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David Hendricks
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David Hendricks (born 1954) is an American businessman convicted of killing his wife and three children in 1984, but acquitted in a retrial in 1991.

Life

[edit]

David James Hendricks was born in Morton Grove and raised in Oak Park, Illinois. He was a member of the Exclusive branch of the Plymouth Brethren, a Christian denomination. He started and ran a highly successful business in Bloomington, Illinois, selling an orthopedic back-brace he had patented.[1] He later bought a large house at a then-new development in Bloomington and moved his family there.

Murders

[edit]

On November 7, 1983, while Hendricks was out of state on a business trip, his wife Susan, 30, and the couple's three children — Rebekah, 9; Grace, 7; and Benjamin, 5 — were found murdered in their Bloomington home by a police officer performing a welfare check, requested after Hendricks was unable to reach them by phone. The murder weapons, consisting of an axe and a butcher's knife, had been left at the scene. Hendricks was interviewed immediately on return from his trip and became the primary suspect due to his relationship with the victims and the police detectives' initial dissatisfaction with his demeanor.

Trial and afterward

[edit]

Hendricks was tried the following year. The trial was moved from Bloomington to Rockford, Illinois, 133 miles (214 km) away, where he was found guilty in a jury trial. The judge took the unusual step of indicating publicly that while he was not criticizing the jury for performing their duty, he was not personally convinced beyond reasonable doubt. Hendricks' guilt was questioned due to the prosecution's reliance on circumstantial evidence and the possible prejudicial effect of statements made about his religious beliefs. Among other factors, the prosecution attempted to link the murders to Hendricks' belief that divorce was a sin. Hendricks had recently hired female models to demonstrate his product for marketing materials. Some of these women gave testimony for the prosecution that Hendricks asked them to remove clothing and made intimate contact with their upper bodies during private test-fittings. Since the brace was normally worn externally, expert witnesses were called to testify that regular clothing and a brief fitting time were more typical, emphasized with an in-court demonstration. The prosecution used these to form a circumstantial case for Hendricks being dissatisfied with his marriage and argued that since Hendricks did not believe in divorce, he had a motive to kill his wife and children.

The prosecution argued for Hendricks' sole guilt, although no direct evidence of guilt was found on Hendricks, including a lack of blood contamination. His lawyers failed to challenge some other key pieces of the prosecution's evidence, such as how the order of killings was dubious for a sole killer acting on Hendricks' schedule that evening, and that the weapons and blood spatter suggested two perpetrators. There were signs of carelessly-handled evidence by the investigating team, such as containers identified as the children's stomach contents containing material inconsistent with their known preferences. The contents had been used by an expert witness to establish a time of death prior to Hendricks leaving on his business trip.

Hendricks was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences. He served seven years in Menard Correctional Center in Illinois. While incarcerated Hendrick befriended his cellmate, convicted murderer and prison fugitive Henry Hillenbrand. Using a tape recorder and with Hillenbrand's blessing Hendricks used his jail time to pen a novel about Hillenbrand's life. Hendricks married a second time while in prison.

In 1991, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the conviction and Hendricks was granted a retrial at the McLean County Law and Justice Center in Bloomington. A surprise prison witness for the prosecution claimed Hendricks had confessed the crime while incarcerated, but a jury was unconvinced and he was acquitted and released. Shortly afterward he renounced his fundamentalist religious ties and moved to Florida to start another orthopedic business. He presently lives in Orlando, Florida with his fourth wife, Gazel. He recently sold his last business and is presumed retired.[when?]

[edit]

A true-crime book about the family, religious background, murders and trial was written by journalist Steve Vogel, entitled Reasonable Doubt. Originally published in hardcover by Contemporary Books, it was a New York Times best-seller as a paperback published by St. Martin's Press, was re-issued as part of St. Martin's True Crime Classics, and re-published in 2018 with additional photos and new content as a paperback and e-book ISBN 978-1-54392-868-6). Also available as an audio book.

Jessica Snyder Sachs references the case in Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, published by Basic Books in 2001 (ISBN 0-7382-0771-3, ISBN 978-0-7382-0771-1).

