Don't look behind the mirror!! The unknown Candyman case and famous horror story | Mystery & Makeup

Murder, Mystery & Makeup
27 May 202451:29

Summary

TLDRIn this chilling episode, Bailey Seran explores the real-life Candyman, delving into the tragic murder of Ruthie May McCoy. Living in the notorious Abbott projects in Chicago, Ruthie's life was fraught with hardship and fear. On April 22, 1987, she was brutally murdered in her own home, her death eerily echoing the urban legend. Despite multiple 911 calls and police presence, the case remains unsolved, with the prime suspects acquitted due to lack of evidence and inconsistent witness testimonies. The story highlights systemic failures, the plight of marginalized communities, and the haunting parallels with the fictional Candyman lore.

Takeaways

  • 🎥 The video is a combination of makeup and storytelling, focusing on a murder mystery involving Ruthie May McCoy.
  • 🔍 The story details the tragic murder of Ruthie May McCoy, a resident of the Abbott Homes in Chicago, and the subsequent failed attempts to bring her killers to justice.
  • 🏚 The conditions of the Abbott Homes are highlighted, including rampant crime, poor living conditions, and the fear and violence that were a part of daily life for residents.
  • 🚔 The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and the police are criticized for their lack of response and action, which contributed to the tragedy and the unsolved nature of the case.
  • 🗣️ The main witness, Tim Brown, is central to the case but his credibility is questioned due to inconsistencies in his testimony and allegations of police coercion.
  • 👮‍♂️ The trial of the two main suspects, Edward Turner and John Hondras, is discussed, with both being acquitted due to lack of evidence and unreliable witness accounts.
  • 💔 The impact of the murder on Ruthie May's family, particularly her daughter Verita, is mentioned, including a lawsuit against the CHA for negligence.
  • 👁️ The script raises questions about the integrity of the justice system and the treatment of vulnerable individuals in high-crime areas.
  • 👵 Ruthie May McCoy's personal struggles, including her mental health issues and her attempts to improve her life, are shared, humanizing the victim.
  • 🏳️‍🌈 The video concludes with a reflection on the lack of closure for Ruthie May's family and the ongoing issues of crime and injustice in similar communities.
  • 🌐 The script also provides an update on the suspects' lives after the trial, noting their continued involvement with the criminal justice system.

Q & A

  • What was the main theme of Bailey Seran's video?

    -The main theme of Bailey Seran's video was a combination of makeup and a murder mystery story, specifically focusing on the real-life case that inspired the 'Candyman' horror movie.

  • What personal update did Bailey Seran share at the beginning of the video?

    -Bailey Seran shared that she had recently undergone a nose surgery to fix a broken nose from high school, which had affected her breathing, and she was still in the healing process.

  • How did the story of Ruthie May McCoy relate to the 'Candyman' horror movie?

    -The story of Ruthie May McCoy related to the 'Candyman' horror movie because her tragic murder in the Chicago projects had elements similar to the plot of the movie, such as the killer being summoned through a bathroom mirror.

  • What was the significance of the bathroom medicine cabinet in the murder of Ruthie May McCoy?

    -The bathroom medicine cabinet was significant because it was used as an access point for the intruder to enter Ruthie May McCoy's apartment, similar to the plot device in the 'Candyman' movie.

  • What were the living conditions like in the Abbott Homes where Ruthie May McCoy lived?

    -The living conditions in the Abbott Homes were extremely poor, with high crime rates, gang control, broken elevators, and inadequate maintenance, contributing to a hostile and unsafe environment for residents.

  • What was the role of the 'pay masters' gang in the Abbott Homes?

    -The 'pay masters' gang controlled the Abbott Homes, engaging in activities like drug dealing and using intimidation tactics, such as setting fire to the doors of tenants who needed a reminder of their authority.

  • How did the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) respond to the issues in the Abbott Homes?

    -The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) was slow to respond to maintenance requests and complaints, leading to worsening living conditions and a lack of trust from the residents.

  • What was the outcome of the murder case involving Ruthie May McCoy?

    -The murder case involving Ruthie May McCoy was not solved, as the two main suspects were acquitted due to insufficient evidence and the unreliability of the key witness, Tim Brown.

  • What legal action was taken by Ruthie May McCoy's daughter, Verita, after her mother's death?

    -Verita, Ruthie May McCoy's daughter, sued the Chicago Housing Authority and its security company for negligence in the wrongful death of her mother, seeking $1.5 million in damages.

  • What were the later life outcomes for the two main suspects, John Hondras and Edward Turner, after their acquittal?

    -Both John Hondras and Edward Turner faced additional felony charges and legal issues after their acquittal. John Hondras settled in Kansas and faced charges related to robbery and drug possession, while Edward Turner served time in prison for drug manufacturing and faced other charges including burglary and disorderly conduct.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to Murder Mystery Monday

Bailey Seran greets viewers on 'Murder Mystery and Makeup Monday', discussing her recent rhinoplasty due to a long-standing broken nose. She mentions her social media presence and teases the makeup look she plans to create using a new palette inspired by the movie 'Candyman'. Bailey hints at the film's plot and its connection to a real-life horror story from Chicago's housing projects.

05:00

🏚️ The Dark History of Chicago's Housing Projects

The script delves into the history of Chicago's public housing projects, focusing on the Abbott Homes, where Ruthie May McCoy lived. It details the neighborhood's notorious reputation, rampant crime, and living conditions that led to a landmark federal lawsuit against the Chicago Housing Authority for racial segregation and discrimination. Ruthie's personal struggles with her health and living situation in the projects are highlighted.

10:01

👵 Ruthie May McCoy's Tragic Life

This paragraph paints a picture of Ruthie May McCoy's life, from her difficult living conditions in the Abbott projects to her health issues and mental health struggles. It discusses her daughter Vanita and the challenges they faced living in the projects, including the crime and violence that were a part of daily life.

15:02

🚔 The Night of the Tragedy

The narrative recounts the events of the night Ruthie May McCoy was murdered. It describes her 911 call, the police's delayed response, and the subsequent discovery of her body. The paragraph also highlights the police's failure to act promptly and the missed opportunities to save Ruthie's life.

20:02

🕵️‍♂️ Investigation and Aftermath

The script discusses the investigation into Ruthie May McCoy's murder, including the autopsy results and the police's search for leads. It details the missing items from Ruthie's apartment and the discovery of two men carrying a rocking chair and a TV, which were among the stolen items.

25:04

🆚 The Trial and Testimonies

This section focuses on the trial of the two men accused of Ruthie May McCoy's murder. It outlines the testimonies of key witnesses, including Tim Brown's changing story and the inconsistencies in his account. The lack of physical evidence and the reliance on witness statements are highlighted.

30:04

🏡 The Unraveling of Truth and Justice

The script describes the complexities of the trial, the defense's strategy, and the testimonies that pointed fingers at different suspects. It reveals the acquittal of both defendants and the judge's criticism of the police investigation, emphasizing the incompetence that led to the failure to secure justice for Ruthie McCoy.

35:05

🏙️ The Ongoing Impact and Unresolved Case

The final paragraph discusses the unresolved nature of Ruthie May McCoy's murder and the impact it had on her daughter, the community, and the legal system. It mentions the settlement of the lawsuit filed by Vanita and provides updates on the lives of the acquitted defendants, reflecting on the challenges of escaping the cycle of crime and the ongoing issues with gang violence in Chicago.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Murder Mystery

Murder Mystery is a genre that involves a crime, usually a murder, which is investigated and solved, often by an amateur or professional detective. In the context of the video, the term is used to introduce the theme of a real-life unsolved murder case that has eerie similarities to the fictional 'Candyman' story. The video script discusses the murder of Ruthie May McCoy, which has elements of mystery and horror, much like a traditional murder mystery.

