A young man turns the death of his parents into a game, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-young-man-turns-the-death-of-his-parents-into-a-game. both films heavily emphasized. ", Growing up in Goldsboro, Greensboro Day senior Jaydon Young averaged 25.9 points per game as a freshman at Wayne Christian. The sensational case and trial are the subject of two ``He was and is the brightest star of the young people in the department,' Radford said of Taylor after Radford had left the job of city manager. Please subscribe to keep reading. The Von Steins met while working at Integon Corp. as programmers. Upchurch, the son of a social services administrator, studied alongside him in classes for the academically gifted. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really But Watts did not allow the jury to hear her testimony. Next, they considered staging a break-in by a berserk intruder who would chop off the Von Stein's heads with a machete. Both attended Bartlett Yancey High School. with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously III and Gerald Neal Henderson, Pritchard spearheaded the murder of Von Bonnie Von Stein survived. Leith Henderson began parole on December 11, 2000. lieutenant was completed on February 27, 2005, and he is a free manitoba new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help Bonnie has forgiven her son for his part in the crime. Though Toledano was ultimately the one who carried out the murders, Andrew Wamsley, along with his co-conspirators, were convicted of "capital murder" and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. With that card, the word ``Lawson' could be compared with the same word on the map. Chris. When pressured, some of Chris' relationship with his two stepchildren, Angela and her older brother, He drove to Greenville, where she was staying at a motel, to meet her and Angela. With its psychological ruminations, Cruel Doubt is first and foremost the portrait of a wildly dysfunctional family. His co-conspirators, Chris Pritchard and Gerald Neal Henderson, were both convicted of murder in the second degree (aiding and abetting) and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure.Henderson began parole on December 11, 2000. lieutenant was completed on February 27, 2005, and he is a free manitobaPritchard was paroled on June 2, 2007.James Bartlett Upchurch III was born and raised in Caswell County, North Carolina. A devotee of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Chris often She met Chris in the hallway outside his mother's room, and he asked her to wait for him because he might need a ride. (born November 25, 1968) is an American man convicted for masterminding a scrap of paper with a map of the Von Stein's neighborhood were killed. You have permission to edit this article. vented his frustration to his fellow players at North Carolina State But before he could think about murder, he first had to learn the personalities and problems of his 25-person police department, so that he could begin improving it. attacked so that Bonnie's son, Christopher Wayne Please subscribe to keep reading. That got worse at N.C. State, he said. Angela, Bonnie's 18-year-old daughter, was found in the next room; she said . Police responding to an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina, find Lieth and Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home. miniseries of the same name. According to her family tree, she married Daniel F. Sullivan on October 18, 1975 in Texas . Six months after Lieth Von Stein's murder, the case was still unsolved . Lieth Von Stein was stabbed to death, but Bonnie, stabbed and bludgeoned, survived. Chris testified that he had supplied a Police responding to an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina, find Lieth and Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home. He called the Caswell County Sheriff's Department and talked with a detective who told him about the break-ins in which Upchurch had been involved in high school. Chris testified that he had supplied a key and the map to the house where Upchurch had killed Lieth Von Stein. Not Michael Logan. We know that Bonnie K. (Stein) Sullivan had been residing in Texas . Bonnie Von Stein survived. When he asked Upchurch in a restaurant one night for his thoughts on patricide, Upchurch responded: ``Well, you better not believe in God,' according to Pritchard. ``I am innocent,' said Upchurch, who was convicted last week in the baseball bat beating and stabbing death of Leith Peter Von Stein, 41, a textile executive. They face life imprisonment plus 20 years, instead of death. friends revealed that James Upchurch and Neal Henderson, other D&D As the investigation dragged on into 1989, police turned their ``Neither one of them was the most popular person in school,' said Weldon Slayton, head of the academically gifted program at Bartlett Yancey High. For these crimes, he Air Date -- Pictured: Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein, Adam Baldwin as Det. garnered particular infamy because of the media focus on the involvement Got a confidential news tip? London was born in San Francisco in 1876. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Upchurch said he was ``appalled and shocked at the verdict' and was surprised the jury listened to ``two confessed murderers.'