Crime Case : Susan Hatcher - The Prom Girl Murder (1961)

Prom night was a spectacular event in the life of Susan Hatcher. Altough nominated as "Prom Queen", she lost to another girl. Susan's prom date, Gordon Wilkins, became ill on prom night. Gordon's illness prevented him from escorting Susan home. Susan left the prom that night alone, with plans to take a 20 minute bus ride home.

Susan's best friend, Debbie Havens, told police : "I saw Susan dissapear around a corner to walk to the bus stop, and that was the last anyone saw of her". Five days passed, until the horrifying day of June 4, 1961. 

On the morning of June 4, 1961, at 2:40 am. Middle aged couple was driving home from a house party. The couple, Henry and Martha O'Neil, passed what appeared to be a groom carrying his bride. The groom extended one hand, making a hitch hiking gesture. This gesture caused the O'Neils to slow down to offer the couple a ride. As the man carried his bride to the back door of the car and attempted to enter, the O'Neils saw a sight that caused them to speed away in horror. The bride's white dress was covered in blood, and she was blinking slowly, as if near death. 

The O'Neils stopped at a pay phone and called the police. The police tracked down the man and his blood soaked bride. The man was identified as William Rose, a high school principal. The bride gasped her final words: "My name is Susan Hatcher" before dying on the sidewalk. 

William Rose was identified as the principal of Susan Hatcher's high school. An investigation revealed that William and Susan were not married. Susan kept a diary, which was found in her bedroom with several disturbing entries. It was discovered that William Rose had told Susan that one day he would make her his bride. One diary entry described William Rose as "A Filthy Old Creep with Garlic Breath and Too Much Brylcream on His Head". 

William Rose was charged with first degree murder. An autopsy showed that Susan Hatcher had been stabbed 22 times. William Rose told police he had held Susan captive in his home for five days, trying to convince her to marry him. He confessed that he had abducted her as she made her way home on prom night. 

During his trial, he confessed :"Susan teased me about my brylcream hair, and it made me snap. If I had never used brylcream, she would be still alive. I made her eat some brylcream, and then I stabbed her". William Rose was sentenced to life in prison and died in 1988 at age 77.