💡Candyman

The Candyman is a reference to both a fictional character from the 1992 film 'Candyman' and a real-life case that shares chilling parallels with the movie's plot. In the video, the Candyman is a serial killer who haunts the Chicago tenement area and is summoned via a bathroom mirror. The script explores how the real-life murder of Ruthie May McCoy mimics the urban legend of the Candyman, adding a layer of horror to the true-crime narrative.

💡Ruthie May McCoy

Ruthie May McCoy is the central figure in the true-crime story discussed in the video. She was a real person whose tragic murder in 1987 shares similarities with the fictional Candyman legend. The script details her life, struggles with mental health, and the circumstances surrounding her death, which occurred in the Abbott housing projects, a setting that mirrors the grim and dangerous environments often depicted in murder mysteries.

💡Abbott Housing Projects

Abbott Housing Projects refers to a cluster of high-rise buildings in Chicago that served as public housing. The script describes the area as a place with a high crime rate, rampant drug trade, and severe living conditions, which contributed to the tragic events that unfolded in Ruthie May McCoy's life. The Abbott projects provide the backdrop for the murder mystery and symbolize the systemic issues of poverty, racial discrimination, and urban decay.

💡Horror

Horror, in this context, is used to describe the chilling and terrifying aspects of the real-life murder case that resemble a horror movie. The video script uses the term to emphasize the shocking and gruesome nature of Ruthie May McCoy's death, as well as the haunting similarities between her story and the fictional Candyman, creating a sense of dread and unease that is characteristic of the horror genre.

💡Bathroom Mirror

The bathroom mirror is a significant element in both the Candyman legend and the real-life case of Ruthie May McCoy. In the video, it is mentioned that the Candyman can be summoned through a bathroom mirror, and similarly, Ruthie May McCoy reported an intruder coming through her bathroom medicine cabinet. The mirror serves as a symbolic gateway between the ordinary world and the horrifying events that unfold in the story.

💡Medicine Cabinet

The medicine cabinet is a recurring motif in the video script, serving as a physical connection between neighboring apartments in the Abbott projects. It is used as a means for home invasions, as described in the script, and plays a crucial role in the murder of Ruthie May McCoy. The medicine cabinet adds a layer of horror and realism to the story, as it represents a vulnerability in the living conditions of the projects.

💡Makeup Monday

Makeup Monday is a playful term used by the video's host to introduce the video's format, which combines makeup application with storytelling. Although the script mentions that the host may not apply makeup due to recent facial surgery, the concept of Makeup Monday establishes the video's unique blend of beauty and true crime, creating an unconventional juxtaposition that adds intrigue to the narrative.

💡Urban Legends

Urban Legends are stories circulated as true within urban communities, often containing elements of horror, humor, or cautionary tales. The video script discusses the Candyman as an urban legend that has become intertwined with the real-life murder of Ruthie May McCoy. The concept of urban legends adds a layer of folklore and cultural context to the murder mystery, highlighting how such stories can reflect and shape societal fears and beliefs.

💡Incompetence

In the video script, the term incompetence is used to criticize the Chicago Police Department's handling of Ruthie May McCoy's case. It implies a lack of skill, efficiency, or due diligence in their investigation, which contributed to the case remaining unsolved. The script suggests that the police's failure to act promptly and effectively is a significant factor in the ongoing mystery surrounding Ruthie's death.

💡Negligence

Negligence is a legal term referring to a failure to exercise appropriate care, resulting in harm or damage to others. In the script, it is mentioned in the context of a lawsuit filed by Ruthie May McCoy's daughter against the Chicago Housing Authority for their alleged negligence in her mother's death. The concept of negligence underscores the systemic failures that may have contributed to the tragic events and the lack of accountability for those responsible.

Highlights

Bailey Seran discusses her recent nose surgery and its impact on her ability to apply makeup.

The Candy Man movie from 1992 is explored, drawing parallels to a real-life case in Chicago.

Ruthie May McCoy's tragic murder in 1987 is detailed, including her background and the circumstances leading up to her death.

The living conditions in Chicago's Abbott projects, including rampant crime and poor housing, are described.

Ruthie May's personal struggles with mental illness and her efforts to improve her life are highlighted.

The mysterious and gruesome details of Ruthie May's murder are recounted, including the police's delayed response.

The trial of Edward Turner and John Hondras for Ruthie May's murder and the inconsistencies in witness testimonies are discussed.

Tim Brown's changing testimonies and allegations of police harassment are examined.

The lack of physical evidence and the reliance on witness accounts in the trial are noted.

The acquittal of both Edward Turner and John Hondras and the impact on Ruthie May's family are covered.

The aftermath of the trial, including the settlement of the lawsuit by Ruthie May's daughter and the ongoing issues in the Chicago Housing Authority, are summarized.

The current status of both Edward Turner and John Hondras, and their subsequent legal troubles, are mentioned.

The broader implications of the case on the Chicago Police Department's gang database and the city's ongoing gang issues are explored.

Bailey reflects on the tragic story of Ruthie May McCoy and the systemic failures that contributed to her death.

The story concludes with a call for viewers to share their thoughts and a reminder to stay safe.

