Criminal Minds by Jeff Mariotte

version of the “facts” of the killings, if he deviated too broadly from the Tribune ’s tale, his lawyers would guide him back toward that reality. His attorneys worked out a deal with State’s Attorney William Tuohy for three life sentences, served concurrently; with good behavior, Heirens could be out in twenty years.
    On July 30, Heirens was to give his confession in public, before the state’s attorney. When the time came, he later explained, “after assembling all the officials, including attorneys and policemen, he [Tuohy] began a preamble about how long everyone had waited to get a confession from me, but, at last, the truth was going to be told. He kept emphasizing the word ‘truth’ and I asked him if he really wanted the truth. He assured me that he did. Now Tuohy made a big deal about hearing the truth now, when I was being forced to lie to save myself. It made me angry . . . so I told them the truth, and everyone got very upset.”
    Once again, Heirens denied the murders. Tuohy was furious, and the particulars of the deal changed. Instead of serving his life sentences concurrently, Heirens would have to serve them consecutively. Tuohy didn’t have much of a case—the flawed evidence and the illegal treatment of the prisoner would all be picked over in court. Avoiding a trial by gaining a confession was the only way to guarantee Heirens a long prison term.
    Under threat of the electric chair, Heirens agreed to the new terms and again made a full confession, pleading guilty to each count. His sentencing was scheduled for the next day. That night, he tried to hang himself in his cell, but a guard spotted him and saved his life.
    In prison, Heirens continues to insist that he didn’t murder anyone. He’s been a model prisoner—the first in Illinois history to get a four-year college degree while incarcerated. He taught himself TV repair, then created a shop and taught other prisoners. He’s been a counselor and has worked in the Catholic chaplain’s office. Experts agree that he’s completely rehabilitated, but despite his efforts over the years, he has never been freed. In prison since 1946, he has been incarcerated longer than any other prisoner in the United States.
    Did Heirens do it? He said yes a couple of times, and he said no for decades. The better question might be this: Would the same person who killed two women, left their bodies naked and their heads wrapped in clothing, and urinated and defecated at both scenes also take a young girl from her home with her whole family present and strangle and dismember her?
    The killer’s signature in the first two instances is unmistakable. In the third, there are some areas of possible overlap, but there are vast differences as well. The killer may have washed Suzanne Degnan’s body in the washtub, as the two older women were presumably washed in their bathtubs—but then again, he put Suzanne’s head in a sewer, which seems to negate attempts at cleanliness; perhaps the washtub was simply to catch the blood of dismemberment. At the second and third scenes, some sort of written communication was left behind, but is a ransom note the same as a cry for help? Maybe Heirens did kill the first two but not Degnan, and his cry for help was answered: he was caught before he killed again.
    FBI profilers John Douglas and Robert Ressler believe that Heirens is guilty. So do members of Degnan’s family. A careful consideration of the known facts seems to cast some doubt on that verdict, but according to the laws of the state of Illinois, William Heirens is the Lipstick Killer, and he will be known that way when he finally dies in prison.
     
     
    BILL HEIRENS is not the only youthful killer to be discussed by the members of TV’s fictional BAU. In the episodes “Plain Sight” (14) and “The Eyes Have It” (506), Herbert Mullin’s name comes up as an example of a serial killer who murders a variety of people.
    Herbert Mullin was born on April 18, 1947.