248:, until he was caught and served a year in jail. After his release in 1940, he met Faye Wilson, and they were married soon afterward. They quickly had several children and, thanks to Ray's criminal reputation, had to keep moving their family around while money was tight. During this time, Ray served several jail sentences, until he finally came up with a plan to improve his illegal money-making methods so as to be undetected.
53:
424:
and employed them as farmhands on his property in
Mooresville, Missouri. He would take his employees to the market, where they would use his bad checks to buy the cattle for him. After the transactions, Ray would sell the cattle quickly and the farmhands would disappear without a trace. For a while,
454:
It became clear that Ray killed his employees in the pursuit of money, but Faye's actions were initially questioned. When she went to trial in
November 1990, her defense mounted a picture of her as a dutiful wife and mother who had endured beatings and general ill-treatment from her husband.
485:
for Faye, fulfilling her one wish that she not die in prison. She was paroled to a nursing home in her hometown of
Chillicothe, Missouri, where she died of natural causes at the age of 82. She left behind five children and 17 grandchildren.
469:
Ray died of natural causes on
October 19, 1993. His body was cremated. Faye's attorneys appealed her conviction, contending that the jury had not been allowed to hear evidence that Ray had abused her for years. On August 6, 1999, Judge
444:. Initially, they did not find any incriminating evidence, but after further searching, the bodies of three young men were discovered in a nearby barn. As the search continued, more bodies were found, all killed with the same weapon: a
428:
Upon his release, he resumed his criminal activities, but this time he made sure his farmhands were not as connected to him as before. This went on until a previous employee, Jack McCormick, called the
433:
hotline in August 1989 to tell them about the
Copelands. McCormick claimed that he had seen human bones on their farm while he was employed there and also claimed that Ray had tried to kill him.
436:
Police were initially skeptical of the claims, but after checking Ray's criminal record, they decided to investigate further. In
October 1989, they visited the Copeland farm armed with a
1029:
792:
1019:
999:
596:
591:
462:
In March 1991, Ray went on trial, was convicted of five counts of murder and sentenced to death. Upon hearing that Faye had been sentenced to death by
994:
907:
1024:
1004:
1039:
477:
On August 10, 2002, Faye suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Weeks later, in
September 2002, Governor
474:
overturned the death sentence, but let the convictions stand and commuted her sentence to five consecutive terms of life without parole.
943:
838:
813:
416:
Because Ray was well known as a fraud, he could not buy and sell cattle on his own. To get around this problem, he began to pick up
937:
The
Copeland Killings:The Bizarre True Account of Ray and Faye Copeland, the Oldest Couple Ever Sentenced to Death in America!
236:
Ray
Copeland was born in Oklahoma in 1914. While he was growing up, his family moved around, struggling to survive during the
743:
662:
759:
1034:
85:
973:
212:(December 30, 1914 â October 19, 1993) became, at the ages of 69 and 76 respectively, the oldest couple ever
52:
1009:
694:
773:
1014:
31:
880:
510:
503:
290:
524:
336:
125:
616:
569:
517:
347:
271:
213:
136:
854:
939:
911:
834:
809:
778:
739:
658:
559:
351:
654:
647:
496:
463:
417:
237:
217:
89:
471:
466:
as well, Ray showed no emotion and replied "Well, those things happen to some, you know."
455:
However, the jury convicted her of five counts of first degree murder. She was given four
448:
553:
482:
456:
437:
430:
221:
988:
578:
245:
545:
302:
Factory Worker, Motel Maid and Nanny for Neela Patel and her children Samir and Amy
445:
425:
the scam worked, but the police caught up and Ray was once again sent to jail.
241:
35:
478:
441:
330:
119:
17:
960:
225:
908:"'X' in Real Life â The True Story of the Ray & Faye Copeland Killings"
220:
at their farm in
Mooresville, Missouri. When her sentence was commuted to
310:
66:
421:
551:
The case was documented in multiple television series, such as
582:
is loosely based on the killings committed by the Copelands.
536:
The Copelands' story has been fictionalized in a comic book
774:"Faye Copeland, 82; Convicted of Killing 5 Men in Missouri"
216:
in the United States. They were convicted of killing five
881:"THE NEW DETECTIVES â Season 5 Ep 2 "Partners in Crime""
540:, written by Ray's great-nephew Shawn Granger. The play
109:
Faye Della Wilson Copeland (1940–1993, his death)
30:
For the American jazz trumpet player and teacher, see
833:. La Verne, CA: King Tractor Press. pp. 1â170.