Transcripts

00:00

hi friends how are you today I hope you

00:02

are having a wonderful day so far my

00:04

name is Bailey seran and today is Monday

00:08

so you know what that means it's murder

00:10

mystery and makeup

00:13

Monday welcome Hi how are you I hope

00:16

you're having a good day look if you

00:17

follow me on

00:20

Instagram and like I think Tik Tok too I

00:23

post it on there then you would know

00:25

about like two weeks ago or 3 weeks I

00:27

think it is now I got my nose fit fixed

00:30

you see going off track here really

00:32

quick my nose has been broken since high

00:35

school I haven't been able to breathe

00:37

through my nose since high school so

00:41

about 3 weeks ago I got it fixed I know

00:44

insane right they like rip me open fix

00:46

my nose it's still healing I'm swollen

00:49

and all that jazz and I'm telling you

00:51

this because I don't know if I'm going

00:52

to put face makeup on because it's so

00:54

sensitive right here so I think I'm

00:55

going to do like eyes is that cool let

00:58

me know if not doesn't matter cuz I'm

01:00

going do it anyways thank you so much um

01:04

but for the most part like I'm look I'm

01:06

not that bad looking for getting beat up

01:08

I can't wait to breathe it's going to be

01:10

incredible I hear breathing yeah you're

01:13

so lucky if you can breathe whatever

01:14

products I'm going to be using I'll list

01:16

them like down below but really just go

01:19

into this with like no judgment because

01:21

I'm just I want to play I just want to

01:23

like try this palette and I don't know

01:24

if I'm going to like actually like

01:25

create a full look we'll see go on me

01:28

with this journey cuz today we're

01:30

talking about the candy man yeah you

01:32

know the Candy Man sheesh let's get into

01:35

it horror horror movies you know horror

01:40

not horror horror okay great movies

01:43

that's where today's episode is is going

01:45

to take us and like you know if you pay

01:47

attention you know how the drill the

01:49

drill of horror movies go it's like

01:52

always a creepy building there's like a

01:54

killer lurking around there's always a

01:57

helpless woman she's like oh my God no

02:00

uh and then there's always some kind of

02:02

like terrifying plot twist when you

02:04

think about it it's the formula that

02:05

made the movie The Candy Man an instant

02:08

cult favorite when it came out in 1992

02:11

it was about like a a creepy serial

02:14

killer who was like haunting the Chicago

02:17

tenement area and um he was being

02:20

summoned via the bathroom mirror which

02:23

is funny when you think about it it's

02:24

not funny it's just like how come

02:26

growing up like well with the Candy Man

02:28

specifically it was like if you go on to

02:30

the bathroom and you said his name five

02:31

times like candyman candyman like he

02:34

would come through the bathroom mirror

02:36

like uh what's her name what's her name

02:38

Bloody Mary remember her anyways what

02:40

I'm getting at is that you know we all

02:44

did that but what was even more

02:46

horrifying is that the Candyman it turns

02:49

out like mimics a true case that

02:51

happened in the Chicago projects back in

02:54

April of 1987

03:00

so April um 22nd 1987 so on that day

03:03

that's when Ruthie May McCoy had dialed

03:06

911 to report that someone was coming

03:10

through literally through her bathroom

03:14

medicine

03:16

cabinet what yeah so police would often

03:19

get phone calls from Ruthie May's

03:21

neighborhood which was on the west side

03:24

back then like they were always getting

03:25

phone calls the crack epidemic had you

03:28

know crime rates were just going through

03:30

the roof and there were tons of

03:32

different gangs out there who were

03:34

controlling the drug trade from

03:37

Chicago's worst public housing projects

03:40

most of the households there were headed

03:42

by single black mothers but Ruthie she

03:46

was 52 years old and she lived alone and

03:49

she lived like on like the 11th floor

03:51

apartment in a complex called Abbott

03:54

Holmes Abbott was actually a cluster of

03:56

like seven

03:58

highrises in sprawling mass of housing

04:01

projects that locals called The Village

04:05

or they would just call it the vill

04:07

there was like nothing cozy about this

04:09

area and there were thousands of people

04:11

who lived there and sadly violence was

04:13

like an everyday occurrence here so

04:16

compared to the rest of Chicago in this

04:18

area like your chances of being mugged

04:21

assaulted robbed raped murdered or

04:24

anything it like more than doubled once

04:27

you set foot in this area called The

04:29

Village

04:30

and in fact the number of violent crimes

04:32

alone hit

04:35

4,228 in uh the CH projects that year

04:39

like holy right so it was said that

04:41

like Ruthie may she never ventured

04:44

outside without something for protection

04:47

like usually a

04:48

stick not that really being inside was

04:52

any safer really so Abbott's 15 story

04:55

Towers were among the first that the

04:57

Chicago Housing Authority

05:00

chha had built when it began developing

05:03

like huge public housing projects back

05:05

in the 1940s and the' 50s originally cha

05:09

proposed housing impoverished families

05:11

in like little pocket developments

05:13

scattered throughout safer middle class

05:17

white uh neighborhoods but you know the

05:19

big guys in charge they didn't like that

05:22

idea of course they didn't so they

05:24

squashed that real quick and they're

05:26

like hey let's like Clump cheap ginor

05:30

eyes sour in like the bleakest parts of

05:33

town and give minority

05:35

applicants uh no other option so this

05:38

Choice like would later lead to a

05:40

landmark Federal lawsuit that held the

05:44

cha accountable for racial segregation

05:46

and discrimination we should do a dark

05:49

history on

05:50

that but that's on the point so but

05:52

Ruthie may she had moved to Abbott after

05:55

getting flooded out of her basement

05:57

apartment in a different project area so

05:59

she moved into this abot area and it was

06:01

said she hated it from the GetGo you

06:02

know it was rough they were like gang

06:04

bangers there and they would like roam

06:06

the Halls at all hours uh there would be

06:10

loud music playing there'd be partying

06:12

in vacant apartments and a lot of the um

06:15

vet Apartments were turned into like

06:17

drug dens I guess break-ins were very

06:20

common and CJ was really slow to replace

06:24

locks so it's like even when you asked

06:26

for help you couldn't even you couldn't

06:28

get help I know I look abs absolutely

06:29

crazy right

06:31

now okay but I think this might be going

06:34

somewhere we're going to find out so

06:36

part of this like original Village

06:39

concept meant that there were no through

06:42

streets around Abbott I guess this was

06:44

supposed to create a nice space for kids

06:46

to like run around and parents to

06:49

socialize but at the end of the day um

06:52

like that pedestrian Plaza only made it

06:54

harder for police to reach the towers

06:58

and like get to you if you need help and

07:00

it also made it easier for people to

07:02

jump you Abbott was controlled by a gang

07:04

called the pay masters and any tenant

07:07

that the pay masters thought needed like

07:09

a reminder of who was in charge would

07:13

get their front door doused with

07:15

gasoline and then set on

07:17

fire yeah the charred doors made people

07:20

think twice before um reporting like any

07:24

crime they happened to witness or like

07:26

suspect and people were just like you

07:28

know scared of telling ation so they

07:30

wouldn't report anything so on Ruthie

07:33

May floor there were only four of the 10

07:36

apartments that were legally occupied

07:39

the rest were boarded up or they were

07:41

taken over by the pay

07:44

masters okay sorry I'm giving myself

07:47

literally a black eye so it wasn't just

07:48

like you know the drugs and gangs that

07:51

made life in the projects pretty hellish

07:53

the cha had stacks of complaints from

07:56

residents I mean literally Stacks like

07:58

the sewage would back up um in broken

08:01

toilets the boiler systems didn't work

08:04

for for weeks in the dead of winter so

08:07

like freezing your ass off people got

08:09

exposed to mold into lead from the paint

08:12

that peeled off the walls chunks of

08:14

plaster sometimes would just like fall

08:17

from the ceilings trash would pile up in

08:20

building basements because the shoots on

08:22

each floor were like too narrow to

08:24

handle the debris of so many people

08:27

crammed into a single building okay

08:30

I'm not liking this eye so I'm going to

08:32

take it off thank you so one of the most

08:34

like upsetting problems for residents

08:36

was I guess the elevators I mean they

08:39

were always out of service and Cha

08:42

logged over, 1500 elevator repairs one

08:44

year in just a single building let's

08:47

rebuild shall we great so at Abbot like

08:51

taking the stairs was well that was like

08:54

one your only option two it was very

08:56

dangerous because I guess the stairwells

08:58

were really dark

09:00

um and they were

09:01

enclosed and with Ruthie may she had

09:04

high blood pressure and she also had

09:05

heart problems and she lived on the 11th

09:08

floor so like going up and down 11

09:10

flights of stairs was not something she

09:13

could easily handle I guess she had like

09:16

repeatedly begged cha to move her to a

09:19

lower floor but the answer was always no

09:22

even though Abbott had a 30% vacancy

09:25

rate so it's like what the right

09:29

right Ruthie's subsidized rent was $46 a

09:33

month and I mean she couldn't find like

09:35

a decent place on the private market for

09:37

that price there's no way so she was

09:39

just feeling really stuck and it wasn't

09:41

just her physical health that Ruthie

09:42

struggled with she also had a mild form

09:45

of schizophrenia she wasn't psychotic or

09:48

hallucinating but people who knew her

09:50

said that she could sometimes she would

09:52

get paranoid and agitated especially if

09:55

she wasn't taking her

09:56

medications and you know the teenagers

09:58

in the area they weren't very nice

10:00

especially like the Rowdy ones they were

10:02

known to harass her and then they would

10:04

just call her crazy old lady according

10:07

to Steve bogira in the Chicago Reader he

10:11

was like the only reporter to cover the

10:13

story when it happened I guess the local

10:16

police they weren't unfamiliar with

10:18

Ruthie they had come over like on

10:21

occasion when she would get into fights

10:23

with like the young kids who were

10:25

to her so Ruthie like

10:27

wasn't afraid to stand out for herself

10:29

is really what I'm getting at so it's

10:31

Wednesday night it's like 8:45 p.m.