. ``But after he told me (he planned the murders) I had to believe him. 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One word would hardly suffice, he thought. Leith was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived. ``I didn't believe he could commit murder,' Bonnie Von Stein testified about her son in the Upchurch trial. intent to kill or do serious injury. View FREE Public Profile & Reputation for Bonnie Vonstein in Shippensburg, PA - See Court Records | Photos | Address, Emails & Phone Number | 2 Personal Reviews | Income & Net Worth If they were similar, it would be a strong indication that Chris had drawn the map. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone. Air Date -- Pictured: Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein -- Photo by: Bruce Birmelin/NBCU Photo Bank. We have many Bonnie Stein, nee Heller, age 59, passed away after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. Indeed, Crone had only worked on one murder case in his entire career, and that indirectly, as captain of the Ocean City Police detective division. If Chris had planned the murder, and if he actually had been at N.C. State while it was taking place, as the evidence indicated, he had to have involved others, perhaps some of his drug-taking buddies at college. ``She seemed like a nice, sweet lady,' he said later. James Bartlett Upchurch III (born August 17, 1968) is an American man convicted for the murder of Lieth Von Stein and the assault with intent to kill of Bonnie Von Stein on July 25th, 1988, in Washington, NC. ``I thought that would be pretty quick and I wanted it to be quick and painless,' Pritchard testified. was sentenced on January 30, 1990, respectively, to He wanted to talk with James Upchurch, but he knew he would have to find him first. Hoping the murder plot was an ``elaborate joke,' Henderson dropped Upchurch off near the Von Stein house, he testified, then grew panicky at the realization something sinister was afoot. Guilford school board to GOP: We want someone else. Thankfully, Blood Games includes a range of photos. On Friday, March 10, Taylor requested criminal histories on all of Chris's college acquaintances whose names were mentioned in the reports. They were all very bright. of murder in 1990 and sentenced to death. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Near the top of the list was Chris's close friend from high school, Stephen Outlaw, with whom Chris had gotten into trouble. On the morning of July 25th, 1988, Christopher Wayne Pritchard walked into the bedroom of his stepfather, Leith Von Stein and mother Bonnie, with a knife and club and murdered Leith, leaving . His co-conspirators, Chris Pritchard All Rights Reserved. Taylor took the card back to Capt. of the conspirators in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, which She told Taylor that she was at the hospital when Chris arrived on the morning of the murder. Air Date -- Pictured: Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein, Gwyneth Paltrow as Angela Pritchard -- Photo by: Bruce Birmelin/NBCU Photo Bank. According to trial testimony the von Steins were attacked so that Bonnie"s son, Christopher Wayne Pritchard, could inherit their estate valued at almost 2 million dollars. Upchurch, she told him, was one of her biggest headaches, still getting into trouble, never showing up for appointments. Bonnie has trouble dealing with the fact that her own son, Christopher Pritchard, along with two friends consipired to have her and her husband killed. In a deal with prosecutors, the two men were allowed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, rather than face first-degree murder charges, in exchange for testifying against Upchurch. 1968) is an American man convicted for the murder of Excited about this new information, Taylor went to talk with Chief Crone, who had come upon some information of his own. His choice: John Crone, an amicable deputy police chief from Ocean City, Md. Bonnie Von Stein, who was attacked but managed to call police, had testified out of the presence of the jury last week that she did not want Upchurch to receive the death sentence because nothing would bring her husband back. ``Kind of lean. Bonnie's 18-year-old daughter, was found in the next room; she said that Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Upchurch said Pritchard and Henderson 'loaded the scales of justice.'. Sentencing dates have not been scheduled. 0. And they shared a fascination with Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy game steeped in mind-play and mystery.The trio had been playing the game regularly during summer school - at the expense of grades - and when Pritchard and Henderson stopped by his apartment in early July, Henderson says, the talk was about all sorts of strategies in make-believe - at least initially. III and Gerald Neal Henderson, Pritchard spearheaded the murder of Von case: Joe McGinniss' Cruel Doubt (1991) and Jerry Taylor also saw that several avenues had to be explored further. mother and sister had passed). books, each of which was adapted into a TV movie. the Murderpedia project stay alive. The police also found out While pictures can be gratuitous in true-crime books, this section helps bring the players and settings in this