Murder in the Archives: "Infamous Texas Killers" Mini-Exhibit

September 20, 2024 • Rachel Clark

The purpose of The Compass Rose is to raise awareness of Special Collections' resources and to foster the use of these resources. The blog series also reports significant new programs, initiatives, and acquisitions of Special Collections.

Visitors should be aware that this exhibit discusses violent crimes and acts of bodily harm. It is presented with factual information to contextualize part of Texas' history. This exhibit includes content that may have outdated language or may be graphic or disturbing in nature. Please refer to the UTA Libraries’ Statement of Harmful Language for more information. https://libraries.uta.edu/about/policies/harmful-language

For centuries, true crime has been thrilling and chilling us. Books, films, podcasts—we eat up criminal psychology like candy. Here in Maverick Country, there is no better place to find stranger-than-fiction criminal history than Special Collections!

AR406 Series 6 Box 2120 Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection November 20, 1948: Mrs. Ada Bilbrey smiling faintly as she posed in her sickbed for photographers during an interview.

Innocent Until Proven Guilty: Ada Bilbrey

Ada Bilbrey was accused of poisoning her family in 1948. Throughout the trial, Bilbrey used the press to her advantage. In fact, many photographs of Bilbrey show her in her sick bed. Because she was too sick to go to court, a reporter was the first to tell her that the district attorney suggested her case be dismissed.

Strange Escapes: Dykes Simmons, Jr.

Dykes Simmons, Jr., a Texan on vacation in Mexico, was accused of killing three teenagers. In 1959, he became the first American to be sentenced to death in Mexico. Another American man confessed to the crime, but Simmons was imprisoned for ten years in Nuevo Leon. On April 6, 1969, Simmons dressed like a nun and walked out with a group of women who were visiting inmates.

Tragedy in Maverick Country: Terri McAdams

The tragic story of Terri McAdams hits close to home. On February 13, 1985, the UTA student was sexually assaulted and killed. In August 2024, Arlington Police announced that they and the FBI had solved the case using investigative genetic genealogy. The killer was Bernard Sharp, who killed himself a few months after attacking McAdams.

Death (Row) Defying Feats: Kenneth Allen McDuff

Kenneth Allen McDuff is the only person in Texas to sit on Death Row twice: first in 1966 for the murder of three teenagers; then, in 1992 for raping and killing two women. Why was his first sentence changed to life in prison? The U.S. Supreme Court repealed the death penalty in 1972. McDuff served 17 years of his life sentence before he was released on parole. After his second trial, McDuff was executed by lethal injection in 1998.

AR406 Series 6 Box 5381 Folder 6 Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection August 17, 1966: Kenneth Allen McDuff during his examining trial.

Ready to dig deeper? Visit the “Infamous Texas Killers” Mini-Exhibit (and murder board) on display on Central Library’s sixth floor until September 28! Get there before the crime scene is cleaned!