In 2018, interest in the case was revived by an Investigation Discovery television episode focusing on the crime and its aftermath.[2] The episode also attracted the attention of Champaign, Illinois columnist Jim Dey writing in the News-Gazette, who summarized the major points of the trial and the criticisms levied against it.[3]

On October 4, 2021, Crime Junkie podcast released a full episode about the murders called: MURDERED: The Hendricks Family.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

David Hendricks

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
David Hendricks is an American businessman who was convicted in of the brutal axe and knife murders of his wife and three young children in their home, but whose conviction was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1990, leading to his in a retrial in 1991 after more than seven years of . On the evening of November 7, 1983, Hendricks, then 29 and the owner of CASH Manufacturing, Inc.—an company he founded specializing in back braces—left his family's home at 313 Carl Drive in Bloomington for what he described as a multi-state business trip to visit clients in , , and . The following morning, November 8, after being unable to contact his family, Hendricks called Bloomington police to request a welfare check, during which officers discovered the bodies of his wife, (age 30), and their children—Rebekah (age 9), Grace (age 7), and Benjamin (age 5)—in their bedrooms, each having been attacked while asleep with an axe and a , with no signs of forced entry. The weapons were found cleaned and placed at the foot of the victims' beds, and the case marked Bloomington's first quadruple homicide. Arrested on December 5, 1983, and charged with eight counts of (two counts per victim), Hendricks was tried in Winnebago due to a and found guilty on November 29, 1984, following a five-week trial that relied heavily on , including forensic disputes over the time of death and allegations of a religious motive tied to his devout Christian beliefs. He was sentenced to four consecutive natural life terms in prison on January 14, 1985. In 1990, the Supreme Court reversed the conviction, ruling that the prosecution's evidence regarding motive—centered on Hendricks' supposed extramarital interests and views on as a —was improperly prejudicial and irrelevant. The 1991 retrial in McLean ended with his on March 29, 1991, after which he was released from custody, though the murders remain officially unsolved with no other suspects charged as of 2025. Following his exoneration, Hendricks remarried and pursued a career in writing, including authoring a about a convicted murderer.

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Upbringing

David James Hendricks was born in 1954 in , a northern suburb of . He grew up in Oak Park, another affluent suburb in the Chicago area, where his family resided during his formative years. Hendricks was one of seven children in his family; his mother, Laverne Hendricks, later described him as "an almost-perfect child" and "the most obedient of her seven children," portraying a childhood marked by good behavior and mild-mannered demeanor. The family dynamics emphasized discipline and obedience, with Hendricks noted as a well-behaved boy in a household that valued such traits. His father, Charles Hendricks, was a retired electrical engineer who had worked in the Chicago area for 35 years. The family's suburban lifestyle in Oak Park provided exposure to typical mid-20th-century community settings, including local schools and neighborhood interactions in the greater Chicago area.

Education and Religious Influences

David Hendricks attended Oak Park and River Forest High School in , where he demonstrated exceptional academic ability by completing the curriculum in just three years, becoming the first student in the school's history to graduate early in this manner. This accelerated path highlighted his strong performance in studies, though specific extracurricular activities are not well-documented in available records. Following high school, Hendricks briefly enrolled at Medical School for one year, reflecting an early interest in medical-related fields that later influenced his professional pursuits. He was raised in the Exclusive , a conservative , as the fifth of seven children in the area. This faith marked a significant aspect of his worldview, drawing him into a community known for its fundamentalist principles, including a strong emphasis on and separation from secular society. The , particularly the Exclusive branch, promote tenets such as avoidance of worldly entertainments like and voting, communal without formal , and a focus on personal piety and moral purity. Hendricks' adherence to Brethren teachings profoundly shaped his personal decisions and daily life. The group's doctrine of separation from "worldly influences" led him to adopt a modest, unadorned style of dress and to limit social interactions primarily to fellow believers, fostering a insular community-oriented . This faith also influenced his career choices, steering him toward endeavors that aligned with values of industriousness and service, such as his later work in , which he viewed as a means to aid others without compromising religious principles. While specific early travels tied to the religious community are not recorded, his involvement included regular participation in Brethren assemblies, reinforcing the doctrinal impacts on his formative years.

