Small Town Terror | FULL EPISODE | The FBI Files

The FBI Files・2 minutes read

Labor Day weekend saw a cross-country crime spree involving murders, resulting in a massive investigation by FBI and local authorities. The suspects, Gilbert and Elliot, were apprehended in New Mexico after committing a series of brutal murders, with Elliot found guilty of first-degree murder in Oklahoma and Gilbert sentenced to death in Oklahoma and extradited to Missouri.

Insights

  • Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated to track down and apprehend spree killers Gilbert and Elliot, who left a trail of murder victims across several states, showcasing the importance of interagency cooperation and coordination in solving complex criminal cases.
  • The gruesome crimes committed by Gilbert and Elliot, including the kidnapping and murder of Ruth Loader, Roxy Rutter, and the Brewers, highlighted the chilling reality of senseless violence and the devastating impact it has on innocent lives, emphasizing the critical role of law enforcement in ensuring justice and holding perpetrators accountable for their heinous actions.

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  • What sparked a nationwide crime spree?

    Labor Day weekend turned into a nightmare of murder with a cross-country crime spree terrorizing the nation.

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Summary

00:00

Cross-Country Crime Spree: Labor Day Nightmare

  • Labor Day weekend turned into a nightmare of murder with a cross-country crime spree terrorizing the nation.
  • Suspected spree killers traveled through multiple states, leaving murder victims in their wake.
  • FBI and local authorities worked together to stop the killings, marshaling their resources.
  • In a small Ohio community, an elderly woman and a teenage boy disappeared within hours of each other.
  • The cases were believed to be linked, but authorities were unsure of the connection.
  • Ruth Loader, a 79-year-old widow battling cancer, disappeared from her home in Port Washington, Ohio.
  • Signs of forced entry indicated she had been kidnapped, with her car missing.
  • Law enforcement agencies and volunteers conducted an extensive search for Mrs. Loader, involving mounted reserve units, K-9 units, and aircraft.
  • A witness reported seeing Mrs. Loader's car with a young man driving it late at night, leading to a composite sketch.
  • The investigation led to the discovery of Mrs. Loader's stolen car in Missouri, with no sign of her inside, prompting FBI involvement.

20:44

Nationwide Manhunt Ends in New Mexico Arrest

  • Sheriff Wilson's first step was to check if anyone had seen Gilbert with Elliot at the Goshen Dairy Store close to Mrs. Loader's Ohio home.
  • Missouri investigators found a sandwich wrapper from the store in Mrs. Loader's abandoned vehicle, confirming the young men were traveling together.
  • The FBI secured arrest warrants for kidnapping and burglary in the Ruth Loader disappearance, lacking evidence for the Missouri double homicide.
  • The FBI visited Gilbert's mother in Taliqua, Oklahoma, just missing the fugitives who had left the day before.
  • Gilbert and Elliot were last seen in Oklahoma, heading to California in a stolen Oldsmobile.
  • A dirt biker discovered a woman's body near Draper Lake in Oklahoma, identified as Roxy Rutter, missing employee of a nearby marina.
  • Prints from the stolen Oldsmobile matched Gilbert and Elliot, with evidence of a 22-caliber weapon used in Rutter's death.
  • The pair pawned items in Oklahoma before being last sighted on September 3rd, leading to intensified nationwide search efforts.
  • Gilbert and Elliot were suspected to be heading to California, stopping at an older couple's home in New Mexico for gas before disappearing.
  • New Mexico State Police apprehended Gilbert and Elliot after a week-long chase, recovering evidence linking them to the crimes and securing their arrest.

41:01

"Murderous Duo's Trail of Deception"

  • Gilbert and Elliot met Roxy Rubble in Oklahoma, pretended their car was stuck, and then Gilbert pulled a pistol on her, leading to her murder in the woods.
  • Gilbert confessed to murdering the Brewers in Missouri after pretending to need help with a phone call, leading to their execution in their basement.
  • Gilbert and Elliot stole Mrs. Loader's car in Ohio, locked her in the trunk, and then shot her in a wooded area, but her body was never found despite extensive searches.
  • Eric Elliot was found guilty of first-degree murder in Oklahoma, while Lewis Gilbert was sentenced to death in Oklahoma and extradited to Missouri for the Brewer murders, remaining silent on Mrs. Loader's whereabouts.
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