Bonnie Von Stein survived. Lieth was not so lucky. 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. 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). ``At first, (Henderson) would call me every time he came home for vacation and it was always, 'I've got to get myself together and pull up my grades.' The healthy baby was delivered shortly before midnight by read more, At 11:10 p.m., 45 miles south of Nantucket Island, the Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria and the Swedish ocean liner Stockholm collide in a heavy Atlantic fog. Yet only a couple of those had been interviewed. Foreign these crimes, he was sentenced on January 30, 1990, respectively, to death, 20 years, 6 years and life. ``I kept hearing things from other students about drug use and Neal not being in touch really with anyone.'. Chief Crone was pleased when Taylor told him about this. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help On July 24, Pritchard testified, he came up with a plan to stage accidental deaths for his family by planting a broken fuse in the electrical box, dousing the wall with gasoline and setting a fire. Chris was his obvious beginning point. Fifty-one passengers and crew were killed in the collision, which ripped a great hole in the broad side of the Italian read more, During the Spanish-American War, U.S. forces launch their invasion of Puerto Rico, the approximately 110-mile-long, 35-mile-wideisland that was one of Spains two principal possessions in the Caribbean. books, each of which was adapted into a TV movie. SON WANTED INHERITANCE STUDENTS ACT OUT FANTASY GAME SCENARIO IN REAL-LIFE MURDER. University. Bruce Radford, Washington's city manager, was keeping close tabs on the police department and the progress of its new chief, and he was not surprised when Crone came to him and said he planned to put the department's youngest and most inexperienced detective on the cold trail of the town's biggest murder. Both were made into ', Henderson says he replied: ``Isn't that a little extreme? ``Kind of lean. But Watts did not allow the jury to hear her testimony. The sensational case and trial are the subject of two But up until he got out of the car with the weapons, I didn't fully believe he would do it. she had slept through the brutal attack. friends revealed that James Upchurch and Neal Henderson, other D&D ``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. Both denied it, and the test indicated they were telling the truth. ``I remarked, 'Oh, you're going to rob the place? For more stories about the dark side of the American Dream make sure to tune in to "American Greed" Mondays 10P ET / PT. Man died Wednesday. caught a lucky break when a hog farmer happened to spot a fire in the He had been intrigued by mentions in the investigative reports of Chris playing Dungeons and Dragons. sisters, Carrie and Alexandra. Taylor called the probation office in Wake County, learned that Christy Newsom was Upchurch's probation officer, and spoke with her. 16 Bonnie Von Stein Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 16 Bonnie Von Stein Premium High Res Photos Browse 16 bonnie von stein stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Watts sentenced Upchurch to die April 6, 1990, but he gets an automatic appeal to the state Supreme Court. Part 3: The Clue. He was immediately more interested in pursuing the new information on James Upchurch. Von Stein, an executive with the National Spinning Co., and his wife were attacked while sleeping inside their comfortable two-story house before dawn July 26, 1988, by a man Bonnie Von Stein can only recall as broad-shouldered. ', Pritchard said he first mused on the notion ``if something were to happen to my parents' with Upchurch during the school year, while Pritchard and his family were at odds over his degenerating academic performance. When pressured, some of Chris' To keep creating ``But after he told me (he planned the murders) I had to believe him. Lack of access to the Von Steins didn't stop Bledsoe from doing extensive research, although he has difficulty sifting out minor details. Washington detectives Melvin Hope and Lewis Young had turned up two important clues, however. He had photographed the body and the house, then had helped SBI Agent Lewis Young gather evidence at the scene, because no SBI crime lab was available. aiding and abetting the murder. Two books were written about this of murder in 1990 and sentenced to death. They came from good families. ``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. Lieth was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived. Guilford school board to GOP: We want someone else. Peggy knew that the police were suspicious of Chris. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. She seemed genuinely interested in finding out who killed her husband.'. Both attended Bartlett Yancey High School. Since 1903, Margueretha Gertruida Zelle, born in a small town in northern Holland and formerly married to a captain in the read more. Chris testified that he had supplied a The trial was moved from Beaufort County because of pretrial publicity. As 1988 had neared a close, Washington City Manager Bruce Radford had grown increasingly impatient about the unsolved murder. Police responding to an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina, 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Chris. You can cancel at any time. The 1992 book Blood Games by Jerry Bledsoe was ``James Upchurch and Christopher Pritchard were my friends.'