Lester Harrison

Case record: Lester Harrison

Background

Lester Harrison was convicted in 1978 as insane and was confined indefinitely as a sexual predator. His first arrest occurred when he was 22 years old, in 1945. While locked up at Menard, he struck and killed another inmate, convicted murderer Norman Kimme, in November 1951, which led to him spending time in the state hospital after he was deemed incompetent for trial.

Harrison later jumped bail twice, and he was twice sent back to state hospitals for diagnosis and treatment.

By May 1986, Harrison was 62 years old and was described as a quadriplegic. He sought release from state custody with attorneys, who described him as “harmless,” and asserted that he could “hardly” move in his present condition.

The state countered with testimony from guards at Belleville State Hospital that suggested Harrison was capable of raising his arms, that he spoke incessantly of sexual activity, and that he was visibly aroused when certain nurses entered his room. The spokesman for the state attorney’s office, Terry Levin, told the court:

“If Lester Harrison were able to get his hands on any woman that woman would be in danger of being killed. If he could use one leg, he would try to use it to kick somebody to death. If he could use one arm, he would use it to try to beat somebody to death.”

The petition seeking Harrison’s release was withdrawn on August 11, 1986.

The offence

Harrison murdered multiple women in and around Grant Park in downtown Chicago. His admitted and confessed crimes included four Grant Park murders. He also had additional links sought by police in the death of Elizabeth Dawson.

Police also pursued homicide links connected to a death of 28-year-old Elizabeth Dawson, whose body was recovered in August 1972 from a derelict building next door to Harrison’s home.

Harrison assaulted 31-year-old Cozetta Gladys, knocking her down with a brick and dragging her through a Chicago alley.

Harrison confessed to four of the Grant Park murders while in custody and he denied a role in the case of Irene Koutros. He derived satisfaction from beating and stabbing his victims, and he once sampled cannibalism in the case of Lee Wilson.

Harrison’s “mutilations included cannibalism.”

Investigation

Police linked a shoe recovered at the scene of Agnes Lehman’s death to suspect Wilbur McDonald. McDonald was arrested twelve days later while lying unconscious by railroad tracks, after being the victim of a mugging.

McDonald admitted speaking with Lehman the night of her death, but insisted that a black man had rushed from the darkness and assaulted them both, putting McDonald to flight. Jurors rejected the story, and McDonald was convicted of murder.

Authorities saw no reason to reopen the Agnes Lehman case on September 5, 1972, when Judith Betteley was beaten to death a few yards from the old murder scene. Three weeks later, Harrison was charged with assaulting Cozetta Gladys.

Arrest

Harrison was charged with assaulting 31-year-old Cozetta Gladys, knocking her down with a brick and dragging her through a Chicago alley.

Harrison was released on $5,000 bond on September 28. He was found competent for trial and then formally indicted on December 29. A judge allowed the meager bail to stand despite his violent record and long history of mental disorders.

Harrison was in custody when he confessed to four of the Grant Park murders.

During the homicide incident involving Judith Ott, David Ott gave chase and tackled Harrison, unaware that his wife had been murdered nearby. Harrison was then in custody.

Timeline

• 1945 — Harrison was arrested at age 22.
• November 1951 — While locked up at Menard, Harrison struck and killed another inmate, convicted murderer Norman Kimme.
• 1951 — Harrison was found incompetent for trial.
• March 1972 — Harrison was found competent for trial on robbery charges.
• July 10, 1970 — Agnes Lehman was beaten to death near Grant Park’s bandshell; her body was found the next morning.
• September 5, 1972 — Authorities saw no reason to reopen the case involving Agnes Lehman when Judith Betteley was beaten to death a few yards from the old murder scene.
• August 3, (year not stated) — Lee Wilson was fatally stabbed in the park proper.
• August 13, (year not stated) — Judith Ott was knifed to death in a park restroom.
• August 1972 — Elizabeth Dawson’s body was recovered from a derelict building next door to Harrison’s home.
• September 28 — Harrison was released on $5,000 bond.
• December 29 — Harrison was formally indicted.
• July 1973 — Harrison’s trial was still pending when Irene Koutros was stabbed to death in Grant Park’s underground garage.
• August 11, 1986 — The petition seeking Harrison’s release from state custody was withdrawn.
• May 1986 — Harrison, 62, was described as a quadriplegic and sought release through attorneys.
• 1978 — Harrison was acquitted on grounds of insanity.

Trial

Harrison’s trial related to the assault on Cozetta Gladys remained pending in July 1973 when Irene Koutros was stabbed to death in Grant Park’s underground garage. Three weeks later, on August 3, Lee Wilson was fatally stabbed in the park proper. On August 13, Judith Ott was knifed to death in a park restroom. During the Ott homicide, David Ott tackled Harrison while chasing the assailant after his wife was murdered nearby.

Defense motions and psychiatric examinations delayed Harrison’s murder trial until 1978. In 1978, Harrison was acquitted on grounds of insanity.

Sentencing

In 1945, Harrison drew a term of five to ten years on conviction for a Chicago armed robbery.

Harrison later received an eighteen-month sentence after he was convicted on robbery charges in March 1972, and he was then released by a judge on the basis of time served during psychiatric evaluations.

For the murder of Agnes Lehman, Wilbur McDonald was convicted of murder, and the court handed down a sentence of 100 to 150 years in prison.

Appeals

No appeal outcome is stated for Harrison.

Outcome

Harrison was acquitted as insane in 1978 but was confined indefinitely as a sexual predator.

Other details

• Harrison was described as a “lust killer” in connection with his diagnosed schizophrenic condition, and he was characterized as “sexually dangerous” in a special hearing context.
• Prosecutors convened a special hearing to have Harrison declared “sexually dangerous” and to keep him confined under a state law.
• Police sought links in the death of 28-year-old Elizabeth Dawson.
• Lee Wilson’s case involved Harrison gnawing on her body before he escaped.
• In the Agnes Lehman case, a shoe recovered at the scene was linked to Wilbur McDonald.
• David Ott tackled Harrison after chasing the assailant during the Judith Ott homicide.
• The sequence of Grant Park homicides included Irene Koutros, Lee Wilson, and Judith Ott, with Harrison confessing to four of the Grant Park murders and staunchly denying a role in Irene Koutros.
• Michael Newton’s classification attributed: “Motive: Sex./Sad. MO: Murdered fellow prison inmate, 1951; killed women in/around Grant Park; mutilations included cannibalism.”