In the early twentieth century, Chicago was a city already familiar with violence and corruption, but in 1946, a new case hit the headlines that introduced a whole new level of shock and scandal to the hardened city residents. Savage murders, a message scrawled across the wall in lipstick at one of the scenes and the dismemberment of a young girl gave rise to a case that would in time become known as “The Lipstick Killer.” When seventeen-year-old William Heirens was arrested, authorities declared the mystery solved, but the reality was seemingly much, much different.
SOURCES

Dolores Kennedy (1991) William Heirens: His Day in Court. Bonus Books, Chicago, IL, USA.

Freeman, Lucy (1977) Before I Kill More… . Pocket, London, UK.

Rosewood, Jack & Walker, Dwayne (2016) William Heirens: The True Story of The Lipstick Killer. Createspace Independent Publishing. 

Foster Kennedy, Harry R. Hoffman, William H. Haines (1948) Psychiatric Study of William Heirens. 38 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 311 (1947-1948). 

Chicago Tribune (1945) Widow Is Found Slain In Home, Suitor Quizzed. Chicago Tribune, Wed 6 June 1945, p7. Chicago, IL. USA.

Chicago Tribune (1945) Ex-WAVE Slain, Plea Written In Red On Wall. Chicago Tribune, Tues 11 Dec 1945, p1. Chicago, IL. USA.

Chicago Tribune (1946) Child Stolen From Her Bed During Night. Chicago Tribune, Tues 8 Jan 1946, p1. Chicago, IL. USA.

Chicago Tribune (1946) Degnan Child Slaying Unsolved After Four Month Enquiry. Chicago Tribune, Tues 7 May 1946, p16. Chicago, IL. USA.

Chicago Tribune (1946) Student Seized In Fight After Revolver Fails. Chicago Tribune, Thurs 27 June 1946, p7. Chicago, IL. USA.

Chicago Tribune (1946) FBI Reports Palm Print Matches Ransom Notes’. Chicago Tribune, Tues 2 July 1946, p7. Chicago, IL. USA.

Chicago Tribune (1946) How Heirens Slew 3. Chicago Tribune, Tues 16 July 1946, p1. Chicago, IL. USA.

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