Career and Family Life

Professional Development

Following his associate's degree in orthotics and prosthetics from in 1973, David Hendricks obtained certification in prosthetics in 1975 and in in 1976. He initially worked in patient care within the field for approximately three years before establishing his own , Hendricks Orthopedic Prosthetic Enterprises, in , shortly after his orthotics certification. In 1978, Hendricks invented and patented the Cruciform Anterior Spinal Hyperextension () orthosis, a specialized designed to treat spinal conditions. This innovation led to the founding of Manufacturing, Inc., in Bloomington, where the company focused on producing and distributing the device to medical professionals. By , the brace's strong market reception prompted Hendricks to cease direct patient care and dedicate himself fully to the manufacturing and sales operations of Manufacturing. The centered on direct of the patented brace to prescribing professionals, such as physicians and therapists, emphasizing its clinical advantages through targeted marketing materials. strategies included frequent to meet potential clients and the use of professionally photographed brochures featuring models wearing the brace, a common practice in the industry that began in 1981. The company operated on a small scale, with Hendricks and an office manager handling core functions like , correspondence, and . CASH Manufacturing experienced significant growth in the early 1980s, enabling the company to solidify its base in Bloomington and support Hendricks' personal , including the purchase of a large home in 1982 and ownership of a private for . This success marked Hendricks as a rising entrepreneur in the orthopedic sector prior to 1983.

Marriage and Children

David Hendricks married in 1973 after meeting her as teenagers at a . The couple, both members of the fundamentalist religious group, shared a commitment to its strict doctrines, which emphasized traditional family roles and prohibited practices like , jewelry, and makeup for women. , described as quiet and reserved, did not work outside the home, focusing instead on homemaking and child-rearing. The Hendricks had three children: Rebekah, born in 1974; Grace, born in 1976; and Benjamin, born in 1978. Their family life revolved around practices, including regular attendance at meetings and study, which fostered a close-knit, insular involvement. Daily routines emphasized family bonding, such as shared meals, reading together, and simple recreational activities like playing or visiting the local . The family resided in a home in , where Hendricks' growing success in the business provided financial stability and supported their modest, faith-centered lifestyle. Dynamics within the household reflected the Brethren's emphasis on and separation from worldly influences, creating a structured environment for the children's upbringing.

The 1983 Murders

The Crime

On November 7, 1983, David Hendricks departed his home in Bloomington, Illinois, shortly after 11:00 p.m. for a business trip to visit clients in Wisconsin, where he planned to promote his orthopedic back brace product. He had spent the earlier evening with his children at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant for dinner before putting them to bed. The attacks occurred in the family's ranch-style home later that evening, with the victims—Susan Hendricks, age 30, and their three children, Rebekah, age 9, Grace, age 7, and Benjamin, age 5—killed while asleep in their beds. The assailant used an axe and a from the home to bludgeon and stab the victims, inflicting severe injuries including massive cerebral damage from the heavy, sharp blows; there were no signs of struggle or defensive wounds. Initial forensic analysis of the victims' stomach contents, which included partially digested from their , indicated that the deaths took place between approximately 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on November 7, 1983, aligning with the time after the children had eaten and gone to bed but before Hendricks' departure.

Discovery of the Bodies

On November 8, 1983, , police received a request for a welfare check on the Hendricks family after they failed to answer the phone or attend a scheduled dinner with relatives. David Hendricks, who was on a business trip in , called his mother-in-law, Nadine Palmer, who attempted to contact the family but received no response; she then informed her husband, who contacted police. Officers arrived at the family's home at 313 Carl Drive around 10:30 p.m., finding the back door unlocked with no signs of forced entry. Upon entering, police discovered the bodies of Susan Hendricks, 30, and her three children—Rebekah, 9; Grace, 7; and Benjamin, 5—in their bedrooms, apparently slain while asleep in their beds. The victims had suffered massive cerebral damage from repeated blows and stabs inflicted by a heavy, sharp object, with an axe and a kitchen butcher knife found cleaned and placed at the foot of the victims' beds. There were no indications of struggle or defense wounds, and the scene appeared otherwise undisturbed. David Hendricks returned home from his trip shortly after the discovery and was notified of the deaths by family members, including Nadine Palmer. He was questioned by police that evening, who examined his clothing and vehicle for evidence but found nothing conclusive at the time. The brutality of the killings sent shockwaves through the close-knit Bloomington community, prompting immediate calls for increased neighborhood vigilance and drawing extensive local media coverage in outlets like The Pantagraph, which described the event as a tragic and gruesome mystery that altered the city's sense of security.

