William Guatney

Background

William “Freight Train” Guatney loved to ride the rails and traveled the United States for almost forty years in box cars. He lived off the land and picked up odd jobs in towns where he was known as a “likeable hobo,” described by many friends as “the happy-go-lucky type.”

Guatney also had a darker side. In later reflections, friends noted that “He was a strong man when he got mad.” At fifty-seven, he had “seen America the hard way,” hated being called a bum, and told a female acquaintance: “I'm two people. I can also be mean.”

The special target of his anger and lust appeared to be young boys.

The offence

Guatney was arrested in Illinois and was charged with three counts of murder on warrants issued from Kansas and Nebraska.

Nebraska charged him in the deaths of 13-year-old Jon Simpson and 12-year-old Jacob Surber, abducted from the state fair at Lincoln in 1975. Both were discovered days later.

The Kansas charge involved Jack Hanrahan, a 12-year-old who disappeared from his Topeka neighborhood on May 20, 1979. He was molested and murdered. His corpse was found in a creek bed ten days later.

In addition to those named victims tied to Kansas and Nebraska warrants, investigators suspected Guatney in further boy deaths. At least two victims were suspected by police in Illinois. In Pekin in 1976, Guatney was suspected in the murder of 9-year-old Mark Helmig. In Normal two years later, authorities suspected him in the killing of Marty Lancaster, 14.

Authorities considered Guatney a suspect in the deaths of at least ten other boys scattered throughout the Southwest.

Investigation

Homicide investigators viewed the Illinois charges as a starting point. They suggested Guatney might have murdered fifteen children in the past five years alone.

Arrest

In August 1979, Guatney was arrested in Illinois. On August 22, 1979, he was arraigned and refused to enter a plea.

Trial

Guatney was ruled incompetent for trial in 1980. His murder confessions were suppressed.

Sentencing

Guatney was committed to a mental institution in 1980.

Outcome

Guatney died in 1997.

Other details

At least two victims suspected in Illinois deaths were 9-year-old Mark Helmig in Pekin in 1976 and Marty Lancaster, 14, killed at Normal two years later.

The Kansas charge escalated with additional charging: on August 20, Guatney was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and sodomy in connection with Jack Hanrahan.