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Helen Wilson 1916 - c. 1985

Helen Loretta Wilson of 221 N. Sixth Street - Apartment 4, in Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska was born on July 13, 1916 in Pickrell, and died at age 68 years old circa February 5, 1985 in Beatrice. Helen Wilson was buried at Pleasant View Cemetery in Pickrell.

Helen Loretta Wilson

221 N. Sixth Street - Apartment 4, in Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska 68310

July 13, 1916

Pickrell, Gage County, Nebraska, 68422, United States

circa February 5, 1985

Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska, 68310, United States

Female

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Helen Wilson Helen Wilson (1916 - 1985)

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Helen Loretta Wilson's History: 1916 - circa 1985

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Introduction

Helen Loretta (Jones) Wilson is the subject matter of HBO's documentary series Mind over Murder. She was born to George K. Jones (1882 - 1950) and Ida Belle Jones (1889-1947), and had siblings Roy Cyrus (1906-1976), Arthur Jesse (1908-1966), Florence E. (Jones) Arnst (1912-1986), and Melvin G Jones (1931-2012). She married Raymond Lathal Wilson (1912 - 1966) in 1934, and had children Janet Rae (Wilson) Houseman (1936-2019), Darrell G. Wilson (1940-2020), and Lawrence G. Wilson. According to the 1940s census, she was 24 and Raymond was 29 and they lived with their daughter Janet (age 3) at 822 Herbert St in Beatrice. In 1950, Helen was 33 and they lived with their three children in Beatrice. She listed her occupation with the census as "keeping house". She was very family oriented and was viewed by many as the one to 'keep the family together'. In her later years she was extremely active in the local Beatrice community, being involved with her church Centenary United Methodist, the Ruth Circle of Centenary United Methodist Women, A.A.R.P, Gage County Historical Society and Eagles Auxiliary of Aerie 531. She liked to travel around the country, often filming her adventures. In 1985, Helen was found dead at her home. Bill Fitzgerald, a lieutenant in the Beatrice police department, was the lead investigator in Helen's murder. He discovered that Helen was sexually assaulted and died via suffocation. The murder of 68 year old Helen was shocking to her family and the entire small town community. The police took this situation very seriously and surveyed the funeral looking for suspects, but was unable to find anyone. Dozens were interviewed. See No new leads in murder of Beatrice Woman The FBI was eventually asked for assistance by the small town police department, and a FBI profiler from Ohio was called into Beatrice. Various tools including hypnosis were used to interview potential suspects. Eventually, what became known as the "Beatrice Six" confessed to the crime, but they were all exonerated by DNA evidence more than two decades later. Finally, in 2009 authorities revealed Helen Wilson's killer was Bruce Allen Smith who was one of the original 10 suspects. When she was murdered Helen was the grandmother to seven grandchildren, and great-grandmother to five. See Helen Wilson: Obituary The Beatrice community suffered another heinous crime 15 years later with the death of Lillian M Meisenbach
07/13

1916

Birthday

July 13, 1916

Birthdate

Pickrell, Gage County, Nebraska 68422, United States

Birthplace

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Nationality & Locations

Born in Pickrell, Gage County, Nebraska, she spent most of her life in Beatrice.
Early Life & Education

Completed two years of high school education.
Religious Beliefs

Active member of the Centenary United Methodist church.
Personal Life & Family

Helen was extremely active in her local community in Beatrice Nebraska. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist church, Ruth Circle of Centenary United Methodist Women, A.A.R.P, Gage County Historical Society and Eagles Auxiliary of Aerie 531.
02/5

1985

circa

Death

circa February 5, 1985

Death date

murder

Cause of death

Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska 68310, United States
Death location

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Gravesite & Burial

mm/dd/yyyy
Funeral date
Pleasant View Cemetery in Pickrell, Gage County, Nebraska United States
Burial location
Obituary

The following appeared in the Beatrice Daily Sun in Beatrice Nebraska on Friday February 8th 1985: Helen L. Wilson 68, 212 N. Sixth St., Beatrice, died Tuesday, Feb 5 or Wednesday, Feb 6, 1985, at her home. Born July 13, 1916 at rural Pickrell and lived in the Beatrice area most of her life. Member of Centenary United Methodist church, Ruth Circle of Centenary United Methodist Women, A.A.R.P, Gage County Historical Society and Eagles Auxiliary of Aerie 531. Survivors: sons, Darrell G. of Beatrice and Larry G of Scottsbluff, daughter, Mrs. Wayne (Jan) Houseman, Beatrice, brother, Melvin G. Jones, Las Vegas, Nev, sister, Mrs. Ivan (Florence) Arnst, Beatrice; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by husband, Raymond, and two brothers. Funeral: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Harman Mortuary Chapel, the Rev. Eugene Watson. Burial: Pleasant View Cemetery, rural Pickrell. Closed casket-no public viewing. Memorial established to the Helen Wilson Reward Fund or Centenary United Methodist Church with Harman Mortuary in charge.

