby's 10 The unfinished property is going to auction on Friday, with starting bids expected up to $8 million. Summit Sotheby's Advertisement The megamansion initially listed at $35 million in December 2024, according to and online commenters did not hold back their opinions. 'This is more of a ski resort than it is a home,' one Reddit user wrote. 'Seems like an odd location for a BASS PRO SHOP,' another commented. Advertisement Others were more generous with the home's unique decor choices. 'Can't go to Disney?' a Redditor wrote. 'Bring the tiki room to you.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A tradition of honor
May 27—157th parade draws strong attendance to Ironton "It's a wonderful day for it," Ray Jones said of the weather for Monday's Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade. Temperatures were hospitable and in the 70s and a light breeze blew throughout the event, which featured 10 divisions and had enough spectators to triple the city's population for two hours. Jones, serving in the grand marshal position for the event, said his main reason for involvement is "because of my respect for our veterans." "I have high respect for those who have served our country and can't say enough for them," Jones said. The procession kicked off at 10 a.m., with the first division, announced by banners carried by Scout Troop 106, of Ironton, including the riderless horse, a gunnery salute and local veterans. The other top parade leaders were in this division, including parade commander Lou Pyles and Charles Wiseman, 100, a World War II veteran. In the staging area of the parade, Father Wayne Morris, of the Ironton Catholic churches, was standing near a group of students from St. Joseph High School. Morris, who has led the church locally for three years, said this is his third time seeing the parade. "I love it," he said. "It's so great to see the people come out and support their community. And to honor those who lived for our country." Behind them in the lineup was a group from Royersville Missionary Baptist Church, who said they have been taking part in the event for several years. Altogether, they had about 30 people with their float. In addition to supporting the parade, they all had shirts promoting their upcoming Bible School, set for June 16-20. Adjacent to them was the Nurses Honor Guard of the River Cities, making another return to the parade. Dorothy Spillman, co-founder of the group, which conducts an honorary service at the funerals of nurses throughout the Tri-Sate, said their organization had won the Civic Award from the parade committee earlier in the week. She said they were there in memory of Lily Porter, one of their members who died in February. "She was an asset to nursing," Spillman said. In addition to honoring veterans and nurses, Spillman said their group had another purpose in the parade. In their float, they were carrying an automated external defibrillator, provided by UK King's Daughters. "So if anyone goes down and needs it, you have it, and a whole group of nurses here," she said. Two hours after stepoff, Pyles and members of the parade committee, such as Rich Donohue, were directing vehicles and marchers at the conclusion of the parade. "It's been great," Pyles said of the event, which she estimated drew about 30,000 this year. She said in some areas downtown, the spectators were several rows deep. "And we love to see that," she said. "We saw a lot of returning people and the parade went well. And I think everybody had a great time." You Might Like News Ashland woman killed in UTV accident News Telling our story News This year's leaders (WITH GALLERY) News Memorial Day lineup announced
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Missing Winfield woman may be in Wichita
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Winfield Police Department is asking for help to find Jessica Arlette Spillman, 45. They believe she was last seen in Wichita. According to the Winfield Police Department, Spillman walked away from ResCare in Winfield on Sunday. Authorities believe she was given a ride to the Salvation Army or City Life Church in Wichita Sunday evening. The Wichita Police Department verified she is no longer at the Salvation Army. The Winfield Police Department says Spillman has a disability and does not have her medicines with her. She is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 270 pounds. She has blue eyes and was last known to have red hair. She was last seen wearing a pajama tank top, a pink hoodie, and capri pants. If you know where she is, call 620-221-5447 or 911. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Daily Pilot Boys' Basketball Dream Team: EJ Spillman the catalyst for Pacifica Christian Orange County