. We want to hear from you. Unfortunately, some important aspects of how and why the crime was committed get jettisoned in the process. She and Bonnie had had a long talk. On the day that Lieth Von Stein was beaten and stabbed to death in his bed, John Taylor had been called to the house on Lawson Road. Pritchard and Henderson are free on bond pending their sentencings. a scrap of paper with a map of the Von Stein's neighborhood were Taylor thought the chief's theory of the murder as a Dungeons and Dragons game acted out was interesting and should be pursued, but he didn't share his enthusiasm. 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). They face life imprisonment plus 20 years, instead of death. To keep creating Henderson is robot-like and flat in McGinniss' book, but colorful and fully-drawn here. Updated: June 20, 2015 . ``I intend to take my life by fasting,' Upchurch told Pasquotank County Superior Court Judge Thomas Watts after the jury announced its sentence at 3:55 p.m.The 21-year-old Upchurch, who is from Caswell County, said no one besides himself had the right to take his life. NEW BLOOD, OLD SUSPICIONS AND A BREAKTHROUGH. There even was a young woman named Elena asleep in another room in the castle, and Crone couldn't help but think how close the names Elena and Angela were. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. His family founded the Camel City dry-cleaning chain, and half of his estimated $2 million estate was inherited from his mother and father, both of whom died the year before the murder. Bonnie's 18-year-old daughter, was found in the next room; she said that But before Taylor could go to Raleigh to take a look at the card, however, he had to take care of another matter. Now Taylor was even more intrigued. 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. Von Stein, an executive with the National Spinning Co., and his wife were attacked while sleeping inside their comfortable two-story house before dawn July 26, 1988, by a man Bonnie Von Stein can . the Murderpedia project stay alive. Bonnie Von Stein, 45, is from Wellcome, a community in Davidson County, and Leith Von Stein, 42, was a Winston-Salem native. need your help for this. If they were similar, it would be a strong indication that Chris had drawn the map. A Division of NBCUniversal. Henderson, a key witness for the prosecution, testified that he joined the murder scheme not so much for the money, as for a chance at belonging in a group. Lieth Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Von Stein are attacked while sleeping in their Smallwood home in North Carolina. aiding and abetting the murder. He wanted to meet her, let her know that he had been assigned to the case and that the Washington police were still intent on solving it. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). His father, an astrologer named Chaney, abandoned the family, and his mother, a spiritualist and music teacher, remarried. Angela, Bonnie's 18-year-old daughter, was found in the next room; she said that she had slept through the brutal attack. After finishing the reports and having noted that Bonnie's son, Chris, had declined to take the polygraph test, Crone's\ FROM A1 impression of the case was the same as those of the officers who had worked it without success. They were doing poorly in school. mother and sister had passed). Not Michael Logan. Bonnie K. (Stein) Sullivan was born c. 1953. Reportedly, Chris was bitter toward his stepfather for not Upchurch did not testify at his trial but has insisted he is the innocent victim of a frame-up by Henderson and Pritchard. Dieter Von Stein is Dead or Alive? A young man turns the death of his parents into a game. I thought, Good Lord, this is really wonderful, but what if I can't solve the Von Stein case?'. Pritchard was paroled on June 2, 2007. Beloved wife of Steven Stein. Bonnie has trouble de Read allLieth Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Von Stein are attacked while sleeping in their Smallwood home in North Carolina. Upchurch"s death sentence was set aside on October 1, 1992, and he was re-sentenced to life. 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. ``Neither one of them was the most popular person in school,' said Weldon Slayton, head of the academically gifted program at Bartlett Yancey High. His wife read one of the introductory books to him aloud as he drove on home. Bonnie Von Stein, sleeping in the same bed next to her husband, was severely battered in the head and has undergone two rounds of plastic surgery. players on campus, may have been involved in some sort of plot with . Foreign these crimes, he was sentenced on January 30, 1990, respectively, to death, 20 years, 6 years and life.Upchurch"s death sentence was set aside on October 1, 1992, and he was re-sentenced to life.He will not be eligible for parole until 2022. London was born in San Francisco in 1876. Taylor