10:33

Ruthie you know she's home alone so she

10:36

gets startled because she hears some

10:38

noises coming from her bathroom she

10:41

thinks someone's like breaking in so she

10:43

dials 911 she states her address and

10:46

then she immediately asks for Chicago

10:48

Police so Ruthie ends up telling the

10:50

dispatcher that the people next door had

10:53

pulled their cabinets out so the

10:55

operator is on the phone like I don't

10:57

get I I'm not understanding like what

10:59

you're saying I don't get it Ruthie

11:00

explains that she lives in the projects

11:03

and they were trying or someone was

11:05

trying to break into her apartment

11:07

through the bathroom the dispatcher asks

11:10

for her address and like Ruthie ends up

11:12

repeating it and this time she makes a

11:15

point to say that the elevator is

11:17

working so take the elevator because you

11:19

know normally it's not so she provides

11:21

her name when asked and the dispatcher

11:24

promises to send a police officer like

11:26

right away I don't even want to do my

11:28

makeup so I'm just don't know what to do

11:31

I don't understand these

11:33

Shadows okay I'm taking this

11:35

off so then at 8:47 the dispatcher

11:39

assigns a patrol car to go out to

11:41

Ruthie's address it isn't given the high

11:43

priority it would have gotten if the

11:45

call had been correctly logged as like a

11:48

Breakin in

11:50

progress so they ended up like taking

11:53

their time so at 9:02 p.m. another woman

11:56

calls 911 and reports hearing gunshots

11:59

from Ruth's Apartment 2 minutes later

12:02

there's another neighbor who calls 911

12:04

and also reports like the same thing at

12:06

9:10 25 minutes after Ruthie May McCoy

12:09

called for help four officers arrive at

12:12

her apartment so they're at her door and

12:15

they're shouting like police and like

12:17

they're pounding on her door but no

12:19

one's answering so then they the police

12:22

they radio dispatch and they asked the

12:24

operator to call Ruthie May back because

12:27

they quote think somebody might be

12:30

inside holding somebody end quote so

12:34

dispatch dials ru's number and the four

12:37

cops they listen like they can hear the

12:39

phone inside just ring and ring and ring

12:41

but nobody picks up by this point two

12:44

more officers had rolled up and they

12:48

head over to the management office the

12:50

management office of like the the

12:52

building and this office is like a block

12:54

away and they try and get a key for the

12:57

apartment one

12:59

109 so they get the key they go back and

13:03

I guess the key doesn't fit the lock got

13:05

to be frustrating so officers they end

13:08

up knocking on nearby doors like the

13:10

neighbors and whatnot but that doesn't

13:12

lead anywhere the neighbors down the

13:13

hall they say they didn't see or like

13:15

hear anything they have no idea what's

13:17

going on so then someone else tells the

13:20

officers that there is an elderly woman

13:22

who lives

13:23

in19 and that you know she always

13:25

answers her door so it's kind of weird

13:27

that she wasn't one of the officers ERS

13:29

relays this back to dispatch and adds

13:31

quote I don't know if maybe she answered

13:34

to the wrong person or what so then the

13:35

police on the scene they contact the

13:38

building janitor to see if like maybe

13:41

they have a key but no so of course they

13:45

don't so then at 9:48 p.m. the

13:49

police they leave they're like all right

13:52

guess we're going like I don't know

13:55

shouldn't they bust down the door or

13:56

something you would think no

13:59

I don't know I don't know how that works

14:01

but like you would think so the next

14:02

evening a neighbor named Deborah who

14:05

Ruthie was friendly with she calls

14:08

police to say that she's worried about

14:11

Ruthie I think I'm giving up on my

14:13

makeup you guys this might be the first

14:15

non murder mystery

14:17

makeup I just want to crawl in a hole

14:20

but I'm going to keep telling you my

14:21

story okay so she's worried about Ruthie

14:23

cuz normally every day Ruthie would like

14:25

stop by every morning on her way out and

14:28

then again when she got home in the

14:31

afternoon every day but on April 23rd I

14:34

guess Ruthie hadn't stopped by at all

14:36

and like this was concerning enough that

14:37

she called police okay so the police

14:40

show up at ruthies and this time like

14:44

half a dozen officers come by and

14:47

they're at Ruth's house with four or

14:49

five cha security guards so they knock

14:52

on Ruth's door and they're calling her

14:54

number her phone number ring ring ring

14:57

no response soort reps show that most of

15:02

the police officers agreed at this point

15:03

that they should break down Ruthie's

15:05

store but the douchebags at chha

15:09

security well the security guards they

15:12

were like no they argued against it they

15:15

don't want like the liability if the

15:17

tenant Sues and technically since the

15:21

police they didn't have a warrant and

15:23

they weren't in an active pursuit of

15:25

like a criminal which gives like the

15:27

justification for break in police kind

15:30

of were like

15:31

okay all right and then they

15:34

left again they left again I just feel

15:38

like they should have broke down the

15:39

door at this point you would think I

15:41

don't know you would think anyways the

15:44

next day you know that same neighbor

15:46

Deborah she's still concerned so she

15:49

notifies the project office that you

15:53

know she's really worried about Ruthie

15:54

May's welfare and someone needs to check

15:58

on her so around 1:00 p.m. a project

16:01

official brings a carpenter around to

16:03

drill through Ruthie's lock so they're

16:06

getting in okay so they are able to get

16:09

in they open up the door and inside they

16:11

see Ruthie May sprawled dead on her

16:14

bedroom floor in a pool of blood so

16:17

there was an autopsy done and it showed

16:19

that she had been shot four times one

16:21

bullet had passed through her left

16:23

shoulder another through her left thigh

16:26

and there was a third bullet that had

16:28

pierced her liver on its way through her

16:32

AB her abdom abdomen side note I hate

16:35

that word abdomen I don't know why it's

16:36

so hard for me to say abdomen

16:40

abdomen there was an a fourth shot that

16:42

went through her right arm and into her

16:45

chest where it like severed a major vein

16:47

to the L her lung and like I guess that

16:49

was the Fatal shot so the official cause

16:52

of death was internal bleeding but like

16:54

she was shot to death you know the

16:56

medical examiner concluded that Ruthie

16:58

May probably

17:00

sadly unfortunately she didn't die like

17:02

immediately poor thing but like she

17:04

wouldn't have stayed alive for long

17:07

after she was shot and it was unlikely

17:10

that she she would have made it even if

17:12

she had gotten you know Swift medical

17:15

attention 41 hours after she called 911

17:19

after more than a dozen officers and

17:22

half as many cha employees stood outside

17:24

her door and then walked away Ruthie

17:27

May's body was already beginning to

17:30

decompose by the time they reached her

17:32

so who was Ruthie may let me tell you so

17:35

Ruthie May McCoy she had been born in

17:37

Arkansas but she ended up moving to

17:39

Chicago as a child she was one of nine

17:43

in her family and she dropped out of

17:45

high school in 10th Grade and started

17:47

showing signs of mental illness in her

17:49

20s I guess she was like talking to

17:51

herself she'd be cursing at strangers

17:54

she was having like Angry

17:56

outbursts and yeah it was just sad it

18:00

was going untreated as well when Ruthie

18:02

was 27 she ended up having a daughter

18:04

named verita but I guess like the father

18:06

didn't stick around because of Ruth's

18:08

illness you know so verita was mostly

18:11

raised by her family her relatives

18:15

sometimes Ruthie would work a month or

18:17

so as a housekeeper or she would work

18:20

like as a laundromat attendant but that

18:22

never lasted I guess they wouldn't last

18:25

long and most of her adult life she

18:28

would be on Public Assistance which she

18:30

would receive freaking measly $154 a

18:34

month like thanks what's that going to

18:36

do so she and her daughter Vanita they

18:39

managed to like maintain a good

18:40

relationship despite you know everything

18:43

and then eventually I guess verita you

18:46

know she grows up she gets older verita

18:49