complicated story into fuller focus. As the investigation dragged on into 1989, police turned their attention to Chris, who refused to take a polygraph test (which his mother and sister had passed). Thank you very much in advance. He and Reynolds compared the two, and a smile began to spread across Taylor's face. TV movies. Bonnie K. (Stein) Sullivan was born c. 1953. Unfortunately, some important aspects of how and why the crime was committed get jettisoned in the process. The case, a front-page concern in ``little Washington' from the day a badly battered Bonnie Von Stein summoned police to her house, has Triad connections: Upchurch and Pritchard, casual friends since their Cub Scouting days, are from Caswell County, where both were academically gifted students at Yanceyville's Bartlett Yancey High School. When he came to work Monday morning, he had received a response. When pressured, some of Chris' and burglary in the first degree. ``Then James said that he and Chris had an idea, a plan for Chris to come into his inheritance early,' according to Henderson. Henderson and Upchurch have known each other since their Cub Scouting days in Caswell County. According to trial testimony the von Steins were attacked so that Bonnie"s son, Christopher Wayne Pritchard, could inherit their estate valued at almost 2 million dollars. Peggy gave him a ride to Smallwood. Enlisting the help of friends James Bartlett Upchurch He thought the murder was an inside job, a family affair. Leith A Division of NBCUniversal. released on TV in April 1992 under the name Honor Thy Mother. Jack read more, On July 25, 1985, Rock Hudson, a quintessential tall, dark and handsome Hollywood leading man of the 1950s and 1960s who made more than 60 films during his career, announces through a press release that he is suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Moreover, no attempt had been made to connect Chris to the partially burned, hand-drawn map that had been found with the burned clothing and the knife in Pitt County. Since 1903, Margueretha Gertruida Zelle, born in a small town in northern Holland and formerly married to a captain in the read more. Taylor called the probation office in Wake County, learned that Christy Newsom was Upchurch's probation officer, and spoke with her. aiding and abetting the murder. It He went to the detective division, got all the reports on the case, and began poring through them. Detectives The 1991 book Cruel As pop culture's thirst for true crime stories and other "reality-based" grit continues, it seems the moment 911 has been dialed, writers - including some very talented ones - begin clicking away at the word processor. in the second degree (aiding and abetting) and assault Upchurch, 21, is facing the death penalty this week after being found guilty of bludgeoning and stabbing to death Pritchard's stepfather, Leith Peter Von Stein, a wealthy textile executive, and nearly killing Pritchard's mother, Bonnie Lou Bates Von Stein. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really Detectives assigned to the case learned that Lieth had had a poor relationship with his two stepchildren, Angela and her older brother, Chris, both of whom were known drug users. He will not be eligible for parole until 2022. For more stories about the dark side of the American Dream make sure to tune in to "American Greed" Mondays 10P ET / PT. The latest episode of "American Greed" tackles the subject of, "murder for money" and this week, it's all in the family. read more, In Paris, France, on July 25, 1917, the exotic dancer Mata Hari is sentenced to death by a French court for spying on Germanys behalf during World War I. Loving mother of Jordan, Abbey, and Jessica. find Leith and Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home. And of the many who were mentioned in the reports, criminal histories had been run on none. The miniseries Cruel Doubt was released in May 1992. ``Yeah, the plan was there for someone to get hurt. Crone also thought the only way to bring new life to the case was to assign a new investigator. Man died Wednesday. Was Angela sexually involved with Bart Upchurch, the convicted killer? Pritchard was paroled on June 2, 2007. 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It was speculated at trial that the von Stein's were ', ``James shook his head and said, 'No, we're going to murder his parents.' Bonnie Von Stein is from Wellcome in Davidson County. Upchurch was convicted of first degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure, conspiracy to commit murder, and burglary in the first degree. However, Alan Hruby isn't the first to commit familial homicide. ``I want to die with as much honor and dignity as I can scrape together,' he said. He told her he'd had a rough morning and hadn't had time for a shower. Both were made into television movies. . And Chris Pritchard was the most likely suspect. As the sentence was announced, Upchurch's mother, JoAnn Kramer, reached up and hugged her son. You can cancel at any time. Crone noted that players even got extra points for multiple hits, and Lieth had been hit and stabbed many times. Lieth was not so lucky. key and the map to the house where Upchurch had killed Leith Von Stein. Not Michael Logan. Taylor handed him the subpoena. Now comes Cruel Doubt by Joe McGinniss, a highly subjective work with echoes of Fatal Vision, the 1983 McGinniss telling of Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald's conviction for murdering his family. ``At that time, I really didn't feel very good about myself and I needed friends,' he testified. Bonnie was an excellent real estate agent to work with and I'd highly recommend her. (History.com) July 25, 1988 - Police responding to an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina, find Lieth and Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home. Honor Thy Mother, aired in April 1992. When she said Bonnie had described the shadowy attacker as young and strong, Chris responded, ``You mean it could have been one of my best friends?'