Ruth "Winnie" McKinnell was born 29 Jan 1905 in Oxford, Indiana, to Rev. Harvey Joy McKinnell (1860-1942) & Carrie Belle Niswonger (1866-1953).
She married Dr. William Craig Judd (1883-1945) on 18 Apr 1924 in Tippecanoe, Indiana. No children. Photos of her and her husband below.
Here's some newspaper articles, just click on the links to read them.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-trunk-murders/99513893/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-winnie-ruth-judd/191923848/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monroe-evening-news-winnie-ruth-judd/191924365/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monroe-evening-news-winnie-ruth-judd/191924365/
They had a panel of doctors, and she was tested for sanity.
Ruth Judd's Confession letters:
The victims & Crime Scene evidence: (Trigger warning Body Parts)
Her Brother Burton Joy McKinnell wrote a book.
The execution never happened, she was sentenced to life in the state hospital, but she escaped around 6 times.
She was granted parole in November of 1971 and lived in Arizonia where she died 23 Oct 1998.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-globe-and-mail-winnie-ruth-judd/191927887/
There are two memorials on Find-A-Grave for her, but this one has all her information 38515595.
I believe she should have received life in prison. I think she fooled the doctors with her beauty and intelligence, and her repeated escapes alone suggest she was not insane. That’s just my opinion, though—I’m not a medical professional, only someone with a degree in Criminal Justice. I didn’t write much for this story because I felt the confession letter, photos, and newspaper article gave readers enough to form their own opinions. Still, I feel the victims were overshadowed by the spectacle. Where were their families and loved ones in all of this?
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