History's Biggest Villains

Marcus Wesson was someone who was extremely hungry for power. Since he was extremely inadequate in his outside life, he decided to create his own cult. However, the members of his “family” came from incestuous relationships with his daughters and nieces, fathering seven children, bringing the number of children in Wesson’s to 18 . He sheltered them in the house and brainwashed them into believing he was the Messiah. He couldn’t keep a steady job as he constantly moved the family into uninhabitable homes, including army tents, abandoned trailers and tugboats. On March 12, 2004, Marcus bought a house in Fresno that used to be an office building. The city authorities took action to evict the family as the building was non-residential. Taking this as an attack against his family, Marcus decided that his days as a cult leader were over.

George Hassell was an alcoholic womanizer who had met, married and divorced several women. He also had a lengthy criminal record that included embezzlement and desertion from military service. In 1924, his brother died after being kicked in the head by a mule while working a field. George then married his brother’s widow, adopting her eight children as well. On December 5 1926, George and his wife Susan got into an argument after he had impregnated his 13 year old stepdaughter. After this, George grabbed a hammer and killed his wife. But then he decided that the entire family had to die.

What do you usually imagine when you think of the Bahamas? Probably loads of sun, beaches, resorts and overall relaxation. Well in the early 1970’s, this mostly peaceful nation was rocked by the gruesome murders of three American tourists. Ironically, the killer wasn’t from the Bahamas, either.

On February 24, 2020 in Oak Park, Michigan, career criminal Kenyel Brown shot himself in the head in a backyard after being surrounded by police. He would die four days later, ending a two month long murder spree that left six people dead. After his death, the city as well as the entire state of Michigan was shocked to find out that this habitual offender was actually a police informant.

The Grantham and Kesteven Hospital in Lincolnshire was a respected medical facility in the local community. But in 1991, very strange things started happening in Children’s Ward 4, as several code blues happened over a 60-day period. Four children had died during this time, and the hospital staff were flustered as to what the cause was. But, nobody would’ve guessed that one of the nurses might’ve been responsible.

William Wickline had everything going for him. He had a loving family, good grades and he was on the school wrestling team. But suddenly his school performance suffered and he turned to a life of crime. From 1971-1984, he was arrested at least nine times for charges of burglary, drug dealing and running a prostitution ring. During this time, he developed an obsession with knives and was allegedly involved in animal sacrifices. It wouldn’t be long before he graduated to murder.

It was an extremely hot and humid day on August 9, 1987 in Philadelphia. 1631 North 19th Street was an area with numerous drug busts and several abandoned buildings, most with the doors and windows boarded up. The apartment complex at 1631 also looked abandoned, as several windows were broken and the front door was missing. Harrison Graham or “Marty” as he was known was evicted from his apartment due to terrible odors emanating from his residence. Before he left, he took most of his belongings and nailed the door shut. When the landlords couldn’t get into the apartment later, the police were called and their discovery shocked the entire city.

James Edward Pough’s life was falling apart at the seams. His new 1988 Pontiac Grand Am got repossessed less than 15 months later. His mother also died this year as well, causing him to spiral further into depression. He would often say that he had nothing to live for, and that he “would take someone with him when he leaves this world”. He was subject to frequent violent outbursts, often aimed at his wife, Theresa. He had even put a gun to her head on multiple occasions. On March 2, 1990, Theresa was granted an injunction that banned James from contacting her for a year. Now without a wife, James was at his breaking point and now he was ready for revenge.

Velma Barfield was a sweet, loving, God-fearing grandmother that was cherished by her community. But unbeknownst to most, her and her husband, Thomas Burke, were at odds again. Velma had recently gotten a hysterectomy and became addicted to her painkillers. Thomas started drinking heavily and the two constantly argued. On April 4, 1969, Thomas was passed out on the couch after another disagreement. Velma had taken the kids and left, but when they returned, the house was burned to the ground, with Thomas’ body later found in the destruction. This was the first of many people that mysteriously died in the presence of Velma Barfield.

In 1974, Jack Unterweger was in prison for murder. However, during his prison stint, he became somewhat famous for writing poems, short stories and an autobiography, titled Purgatory or The Trip to Prison – Report of a Guilty Man. His autobiography would even become required reading in some schools. By 1985, several prominent figures in Austrian journalism and writing industries saw this as an example of a reformed prisoner, and started campaigning for his early release. After he was released in 1990, he became a minor celebrity, even hosting TV shows about criminal rehabilitation. But not long after this,he couldn’t control the urge to kill again.