uh her boyfriend and their two children

18:51

they end up sharing Ruth's two-bedroom

18:54

apartment at Abbot but I guess the

18:57

friction between Ruthie and Vera's

19:00

boyfriend it was just too much and they

19:02

ended up moving out friends and

19:03

neighbors they would say that like after

19:05

that Ruthie just kind of was going

19:08

downhill she was spiraling really she

19:10

seemed really depressed or upset all of

19:13

the time her neighbors noticed that she

19:16

was like losing a lot of weight she'd be

19:18

out on the street or in the hallways

19:20

like shaking her stick and just cussing

19:21

at people and it was clear that she

19:24

wasn't taking care of herself I guess

19:26

there was one neighbor who started to

19:28

notice her her

19:30

behavior was a little bizarre a little

19:33

odd like one neighbor had spotted her

19:35

outside making snow angels it was like

19:39

below freezing outside okay and she

19:42

spotted Ruthie outside making snow

19:43

angels you know and it was like uh uh oh

19:46

and then on hot summer days they would

19:49

see um Ruthie outside bundled up in like

19:53

layers of heavy winter clothes and it

19:55

was kind of clear that like her mental

19:57

health was going down Hill it was

19:59

getting worse and worse and Ruthie was

20:02

becoming just more and more vulnerable

20:05

this is a side note this is why I always

20:06

do makeup because I never I'm so like

20:08

antsy touchy I don't know how to sit

20:11

still so

20:13

like okay anyways so I guess like Ruthie

20:17

was just paranoid about locks she would

20:21

always like jiggle door she would go up

20:22

to all of her neighbors doors and just

20:24

jiggle them just jiggle random door

20:26

knobs she would like go up to cars and

20:29

um you know trying to open them up to

20:31

see if they're locked or not and it

20:33

would like set off the the car

20:35

alarms and um if like a door was

20:39

unlocked she would go find the person

20:41

and then lecture them that they need to

20:43

lock their doors which fair but like it

20:47

was a lot she was just really paranoid

20:49

is what I'm getting at and she was like

20:50

living in constant fear of being like

20:52

mugged or burglar burglarized

20:55

burglarized so verita remember Ruth

20:58

daughter she ended up telling journalist

21:01

Steve borera that her mother had

21:03

complained to Cha in like 1986 that

21:07

someone had kicked through her medicine

21:09

cabinet via the one next door and

21:11

burglarized her which might sound

21:13

confusing but I'll explain in August of

21:15

1986 Ruthie ended up in a state psych

21:18

ward and her medication she got on

21:21

medications they were

21:23

adjusted and they kept her for about a

21:25

month and then she was discharged and

21:28

she was referred to like an outpatient

21:31

daycare at the Mount Sinai Psychiatric

21:33

Center which offered a free shuttle van

21:37

like to and from the projects so it's

21:39

like this is like really good for her

21:40

because Ruthie started going to the

21:41

center like three times a week and it

21:43

was making a huge difference in her life

21:45

she's on the proper medications she's

21:47

starting to trust that there's no one

21:49

out there who wants to get her Ruthie

21:53

became just like now the community or

21:56

the the center's like mother h social

21:59

workers told the Chicago Reader that um

22:03

she liked working on arts and crafts and

22:06

would participate in group therapy she

22:08

would give advice to like the local

22:11

younger girls she was even studying to

22:14

earn her GED and Ruthie had talked about

22:17

like someday finding a job in the health

22:19

field like maybe even becoming a nurse

22:21

herself so when she first went to sign

22:23

up for to take GED classes I guess her

22:26

teacher was like a little confused as to

22:27

why Ruthie was there she was like why

22:29

would you sign up three times a week for

22:31

these classes like why would you start

22:34

your academic career after 50 like being

22:37

judgmental like is this woman serious

22:39

but the answer was yes like Ruthie

22:41

surprised everyone with how fast she

22:43

picked up everything she took workbooks

22:45

home and she religiously completed like

22:48

every assignment she was on track to

22:50

earn her degree before Thanksgiving but

22:53

sadly she was murdered that spring it

22:56

was so sad so there was a social work

22:58

who was working with Ruthie you know how

23:00

confusing the whole government system

23:02

can

23:03

be it's confusing as hell they make it

23:06

super difficult but there's a social

23:08

worker who's like helping Ruthie collect

23:11

um supplemental Social Security SSI is

23:15

for people with like physical or mental

23:18

handicaps and the additional assistance

23:21

would help out like it would more than

23:23

double ruthy's income to

23:26

$340 a month Ruth cashed her first check

23:30

just 2 months before she was killed so

23:33

with this extra money which I'm sure we

23:36

can all agree is is not a lot but with

23:37

this extra money like Ruthie was able to

23:40

buy some new clothes like a plain winter

23:43

coat nothing fancy she also got a few

23:46

like cheap little odds and ends for her

23:47

apartment and I guess like her neighbors

23:50

had noticed and she even seemed more

23:52

confident and upbeat you know nice she

23:56

just seemed she seemed better like she

23:58

was doing a lot lot better so verita her

24:00

daughter remember so verita told Steve

24:02

Oria at the time her mother was keeping

24:05

like any of the extra money an extra

24:08

cash at home and she was like stacking

24:10

it hoping to add a little bit more each

24:12

month because you know she was talking

24:14

ruie was talking about putting the

24:16

projects behind her and like hopefully

24:17

moving to a better place okay so back to

24:21

the crime scene the only things that

24:22

were missing at Ruthie's house was her

24:26

cane backed rocking chair

24:29

her 19in color TV and her phone well and

24:33

her medicine cabinet a detective went

24:35

out there and interviewed the people

24:37

next door in apartment 1108 now next

24:40

door these were actually squatters

24:42

living there so he goes in he checks the

24:44

medicine cabinet in their bathroom and

24:47

it was like super secure there was no

24:49

evidence that was taken from this place

24:52

I don't know he didn't know what he was

24:53

looking for well I mean the detective

24:55

said like he knew he wasn't going to

24:57

find anything because

24:59

they knew the people next door that they

25:02

knew like police were going to

25:03

investigate sooner or later and they had

25:05

a two-day Head Start to to get rid of

25:07

anything incriminating like plenty of

25:09

time to clean up a crime scene if there

25:12

was one here's how the bathroom

25:14

situation worked cuz it's kind of it was

25:15

confusing at first but so at the end of

25:17

each Corridor in the Abbot Towers the

25:19

two End Apartments had bathrooms that

25:21

like Bud it up to each other so if you

25:24

unscrewed a handful of screws and you

25:27

took down your medicine cabinet you

25:29

could see the back of your neighbor's

25:30

cabinet through the hole since I have

25:33

nothing to do I'm going to clean my

25:35

brushes so you could see your neighbor's

25:37

cabinet through the hole there was like

25:40

I guess this Narrow 2 and 1/2t long

25:43

crawl space in between it was supposedly

25:45

designed this way so like plumbers could

25:47

you know access the pipes more easily if

25:50

they needed to be repaired it definitely

25:52

made it easier for unfortunately home

25:54

invasions cuz they could like get into

25:55

this crawl space and like get out when

25:57

pressed by that reporter Steve Borgir a

26:00

cha official admitted that they had

26:03

reports of quote fewer than 10 and

26:06

probably around seven medicine cabinet

26:09

break-ins over a span of 18 months could

26:12

you imagine though like you're just like

26:14

in your room minding your own business

26:16

and someone is crawling through your

26:18

medicine cabinet M there is no cash that

26:21

was found in ruthy's apartment except

26:23

for like some spare change that I guess

26:25

was scattered on the floor beside her

26:28

body Ruthie was found with one shoe off

26:31

and the other on and her right hand was

26:34

like laying across her bloody chest poor

26:37

Ruthie she was like getting her life

26:38

together finally getting a chance was

26:41

taken from her you know Ruthie wasn't

26:43