Investigation and Prosecution

Initial Police Inquiry

Upon discovering the bodies on the evening of November 8, 1983, Bloomington police immediately secured the as a , noting that the victims— and her three children—had been attacked in their beds with no apparent signs of struggle or forced entry, as the back door was found unlocked. Forensic examination revealed that the murders were committed using a kitchen butcher knife and an axe, both of which were discovered cleaned and placed neatly at the foot of one of the beds; the overall scene showed minimal disarray, with no significant blood spatter patterns indicating movement or defense by the victims. Investigators also assessed possible entry points, confirming the absence of broken windows or other signs of intrusion, which initially suggested the perpetrator may have had access to the . Police conducted preliminary interviews with neighbors and members of the Hendricks' Plymouth Brethren community to establish the family's routine and any unusual observations prior to the murders. Neighbors reported seeing Susan Hendricks and the children during a normal day, including an outing to for pizza around 7:00 p.m. on November 7, and Susan attending a later that evening, with no reports of suspicious activity or strangers in the vicinity. Associates from David Hendricks' business were questioned about recent interactions, but these yielded no immediate leads on conflicts or external threats, though the Brethren community's insular nature limited deeper insights into personal matters. To reconstruct the timeline, investigators focused on David Hendricks' business trip to Wisconsin, verifying his departure from the Bloomington home after 11:00 p.m. on November 7 through gas receipts and odometer readings from his vehicle. Hotel records confirmed his check-in at a Madison, Wisconsin, establishment around 5:00 a.m. on November 8, followed by his calls to family members and police later that day when unable to reach his wife, aligning with the estimated time of death between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on November 7 based on undigested stomach contents from the victims' last meal. Susan Hendricks' time of death was estimated separately, based on her consumption of vegetables, cookies, and punch at the baby shower around 9:20–9:30 p.m. No other suspects were identified through initial canvassing, and the inquiry remained open to possibilities unrelated to family dynamics, including random violence in the quiet neighborhood.

Evidence and Arrest

The investigation into the murders centered on that positioned David Hendricks as the primary suspect. Forensic analysis of the victims' stomach contents revealed that the children had consumed pizza from a Chuck E. Cheese's meal around 7:00 p.m. on November 7, 1983, with experts estimating the time of death between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., suggesting the killings occurred before Hendricks claimed to have departed for his business trip. His was undermined by inconsistencies; while he stated to investigators that he left home after 11:00 p.m., he had previously told police the departure was around , raising doubts about his whereabouts during the critical window. The absence of forced entry at the home further supported the theory that the perpetrator was someone familiar to the victims, aligning suspicions with Hendricks. On December 5, 1983, Hendricks was arrested and charged with eight counts of murder based on an information filed by McLean County State's Attorney Ronald Dozier. He was held without bond pending hearings, amid intense public and media scrutiny; his mother-in-law, Nadine Palmer, publicly proclaimed his innocence, describing the charges as a "miscarriage of justice" and noting the family's prayers for both Hendricks and the true perpetrator. The case garnered widespread attention in local and national outlets, highlighting the community's shock over the brutal slayings in the quiet Bloomington suburb.