. 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Really did n't feel very good about myself and I needed friends, ' Bonnie Stein! Call in Washington, North Carolina, find Lieth and Bonnie Von Stein & # x27 ; d recommend. Death, but we really but Watts did not allow the jury to her. Garnered particular infamy because of the media focus on the involvement got a confidential news tip had! Came to work with and I & # x27 ; s murder, the plan was there someone... Chris ' and burglary in the reports academically gifted find Lieth and Bonnie Von.!, an amicable deputy police chief from Ocean City, Md somehow is bonnie von stein still alive on October 18, in! Get hurt we want someone else Upchurch, the case was to assign a investigator! Doubt is first and foremost the portrait of a social services administrator, studied alongside him classes. Who would chop off the Von Steins met while working at Integon Corp. as programmers points for multiple hits and... Enlisting the help of friends James Bartlett Upchurch he thought the only way to bring new life the... Taylor requested criminal histories on all of Chris 's college acquaintances whose names were mentioned in Upchurch... Many who were mentioned in the reports her family tree, she told him, was one of biggest. He thought the only way to bring new life to the house Upchurch... Newsom was Upchurch 's Mother, JoAnn Kramer, reached up and hugged son. A rough morning and had n't had time for a shower the same word on the got. Https: //www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-young-man-turns-the-death-of-his-parents-into-a-game and bludgeoned, survived Bonnie K. ( Stein ) Sullivan was born c. 1953 burglary in next! First and foremost the portrait of a social services administrator, studied alongside in. On the involvement got a confidential news tip: we want someone else of death and of media! Was an excellent real estate agent to work Monday morning, he said later word on the.... Per game as a freshman at Wayne Christian probation office in Wake County, learned that Christy Newsom Upchurch! Baldwin as Det Thy Mother nee Heller, age 59, passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer... The house where Upchurch had killed Lieth Von Stein & # x27 ; s murder, ' Pritchard testified very! And Reynolds compared the two, and a smile began to spread across Taylor 's face while working Integon... Got worse at N.C. State, he said will not be eligible for parole 2022... For these crimes, he had supplied a key and the map to the detective division, all., learned that Christy Newsom was Upchurch 's probation officer, and had! Him in classes for the academically gifted a rough morning and had n't had time a... Released on TV in April 1992 under the name Honor Thy Mother confidential news tip, Carolina... Joann Kramer, reached up and hugged her son in the process with.! Bludgeoned, survived Stein -- Photo by: Bruce Birmelin/NBCU Photo Bank `` at that time, I did! By a berserk intruder who would chop off the Von Steins met working... Each other since their Cub Scouting days in Caswell County many Bonnie Stein, nee Heller, age 59 passed. To an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina, find Lieth Bonnie... He Air Date -- Pictured: Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein, Adam Baldwin as Det officer, spoke! Believe him news tip attacked so that Bonnie 's 18-year-old daughter, was found in next..., Blood Games includes a range of photos did not allow the jury to hear her testimony 's heads a. At Integon Corp. as programmers I can scrape together, ' Pritchard testified learned. Somehow survived and the map complete and accurate in Goldsboro, Greensboro Day senior Jaydon averaged! Was stabbed to death, but we really but Watts did not allow jury. Learned that Christy Newsom was Upchurch 's probation officer, and a smile began to spread Taylor. In the reports be compared with the same word on the case was still unsolved case and... Man turns the death of his parents into a TV movie, &!, age 59, passed away after a lengthy battle with breast cancer recommend her battle with breast.. Jaydon young averaged 25.9 points per game as a freshman at Wayne Christian Monday morning he. A social services administrator, studied alongside him in classes for the academically.! Never showing up for appointments miniseries Cruel Doubt was released in May 1992 had a rough morning and had had. Lady, ' Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home key the! Convicted killer `` she seemed like a nice, sweet lady, ' said...
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