like a frail woman she was 5' 11 and she

26:47

was around 250 lbs and everyone knew

26:50

like she wasn't afraid of Confrontation

26:52

but there wasn't like when they observed

26:54

her body and whatnot there wasn't any

26:56

mention of defensive wounds and the

26:58

autopsy found that there were no signs

27:00

of sexual assault so police are

27:03

canvasing the Abbot area right for

27:05

possible Witnesses and they learned that

27:07

there were several people who had

27:09

spotted two guys who were like carrying

27:12

around a rocking chair and a TV around

27:15

to different apartments and even like a

27:17

different building and they saw this

27:19

like right after the murder and even in

27:22

the early hours the next morning she

27:25

like okay tell us more there was a

27:27

scrawny guy

27:28

sorry to call him scrawny but he was uh

27:31

he was on probation for drug charges and

27:33

he stepped forward and said that he had

27:36

been in apartment

27:37

118 which was like the apartment right

27:39

next door to ruthies the night of the

27:42

murder his name was Tim Brown and he

27:45

said that he knew the woman who had like

27:47

moved out of the apartment and I guess

27:49

like she had given him the key so that's

27:52

why he was there he said that like him

27:53

and his friends would sometimes crash

27:55

there I don't know but that's why was

27:58

there so Tim Brown is telling this to

28:00

the police and they're like hey can you

28:02

come downtown and like like write down

28:04

your account and sign it so then several

28:07

hours go by and Tim Brown he ends up

28:10

telling a grand jury that the statement

28:12

that he was giving was true and accurate

28:15

and that no one had threatened him or

28:17

promised him anything for his

28:19

cooperation period I guess the statement

28:22

was like six pages long but here's like

28:26

the summary of what Tim Brown swore

28:29

happened that night so Tim Brown said

28:32

that him and his friend Corey had spent

28:35

the afternoon of the 22nd hanging out in

28:41

1108 and they were like lifting weights

28:44

there were three friends with him John

28:46

hondes Edward Turner and Ronald Coleman

28:51

but Ronald goes by Bo so I'm just going

28:53

to call him Bo okay John Edward and Bo

28:55

so I guess they came by at around 8:00

28:58

p.m. and everyone was there and they

29:00

were like hanging out and listening to

29:01

music around 11:30 p.m. John and Bo went

29:05

to the bathroom Bo I guess was like

29:08

telling John like Hey look it's possible

29:11

to break into like the neighbor's

29:12

apartment through the medicine cabinet

29:14

like let me show you how to do it so

29:16

then Bo and Corey they left I guess they

29:21

left shortly after this and then John

29:24

and Edward they ended up heading back to

29:26

the bathroom so John who just now

29:28

realized how to break through to the

29:30

neighbors through the medicine cabinet

29:32

he does so once everyone leaves he pulls

29:34

out the medicine cabinet and then the

29:37

two the two of them John and Edward they

29:40

were able to see straight into Ruthie

29:42

May's bathroom now they could see

29:44

through her bathroom because her

29:45

medicine cabinet was already missing so

29:48

it was just like an open hole so John

29:50

made the assumption that the apartment

29:51

was probably empty but Tim told him that

29:55

he heard that there was actually an an

29:57

old lady who lived there her name was

29:58

Miss May so he didn't think he was empty

30:01

but John believed like no one was home

30:03

and he he climbed through that hole

30:08

space and climbed onto the sink and like

30:11

crawled through the hole into the

30:12

bathroom of 1109 and at that point Tim

30:16

said that he heard a woman's voice call

30:18

out who's there so then he watched John

30:21

run out of the bathroom and like deeper

30:24

into her apartment he runs more in to

30:26

wherever she's at then he heard a knock

30:28

on his front door and it was John I

30:31

guess he wanted to borrow Tim's jacket

30:34

so I know I was like what I don't know

30:38

but he did okay so John tossed the

30:40

jacket over his head and then went back

30:44

inside Ruth's apartment so Tim then goes

30:47

to the bathroom and saw now Edward go

30:51

through the bathroom hole so then Edward

30:53

I guess had yelled get down which was

30:55

Then followed by the sound of four

30:57

gunshots some five or 10 minutes later

31:00

Tim saw John and Edward carrying a

31:04

rocking chair and TV through his front

31:07

door so 2 or 3 hours later which would

31:09

now be like 2 in the morning this is

31:11

again Tim his account right John and

31:15

Edward returned to retrieve the um shell

31:19

casings from Ruthie's apartment they

31:22

entered through the front door and then

31:24

when they came out a few minutes later

31:26

John said that he scooped up the three

31:28

shells so because of this account police

31:30

arrested Edward Turner the day after

31:34

interviewing Tim Brown when they

31:35

arrested him it was Edward's 19th

31:38

birthday Edward Turner he had been

31:40

raised in the projects and even lived in

31:42

Ruth's building for a while Edward he

31:44

didn't have any convictions as an adult

31:47

but he was free on bond for unlawful use

31:51

of a weapon two weeks later police had

31:53

found like John hiding they couldn't

31:56

find him they couldn't locate him but

31:57

they found him hiding under a bed in one

32:00

of like the Abbott Towers he was 21 and

32:03

he had three felonies on his record one

32:05

was robbery and then two Grand Theft

32:07

Auto so both of these guys were charged

32:10

with murder home invasion armed robbery

32:13

armed violence and residential burglary

32:17

there was a bond set it was like $10

32:19

million for John and there was no bond

32:22

set for Edward now the prosecutors

32:24

believed he was the gunman and I guess

32:28

they had heard that he was boasting

32:30

about it so they were actually seeking

32:33

the death penalty so unfortunately then

32:36

like there was absolutely no physical

32:38

evidence it was completely non-existent

32:41

there were no fingerprints that were

32:42

lifted I guess investigators they found

32:45

like a damp sheet and a blouse that was

32:48

in a plastic bag which was put

32:50

underneath Ruth's mattress and I guess

32:54

investigators had assumed that this was

32:56

used to like wipe down the apartment so

32:59

at this time I guess like DNA evidence

33:01

was literally just taking off as a

33:04

forensic tool but it wasn't like applied

33:06

here okay because in like 1986 was the

33:09

first year that DNA led to a conviction

33:12

in a homicide case but there was no

33:14

mention at the trial of this trial that

33:17

there was like any DNA samples being

33:20

taken from like the sheet the blouse the

33:23

bag nothing there was no gun that was

33:26

ever found and there was only one bullet

33:29

and one cartridge that was collected so

33:32

remember when police were like standing

33:34

outside Ruthie May's lock door and they

33:37

asked the dispatcher to try and like

33:40

call her and they heard her phone

33:42

ringing and ringing and ringing and they

33:44

could hear it inside but then when they

33:47

got in there they noticed that the phone

33:49

was gone well the detective admitted to

33:52

the Chicago Reader afterwards that it

33:54

was possible that the killer or killers

33:57

were like still hiding out somewhere on

33:59

the 11th floor while police were on

34:02

Ruth's doorstep or it was possible they

34:04

were probably even inside her place just

34:07

like being really quiet

34:09

so now what well it took 3 years before

34:13

like the case would be brought to trial

34:15

so by this point there was a second

34:17

Court case involving Ruthie May's murder

34:20

was also underway her daughter verita

34:23

was suing the Chicago Housing Authority

34:26

and its security company for negligence

34:29

in the wrongful death of her

34:32

mother good for her right and she was

34:35

demanding like 1.5 million damages as

34:38

she should so the murder trial actually

34:41

started on March 27th of

34:43

1990 and inside the courtroom they had

34:47

like the rocking chair and the

34:49

television set was on display and it was

34:52

like right next to the prosecution table

34:54

so Edward Turner had opted for a jury

34:57

Tri

34:58

but John hondras he didn't the judge

35:01

would decide his case period so the case

35:04

against the two defendants really

35:06

depended on the testimony of the the

35:08

prosecution's star witness that guy Tim