First Trial and Conviction

The trial of David Hendricks for the murders of his wife Susan and their three children took place in Winnebago County Circuit Court in Rockford, Illinois, after the venue was changed from McLean County due to pretrial publicity. The proceedings began in September 1984 and lasted approximately five weeks, presided over by Judge Richard Baner. The prosecution was led by McLean County State's Attorney Ronald Dozier, while the defense team included attorneys Mercer Turner, Thomas D. Decker, Richard H. McLeese, and Jon R. Waltz. The prosecution built its case entirely on , arguing that Hendricks killed his family between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on November 7, 1983, while claiming to be preparing for a business trip. from pathologists emphasized the timeline, based on analysis of the victims' stomach contents, which indicated the children had eaten around 6:00 p.m. and were killed shortly thereafter without signs of struggle. Additional forensic evidence described the wounds as deep lacerations inflicted with an ax and a kitchen butcher knife while the victims were asleep in their beds, with no defensive injuries observed, suggesting they were attacked unawares. Prosecutors linked Hendricks to the crime through his unexplained knowledge of a supposed , the absence of forced entry, and from three women about his rebuffed sexual advances, positing a motive rooted in religious conflicts with his wife and desire for sexual freedom. The defense countered by verifying Hendricks' alibi, presenting evidence that he had driven to after midnight on November 7 for a business meeting and checked into a around 3:00 a.m. They argued conflicting forensic interpretations of the time of death and proposed an alternative perpetrator theory, suggesting an intruder—possibly a burglar—committed the murders, as the weapons were cleaned and left near the bodies. Hendricks testified in his own defense, maintaining his innocence and describing his family life positively. After deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on November 29, 1984, convicting Hendricks on all eight counts of first-degree murder. At sentencing on January 14, 1985, Judge Baner imposed four consecutive terms of natural life imprisonment, declining to impose the death penalty despite eligibility, and also fined Hendricks $20,000 plus court costs.

Imprisonment and Appeal

Following his conviction in November 1984, David Hendricks was sentenced to four consecutive terms of natural and transferred to , a maximum-security in , where he would serve the majority of his sentence. Menard, the state's largest facility with a capacity exceeding 2,000 inmates, was notorious during the 1980s for , frequent violence, and harsh conditions, including a major in 1978 that caused significant damage and a deadly inmate fight in 1989 that left one dead and 21 injured. Inmates at Menard followed a regimented routine typical of maximum-security s in that era, with most of the day spent in 8-by-10-foot cells during frequent lockdowns, meals served in the cell or a , and limited opportunities for recreation or work programs amid the facility's volatile environment. Hendricks used his time there productively, diligently researching and preparing legal documents to challenge his , and he remarried in December 1988 to Patricia Miller in a ceremony held on-site. Hendricks filed a direct shortly after his , arguing errors in the admission of and prosecutorial conduct, but the Illinois Appellate Court upheld the verdict in a issued in late 1988. He then petitioned the Illinois for leave to , which was granted, leading to a review of key issues including in introducing prejudicial about his religious beliefs and alleged sexual advances toward models as motive without sufficient foundation, as well as flawed forensic of the victims' stomach contents that unreliablely estimated the time of death. The initially affirmed the on December 20, 1988, but granted rehearing and, on July 3, 1990, reversed Hendricks' convictions in a , ruling that the evidentiary errors—particularly the improper motive —denied him a fair trial, though it found the remaining sufficient to warrant a retrial rather than outright . Hendricks had served approximately seven years in prison by the time of the ruling, including over seven years, three months, and 23 days from arrest to his eventual release following the retrial.

