Ellsworth County John Doe was a man that serial killer Billy Lee Chadd confessed to killing in 1978. His remains have not been located or linked to an existing unidentified person case. Additionally, no description of the victim or his dog that Chadd also killed is currently available.
Case[]
After being arrested for two rapes in Chula Vista and two murders in San Diego, California, Chadd confessed to killing a male hitchhiker in June 1974 near Ellsworth, Kansas. Chadd stated he had met the victim and a dog he owned while hitchhiking outside Ellsworth. At some point, the two got into an argument, and Chadd beat him to death with a rock. He then threw the victim's body, his dog, and his duffel bag into a nearby creek.
Chadd was able to identify the creek in question on a map. However, a search of the area failed to locate any remains. Additionally, the Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office was unable to locate any matching homicide or missing persons reports that matched the confession.
In 1979, Chadd subsequently pleaded guilty to the San Diego murders of Patricia Franklin in 1974 and Linda Hewitt in 1975 and the 1975 murder of Delmar Bright in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and remains incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison.
Sources[]
- Hutchinson News
- Billy Lee Chadd on Wikipedia