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2 Memories, Stories & Photos about Helen

Daniel Pinna

10.1k+ favorites

06/24/2022

Helen Wilson of Beatrice Nebraska

Image of grandmother and great-grandmother Helen Wilson of Beatrice Nebraska.

Date & Place: in Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska 68310, United States

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Daniel Pinna

10.1k+ favorites

06/24/2022

No new leads in murder of Beatrice Woman

The following appeared in the Beatrice Daily Sun on Friday February 8th 1985:

Beatrice Police have no new leaders on the murder of a Beatrice woman which occurred sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Police Chief Don Luckeroth said Friday morning that a final, written autopsy report on the body of Helen L. Wilson, 68, had not been completed.

Wilson was found dead in her apartment by a sister Wednesday morning. Preliminary autopsy reports indicated she had been sexually assaulted. Her hands were bound when her body was found on the living-room floor of her apartment.

Luckeroth also said that preliminary autopsy results narrowed the time of death to between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, when a son was known to have left her apartment, and about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Luckeroth said the Nebraska State Patrol criminalistics lab was analyzing evidence collected at the scene.

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Helen Wilson's Family Tree & Friends

Helen Wilson's Family Tree

Parent

Helen Wilson Jul 13, 1916 - circa Feb 5, 1985

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Child

Sibling

Friendships

Helen's Friends

1 Follower & Sources

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Other Biographies

Other Helen Wilson Biographies

Payne, Helen (Oct 4, 1934 - Nov 23, 2018) Wilson, Helen (Apr 12, 1934 - Sep 18, 2001) Wilson, Helen (Born Mar 19, 1908) Wilson, Helen Wilson, Helen Wilson, Helen Curtis, Helen (Died Jan 1988) Wilson, Helen Wilson, Helen (Jan 26, 1928 - Feb 5, 2013) Wilson, Helen (May 27, 1915 - Jan 12, 2013)

Wilson, Helen (Apr 11, 1934 - Dec 8, 2012) Wilson, Helen (Dec 8, 1925 - Mar 22, 2013) Wilson, Helen (May 2, 1944 - Aug 18, 2012) Wilson, Helen (Feb 3, 1925 - Jan 2, 2012) Wilson, Helen (Apr 15, 1914 - Mar 3, 2012) Wilson, Helen (Aug 24, 1931 - Oct 25, 2011) Wilson, Helen (Nov 16, 1922 - Mar 20, 2011) Wilson, Helen (Sep 13, 1918 - Sep 17, 2010) Wilson, Helen (Apr 29, 1919 - Aug 18, 2008) Wilson, Helen (Apr 1, 1923 - Mar 26, 2006)

Other Wilson Family Biographies

Wilson, Frederick (Born Sep 1, 1826) Wilson, Eliza (Born Nov 27, 1835) Wilson, Nora F. (Born Jul 2, 1880) Wilson, Elva (Born Sep 23, 1910) Benning, Eva (Born Oct 4, 1895) Wilson, Elsie (Born Mar 25, 1913) Wilson, Nellie (Born Aug 5, 1919) Beam, Elva (Born Sep 23, 1910) Wilson, Sennettia (Born Jul 28, 1881) Wilson, William Lafayette (Born Aug 13, 1873)

Wilson, Sennettia Sophronia (Born Jul 28, 1881) Jackson, Josie (Born Dec 26, 1901) Wilson, Elza Bell (Born May 14, 1906) Wilson, Elva (Born Sep 23, 1910) Wilson, Elmer (Born Aug 15, 1908) Wilson, Nancy (Born Jan 1, 1900) Wilson, Elza (May 14, 1906 - Apr 1976) Copal, Mollie (Born Jan 1898) Wilson, Andrew (Born Mar 3, 1914) Wilson, Nathan (Born Feb 4, 1914)

About the AncientFaces Community

Helen Wilson 1916 - c. 1985

Helen Loretta Wilson's History: 1916 - circa 1985

Introduction

Birthday

Nationality & Locations

Early Life & Education

Religious Beliefs

Personal Life & Family

Death

Gravesite & Burial

Obituary

2 Memories, Stories & Photos about Helen

Helen Wilson's Family Tree & Friends

Helen Wilson's Family Tree

Helen's Friends

Other Helen Wilson Biographies

Other Wilson Family Biographies