Retrial and Acquittal

Following the Illinois Supreme Court's reversal of his 1984 conviction in 1990 due to improper admission of prejudicial evidence regarding Hendricks' alleged extramarital affairs, a retrial commenced on February 19, 1991, in McLean County Circuit Court in . The jury was selected from Macon County and bused daily to the venue to ensure impartiality, and the proceedings were expected to—and did—last approximately eight weeks. Unlike the first trial, the prosecution was barred from introducing testimony about Hendricks' interactions with models for his back brace business, significantly altering the case's focus on motive. The prosecution, led by special prosecutor Brad Murphy, shifted emphasis to , arguing that Hendricks staged a at the home and fabricated a business trip to as an before murdering his wife and children on , 1983. Key to their timeline was forensic of stomach contents, which indicated the victims had eaten shortly before death, suggesting the killings occurred around 9:30 p.m., after Hendricks claimed to have left home. They also presented testimony from former inmate Danny Wayne Stark, who alleged that Hendricks confessed to the murders while both were incarcerated at , portraying the crime as driven by personal rage. The defense, headed by attorney Michael Costello, aggressively challenged the prosecution's evidence, emphasizing the absence of any direct physical link between Hendricks and the crime scene, such as fingerprints or blood evidence tying him to . They contested the reliability of the stomach content forensics, arguing that digestion rates vary due to factors like , trauma, and , rendering the timeline inconclusive. Costello proposed a two-perpetrator scenario, suggesting intruders—possibly including Hendricks' brother-in-law Jon Lewis—committed the attacks, supported by unidentified fingerprints and a found at the scene that did not match Hendricks. The defense also highlighted the book by journalist Steve Vogel, which detailed investigative flaws and raised broader questions about the case's handling. Witness testimonies further fueled jury doubts: Stark's account was undermined by his criminal history and potential motives for testifying, while family members and in-laws, including Hendricks' parents, affirmed his character and , describing him as a devoted father uninvolved in the crime. After more than 11 hours of deliberation, the eight-man, four-woman acquitted Hendricks on , , of all four counts of first-degree murder. He was released immediately from McLean County Jail after serving over seven years in prison. On April 23, , the Bloomington Police Department placed the investigation into an inactive file, declaring the case solved to the fullest extent possible but leaving it officially unsolved without new leads.

Post-Exoneration Life

Relocation and Remarriage

Following his on March 29, 1991, David Hendricks relocated from to in late spring of that year, seeking to rebuild his life away from the intense media scrutiny and social ostracism he faced in Bloomington. He moved there with his second wife, Pat, whom he had married in in 1988 while awaiting his retrial; however, the marriage ended in divorce shortly after, amid challenges including his struggles with as diagnosed by a . After divorcing Pat, Hendricks entered a third marriage that ended in divorce after about three years. During this period in , Hendricks renounced his lifelong affiliation with the strict fundamentalist faith, which had profoundly shaped his upbringing, marriage, and daily life, including prohibitions on divorce and modern entertainment, stating he was no longer a man of faith. This marked a significant personal shift away from religious beliefs. Hendricks' time in proved difficult, as he encountered employment barriers and continued emotional recovery from the trauma of imprisonment and the loss of his first family, leading him to maintain a low public profile and withdraw from former social circles. Seeking further stability, he eventually relocated to the Orlando area of in the late 1990s or early 2000s, via intermediate moves including to Tampa in 1995 and , where he settled permanently and focused on personal healing through therapy and a quieter existence. This move allowed him to distance himself from the lingering stigma of the case, emphasizing and gradual emotional restoration over public engagement. In , Hendricks formed a new family through his fourth to Gazel, whom he met during a vacation in the in 2001; the couple wed in 2003 and built a blended household that included children, fostering a sense of normalcy and companionship after years of isolation. Gazel, originally from the , provided emotional support during his ongoing recovery, and their life together in the Orlando suburbs centered on domestic routines, such as walking their dogs, while avoiding the spotlight of his past. This remarriage represented a pivotal step in his personal rebuilding, enabling him to embrace a more conventional family structure.

Later Career and Personal Changes

After initial relocation to following his 1991 acquittal and subsequent moves, David Hendricks settled in in the late , where he reestablished his career in the orthopedics industry by resuming the manufacture and sale of back braces and related devices. This venture built on his pre-incarceration success with similar businesses in , allowing him to rebuild financially in a new environment. In March 2010, Hendricks founded Blue Diamond Orthopedic, LLC, in , a focused on designing and producing orthopedic braces and supports for spinal and other conditions. Registered with the Division of Corporations, the firm operates from an Orlando address and remains active as of September 2025, following an amendment filing on September 15, 2025, with Hendricks listed as the principal and manager. The business represents a continuation of his expertise in prosthetics and , though specific details on growth metrics or expansions are not publicly detailed beyond its ongoing operations. On a personal level, Hendricks underwent profound changes, including renouncing his prior religious ; he has stated, “I am not a man of anymore,” reflecting a departure from the fundamentalist beliefs that once shaped his life. This shift coincided with his integration into a more conventional social existence in , away from the isolation associated with his earlier affiliations. He has since maintained a low profile, authoring a 2012 book about a former cellmate while prioritizing family. As of the mid-2010s, Hendricks resided in Orlando with his fourth wife, with whom he shares children, including at least two born after his release. By 2025, he continues to live in the Orlando area, focusing on family life and his without notable public engagements or initiatives.

