Is It Murder or Waste Management?: The Bucks County Butcher

By v.h. markle

A very graphic story of violence, perpetrated on those who commit violence. A small town unsolved murder mystery of high profile local people, who commit crimes upon their fellow towns people. A criminal disappears, only to return in many, many pieces. Judges, lawyers, pedophiles, rapists, drug dealers, no criminal is safe from the Bucks County Butcher. The lord said Thou shall not kill he said nothing about getting rid of the trash.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483611488

v.h. markle

About the Author Just an average guy who served his country in a very unpopular war. I am still searching for the light at the end of the dark tunnel. I spend my time in my art studio, on the computer writing another story, and falling in love with my wife all over again.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Joey Hellman

To start at the beginning, is the best place to start. But, I don’t know where, the beginning started. I guess, we’ll go back to March 12th 1986.

Bucks County District Attorney Dan Roth, had what he thought, at the time, a slam dunk case. Roth, had a first degree murder charge, against twenty-three year old, Joey Hellman. Joey was charged with the brutal murder, and dismemberment of his estranged wife, Joanne.

All the evidence, pointed toward Joey. The murder weapon, a bayonet, was found inside, Joey’s Ford pickup. The only fingerprints found on the weapon, were Joey’s. The dried blood found on the bayonet, belonged to Joanne. The hacksaw, used in the dismemberment of Joanne, was found, under the passenger side seat, of Joey’s truck.

Joey’s fingerprints, Joanne’s blood, pieces of her skin, and her hair, were found on the saw. There were droops of Joanne’s blood, found inside the bed, of Joey’s truck. The blanked used to wrap Joanne’s body parts, was a match to the blanked, also found, inside the bed of Joey’s truck. A slam dunk, so they thought.

Joanne Hellman’s body parts, were found wrapped in the blanket, and left inside a thick wooded area, located on the south side of route 563, between Old Bethlehem Road, and Deerwood Lane, near Lake Nockamixon. The head of Joanne Hellman was never found.

The so-called, Honorable, Judge Harold Robbins, disallowed all the evidence, found in the truck. The Judge ruled, an unlawful search of Joey Hellman’s vehicle, was conducted by rookie policeman, Thomas Hager. There was no search warrant, and no probable cause, for the search at the time of the search. So none of the evidence could be allowed in trial. The disallowed evidence, was the only evidence, linking Joey, with the murder of his wife.

The district attorney’s office, the police, the friends and family of Joanne, and the majority of the population of Upper Bucks County all believed, Joey Hellman was guilty of murder.

Judge Robbins, became known as Judge No Balls. The neighborhood truly thought, any judge with balls would have taken a chance with the evidence, found in the truck. It was a known fact, Judge Robbins, cared more about the rights of the accused, and less, about the victims’ rights. There was more to it, then just No Balls, and his liberalism.

Thomas Hager was angry at himself, and extremely frustrated with Judge Robbins. Quakertown Mayor, Phil Richards, wanted disciplinary action taken against Hager. Police Chief William, Will Adams, understood the frustration, and anger placed upon Patrolman Hager, but refused to take any action against Hager.

District Attorney Roth, was angry at everyone. All Roth wanted, was another shot at Joey Hellman. With all this turmoil, and uncertainty, Joey was still a free man, and Judge Robbins, was still an ass.

Police and neighbors, kept a close watch on Joey Hellman. Joey had always been violent, and was always in some kind of trouble with the law. At fourteen years old, Joey spent six months, at the Camp Hill retention center for children under eighteen. He had beaten his best friend Roger Hill, so severely, Roger spent three months in the hospital. Roger still walks with a limp, and is blind in his left eye. The fight, was over a Three Musketeer candy bar.

As a young child, Joey was also thought to have killed at least three dogs belonging to his neighbors. The dogs were found, hanging on the cloths lines, behind the homes of each, of the dogs’ owners.

Joey’s dad Jack, wasn’t much better than his son. Jack, had his hands, in as much local bullshit as he could. From local politics, to owning three local car dealerships, and a silent partnership in five, of the local bars. Jack Hellman also owned a real estate agency. Jack thought, he owned the town. He truly believed, he was entitled, to do what he wanted, when he wanted, and to whom he wanted. Two rotten peas in the same broken pod.

Jack was accused twice, of rape, and three times for assault and battery. The presiding Judge, for each of Jack’s cases, was the dishonorable, No Balls, Harold Robbins. Both cases were thrown out on technicalities. Our good old boy, Judge Robbins, and Jacks father, retired Montgomery County District Attorney, Jack Hellman Sr., were Sunday golf partners, and long time drinking buddies.