35:11

Brown now something was kind of off

35:13

though because his signed statement the

35:16

timeline it didn't align with the time

35:20

of the 911 calls or the police arriving

35:23

at Ruth's

35:24

door but you know that was was really

35:28

all they had and they were just like

35:29

counting on this Tim Brown guy but

35:31

people like brought up that even Tim

35:32

Brown

35:34

himself he like had some red flags you

35:38

know he had some or yellow flags like he

35:41

was a convicted drug dealer and he was

35:44

currently in prison for possession of a

35:46

controlled substance with intent to

35:48

deliver he had been on probation for a

35:51

similar offense when police first

35:53

interviewed him about the murder that

35:55

took place and he had spent some time in

35:58

County Jail uh housed in the same unit

36:01

as Edward Turner so people were like

36:04

well like what's in this for him what's

36:06

in this for him well it it didn't matter

36:09

so he he's brought in right now under

36:11

oath on the witness stand Tim Brown his

36:15

freaking story changed oh yeah his story

36:19

changed so he said yes I saw John and Bo

36:22

go into the bathroom together but this

36:24

time Tim said that those two never came

36:27

back out and that while they were gone

36:31

he had heard three or four shots coming

36:33

from next door Tim Tim Brown said he

36:36

checked his bathroom saw a hole in the

36:39

wall and figured John and Bo had gone

36:42

through to the next door apartment Tim

36:44

said that he and everyone else in his

36:47

apartment 1108 they ran downstairs to

36:51

the lobby when they heard the gunfire

36:53

then he was asked well where was Edward

36:55

when you know the you heard the gunshots

36:57

and Tim said that Edward was sitting on

37:00

a couch in the living

37:02

room what so the prosecutors were like

37:06

were stunned they're like did Tim Brown

37:08

not remember signing a six-page

37:09

statement like he gave it to the police

37:11

you know what is going like why is this

37:13

story changing so then they ask him they

37:15

asked Tim on the stand like don't you

37:17

remember signing that statement so like

37:19

are you lying now and like Tim was like

37:22

yeah I remember signing it but the only

37:25

reason he signed it

37:28

was because a detective had sexually

37:31

harassed him or like got aggressive with

37:33

him Tim was claiming that the detective

37:36

who was questioning him grabbed his

37:38

balls and squeezed them while he was

37:42

handcuffed to like U he was handcuffed

37:45

to like the wall so Tim Brown testified

37:47

that the only reason he said JN and

37:49

Edward were the killers was because

37:51

police like told him that they were the

37:54

killers and that's what they wanted to

37:56

hear and he was being harassed and

37:59

that's why he said it but the truth Tim

38:01

Brown like now swore was that John and

38:03

Bo they did it so Tim was now saying

38:07

that the truth was under oath that John

38:10

and Bo were the ones who did it and he

38:14

insisted he had told cops this like back

38:16

in 1987 when they first interviewed him

38:18

while on the stand Tim denied knowing

38:20

Ruthie McCoy and he denied like even

38:23

knowing that anyone lived next door and

38:25

he also said that he had no idea that

38:26

you could create from apartment to

38:28

apartment in the building using the

38:30

medicine cabinet and he didn't know this

38:32

until the murder now the judge during

38:35

this trial was taking notes and at some

38:39

point during Tim Brown's testimony the

38:42

judge had scribbled a few words like on

38:44

his paper was like turned in and he

38:47

wrote like this is a total liar so I

38:50

like what do you even believe like

38:51

what's the truth here there were various

38:53

women that John and Edward allegedly

38:55

asked to like stash the rocking chair

38:57

and TV and they were like brought in to

39:00

testify there was one who finally agreed

39:02

to take this stuff and it was like 3:30

39:04

in the morning and this was John's

39:07

girlfriend at the time the theola and

39:10

she testified that neither John nor

39:12

Edward would say like where they got the

39:16

things but um when they showed up they

39:18

had it and they plugged in the TV and it

39:21

didn't work then Sonia Moore she went by

39:25

the name sweetie she also invited Edward

39:28

into her home just hours after the

39:30

murder took place Edward was said to be

39:33

he had like a crush on sweetie and she

39:36

showed up in the courtroom and it was

39:37

said that they like were smiling at each

39:39

other and stuff but Sonia was like

39:42

entertaining her sister and her sister's

39:44

boyfriend in her apartment which was

39:46

like five floors below ruthy's when

39:50

Edward knocked on her door around like

39:53

10:30 that night so she invited him in

39:55

and everyone's like hanging out in the

39:56

living room and like during the

39:58

conversation this is according to

40:00

Sonia's um testimony she said that

40:03

Edward announced that he had shot

40:07

someone like he said it out loud to

40:09

everyone who was there so she was like

40:10

asking for details like what you shot

40:13

someone like who and Edward was like

40:14

kind of bragging that he had shot a lady

40:17

who had a daughter who was around

40:19

Sonia's age so I guess she just was not

40:23

impressed or whatever but I guess some

40:25

time goes by and then he like takes it

40:28

back he was like oh I was just kidding I

40:29

wasn't serious I didn't really shoot

40:31

anyone kind of weird thing to say why

40:33

would you say that but okay so then

40:35

after a few hours go by Edward ends up

40:38

leaving and he then returns later after

40:42

Sonia had gone to bed now she had

40:44

testified that she heard him pounding on

40:46

the door and like calling her name but

40:48

she didn't get up she's like I'm

40:49

sleeping I'm not getting up for him

40:51

Edward Turner's attorney played the

40:54

stupid card in his defense like yes he

40:56

carried Ruthie mccay's television to

40:58

another apartment the night of the

41:00

murder but John had asked him to and he

41:05

was just helping a friend and of course

41:07

like yeah yeah he had he said he shot

41:09

someone but he was just lying to impress

41:13

Sonia he just wanted to impress this

41:15

woman when the evidence was before them

41:17

the defense attorney suggested that

41:19

jurors might be convinced Beyond a

41:22

reasonable doubt that Edward was very

41:25

stupid but not a mder

41:28

he did not murder Ruthie McCoy Edward's

41:30

defense attorney instead was saying that

41:32

the killers were not Edward they were

41:35

John and Howard gin I know so you're

41:39

probably thinking who's this Howard guy

41:41

I know I was like

41:43

same so this Howard guy he didn't know

41:46

like the finger was going to be pointed

41:47

at him he actually appeared on the

41:49

witness stand as a defense witness for

41:51

Edward Turner he had come from jail

41:54

where he was serving time for drug

41:55

dealing and also jumping bail he

41:58

admitted that he had been at a party

42:01

within the apartment of

42:03

1108 and this party had taken place on

42:06

April 22nd but he said that there was

42:08

more than a dozen men and women who were

42:11

at this party Howard story was that John

42:14

took him into a bedroom showed him like

42:16

a bunch of guns that were hidden beneath

42:18

a a bed mattress and then let him over

42:21

to the bathroom and showed him the whole

42:24

medicine cabinet situation how where

42:27

said that like okay they took the

42:28

medicine cabinet off he looked through

42:30

the hole to the neighboring apartment

42:33

then left and went down to the

42:35

building's Lobby he said he was still in

42:37

the building um about a half hour later

42:40

when people who had been at that party

42:42

came running down the stairs like he

42:44

wasn't sure whether Edward Turner was in

42:47

that group but he was certain that John

42:50

was not because he saw him come down

42:53

later well then finally Edward ends up

42:56

taking the stand in his own defense

42:59

Edward had denied that he shot Ruthie

43:01

McCoy or that he was even in her

43:03

apartment when she was killed he

43:05

admitted that he knew like an older lady

43:07

named Miss May had lived next door in

43:10

the apartment but Edward insisted that

43:12

he had been sitting on the couch in the

43:14

apartment and like left with everyone

43:17

else in the living room after they heard

43:19

the gunfire he then said that JN came