Media Portrayals

Books and Publications

The book Reasonable Doubt: A True Story of Lust and Murder in the American Heartland by Steve Vogel, originally published in 1989 and reissued with updates in 2018 ( 978-1-54392-868-6), provides a detailed account of the investigation, , and conviction of David Hendricks for of his family. Drawing on transcripts, interviews with family members, , and legal experts, Vogel examines the , including forensic analysis and witness testimonies, that led to the initial guilty verdict and subsequent . The work became a New York Times bestseller and is frequently used in curricula to illustrate the legal principle of . The Hendricks case is referenced in Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death by Jessica Snyder Sachs, published in 2001 (ISBN 978-0-7382-0771-1), which explores challenges in determining postmortem intervals through biological evidence. Sachs highlights the role of flawed time-of-death estimates based on stomach contents and insect activity in the Hendricks investigation, underscoring how such forensic uncertainties contributed to the wrongful . The book uses the case as an example of broader issues in forensic ecology and its admissibility in court. These publications have shaped public understanding of the Hendricks case by emphasizing the pitfalls of circumstantial and forensic in high-profile prosecutions. Vogel's , in particular, prompted ongoing discussions about innocence and judicial error, with Hendricks himself corresponding with the author post-publication to affirm his . References to the case in wrongful conviction literature, such as analyses of forensic reliability, have further amplified awareness of systemic flaws in the U.S. .

Television and Podcasts

In 2018, the network aired an episode titled "The Darkest Night" as part of its 20/20 on ID Presents: series, which detailed the 1983 murders of and her three children, as well as the subsequent trials and wrongful conviction of David Hendricks. The hour-long program featured interviews with local investigators and experts, emphasizing the that led to Hendricks' initial conviction and the forensic and procedural flaws that contributed to his . The case gained renewed attention in audio formats through podcasts exploring narratives. On October 4, 2021, the popular podcast released an episode titled "MURDERED: The Hendricks Family," hosted by and Brit Prawat, which examined the family's brutal axe murders, the rapid police focus on Hendricks despite his , and the lingering questions about the unsolved nature of the crime. The episode highlighted themes of investigative overreach and the challenges of proving innocence in the absence of physical evidence linking Hendricks to the scene. More recent media coverage has continued to dissect the case's complexities, including its religious undertones—stemming from the Hendricks family's devout Christian faith and the defense's portrayal of David as a pious family man—and the enduring mystery of the perpetrator's identity. In April 2025, The REal Crime Podcast devoted an episode in its fifth season to "The Hendricks Family Murders," analyzing the crime scene details and the impact of Hendricks' religious beliefs on public perception during the trials. Similarly, on October 23, 2025, Killer In The Family , hosted by Clare Laxton, released Episode 81 titled "The Hendricks Family," which focused on the wrongful aspects and speculated on alternative theories while underscoring the case's unresolved status. Video content in 2025 has further amplified discussions of the wrongful conviction and unsolved elements. A video titled "November 8 - The Hendricks Family Murders," uploaded on November 8, 2025, by a channel, provided a detailed timeline of the discovery of the bodies, Hendricks' business trip , and the religious motivations cited in , framing the story as a of justice system failures. These portrayals collectively emphasize the blend of , family , and forensic ambiguity that has kept the Hendricks case in the public eye decades later.

