Freaky Friday Files: The Easter Sunday Massacre

DISCLAIMER/TW: THIS BLOG POST DISCUSSES TOPICS SURROUNDING BRUTAL MURDERS OF BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN. There are also mentions of un-aliving. Reader's discretion advised.

Hi friends. Happy Friday! And Happy Easter. Considering it's Easter Weekend, I thought we could take a look at something absolutely terrifying that happened on Easter - The Easter Sunday Massacre. And I know I probably seem super morbid writing about this, but I like to think of myself as morbidly curious, and I was interested to see what sort of crimes/mysteries surrounded Easter.

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The Easter Sunday Massacre

I just want to say that before I get started writing about this case, I really hope everyone who was attacked in this awful, disgusting crime rests in peace and I wish in true crime cases that we'd learn more about the victims rather than focusing on the criminals so much - especially in popular culture. I try and talk about victims where I can, but it depends on what information is available online.

30th March, 1975 (Easter Sunday)

41-year-old James U. Ruppert fatally sh*t 11 members of his own family in Hamilton, Ohio, USA. For the Ruppert family, it was meant to be another day celebrating Easter. His brother Leonard Junior and his wife Alma had come over for an Easter Egg hunt and dinner with their 8 children (ranging from the ages 4 - 17). However, James was upstairs sleeping off a hangover as the night before he had been out drinking for his birthday.

Around 4pm, James awoke and loaded 4 g*ns and went downstairs to where his mother, Charity, was making sloppy joes. With Charity were Leonard Junior and Alma (James's brother and sister in law). The children were mostly in the lounge. James k*lled his brother first by sh**ting him in the head, then next was Alma and as this was happening, Charity lunged at James but she was sh*t once in the head and twice in the chest. The children were murdered next: David (11), Teresa (9), and Carol (13). James then went into the lounge, k*lling the rest of the children 1 by 1. All victims were sh*t in the head and then sh*t a 2nd time to ensure they had died. I don't think the children were able to put up a fight or struggle to stop this massacre from happening.

It was believed that James sh*t his victims more than once to prevent anyone from escaping and it was all over within 5 minutes.

These are the names and ages of his victims:

Mum - Charity Ruppert (65)
Brother - Leonard Junior Ruppert (42)
SIL - Alma Ruppert (38)
Leonard Ruppert III (17)
Michael Ruppert (16)
Thomas Ruppert (15)
Carol Ruppert (13)
Ann Ruppert (12)
David Ruppert (11)
Teresa Ruppert (9)
John Ruppert (4)

I really feel for this children man - absolutely devastating. James was arrested the same day and was charged with 11 counts of aggravated homicide. He made it clear to authorities that he was going to plead insanity - something NZ no longer allows; it was changed in 2003 to "mentally impaired". James had fired at least 35 rounds, and authorities found a lot of blood on the floors of Charity's home.

The Trials

Following the trials - there was a mistrial because the judge didn't know if the ruling had to be majority or unanimous - I don't understand how a judge can not know this. I've just looked it up, and according to Ohio's legislation, it should be unanimous. James U. Ruppert was found guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, but not guilty by the other 9 as reason of insanity (gross). He received two consecutive life sentences. He passed away in 2022 from natural causes, but his health had been deteriorating over time - is that enough justice?

So Why Did He Do It?

I feel like this is a loaded question, but we have to consider both nature and nurture in this case. Growing up, James was reported to have a bit of a troubled life. His mum, Charity, had told James that she would have preferred to have a daughter as her second child. His father wasn't affectionate at all and had a violent temper. His dad passed away from tuberculosis when he was 37 (James was 12, and his brother was 14). His brother was the father figure of the family and would constantly bully James.

When James turned 16, he ran away from home and attempted un-aliving himself. He was unsuccessful and returned home. James had no police record, but by 1975, he was jealous of his brother's success (both career-wise and love-life). James wasn't good at college; he dropped out, and he tried to be a draftsman, but by 1975, he was unemployed. Charity was disappointed with how much James drank and him still living with her; she even evicted him a few times. James also owed his family money due to losing a lot of savings in the stock market crash.

One month prior to the massacre, James had enquired about silencers for his weapons whilst purchasing ammunition. He then went into a deep depression, near breaking point. On his 41st birthday (29th March, 1975), witnesses reported seeing James participate in target practice with cans near the Great Miami River.

At the bar, James went to the night before the massacre, he spoke with an employee called Wanda who stated that James said he was frustrated with his mother's demands and that his mother had complained that if he could afford to drink every night, he could afford to pay her rent.

I think this is a really sad case of childhood trauma, neglect, hating everyone, and also a little bit of evilness inside. According to "this source", James is the one who called the police and turned himself in. The New York Times also reported on this case, saying there was no clear motive as to why he did it (which I kinda see but also don't). There was none of the normal sex, money, love, greed, etc. BUT he was jealous of his brother's success - did he want that for himself, and if he couldn't have it, neither could his brother?

What happened to the house?

One year after the event, the belongings in the house were auctioned off, and then a renter family came and lived there for a bit, BUT they claimed to hear voices and unexplained voices. I believe the house was sold twice following this, and now a family lives there. The mother (Cinnamon Baker) of the family was never told about the massacre (as the real estate agents didn't legally have to disclose any cases to do with insanity, only if they asked). So the mum googled it as she had lots of people stopping by asking, "Do you know what happened here?" In 2008, someone mentioned the name James Ruppert, and so she looked him up and learned the truth about the home she was going to buy. Cinnamon bought it anyway - she says that there's still blood stains on the floor boards, but that doesn't scare her, just highlights that the crime really happened there. Everyone who has tried to obtain access to the home has been turned away.

Thanks for reading. I hope this one hasn't been too rough for you. Here's a palette cleanser of "fluffy animals" for you.

Stay safe,

Ash x

References/Readings