Digest

This chapter delves into the life and crimes of Robert Erwin, a mentally ill man who murdered three people, including his former girlfriend's mother and sister, in a bizarre and tragic case that highlights the complexities of mental illness and the justice system. Erwin's life was marked by a difficult childhood, a history of criminal activity, and severe mental illness, including delusional thinking and paranoia. He became obsessed with Ethel Gideon, a woman he met at her mother's boarding house, and when she rejected his advances, he spiraled into depression and contemplated suicide. After a series of violent outbursts and hospitalizations, Erwin returned to the Gideon's apartment on March 28th, 1937, where he murdered Mary Gideon, her daughter Ronnie, and their boarder Frank Burns. Erwin's confession to the Chicago Tribune, in exchange for a white linen suit and a Panama hat, shocked the public and raised questions about the ethics of the press. Despite his confession, Erwin's defense attorney argued that he was insane at the time of the murders, but the jury ultimately found him sane. Erwin was sentenced to 90 years to life on each count, to be served consecutively, highlighting the challenges of balancing justice with the needs of individuals with severe mental illness. Erwin was sentenced to 139 years in prison, 99 years for the murder of Burns and 20 years for each of the murders of Mary and Veronica Gideon. The judge who sentenced Erwin expressed reservations about the decision, acknowledging Erwin's mental unsoundness and questioning whether sending him to prison was the right decision. Shortly after his sentence, Erwin was transferred to Danimora State Hospital for the criminally insane, where he studied foreign languages and even invented his own language. However, his anger and aggression often led to solitary confinement. Erwin died in 1975 at the age of 67 after an eight-year battle with cancer. The case highlights the complexities of mental illness and the justice system, as well as the challenges of balancing justice with the needs of individuals with severe mental illness.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the podcast and its hosts, Ash and Alena, and provides a brief overview of the Gideon family murders case. It also mentions that this episode is part two of a two-part series.

00:06:20

Bob Erwin's Troubled Past

This Chapter delves into the life of Bob Erwin, the suspected killer in the Gideon family murders. It explores his difficult childhood, his father's fanatical Christian cult, and his brothers' criminal activity. It also discusses Erwin's artistic talent and his struggles with severe mental illness, including delusional thinking and paranoia.

00:16:51

Erwin's Obsession with Ethel Gideon

This Chapter focuses on Erwin's obsession with Ethel Gideon, the sister of one of the victims. It describes his attempts to pursue a relationship with her, despite her resistance and her engagement to another man. It also explores Erwin's belief in visualization and his frustration when his desires were not fulfilled.

00:33:40

The Murders

This Chapter recounts the events of the murders, starting with Erwin's visit to the Gideon's apartment on March 28th, 1937. It details his confrontation with Mary Gideon, his murder of her, and his subsequent killing of Ronnie and Frank Burns. It also highlights Erwin's bizarre and disturbing motivations, including his desire to preserve Ethel's beauty and his belief that the green alarm clock was an eye watching him.

00:41:34

Erwin's Confession and Trial

This Chapter describes Erwin's confession to the Chicago Tribune, his arrest, and his trial. It explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding the Tribune's decision to shield a murderer in exchange for an exclusive story. It also discusses the legal proceedings, including the Lunacy Commission's evaluation of Erwin's mental state and the jury's determination that he was sane at the time of the murders. The chapter concludes with Erwin's acceptance of a plea deal and his sentencing to 90 years to life on each count.

00:54:55

The Complexities of Mental Illness and Justice

This Chapter reflects on the complexities of mental illness and the justice system, particularly in the context of Erwin's case. It explores the challenges of determining criminal insanity and the difficulties of balancing justice with the needs of individuals with severe mental illness. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of traditional prison sentences for individuals with mental health issues and the need for a more nuanced approach to dealing with such cases.

00:59:13

Erwin's Sentencing and Transfer

This Chapter details Erwin's sentencing to 139 years in prison and his subsequent transfer to Danimora State Hospital for the criminally insane. It highlights the judge's reservations about the decision and the psychiatrists' evaluation of Erwin's mental state. The chapter also describes Erwin's time at Danimora, where he studied foreign languages and even invented his own language, but also struggled with anger and aggression.

01:01:48

Erwin's Later Years and Death

This Chapter describes Erwin's later years at Danimora, where he continued to struggle with his mental health and often required solitary confinement. It also details his death in 1975 at the age of 67 after an eight-year battle with cancer. The chapter concludes with a reflection on the tragedy of the case and the impact it had on the victims and their families.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was Robert Erwin's background and what led to his mental illness?

  Robert Erwin had a difficult childhood marked by his father's fanatical Christian cult and his brothers' criminal activity. He also struggled with severe mental illness, including delusional thinking and paranoia, which may have been exacerbated by his upbringing and his own experiences with crime and incarceration.

• What was Erwin's relationship with Ethel Gideon and how did it contribute to the murders?

  Erwin became obsessed with Ethel Gideon, a woman he met at her mother's boarding house. When she rejected his advances, he spiraled into depression and contemplated suicide. His obsession with Ethel ultimately led him to murder her mother, sister, and their boarder, as he believed that killing them would allow him to regain his focus and be with Ethel.

• What ethical dilemmas were raised by the Chicago Tribune's decision to shield Erwin in exchange for his confession?

  The Chicago Tribune's decision to shield Erwin in exchange for his confession raised serious ethical questions about the role of the press in criminal justice. The newspaper's actions were seen as obstructing justice and prioritizing profit over the pursuit of truth and accountability.

• What were the arguments presented by Erwin's defense attorney and the prosecution regarding his mental state?

  Erwin's defense attorney argued that he was insane at the time of the murders, citing his history of mental illness and his delusional thinking. The prosecution countered that Erwin's actions, including his confession and his attempts to conceal evidence, demonstrated that he was sane and knew what he was doing.

• What are the challenges of balancing justice with the needs of individuals with severe mental illness, as illustrated by Erwin's case?

  Erwin's case highlights the challenges of balancing justice with the needs of individuals with severe mental illness. The justice system struggles to determine criminal insanity and to provide appropriate treatment and support for individuals with mental health issues. The case also raises questions about the effectiveness of traditional prison sentences for individuals with mental health issues and the need for a more nuanced approach to dealing with such cases.

• What was the judge's perspective on Erwin's mental state and the decision to sentence him to prison?

  The judge who sentenced Erwin expressed reservations about the decision, acknowledging Erwin's mental unsoundness and questioning whether sending him to prison was the right decision. He believed that Erwin was mentally unsound and that the state had lost nothing by accepting his guilty pleas, except possibly the execution of the defendant. This highlights the complexities of the justice system and the challenges of dealing with individuals with severe mental illness.

• What happened to Erwin after he was sentenced to prison?

  Shortly after his sentence, Erwin was transferred to Danimora State Hospital for the criminally insane, where he studied foreign languages and even invented his own language. However, he also struggled with anger and aggression, which often led to solitary confinement. This highlights the challenges of providing appropriate treatment and support for individuals with severe mental illness within the prison system.

• What was Erwin's life like at Danimora State Hospital?

  Erwin spent several years at Danimora, where he studied foreign languages and even invented his own language. However, he also struggled with anger and aggression, which often led to solitary confinement. This highlights the complexities of treating individuals with severe mental illness and the challenges of managing their behavior within a psychiatric hospital setting.

Show Notes