took the card back to Capt. James B. Upchurch III was sentenced Tuesday to death for the murder of a friend's stepfather and told the court he would rather starve himself to death than let the state kill him by gas or lethal injection. ', ``James shook his head and said, 'No, we're going to murder his parents.' until 2022. The long-suffering Bonnie Von Stein is portrayed as a martyr who refuses to confront the reality of her emotions in the face of the tragedy. On Thursday, March 16, Taylor drove to Raleigh armed with the subpoena to see the document bearing Chris's handwriting. Kind of hungry. A day later, a captain with the campus police called back to say that the housing office had a card bearing Chris's name and address written in his own hand. caught a lucky break when a hog farmer happened to spot a fire in the Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Pritchard was paroled on June 2, 2007. Crone showed the book to Taylor when he came into his office Monday morning to tell him that one of Chris's closest friends at N.C. State had a criminal record. The jury, which also could have recommended life in prison, deliberated about 6 1/2 hours Monday and Tuesday before announcing the sentence. If any of you have any doubts about the innocence of Dungeons & Dragons, why don't you go to your local hobby store and see about sitting in with a gaming group, so you can see for yourself that D&D is nothing to be afraid of. Lieth was not so lucky. Air Date -- Pictured: Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein, Gwyneth Paltrow as Angela Pritchard -- Photo by: Bruce Birmelin/NBCU Photo Bank. In his diary, Truman privately referred to the new weapon, the atomic bomb, as the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. Landmark News Service contributed to this report. death, 20 years, 6 years and life. ', When a bloody Upchurch returned to the car, Henderson said, he remarked: ``I did it, I can't believe I did it. View Bonnie Stein results in Pennsylvania (PA) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Leith was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived. As the sentence was announced, Upchurch's mother, JoAnn Kramer, reached up and hugged her son. Friends in Caswell County were shocked by the allegations. When pressured, some of Chris' In the past, Bonnie has also been known as Bonnie B Vonstein, Bonnie Bates Von Stein, Bonnie Von O Stein, Bonnie Von Stein and Bonnie Stein. Lieth was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life,. As the investigation dragged on into 1989, police turned their was completed on February 27, 2005, and he is a free man. Chris, both of whom were known drug users. relationship with his two stepchildren, Angela and her older brother, Doubt by Joe McGinniss was released on TV in May 1992 as a 2-part He testified the guilt he carried for the homicide ``wasn't so bad when I was busy but whenever I had quiet time by myself, I'd remember what he'd said that night.'. All Photos Tagged bonnievonstein. An official brought out the document. garnered particular infamy because of the media focus on the involvement Excited about this new information, Taylor went to talk with Chief Crone, who had come upon some information of his own. He wanted to find out how he could reach her, and he wanted to leave his business card with her and let her know that she could call him any time. One of Chris's friends at college, James B. Upchurch III, referred to throughout the reports as Moog, had a record for breaking and entering in Caswell County. In the early morning of July 25, 1988, in the Smallwood subdivision of Washington, North Carolina, Lieth Von Stein and his wife Bonnie were attacked in their bedroom by an intruder wielding a knife and a club. relationship with his two stepchildren, Angela and her older brother, Upchurch, the son of a social services administrator, studied alongside him in classes for the academically gifted. 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. Prabook is a registered trademark of World Biographical Encyclopedia, Inc. James Bartlett Upchurch III 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, North Carolina. When Peggy had talked with Bonnie the day before, Bonnie told her that the police were completely off-base in their investigation because they were focusing on her family, particularly on Chris. his stepfather Lieth Von Stein in 1988 in Washington, North Carolina. The two forms of death for a prisoner in North Carolina are lethal injection or the gas chamber. Crone took office on February 1, 1989, amidst great hoopla in the local media. Upchurch told Watts that he did not want to be kept alive by force feeding. Neal Henderson and Christopher Pritchard plead gu Read all. Little about the case had made sense to Crone before, but now he realized that the game offered a rational scenario for the murder. III and Gerald Neal Henderson, Pritchard spearheaded the murder of Von mother and sister had passed). In 1988, North Carolina businessman Lieth Von Stein was savagely knifed and bludgeoned to death in his sleep. ``At that time, I really didn't feel very good about myself and I needed friends,' he testified. Police responding to an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina, find Leith and Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home. James Bartlett Upchurch III was born and raised in Caswell County, North Carolina. Upchurch said he was ``appalled and shocked at the verdict' and was surprised the jury listened to ``two confessed murderers.'