Pacifica Christian Orange County boys' basketball senior EJ Spillman was in middle school when something happened that would change his life forever, but not define it. His father, Ellis Spillman, was shot to death inside a residence around the corner from his Long Beach home in June 2018. Ellis' life ended at the age of 42. EJ — whose initials stand for Ellis, Jr. — was left without a father. The dangers of gangs and violence hit all too close to home. 'It's real hard to escape those things, and people get real envious,' EJ Spillman said. 'He turned his life around, and obviously some people think you can't escape those lifestyles without bloodshed. He tried to instill in me that's not the way to go. I've got to fulfill his legacy, because in the middle of trying to change his life for the better, he got that taken away from him.' When it was time for EJ to go to high school, he wanted a chance at new surroundings. Pacifica Christian's Newport Beach campus was about 40 minutes away from his home, but it might as well have been halfway around the world. He played for four years for the Tritons with a certain intensity because of his late father. He owes his competitiveness and his swagger to his mother, Dawn Swanson, who EJ calls his best friend and No. 1 fan. Four years later, EJ Spillman is going places. He will graduate as the program's all-time leader in points (1,387) and assists (458). He helped Pacifica Christian (23-9) win a share of its third straight San Joaquin League title and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA title game. For his efforts, Spillman is the 2024-25 Daily Pilot Boys' Basketball Dream Team Player of the Year. 'You couldn't have told me my freshman year that I'd be a four-year guy, being able to break all these records and hold these things,' he said. 'It's real special to me, and it feels like it's a good testament of how hard I've worked here for the four years.' Spillman, a 6-foot-4 guard and two-time San Joaquin League Player of the Year, averaged team-best totals of 15.7 points and 5.3 assists per game. The recent UC Riverside commit was also a first-team All-CIF selection after leading the Tritons on a memorable run that included an 84-80 double overtime win at Corona Centennial in the Division 2AA semifinals. Spillman posted 33 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in that game, helping the Tritons reach their third CIF Southern Section title game. Jeff Berokoff, who has been the program's head coach since its inception in 2016, called it the best single-game performance in team history. What Berokoff will remember more about Spillman is seeing him pop into his office, a smile on his face. That energy was infectious on the court, too. Opponents would constantly see his dreadlocks flying past them into the lane, pulling up for a triple or celebrating a basket, he said. 'What's so great about EJ is that if one of his teammates makes a shot, he's just bouncing up and down, throwing the fingers in the air,' Berokoff said. 'You just don't see that too often anymore, and that's just one thing I'm really going to miss, his ability to cheer on and lead his teammates. It's a really cool thing, man.' The Tritons lost to league rival Fairmont Prep, 64-60 in overtime, in the Division 2AA title game despite a 29-point performance from Spillman. Seeded No. 14 in the CIF State Southern California Regional Division I playoffs, they fell 77-54 on the road in the first round at No. 3-seeded eventual regional finalist Redondo Union. 'Nobody really likes losing, especially to a rival school,' Spillman said. 'Those ones sting, but it builds character. We made it farther than a lot of schools, and we made it farther than a lot of people had us making it anyway.' Spillman was an unquestioned leader on a team that had just one other player, senior forward Logan Stewart, who averaged double digits in scoring. But he had played that role for a while. As a sophomore, he came up with the big block on defense late in a win at Orange Lutheran to lift the Tritons to the CIF State Division II title game. Spillman fit in just fine in Newport Beach. He said he lived with the family of fellow senior captain Hudson Reynolds during the week this year to reduce his commute. EJ said he still talks to his father every day. 'I dedicate everything toward him, and that's kind of just the motive of the day, just do everything in the Lord's image to make him proud,' he said. 