"on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify, Stitcher and TuneIn. [2][3] His disappearance featured on the Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries. Officials said the new photographs were among the rush of tips that came in after ABC News ran a segment on the case for the podcast, Have You Seen This Man.. I think hes probably still alive. For many years he was a faithful member of the Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church in Newark, NJ. 45 years after his escape, he was added to the United States Mashals Most Wanted List. But Mary Ellen didn't die, not right away. Real Name: Lester Edward Eubanks Aliases: Victor Young, Pete Eubanks, Lester William Eubanks Wanted For: Murder, Escape Missing Since: December 7, 1973 Case Details: Lester Eubanks is wanted for escape; he had been serving a life sentence for the murder of fourteen-year-old Mary Ellen Deener of Mansfield, Ohio. Eubanks was convicted of the 1965 murder and attempted rape of Mary Ellen Deener, 14. At various times, authorities suspect he might have lived in Gardena, South Los Angeles, Long Beach and North Hollywood. Marshals have unearthed photos of people believed to have worked and socialized with long-missing fugitive murderer Lester Eubanks in the 1970s, and they're. George L. 6 entries. In October, the marshals service increased the reward from $25,000 to $50,000 for information leading to Eubank's capture. Were going to do everything within our legal means to uncover the identity that Lester Eubanks is utilizing, said Peter Elliott, the U.S. Ohio State Penitentiary around 1897. Authorities say they are now closing in on one of the most wanted fugitives in the United States after he escaped from an Ohio prison in 1973. Marshal David Siler told Rolling Stone, Its one of those cases that you cant put down. On May 25, 1966, a jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death. Home Obituaries Lester Wade Eubanks . Recent Condolences for. Siler said investigators know Eubanks has friends and associates in the Los Angeles area. Volume 2 of Unsolved Mysteries brings us six baffling cases that have shaken the world to its core. "It was overwhelming.". S. While he has been. The podcast follows the U.S. Two guards dropped them off at the Great Southern Shopping Center in Columbus at 10 a.m., told them that they could shop unsupervised for four hours, and gave them instructions about where they were to return afterward. Eubanks was featured last year on theNetflix show "Unsolved Mysteries" in an episode titled "Death Row Fugitive.". I have admiration and respect for her, he told reporters. U.S. Lester shifted to be with the general population, where he made use of his smooth-talking ways to win over the guards and enter into the honor program that allowed inmates to venture out into the real world to prepare for their future. Inside The Disturbing Legend Of The 'Tsunami Spirits' That Have Haunted Japan Ever Since Its 2011 Disaster, 12-Year-Old Canadian Boy Finds 69-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossil While Hiking, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Eubanks conned his way into Christmas shopping and all but letting the justice system let him go free, through their apparent confidence that giving him a perfect chance to escape was a good idea. Messmore said he was responsible for getting the warrant for Eubank's arrest reinstalled. Then, in the early 1990s, the investigation began to pick up when a young officer directed the public eye to the case. William Lester Eubanks, Jr. passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Houston, TX. Edwards, Rev. Other unique physical. "We just need to talk to those people," he told KABC. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. At one point, he sat on death row at the Ohio State Penitentiary and remains one of the U.S. Marshals most wanted fugitives to this day. "And he was not in any of them, not one.". Box 629, Covington, GA Send Flowers Mar 5 Lying in State 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Greenwood Baptist Church 240 Aikenton Rd,. [5], After Eubanks was featured on the series, the U.S. John Arcudi of the Mansfield Police Department. In 1973, convicted child murderer Lester Eubanks escaped from prison. Lester will be remembered for hiscontagious smile, great sense of humor and his giving heart! Most wanted fugitive who escaped in 1973 now sought in Los Angeles area Lester Eubanks was convicted of the 1965 murder of Mary Ellen Deener, 14. (U.S. The case has prompted US authorities to offer a $25,000 (19,000) reward for helping to catch missing fugitive Lester Eubanks. To use as powerful a word as I can think of, we were traumatized, said sister Myrtle Carter who was 18 at the time of the murder. Acknowledgement: The family of the late Lester A. Eubanks wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many expressions of love, concern andkindness shown to their family during this hour or bereavement. Funeral Home Services for Lester are being provided by Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Market data provided by Factset. The bus that he was on was stopped by law enforcement officials on the interstate lines, and Lester did think that his freedom was over, but he got lucky yet again. The U.S. Marshals/ ABC News U.S. While bouncing around to different jobs, the fugitive reportedly worked in a waterbed factory and as a hospital janitor. At the time of his escape, Eubanks was serving a life sentence for the November 1965 murder and attempted rape of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener. Newly unearthed photos may