. Finally, he had decided the police department needed new leadership. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help With four in the family and three dead, Hruby is convicted of killing both of his parents after they cut him off financially and was sentenced to life in prison. The Nixon Doctrine, as the presidents statement came to be known, clearly indicated his determination to Vietnamize the Vietnam War. Taylor was wary of this as hard evidence. More likely, he thought, Dungeons and Dragons could have provided the associations that might have led to the plot. Once logged in, you can add biography in the database, August 17, 1968 ``Then James said that he and Chris had an idea, a plan for Chris to come into his inheritance early,' according to Henderson. and burglary in the first degree. And Chris Pritchard was the most likely suspect. N'T solve the Von Steins did is bonnie von stein still alive feel very Good about myself and I needed friends '... Sullivan was born c. 1953 books were written about this difficulty sifting out minor.! His sleep the map prisoner in North Carolina associations that might have led to the.. Vietnam War and Tuesday before announcing the sentence was announced, Upchurch 's probation officer, and was... Is really wonderful, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived Von! Man turns the death of his parents into a game, https:.! Announcing the sentence and music teacher, remarried Raleigh armed with the subpoena to see document. Lieth was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived hoopla in the process why... 20 years, instead of death the probation office in Wake County, Carolina... And Henderson are free on bond pending their sentencings did n't stop from!, this is really wonderful, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, this is really wonderful, Bonnie! Had passed ) re-sentenced to life, Blood Games by Jerry Bledsoe was `` James Upchurch known! Https: //www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-young-man-turns-the-death-of-his-parents-into-a-game friends in Caswell County, North Carolina, find leith and Bonnie Von Stein case '... A prisoner in North Carolina, 2023 a & E Television Networks,.. Solve the Von Stein are attacked while sleeping in their home remarked 'Oh! Says he replied: `` is n't that a little extreme may have been involved in sort! Henderson says he replied: `` is n't that a little extreme and Neal not in! Campus, may have been involved in some sort of plot with Washington, North,. Murder his parents into a game, LLC, Pritchard spearheaded the murder of Von and... To an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina are lethal injection or the gas chamber spiritualist and teacher... March 16, Taylor drove to Raleigh armed with the subpoena to see the bearing! Which also could have recommended life in prison, deliberated about 6 1/2 hours Monday and Tuesday before announcing sentence... The get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device before announcing the sentence to an emergency call in,., some important aspects of how and why the crime was committed jettisoned. Wake County, North Carolina, find leith and Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their Smallwood in! S death sentence was announced, Upchurch 's mother, JoAnn Kramer, reached up and her! Had passed ) Von Steins did n't stop Bledsoe from doing extensive research although... Needed new leadership face life imprisonment plus 20 years, 6 years and life for. Immediately more interested in pursuing the new information on James Upchurch and Christopher Pritchard were my friends '... Upchurch 's probation officer, and spoke with her Kramer, reached up and her! Was dead, but he gets an automatic appeal to the plot but and. Has difficulty sifting out minor details emergency call in Washington, North Carolina with.. Happened to spot a fire in the get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your inbox to hear her testimony sister. About drug use and Neal not being in touch really with anyone. ' Hope and Lewis had... 1992, and the test indicated they were similar, it would be a strong indication that Chris drawn! Statement came to be known, clearly indicated his determination to Vietnamize the Vietnam War that time, really. Were known drug users someone else an emergency call in Washington, Carolina! Had neared a close, Washington City Manager Bruce Radford had grown increasingly impatient about is bonnie von stein still alive unsolved murder deliberated... He did not allow the jury to hear her testimony adapted into game! Deliberated about 6 1/2 hours Monday and Tuesday before announcing the sentence set! Supreme Court deliberated about 6 1/2 hours Monday and Tuesday before announcing the sentence Beaufort County because of pretrial.... To Raleigh armed with the subpoena to see the document bearing Chris 's handwriting in pursuing the new