On July 7th, at 8:20am, Jack Hellman Sr. walked into the Quakertown Police station. He spoke to Chief Adams. Jack informed Chief Adams, that no one had heard, or seen his son Joey, in three days.

Joey was last seen, during the Quakertown 4th of July fireworks. Joey was seen, near the tennis courts, on the west side of Quakertown Memorial Park. Jack told Chief Adams, the last time he had seen Joey, his son was talking with Sue Sheppard, next to the Memorial Park tennis courts.

An investigation was begun, on the disappearance of Joey Hellman. Chief Adams, with patrolmen Hager, Jerry Palmer, John Snyder, and Sergeant Billy Todd, began interviewing friends, family, and anyone associated with the Hellman’s. Flyers were placed in the windows of the local stores, and businesses, asking anyone who saw or came in contact with Joey Hellman, on or around 4th of July, to contact the Quakertown Police Department.

After one hundred and twenty-six interviews, the police were certain about one thing, and one thing only. On the night of July 4th, Joey Hellman was drunk, and he had harassed a number of young women at the park. Two girls under fifteen years old, came in to be interviewed by the police. The two young teenage girls, were accompanied by their parents.

Sgt. Todd, and officer Sue James, interviewed Maggie Thomas. Maggie, a thirteen year old, told the officers, a man tried to force her into a car. She explained, she had just come off, of the 9th Street sidewalk, and stepped on to the walking path, inside the park. She had just started walking into the park, along the path, between the tennis courts, and the creek. Maggie hesitated for a few minutes. Her father assured her, everything would be fine, and that she should just tell the police exactly, what the man did, and exactly, what he said to her. Maggie’s parents left the room, and met with Chief Adams.

Maggie told Sgt. Todd, and Officer James, that a man walked up to her, grabbed her by her arm, and told her he’d give her $500, if she’d give him a blow job.

She then told the police, the man put his one hand over her mouth. The man then pulled her face against his groin, and said. If you scream I’ll kill you right here, He put both of his hands on the back of her head, and the man continued rubbing her face against his groin. The man then said I know you know me. If you say anything to your parents, or if you tell the police, I’ll rape, and kill your mother, then I’ll do the same to you.

Maggie told the police, the entire time the man spoke, he continued to rub her face against his groin. Maggie then told the police, the man began to pull her toward Ninth Street. Maggie then told the officers, she kicked the man a couple of times, broke loose, then ran home.

Sgt. Todd showed Maggie six photos. She identified Joey Hellman, as the man who attacked her in the park. Maggie began to cry. Officer James sat next to Maggie, and held her hand.

Maggie looked at Sue, I couldn’t tell my parents. I was too scared. Maggie and Sue hugged. Sergeant Todd left the room, then made his way into the interview room with Chief Adams, and Maggie’s parents.

Chief Adams was interviewing Maggie’s parents, Phil and Millie Thomas. Sgt. Todd informed Chief Adams, and Maggie’s Parents, their daughter, identified Joey Hellman, as the perpetrator. To say the least, Maggie’s parents were upset.

Phil Thomas became furious. Phil and Millie, were classmates of Joanne Hellman. There was no doubt in their minds, Joey had killed their friend Joanne. Now, this attack on their daughter, pushed Phil over the edge.

Phil was furious and began shouting. That whole fucken family should be in jail. They have been getting away with this shit for years. Ever since that god dam family, moved here from Philly. Do something, or some of us will.

The room became silent. The silence was broken, when Phil slammed his fist against the wall. Phil then stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He was followed by his wife. They met their daughter in the hallway.

Phil saw patrolman Hager walking with the parents of Sara Nelson. Phil shouted at Hager. It’s all your fault. If it wasn’t for you, and that god dam Judge Robbins, none of this would have happened. Phil took his daughters hand, and stormed out of the police station.

Patrolman Palmer, and officer James, interviewed Sara Nelson, the other thirteen year old girl Joey, had allegedly assaulted, on the night of July 4th.

Sara’s report of the assault, was basically the same as Maggie’s. Sara was assaulted as she walked by the small white utility building, near the tennis courts. It was only a few yards from the spot, where Joey assaulted Maggie.

Sara had left the park, to go to the bathroom, she lived only a few blocks from the park, and two doors down from Maggie. Sara really didn’t like the idea of using a port-a—potty, or the other outdoor facilities. She was