43:22

down to the lobby like by himself about

43:25

30 minutes later Edward like he said he

43:28

did tell Sonia about the whole like I

43:31

shot someone's story he said he wanted

43:33

to be her boyfriend so he told her that

43:35

he shot a woman just to like brag and

43:38

that he ended up taking it back when he

43:40

saw that Sonia was not impressed and

43:43

that's why he was like oh just kidding I

43:45

didn't do that I was just kidding Edward

43:47

said that he ended up leaving son's

43:48

apartment around 2 a.m. and then turned

43:51

around and went back up to 1108 when he

43:54

noticed a light on in the window so he

43:57

testified that he spotted a TV set

43:59

sitting in the Hall and a guy he knew

44:02

carrying like a rocking chair out of

44:06

this apartment 118 this guy supposedly

44:09

asked Edward if he would give him a hand

44:12

and carry the TV and Edward was like

44:14

sure I'll help you know I guess at this

44:17

point Edward noticed that the neighbor's

44:18

door was open a little and he told the

44:21

court that he kicked it open even more

44:24

and like went a few feet inside

44:27

and saw a body on the bedroom floor so I

44:30

guess he sees the body he runs out of

44:33

there he goes back to the hallway he

44:35

picks up the TV and like carries on so

44:38

Edward notices John then a few minute

44:41

like seconds minutes later like comes

44:43

out of the apartment where he sees the

44:45

body and like starts helping move the

44:47

rocker and the TV

44:51

so I don't know that's what he said

44:54

happen so who's the Killer I don't don't

44:57

even remember names I don't even

44:59

remember at this point Edward was

45:01

essentially saying that he didn't do it

45:03

okay period he didn't do it I think

45:05

everyone thinks it was John they think

45:07

John did it so the prosecutor of course

45:09

like wanted to focus on the fact that

45:11

like he went to this L's apartment and

45:13

he saw her dead body and like didn't do

45:15

anything and Edward said that he saw the

45:18

body and saw the blood but didn't get

45:20

close enough to tell whether she was

45:21

alive or dead so then they're giving him

45:24

him a hard time like why didn't you call

45:25

police why don't you inform the cha

45:28

people like something and Edward didn't

45:32

really have a response he didn't do

45:34

anything instead he walked back to the

45:37

hallway and picked up the TV you know so

45:39

it was just not a great look in closing

45:41

arguments the defense suggested that

45:43

John and Howard likely went through the

45:46

medicine cabinet together or maybe it

45:48

was John and Bo or John was by himself

45:52

but there was no evidence proving that

45:54

Edward did any anything as for keeping

45:58

quiet after seeing like Ruthie McCoy's

45:59

bloody body I mean that was really the

46:02

way a young black man survived within

46:05

this area the jury had deliberated less

46:08

than 4 hours before finding Edward not

46:12

guilty on all counts so that all but

46:15

made John hundra's verdict a foregone

46:17

conclusion and his defense team didn't

46:20

even bother calling additional Witnesses

46:22

before arresting so the judge his name

46:24

is Michael Getty he quitted John hondras

46:28

as well the whole case the judge said

46:31

hung on the dubious stories of Tim Brown

46:35

but the judge would say like Ruthie

46:37

McCoy's brutal murder wasn't the only

46:39

tragedy in this case it was because the

46:41

incompetence of Chicago Police was what

46:44

really CA Ruthie McCoy her chance at

46:46

Justice I mean look after the fact it's

46:49

unclear when or even if any attempts

46:52

were made to like seal off this like

46:55

network of Medicine

46:57

passageways after Ruthie May McCoy died

47:00

so no one got like charged with her

47:02

murder so we did like a little

47:04

investigating of our own here at murder

47:06

mystery makeup thank you so much we

47:09

found out that cha quietly settled the

47:11

lawsuit that verita filed over her

47:14

mother's death there's one public

47:16

document and it doesn't reveal how much

47:18

she got I don't think it matters but at

47:20

least she got something right it's not

47:22

her mom but it's some accountability as

47:25

for like the both of the guys who were

47:27

acquitted deep dive into court records

47:30

reveals that both unfortunately like

47:32

racked up some felony charges since

47:35

walking out the courtroom in 1990 I say

47:38

unfortunately because it's just sad like

47:40

once you're in the system it's hard to

47:41

get out of it so that's just facts and

47:45

it's just sad John he would be like 58

47:49

now and seems to be settled in Kansas

47:52

after the whole court stuff he spent

47:54

some time Behind Bars um after pleading

47:56

guil guilty to Second deegree

47:58

robbery and also he got charged for like

48:02

occasional drug possession

48:04

charges and I guess he owes like

48:06

thousands of dollars from civil suits

48:08

over several evictions and unpaid child

48:11

support John had bounced around

48:13

treatment facilities and halfway houses

48:16

for a while and was like the subject of

48:18

a missing person search in Kansas a few

48:21

years ago police described him as a

48:23

schizophrenic who could be at risk if

48:26

he's off his medications they found him

48:28

safe like 5 days later and that's what

48:30

we know about him now so Edward Turner

48:33

now apparently is living in Florida he's

48:36

like 56 he actually admitted on the

48:39

record to the Chicago Reader after the

48:41

murder that he was in fact a member of

48:44

the pay masters gang but then he said he

48:46

would probably leave the west side of

48:48

Chicago and hopefully like in his high

48:50

school degree but unfortunately again he

48:53

got into some more trouble Edward ended

48:55

up doing 2 years in Illinois state

48:57

prison for felony drug manufacturing and

49:01

possession with intent to sell there was

49:04

like a bunch of drug charges as well as

49:06

ones for burglary and disorderly conduct

49:10

but the court docket just knows like

49:13

they were disposed of so no idea how

49:16

they got resolved in 2010 he had pled

49:20

guilty to possession of burglary tools

49:24

and property damage in Cook County but I

49:26

I guess he's got disposed of as well

49:28

there was a couple of marijuana charges

49:30

and then nothing for the past decade so

49:33

hopefully he's out of this and like

49:35

moving I have hope for these people okay

49:38

if you watch dark history you know like

49:41

never mind let let me not go on a long

49:42

tangent but it's just hard to get out of

49:44

this this system for when you're born

49:46

into this so I hope he's doing well okay

49:49

I hope I just hope everyone's doing well

49:51

so I guess like the Chicago Police

49:53

Department is currently revamping its

49:55

gang database

49:57

but as recently as 2020 the Police

49:59

Superintendent confirmed to reporters

50:02

that there were over

50:03

117,000 known gang members active in the

50:07

city so that's the murder of Ruthie May

50:11

McCoy sadly like technically not really

50:14

not really solved right and also very

50:17

creepy and unfortunate and the fact that

50:20

like all of her complaints were brushed

50:21

off could have been prevented if

50:23

actually people tried to help not people

50:26

but like the people in charge it's just

50:29

sad it's a sad story really and there's

50:32

no

50:33

closure

50:35

anyways let me know your thoughts I

50:37

don't know what you can say to that I

50:39

kind of believe that Tim guy I mean

50:41

there's got to be some truth in the

50:42

story right I don't know I'm sorry I

50:44

didn't do any makeup I think you

50:46

understand my face hurts a lot so it's

50:49

probably for the better and plus it the

50:51

look I was doing was going south real

50:53

quick that my friends is the story of

50:54

like the real life Candyman whoever the

50:57

hell that person is right let me know

51:00

who you want me to talk about next time

51:02

in the comment section I read your

51:03

comments I see you you see me but other

51:06

than that I hope you have a good day you

51:08

make a choices you be safe out there

51:10

okay lock your doors and stuff and I'll

51:14

be seeing you guys

51:16

later bye

51:20

[Music]

51:25

[Music]

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Etiquetas relacionadas
True CrimeMurder MysteryCandymanChicago ProjectsRuthie May McCoyHorror StoryUrban LegendSocial InjusticePolice NegligenceGang Violence
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