Rosebud, Texas, a quiet, tight-knit community where front doors stayed unlocked and neighbors waved from their porches. It was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone, and families had lived side by side for generations. But hidden behind that small-town comfort was something far darker. Because in the 1960s, Rosebud harbored a monster. His name was Kenneth McDuff, a towering figure over six feet tall, over two hundred pounds and even as a teenager, he knew how to use his size to get what he wanted. Then came the summer of 1966. A night that would shatter the peace of Rosebud forever. What began as intimidation ended in horror; three local teens brutally murdered. McDuff was caught, tried, and sentenced to death. For the community, it felt like justice  and closure. But it wouldn’t last. Decades later, thanks to changes in Texas law and overcrowded prisons, Kenneth McDuff walked free. And once again, the killing began. What followed was a reign of terror that stretched far beyond Rosebud; a story that forced Texas, and the nation, to confront a chilling truth: sometimes, evil doesn’t die behind bars… it walks right out the gate.

SOURCES:

Wikipedia – Kenneth McDuff - Kenneth McDuff - Wikipedia

San Angelo Standard-Times – As Silent as the Grave – Mike Cochran – November 24, 1996

All That’s Interesting – The Disturbing Story of Kenneth McDuff, The ‘Broomstick Killer’ Who Murdered Up to 14 People Across Texas – Amber Morgan – September 14, 2024 - Kenneth McDuff, The Vicious 'Broomstick Killer' Of Texas

Crime and Punishment – Kenneth McDuff Documentary

Wikipedia – Rosebud, Texas - Rosebud, Texas - Wikipedia

The Galveston Daily News – A Killer’s Secret – Mike Cochran – November 28, 1996

Fort Worth Star-Telegram – A Killer’s Secrets – Mike Cochran – November 29, 1996

Austin American-Statesman – McDuff arrested in Missouri – Jim Phillips – May 5, 1992