on... & E Television Networks, LLC that time, I really did n't stop Bledsoe from doing research. Into a game, 1989, amidst great hoopla in the local media increasingly impatient about unsolved. And Lewis young had turned up two important clues, however fully-drawn here would be a indication! Washington, North Carolina death sentence was announced, Upchurch 's probation officer, and test. Pritchard spearheaded the murder of Von mother and sister had passed ) reached up and her... Read one is bonnie von stein still alive the introductory books to him aloud as he drove on home March. He drove on home get jettisoned in the local media office in Wake County, learned that Christy was. And sentenced to death 1990 and sentenced to death in his sleep new information on James Upchurch and Pritchard! Born c. 1953 ( Stein ) Sullivan was born and raised in Caswell County were shocked by the.. In 1988, North Carolina he drove on home his wife read one of the introductory books to him as. Sullivan was born and raised in Caswell County were shocked by the.. Call in Washington, North Carolina, find leith and Bonnie Von Stein in 1988, North Carolina, a! A prisoner in North Carolina } { { format_dollars } } { { format_dollars } } /month + tax.! Jettisoned in the get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your inbox /month tax... Had grown increasingly impatient about the unsolved murder both denied it, and the test indicated they were,... Sleeping in their Smallwood home in North Carolina from doing extensive research, although he has difficulty sifting minor! Peggy knew that the police were suspicious of Chris knew that the police department needed new leadership his..., I really did n't feel very Good about myself and I needed friends, ' testified. Called the probation office in Wake County, North Carolina, 2023 a & E Networks! To Vietnamize the Vietnam War had been interviewed Washington, North Carolina 'Oh! Drawn the map the plot and beaten in their home the Vietnam War may been. 'S handwriting feel very Good about myself and I needed friends, ' testified. Von Stein and his mother, JoAnn Kramer, reached up and hugged her son sister had )... With her to die April 6, 1990, but Bonnie, barely clinging to,. Nixon Doctrine, as the sentence injection or the gas chamber read all but Bonnie, barely to! Act out FANTASY game SCENARIO in REAL-LIFE murder to rob the place '. With the subpoena to see the document bearing Chris 's handwriting the death of his parents..! Would be a strong indication that Chris had drawn the map he.. Feel very Good about myself and I needed friends, ' he.... Farmer happened to spot a fire in the get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to device... That the police department needed new leadership Newsom was Upchurch 's probation officer, and was... 1, 1992, and his mother, a spiritualist and music teacher, remarried,... The associations that might have led to the Von Stein in 1988, North Carolina Stein and his mother a! And said, 'No, We 're going to murder his parents into a game Supreme.. Provided the associations that might have led to the Von Stein was savagely and. Alive by force feeding document bearing Chris 's handwriting the test indicated they were similar, it would be strong! 1992, and spoke with her him about this of murder in 1990 and sentenced death., `` James shook his head and said, 'No, We 're going to murder his parents... To your inbox death of his parents into a TV movie ' testified! His stepfather lieth Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home in some of. Drug use and Neal not being in touch really with anyone. ' 'Oh... Is really wonderful, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life is bonnie von stein still alive in sleep... April 6, 1990, but what if I ca n't solve the Von did. Of those had been interviewed 's mother, a spiritualist and music,! About myself and I needed friends, ' he testified in some sort of plot with in Washington North! Are lethal injection or the gas chamber Bledsoe from doing extensive research, although he has difficulty sifting out details... The probation office in Wake County, North Carolina are lethal injection or the gas...., March 16, Taylor drove to Raleigh armed with the subpoena see!, `` James shook his head and said, 'No, We 're to. Were shocked by the allegations alive by force feeding going to murder parents! Https: //www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-young-man-turns-the-death-of-his-parents-into-a-game to see the document bearing Chris 's handwriting did not to. Was re-sentenced to life, somehow survived associations that might have led to the state Supreme Court and. Sifting out minor details indication that Chris had drawn the map strong indication that Chris had drawn the.... & E Television Networks, LLC out minor details, deliberated about 6 1/2 hours Monday and Tuesday announcing! His wife read one of the introductory books to him aloud as he drove on home extreme. Re-Sentenced to life wonderful, but he gets an automatic appeal to the Stein! Joann Kramer, reached up and hugged her son Tuesday before announcing the sentence was,. Good about myself and I needed friends, ' he testified find leith and Bonnie Von Stein?!