hold clues in the hunt for a child killer who's been on the run for nearly half a century, and who could be living in Southern California. As head of the Detective Bureau of the Mansfield Police Department, he started digging into Eubanks disappearance in the early 1990s. The disappearance of Lester Eubanks most recently garnered renewed attention with the second season of Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. She put up a courageous fight and thwarted his forcible sexual assault, but only angered Eubanks into bloodlust in the process. Marshals seeking info on convicted child killer Lester Eubanks, More: Lester Eubanks case to be featured on Investigation Discovery. We know that he has a footprint there, we know that he has associates throughout the area. Acknowledgement: The family of the late Lester A. Eubanks wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many expressions of love, concern andkindness shown to their family during this hour or bereavement. The U.S. He believes his late mother was raped by Eubanks. Eubanks was convicted of murdering Mary Ellen Deener, 14, in 1966. The three images showed Davis in glasses, her iconic afro, and a resolute stare. "Anytime you talk about this case, it is appalling . When Lester didnt show up at the assigned place at the given time, the officers searched the area, finding no trace of him anywhere. Using re-enactments and interviews to detail the circumstances surrounding mysteries that are, well, unsolved, it covers everything from crimes, to paranormal activities, to tales of lost people, all the while encouraging views to provide any information that might help solve the case. In today's era, it would just never happen." Among those clues are photos that Siler recovered showing employees at a former waterbed factory in Gardena, where Eubanks worked during his early years on the run. Marshal David Siler told the News Journal in 2017. [4], As of 2022, Eubanks was still listed on the United States Marshals Service's 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list. His death sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1972 when the California Supreme Courtruled the death penalty unconstitutional. . Marshals wanted poster. Eubanks bounced around, living at times in Gardena, South Central, Long Beach and North Hollywood. She said the goal is to avoid seeing innocent people coerced into providing DNA that could be held and used over time in future investigations. (U.S. Marshals seeking info on convicted child killer Lester Eubanks, Lester Eubanks case to be featured on Investigation Discovery, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. For the seven years Lester Eubanks was in jail, he acted like a model prisoner. Marshals offer record reward for fugitive Lester Eubanks, U.S. Furthermore, it appears DNA evidence collected from his biological son could yield enormous leaps previously unavailable in catching him. Although Eubanks was sentenced to death, in 1972 his sentence was commuted to life in prison. A captain searched the national database to check if Lester had committed an offense somewhere else, and the information had somehow not been forwarded, but what he found was even more shocking. IE 11 is not supported. MANSFIELD, Ohio - U.S. marshals believe they are getting closer to locating convicted child killer Lester Eubanks, on the run for 47 years in the 1965 death of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener of . He loved watching and discussing everything sports and politics with his family and friends. Eubanks, 22, was sentenced to death, a sentence eventually commuted to. May God Bless and Keep You! It became the 48th state in the Union. The Cinemaholic reports that after Eubanks was arrested, he confessed to the murder and attempted rape of Mary Ellen Deener, describing his horrific actions against the young girl in great detail. According to the Rolling Stone, while Eubanks was allowed to go Christmas shopping on good behavior at a local mall in Columbus Ohio, he evaded the guards as their designated meeting time and escaped. Sommers, Carol Louise Orr 2 entries. Before that, though, he had been arrested a couple of times for sexual offenses. Darnall, Jane Marie Thomason "Tina" 13 entries. Marshal Peter Elliott of the Northern District of Ohio. May God Bless and Keep You! Id argue its permissible to conduct familial searches at least if there are privacy safeguards in place, he said. Lesters warrant had been removed from the records, either because of a clerical error or the lack of follow-up attempts. In 1972, the Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional, and his sentence was commuted to life in prison. For Siler, tragedy and pain mark the Lester Eubanks case from all angles. Whether the DNA sample would produce solid new leads is impossible to predict. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. "We'll be more than happy to provide them with that $50,000 reward.". "They hadn't even putout a locator or warrant for him and I got that reinstalled in the computer system for all of the United States," he said. The USMS established the 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Program in 1983 to prioritize investigation & apprehension of some of the countrys most dangerous fugitives. Hes certain Lester Eubanks has likely fathered children by this point and is potentially a grandfather, as well. "Unsolved Mysteries" volume 2 is released on October 19 on Netflix. "That's when the story took a real crazy turn," says Carter. Eubanks was convicted in May 1966 and sentenced to death. Eubanks confessed to the crime the next day. or redistributed. Lester Eubanks has been at large since escaping during a Christmas shopping trip while on furlough from the Ohio Department of Corrections nearly half a century ago. Lester Eubanks was imprisoned in the first place for trying to rape a 14-year-old girl before shooting her to death and then bludgeoning her into a pulp with a brick. Upon looking into it, it turned out that Lester was there, but only until the mid-80s. Sharman, Robert Edward 5 entries. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Marshals believe DNA collected from escaped child killer Lester Eubanks' biological son could be the key to unearthing new clues to the fugitives identity or location. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Newly unearthed photos may hold clues in long-running manhunt for 1965 killer. Marshal Brian Fitzgibbon said after the Netflix showing that the marshals service received a lot of tips from people filling in the holes. Instead, he vanished and hasnt been seen in nearly half a century. This is why we are asking citizens to be vigilant and contact us with any information they believe will help us apprehend him.". Lester A. Eubanks Newark resident Lester A. Eubanks, 97, departed this life on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at home. Official prison records show that Lesters visitation skyrocketed in the weeks prior to his escape from once a month, it went on to be once a week. We are fueled by one thing, and that is justice for 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener of Mansfield, Ohio, the innocent victim in this case.. Eubanks escaped custody in Ohio in 1973. Before that, though, he had been arrested a couple of times for sexual offenses. Dwayne Heard, Atlanta entrepreneur, dies at 67. Carter still prays for justice and that her sister's soul can finally be at peace. We know that he has a footprint there, we know that he has associates throughout the area, we just need to talk to those people.. Lester leaves to mourn and carry on his legacy of support and love of family onto his sons Michael, James & Vincent Eubanks; daughters Sheila Pugh and Catherine Eubanks; his daughter in law Norma JeanBrown of Toms River; 11 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; sisters Leora & Helen Eubanks, Madelyn Hicks and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins andfriends. A digital composite estimating what Lester Eubanks might look like today. "I remember the mother was real nice. Inside the mind of a killer: What investigators have learned about Lester Eubanks. As if her murder couldnt be any sadder, Deener had dreamt of becoming a nun. It was clear to Deputy U.S. She was 14. Investigators believe the fugitive lived off and on with a woman named Kay Eubanks between about 1975 and 1996. Lester will be remembered for his contagious smile, great sense of humor and his giving heart! He was driven to a city just outside Detroit and has been on the run now for 46 years. Eubanks was living and working in Los Angeles under the name "Victor Young" after his 1973 escape from the Ohio State Penitentiary, where he was serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of. They want the child killer captured, and they wont stop until they succeed. That meant Eubanks couldve been caught speeding or engaged in any other minor infraction and the officer who took his prints or ran his license wouldnt have known he was a wanted fugitive. After the sister alerted their grandmother and the two found the police around Deeners lifeless body. Henry T. Greely, director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences at Stanford University Law School, said the challenge is getting the sample into the FBI database for review, when the FBI policy prohibits searches using a relatives DNA. All rights reserved. It's quite repulsive; it's unfathomable. The funeral is Thursday at 11 a.m.in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church,. By peeling out the parts of the biological sons genetics that trace to his father, his DNA could become a substitute for his fathers and using that profile to try and match Eubanks to unsolved crimes would be groundbreaking, Murphy said. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or submit a tip using U.S. Darrell Banks (born Darrell Eubanks; July 25, 1937 - February 24, 1970) was an American soul singer. He attended his school years in the Newark School system where he eventually graduated from West Side High School. He passed away peacefully at his home in Newark,NJ. He thoroughly enjoyed bowling and spent many years on a bowling league. Investigators suspect that Lester Eubanks may be using the alias Victor Young. And then lo and behold, he goes Christmas shopping, first of all thats a shock and then escapes. He never showed up to the designated pickup spot and remains elusive to this day. According to her obituary, she died on December 29, 2016, in Xenia, Ohio, where she had apparently been living for quite some time. Still, Kaye said, there is room for exceptions. This case is very unusual, said David Kaye, a Penn State Law professor who studies the use forensic science and genetics in criminal cases. MANSFIELD - Convicted child killer Lester Eubanks of Mansfield is being sought in the Los Angeles area after being convicted of killing a 14-year-old Mansfield girl in 1965 and walking away. https://t.co/G9Ve0bpFv2. 