References

  1. https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/supreme-court/1990/63803-7.html
  2. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/03/29/Hendricks-acquitted-of-killing-family/8271670222800/
  3. https://pantagraph.com/march-29-1991-david-hendricks-acquitted/article_c6e9ce5e-7bde-11ee-8409-e7ec4621240a.html
  4. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-8/a-family-is-brutally-murdered
  5. https://pantagraph.com/news/hendricks-nov-7-1983-the-day-that-changed-bloomington/article_16451c8c-6eb9-598a-887e-30421254cbd9.html
  6. https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/crime-history/david-hendricks-7-years-in-prison-for-slaughtering-family-released
  7. https://pantagraph.com/dec-5-1983-8-murder-counts-for-david-hendricks/article_49c53c1e-7bda-11ee-a0b8-6fcdef6942f9.html
  8. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/12/22/bloomington-mans-conviction-in-murder-of-his-family-upheld/
  9. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/12/20/conviction-to-write-david-hendricks-authors-somebody-elses-story-while-reconciling-his/
  10. https://www.tuko.co.ke/facts-lifehacks/449027-the-hendricks-family-murder-case-what-happened-latest-updates/
  11. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/01/10/dad-who-killed-family-termed-ill/
  12. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/01/14/family-killers-profile-a-deadly-paradox/
  13. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/02/10/husband-daddy-murderer/
  14. https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/people-v-hendricks-no-891650955
  15. https://www.stevevogelauthor.com/hendrickss-letter-of-introduction/
  16. https://www.facebook.com/CriminallyListed/videos/criminally-listed-david-hendricks/3930477877007838/
  17. https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/123vm8m/who_killed_the_hendricks_family_40_years_after/
  18. https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/Murders-Close-to-Home
  19. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/11/09/A-mother-and-her-three-young-children-found-slain/7698437202000/
  20. https://www.iwuargus.com/1983-bloomington-quadruple-homicide-remains-unsolved/
  21. https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-courts/bill-flick-remembering-the-1983-hendricks-murders/article_b112707e-7a8d-11ee-a322-9b0d6233212a.html
  22. https://pantagraph.com/news/hendricks-nov-the-day-that-changed-bloomington/article_16451c8c-6eb9-598a-887e-30421254cbd9.html
  23. https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/science/forensics/forensics-case-the-hendricks-familys-last-meal-138134/
  24. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/12/06/Dead-womans-mother-says-son-in-law-innocent-of-murder/3025439534800/
  25. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/01/12/hendricks-gets-life-sentence/
  26. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/12/01/Judge-to-decide-Hendricks-penalty/5700821054237/
  27. https://pantagraph.com/article_3a30189e-7bdc-11ee-ba96-9f0c29c142fd.html
  28. https://www.stevevogelauthor.com/hendrickss-prison-press-conference-his-opening-statement/
  29. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/02/19/Testimony-begins-in-David-Hendricks-murder-re-trial/8385666939600/
  30. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/04/23/Hendricks-killings-probe-placed-in-inactive-file/9358672379200/
  31. https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/columns/luciano/2012/09/04/luciano-man-once-convicted-murder/42406595007/
  32. https://pantagraph.com/blogs/flick/flick-now-an-author-hendricks-back-after-29-years/article_b109373e-f7a4-11e1-b94e-0019bb2963f4.html
  33. https://www.stevevogelauthor.com/steves-observations-about-the-id-network-documentary-about-the-hendricks-case/
  34. https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/corporationsearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=ForwardList&searchNameOrder=BLUEDIAMONDORTHOPEDIC%2520L100000511481&aggregateId=flal-l10000051148-e572f392-25b3-4fb8-8c07-ff9e73bf86ca
  35. https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.blue_diamond_orthopedic_llc.facb61df8f908d15e8cf72b8105b8c6b.html
  36. https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/crime/2018/03/31/killings-bloomington-mother-three-kids/12853870007/
  37. https://www.iwuargus.com/where-the-hendricks-case-stands-now/
  38. https://www.amazon.com/Corpse-Nature-Forensics-Struggle-Pinpoint/dp/0738207713
  39. https://www.stevevogelauthor.com/the-hendricks-letters-post-reasonable-doubt/
  40. https://pantagraph.com/news/local/hendricks-case-featured-in-true-crime-series/article_ac7ab55a-0a06-55de-bfa2-ec4c44f75999.html
  41. https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-hendricks-family/
  42. https://podscripts.co/podcasts/crime-junkie/murdered-the-hendricks-family
  43. https://podscan.fm/podcasts/the-real-crime-podcast/episodes/s5-episode-8-the-hendricks-family-murders
  44. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-81-the-hendricks-family/id1688577764?i=1000733231301
  45. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5S1l3nEzso
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