'I understand what his mission was when he exited the earth and the Lord took him home, and I try my hardest to just complete that mission for him every day. I bet he's proud of me, looking down on all of the things that I'm starting to accomplish, but it's just day by day. I've got to continue to add onto that.' Here's a look at the Dream Team Coach of the Year, and first team and second team selections: D'Cean Bryant Sage Hill Bryant has led the Lightning to two CIF finals appearances in his three years in charge at Sage Hill, a percentage that any coach would take. Unlike the 2022-23 squad, this year's team did not have the obvious dominant player in Bryant's son, Carter, who now plays at the University of Arizona. Instead, it was a gritty team effort that helped Sage Hill (18-11) advance to the Pacific Coast League tournament semifinals and Division 3AA title game, before falling 64-43 to Palmdale Knight. In four postseason wins to get there, the Lightning allowed just 40 points per game. Bryant, a former college basketball player at Long Beach State, said one of the biggest reasons for his team's success was that they took accountability on and off the court. Aaron De Santiago G | Fountain Valley | Sr. The crafty De Santiago was one of the top scorers in not only the Sunset League, but all of Orange County. He finished the regular season fifth in the county in scoring at 24.1 points per game and added 94 three-pointers, tops in the county through the first round of the playoffs. De Santiago, a first-team all-league selection, helped Fountain Valley (19-10) finish fourth in the highly competitive league and holds its open in its Division 1 postseason opener, before falling on the road at Mater Dei. Derick Johnson G | Edison | Jr. Johnson was the top player for the Chargers and their first-year coach Josh Beaty all year, making a bunch of big shots in Sunset League games for Edison (17-12, 7-5 in league). He helped Edison finish second behind league and CIF champion Los Alamitos and advance to the Division 1 playoffs. A first-team all-league selection, Johnson also crashed the offensive boards for the Chargers, finishing the year averaging 19 points and six rebounds per game. Maxwell Scott G | Corona del Mar | So. Scott is a repeat first-team Dream Team selection after another year of growth, averaging 18.8 points per game. The first-team All-Sunset League performer helped the Sea Kings (21-9) finish third in league and advance to the Division 1 playoffs, where they upset Rancho Cucamonga on the road in the first round before a narrow home loss to Rolling Hills Prep. He projects to be one of three returning starters for CdM next year. Logan Stewart F | Pacifica Christian Orange County | Sr. At 6-foot-6, Stewart was more than capable inside for the Tritons, just like his older brother Alex before him, and proved a pivotal part of a squad that could win a league title and advance to the CIF championship game. Logan averaged 11.6 points per game, second on Pacifica Christian, and led the squad with 6.6 rebounds per contest. He was a first-team All-San Joaquin League selection. Jack Berry G | Newport Harbor | Sr. The smooth-shooting Berry, a repeat first-team Dream Team selection, again guided the Sailors (18-12) through a tough Sunset League, ultimately tying for fifth place. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard averaged 18 points, five rebounds and four assists per game on his way to a first-team all-league selection, tallying well more than 1,000 points in his three-year career. The Euclid Extravaganza tournament MVP helped the Sailors make the second round of CIF before losing to eventual finalist Pacifica Christian. James Karahalios G | Sage Hill | Sr. The 6-foot senior guard helped the Lightning make their inspired run to the CIF finals, averaging 11 points and five rebounds per game. Bryant called him a quiet leader, always responding to adversity or criticism in a positive way. Karahalios was a first-team All-Pacific Coast League and first-team All-CIF selection. Barak Simon G | Marina | Sr. A year after helping his squad win its first CIF boys' basketball championship, Simon was a first-team All-Sunset League selection for the Vikings. The 6-foot point guard kept Marina (17-11) competitive in league until the final game, though the team narrowly failed to make the postseason after tying for fifth place. Position, Name, School, Year C Jackson Cryst, Sage Hill, Sr. G Dylan Gomez, Marina, Sr. G Oliver Nakra, Corona del Mar, Jr. F Richie Toledo, Los Amigos, Sr. G Marlee Slone, Costa Mesa, Jr. G Jayden Oei, Edison, Sr. G Jamil House, Huntington Beach, So. F Owen Saukkola, Newport Harbor, Jr. G Devin Payne, Fountain Valley, Sr.