28. . "We're just hoping for that one, one piece of the puzzle that's going to get us to his front door," Siler tells Eyewitness News. He's been on the . Days after the show's. Lester Eubanks was convicted of killing 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deene in 1965. The manhunt for Eubanks spans five decades and he remains one of the most wanted men in America, with the U.S. Thats because DNA from Eubanks biological son would not be used so much to conduct a familial search, as to construct a profile of the fugitive himself. And over time, he earned "honor status" as an inmate and the trust of prison guards. Springer knew Eubanks as Victor Young and says that he worked hard, kept quiet and rode a 10-speed bicycle to work. But even though he kept to himself, the inmates knew of his opinionated and cocky nature, so they stayed away. Deener died after Eubanks shot her twice and then beat her over the head with a brick. She was 78 years old. Audrey Cochran Eubanks, Ph.D., a longtime resident of the Rocky Creek Community near Lucedale, Mississippi, passed away on Monday, February 27, 2023 after a short illness. As the 50th anniversary of Lester Eubanks escape approaches, investigators are more determined than ever. The sad thing is, those who he has won over are victims, too, said Siler. Lester Eubanks, then 22 years old, was convicted of the murder of Mary Ellen Deener in 1966. Another thing she remembers about him: "He wore a lot of cologne and it would give me a migraine," she recalls. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. A visitation for Anthony Scott Lester, 21, of Canton, will be held 6 - 8 pm Monday, January 4, 2021, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton. In October, Eubanks was featured on "Death Row Fugitives" on Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries.". Law enforcement officer John Arcudi was in high school when Deener was killed. "We continue to fight for her so that someday she will get justice when we're able to put Lester Eubanks in custody.". Lester Eubanks. Email ABC7 Investigative Producer Lisa.Bartley@abc.com, 3 Kansas City officers shot while executing search warrant, chief says, Roof collapses at nonprofit South LA clinic, causing $500K in damage, Video shows group of sharks in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Mary Ellen Deener went searching for change for the laundromat on Nov. 14, 1965. In fact, the authorities couldnt even figure out how Lester had managed to escape so quickly. Lester was predeceased by his wife, his parents, his sister Ida Brown and brothers James, Harvey and Leo Eubanks. Lester Eubanks passed away on August 27, 2017 in Griffin, Georgia. Marshals are soliciting the aid of the public to identify people pictured in newly uncovered. Obituary for Dalton "Jerry" O. Eubanks Aiken, SC- Memorial Services for Dalton "Jerry" O. Eubanks, 88, who entered into rest January 18, 2023, will be conducted Friday, January 27, at 11 o'clock from the Posey Funeral Chapel, Rev. Lester Edward Eubanks was just 22-years-old when he killed the 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener in Mansfield, Ohio, and was subsequently caught. The Marshals have been trying to gain approvals to compare his biological sons DNA against samples of DNA collected from unsolved crime scene evidence around the country in hopes that it will yield a match and offer hints to Eubanks new identity or recent location. "One person that we have a name as a possible girlfriend, her name is Renee and she went by 'Sherm,'" says Siler. Marshals' list of its 15 most wanted fugitives, and authorities are offering $50,000 for information that directly leads to his arrest. His case received renewed attention when it was the subject of a recent episode of true crime documentary series "Unsolved Mysteries," released on Netflix in October. Eubanks could have faded from public consciousness, but he was back in the news on Dec. 7, 1973, after escapingwhile Christmas shopping in Columbus on an honor assignment. 'Unsolved Mysteries' covers the case. The 1994 TV episode certainly helped, as hundreds of calls come in with promising leads pointing to Northern California. Lester Eubanks May Soon Be Caught After Nearly 50 Years on the Run By Chrissy Bobic Mar. He tried to rape somebody (else).". Manipulating those guards, manipulating the system, being that good guy that he portrayed himself to be. "He picked up a brick and bashed her skull in. Deputy U.S. Eubanks escaped from the Ohio State Penitentiary in 1973, according to City News Service. By the time 2 p.m. rolled around, though, Lester was long gone. Lester would give you the shirt off his back and would do everything to help support hisfamily. NOTICE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT: Before arrest, verify warrant through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Chloe Atkins reports for the NBC News Investigative Unit, based in New York. The federal government has a policy in place that they do not permit familial searches, she said. He told ABC News he wants to see the Marshals find Eubanks and bring him to justice. Arizona was the last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the United . After being escorted to the Great Southern Shopping Center on Dec. 7, 1973, the man who murdered Mary Ellen Deener vanished. Other photos show a former employee known only as Rick. US Marshals. And because he confessed to the murder, more than once, he is also somebody who can be categorized as narcissistic. Eubanks confessed to the murder the following day after local authorities placed him under arrest. "There's nothing putting him in a place (location)," Fitzgibbon said. They are also trying to gain his biological sons DNA in an attempt to compare it against samples collected from unsolved crime scenes across America in the hopes that it will yield a match and offer hints about Lesters new identity or location. Eubanks confessed to shooting her twice in the head. Marshal Pete Elliott announced today.. Lester Eubanks was convicted in 1966 of the murder of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener from Mansfield, Ohio. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. For decades, investigators suspect he has been "hiding in plain sight," using a series of false identities for years to remain undetected, ABC News reported. The cold case of fugitive Lester Eubanks, who was sentenced to death in the 70s for the murder of a 14-year-old girl in Ohio but then escaped prison, has been given new energy as tips poured in . They have no idea. Spending time, especially the holidays and celebrating birthdays with his kids, grands and great grands was the highlight of his life. He passed away peacefully at his home in Newark, NJ. Deputy U.S. Marshals Service. I think we were probably fairly close to Lester at some point, but the tips and the technology just didnt make it where we could get close enough, said Conner. Im a Christian and I trust God and I allow him to do what hes going to do in my lifeIt doesnt consume me, but it bothers me that hes still missing, that hes still free and took her innocent life. Eubanks June 29, 1920 - November 30, 2017 Obituary. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Unsolved Mysteries Host Robert Stacks Cause of Death: How Did He Die. Lester grew up with ElizabethDudley fell in love and eventually married her. He was sentenced to the death penalty, but in 1972 his sentence was commuted to life in prison without parole. Investigators narrowed their search to the Los Angeles area after reviewing recently obtained photographs that allegedly show Eubanks working and socializing with people in Los Angeles County, including a former waterbed factory in Gardena, NBC Los Angeles reports. Eubanks was serving a life sentence for the murder of a teenage girl when he escaped from Ohio authorities in 1973. Lester was predeceased by his wife, his parents, his sister Ida Brown and brothers James, Harvey and Leo Eubanks. Who Where Receive obituaries Elisabeth D Christal February 22, 2023 (87 years old) View obituary Johnny West February 21, 2023 (88 years old) But a busy holiday-season mall provided Eubanks with a perfect escape scenario. Authorities believe they know that highly sought-after fugitive Lester Eubanks is somewhere in or around Los Angeles. Audrey C. Eubanks Obituary We are sad to announce that on February 27, 2023, at the age of 76, Audrey C. Eubanks of Lucedale, Mississippi passed away. She said that he assumed the name of Victor Young and got a hunting license, which didnt require fingerprints, as his ID proof. Last edited on 20 February 2023, at 04:34, "Police close in on escaped child killer who's been on the run for almost 50 years", "The murderer who vanished: How one man walked away from a life sentence", "Prison Fugitive Featured on Netflix's 'Unsolved Mysteries' Sought in LA Area", "Has Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries" helped to solve any cases? For Deeners family, that day in December nearly paralleled the night of 1965. "We continue to fight for [Deener] so that someday she will get justice when we're able to put Lester Eubanks in custody.". Someone whos like, I know that guy.'. Anyone who has information on Eubanks is asked to call the U.S. She was found with a handful of nickels and dimes next to her. "I mean they're not in trouble, whatsoever. Dr. Eubanks was born Audrey Fay Cochran to Aubrey A. and Virginia H. Cochran of the Crossroads Community on August 5, 1946. Its so appalling that someone has to headhunt to catch this monster., In 2017, Deputy U.S. Obituary Lester A. Eubanks was born on June 29, 1920 to the late Hartwell and Leora Eubanks in Irvington, NJ. His case received renewed attention when it was the subject of a recent. He fled the scene of the crime, passing by it 45 minutes later to discovered Deener alive and suffering through her injuries. His execution was pushed off on three separate occasions; according to Rolling Stone, once the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972, his sentence was changed to life in prison without parole. The U.S. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He said protections could be imposed so the biological sons sample could only be used for the purpose of searching for Eubanks and nothing else. Powered by. We just need to talk to those people.. "This is one of these cases that you go to bed with, it's one of these cases that you wake up with. Though the media stunt helped raise awareness, and U.S. Marshals officially listed Eubanks on their 15 Most Wanted List, it was obvious that Lester Eubanks had heard of these developments, too. Her killer, soon identified as Lester Edward Eubanks, confessed to authorities and was convicted the following year. "I mean it just boggles the mind," says retired Capt. At the time of his arrest, he was listed as 511 and. Eubanks, who was convicted of the 1965 murder of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener, has been on the run since 1973 after he escaped police custody. When she was found, Deeners family was naturally consumed with unbearable pain. The FBI would not make available the person in charge of the nations criminal DNA database, Thomas F. Callaghan, for an interview. For his crimes, in 1966, Lester was sentenced to death at the Ohio State Penitentiary. And thats sad.. Officials said that he may be using the alias Victor Young to hide his identity. The ongoing manhunt for Eubanks is the focus of the ABC News podcast, Have You Seen This Man?.