Monroe Hickson

Case record: Monroe Hickson

Background

Monroe Hickson was a native of South Carolina. He was nicknamed "Blue Boy". He logged his first arrest in South Carolina in 1931.

In his last known job, the "loot" had been some clothing and a pistol.

The offence

On August 7, 1957, Hickson entered Lucy Parker's dry goods store in Graniteville and beat her up before escaping with petty cash.

Hickson later confessed, in an affidavit, to the ax murder of David Garrett, an Aiken storekeeper, who was bludgeoned and robbed on April 17, 1946. Hickson stated that the crime netted him a pistol and $22 in cash.

Eleven days later, Hickson used the stolen gun to murder Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bennett in their grocery store. Hickson made off with seven or eight dollars and another gun.

On September 28, 1946, Hickson invaded Annie Wiseberg's home in Aiken and stole five dollars after he beat her to death with a piece of firewood.

Christine Cholakis, employed at a local liquor store, was the sole survivor of his spree. On December 4, 1946, Hickson parted her hair with a brick and escaped with seven dollars, but her final victim lived to tell the tale.

While Hickson was at large or doing time on other charges, L.D. Harris was convicted of the Bennett homicides and condemned to die in the electric chair. An appeal to the United States Supreme Court saved Harris's life, but he remained in prison until Hickson's confession finally cleared his name in 1957.

Hickson was convicted on four counts of murder and was sentenced to a term of life plus twenty years.

Investigation

On August 8, 1957, Hickson was arrested. He sat in jail nine days before astounding officers with his confession to a string of unsolved crimes.

Hickson stated in his affidavit that he was responsible for the April 17, 1946 killing of David Garrett, the subsequent Bennett homicides, and the September 28, 1946 killing of Annie Wiseberg, along with the December 4, 1946 assault of Christine Cholakis.

Questioning by a posse on the Bennett homicides occasion had not detained Hickson.

Hickson's name was added to the FBI's "Most Wanted" list on February 17, 1967.

Federal agents traced him to where he died and his remains were finally identified by fingerprints on January 30, 1968.

Timeline

• 1931 — Hickson logged his first arrest in South Carolina.
• 1933 — Hickson was paroled after two years following a sentence of five years for assault with intent to kill.
• 1942 — Hickson was sentenced to serve eighteen months on a larceny conviction.
• 1947 — Five years later (from 1942), a robbery at New Holland, South Carolina, earned him twenty years.
• April 1957 — With time off for good behavior, Hickson was paroled.
• August 7, 1957 — Hickson entered Lucy Parker's dry goods store in Graniteville, beat her up, and escaped with petty cash.
• August 8, 1957 — Hickson was arrested.
• 1957 — Hickson's confession finally cleared L.D. Harris's name; Hickson was convicted on four counts of murder and sentenced to life plus twenty years.
• March 10, 1966 — Hickson escaped from the state prison at Columbia, South Carolina.
• February 17, 1967 — Hickson’s name was added to the FBI’s "Most Wanted" list.
• early December 1967 — While hiding in New Bern, North Carolina, under the alias "Willie Tyler", Hickson fell ill.
• December 29, 1967 — Hickson died of natural causes while a fugitive.
• January 30, 1968 — His remains were finally identified, from fingerprints.

Arrest

Hickson was arrested on August 8, 1957.

Trial

Hickson was convicted on four counts of murder.

Sentencing

Hickson was sentenced to a term of life plus twenty years.

Appeals

Hickson's confession cleared L.D. Harris's name in 1957 after Harris had been convicted of the Bennett homicides and condemned to die in the electric chair. An appeal to the United States Supreme Court saved Harris's life.

Outcome

Hickson escaped from the state prison at Columbia, South Carolina, on March 10, 1966, and was declared a federal fugitive on charges of unlawful flight to avoid confinement.

His name was added to the FBI's "Most Wanted" list on February 17, 1967.

While hiding in New Bern, North Carolina, under the alias "Willie Tyler," Hickson fell ill in early December. He was transferred from New Bern's hospital to a larger facility in Chapel Hill. He died of natural causes on December 29, 1967 while a fugitive.

Federal agents traced him there a year later, and his remains were finally identified, from fingerprints, on January 30, 1968.

Other details

Hickson was responsible for murders that terrorized the neighborhood of Aiken during 1946.

Hickson parting Christine Cholakis's hair with a brick on December 4, 1946 was followed by his escape with seven dollars, but she lived to tell the tale.

Michael Newton - An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers listed the disposition as "Life + 20 years, 1957; escaped from prison, 1966; died of natural causes while a fugitive, Dec. 29, 1967".