Chapter 12 from The Crime of the Century-murder in a small town
Dr. Higson claimed to become a member of the Devil’s Disciples, the pledging party “must commit murder.” He speculated the October 4 full moon and the closeness of All Hallows’ Eve had a bearing on the gang’s arrival. He believed the victims were killed on October 4 because of the full moon that night. This ceremony was an “important cultist requirement,” he said. The next full moon fell on the 31, being All Hallows’ Eve.
According to The Athens Messenger and the Perry County Tribune, this biker gang was suspected in two unsolved murders in neighboring counties. Like the suspects in Todd and Annette’s case, many live wires were involved, protected only by the blundering of the assigned officers.
Also discovered during Todd’s initial autopsy by the local coroner was that he consumed one beer shortly before he died. One patron reported seeing the young couple inside the bar shortly before being spotted walking into the cornfield, then disappearing.
One defense theory was that maybe the biker gang noticed the young, voluptuous Annette Johnston inside the bar. Perhaps some members followed the young couple to the cornfield, where things took a deadly turn.
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