Kathryn Schoch

Overview

Kathryn Schoch was a trained nurse who killed members of the Dempsey family in a Christmas-time shooting at the suburban home of Walter Dempsey and then committed suicide by poisoning.

People

• Kathryn Schoch (Mrs. Kathryn Schoch) — 37-year-old trained nurse from Dunkirk, N.Y.; sister of Walter Dempsey; killed five persons in Pittsburgh and then killed herself by poisoning.
• Ruth Dempsey Hughes (Mrs. Ruth Dempsey Hughes) — 37-year-old; dead of a bullet wound found in her bed in her apartment here; described as Mrs. Schoch’s sister; police said she had been shot by Mrs. Schoch.
• Walter Dempsey — 42-year-old welfare worker; killed in the Pittsburgh shooting.
• Clara Dempsey (Mrs. Clara Dempsey) — mother of the children; was in a hospital with a bullet wound in the head and had a chance for recovery.
• Robert Dempsey — 12-year-old son; killed in the Pittsburgh shooting.
• Thomas Dempsey — eight-year-old son; killed in the Pittsburgh shooting.
• Walter Dempsey Jr. — 10-year-old son; died in the Pittsburgh shooting and was later described as dying in the hospital (as “Walter Jr. would die later in the hospital” in the additional narrative).
• David Dempsey — 15 months old; killed in the Pittsburgh shooting.

Timeline

• December 23, 1934 — Seven Die In Yule Tragedy: Five of the Dempsey family died in a shooting in Pittsburgh; police said a woman driven mad by the death of her own son shot them and then ended her own life with poison.
• December 24, 1934 — Mrs. Schoch committed suicide by poisoning herself; police found evidence at Mrs. Schoch’s apartment in Dunkirk and reported that her sister had been shot by her.
• about 24 hours before the examination — Dr. Joseph R. LaPaglia reported that Mrs. Hughes had been dead about 24 hours when he examined her.

Background

Authorities believed Kathryn Schoch became suddenly insane from brooding over the sudden death of her only child, a seven-year-old son, “last month.” An additional narrative stated that she had recently lost her son, seven years of age, “just two months earlier,” and that she traveled by taxi from Dunkirk, New York.

Kathryn Schoch asked Chief of Police John D. Warren to approve a gun permit a week before the killings. She told him she was going to Florida and wanted to carry a pistol for protection. Warren refused the permit, explaining she would be subject to arrest for carrying a gun outside this state. Warren said she appeared normal at the time. Mrs. Hughes lived with Mrs. Schoch. Both women had been former residents of Dubois, PA. They later lived in Pittsburgh and came to Dunkirk from Titusville two years ago. The narrative further stated that Mrs. Schoch studied nursing in Rochester, Minn.

The offence

Kathryn Schoch came to the suburban home of Walter Dempsey and made the family merry with gifts for all. In the night she shot the family with a pistol. The additional narrative stated that she “closed every blind in the home,” and that “a piece of cloth [was] nailed over the window with no blind in the rear of the home.” The narrative described that “Drawing a revolver, Mrs. Schoch struck once again.”

Police said she killed five persons in Pittsburgh before taking her own life today. The family members killed and their ages were reported as Walter Dempsey, 42; Robert, 12; Thomas, eight; Walter, Jr., 10; and David, aged 15 months. The narrative stated that David and Robert were killed instantly in the rear bedroom, that Thomas and Walter Jr. met the same fate in the front bedroom, and that Walter Jr. and his mother survived, with Walter Jr. dying later in the hospital.

Mrs. Clara Dempsey, the mother, was described as having been shot in the head and being in a hospital with a chance for recovery. Physicians said she had a chance for recovery.

Investigation

Police said they found a pitiful note telling how she could not have her seven-year-old son with her to enjoy Christmas happiness, and they said it held the explanation of the motive for her act.

In Dunkirk, N.Y., police broke in and found Kathryn Schoch’s sister, Mrs. Ruth Dempsey Hughes, dead of a bullet wound. Chief of Police John D. Warren said he was certain Mrs. Hughes had been shot by her sister, Mrs. Kathryn Dempsey Schoch, who had killed five persons in Pittsburgh before taking her own life. Chief Warren said Mrs. Hughes was found dead in her bed with two bullet wounds when police went to the apartment to notify her to the Pittsburgh tragedy. Warren said both women had been seen alive in their rooms Saturday morning and that he believed Mrs. Schoch shot her sister before she went to Pittsburgh.

Dr. Joseph R. LaPaglia reported that Mrs. Hughes had been dead about 24 hours. He reported that the woman was clad in night attire with two bullet wounds—one in the right wrist and one in the right side—and said it was possible she may have lived for several hours after being shot.

Arrest

No arrest was described.

Trial

No trial was described.

Sentencing

No sentencing was described.

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Outcome

Kathryn Schoch committed suicide by poisoning herself on December 24, 1934.

Ruth Dempsey Hughes was found dead in her apartment in Dunkirk with two bullet wounds, and Chief Warren said she had been shot by Kathryn Schoch before Kathryn left for Pittsburgh.

In Pittsburgh, five members of the Dempsey family were killed in a shooting described as occurring on December 23, 1934, while Mrs. Clara Dempsey remained alive and was hospitalized with a bullet wound in the head.

Aftermath

The community was described as shocked by the tragedy. The narrative stated that the bodies were buried in St. Teresa Cemetery a few days after Christmas.

The narrative further stated that news of the murders reached near and far, having been published in the form of an Associated Press article which spanned the United States, and that the house remained in Perrysville until it was demolished in July 2011.

The narrative also stated that a duplex residence at 103 Good Way (noting it was known as Good Lane when constructed) was the western parcel home to Walter F. Dempsey, a welfare worker and veteran of World War I, and his wife Clara, and that their four sons were Robert, Thomas, Walter Jr., and David. It described that the Dempseys attended St. Teresa Church and enjoyed living in Perrysville. The narrative stated that Kathryn Schoch had traveled by taxi from Dunkirk, N.Y., and that “Michael Howe, the driver of the taxi which brought Mrs. Schoch to Perrysvile” reported that Mrs. Schoch was somewhat quiet and told him that she would not be around when asked if he could hire her as a family nurse.

The narrative stated that “Mrs. Dempsey badly wounded… ran up the hill to St. Teresa Church, screaming in terror,” and that she managed to get the attention of “Father Schoppol,” who discovered the bodies in the home. It also stated that Mrs. Dempsey and her son were rushed to the hospital, where only she survived.

Other details

• Kathryn Schoch’s reported ages varied between “37” and “40” in different accounts: she was described as 37 in one report and 40 in another.
• Police and physicians were described as making statements about the motive note and about the condition and survival of Mrs. Dempsey.
• The narrative included details about decorations, the Christmas setting, and the later fate of the house, including that it was demolished in July 2011.