Late 1921 in the greater Kansas City area, 5 black women were murdered by strangulation and the Kansas City police believed they were related crimes. Another horrific strangulation would happen in early 1922 but the woman was white. Effie May Roecker a Caucasian 44 year old divorcee was living with two of her adult sons in Kansas City on Grauman street. The oldest son, Clarence, had just honorably discharged from the army and was working as railroad mechanic. Effie enjoyed walking and visiting friends and family. On January 31, 1922 Effie would go on a walk to her mom’s house the to her friends. Clarence knew something was wrong when she never returned home that dark rainy night.