808:. La Verne, CA: King Tractor Press. pp. 1â176.
400:
390:
382:
372:
362:
357:
343:
328:
316:
306:
298:
279:
260:
253:
185:
175:
167:
157:
147:
142:
132:
117:
105:
97:
74:
59:
43:
646:
451:rifle that was later found in the Copeland home.
224:in 1999, Faye Copeland was the oldest woman on
208:; August 4, 1921 â December 23, 2003) and
101:Cattle farmer; thief, swindler, forger, killer
649:Evil Serial Killers: In the Minds of Monsters
8:
738:. New York: Pinnacle Books. pp. 1â304.
688:
686:
684:
682:
680:
678:
676:
674:
617:"Convicted killer dies in Mo. Nursing home"
597:List of serial killers by number of victims
592:List of serial killers in the United States
250:
51:
40:
974:"The True Story of Ray and Faye Copeland"
887:. The Discovery Channel. 26 December 1999
653:. New York: Barnes & Noble. pp.
320:Ray Copeland (1940–1993, his death)
34:. For the American football player, see
1030:Prisoners sentenced to death by Missouri
729:
727:
725:
723:
721:
719:
717:
715:
459:for the murders and one life sentence.
961:"The Morgue Archives July-August, 1999"
640:
638:
636:
634:
632:
630:
628:
626:
608:
1020:People convicted of murder by Missouri
240:. As a young man, he began a life of
7:
906:Stipidis, Julieann (22 March 2022).
861:. Cable News Network. 27 August 2001
695:"The case of the vanishing vagrants"
576:It is speculated that the 2022 film
1000:American people convicted of murder
760:"Elderly farmer sentenced to death"
565:Becoming Evil: Sisterhood of Murder
440:, dozens of officers and a team of
548:in 2004, was based on this story.
25:
793:The Nevada Daily Mail Nov 2, 1990
544:by David Wiltse, which appeared
995:20th-century American criminals
1025:People from Harrison, Arkansas
1005:American female serial killers
693:Bovsun, Mara (25 March 2008).
1:
855:"Forensic Files Episode List"
1040:Serial killers from Missouri
1056:
506:; killed November 19, 1986
255:Faye Della Wilson Copeland
86:Potosi Correctional Center
29:
27:American serial killer duo
645:Greig, Charlotte (2005).
527:; killed May 3 or 4, 1989
520:; killed December 8, 1988
513:; killed October 25, 1988
509:Jimmy Dale Harvey, 27 of
499:; killed October 17, 1986
410:
324:
244:, stealing livestock and
195:
113:
50:
829:Granger, Shawn (2010).
804:Granger, Shawn (2007).
699:The New York Daily News
516:John W. Freeman, 27 of
32:Ray Copeland (musician)
523:Paul J. Cowart, 20 of
831:Family Bones Volume 2
806:Family Bones Volume 1
736:The Copeland Killings
511:Springfield, Missouri
504:Bloomington, Illinois
291:Chillicothe, Missouri
935:Miller, Tom (1993).
734:Miller, Tom (1993).
525:Dardanelle, Arkansas
495:Dennis K. Murphy of
978:TruTV Crime Library
374:Span of crimes
337:First degree murder
210:Raymond W. Copeland
202:Faye Della Copeland
159:Span of crimes
126:First degree murder
1035:Serial killer duos
570:The New Detectives
518:Boonville, Indiana
272:Harrison, Arkansas
214:sentenced to death
36:Faye "Mule" Wilson
912:Bloody Disgusting
779:Los Angeles Times
560:Wicked Attraction
414:
413:
352:life imprisonment
283:December 23, 2003
265:Faye Della Wilson
199:
198:
63:December 30, 1914
16:(Redirected from
1047:
1010:Criminal couples
981:
968:
923:
922:
920:
918:
903:
897:
896:
894:
892:
877:
871:
870:
868:
866:
851:
845:
844:
826:
820:
819:
801:
795:
790:
784:
783:
770:
764:
763:
756:
750:
749:
731:
710:
709:
707:
705:
690:
669:
668:
652:
642:
621:
620:
613:
502:Wayne Warner of
497:Normal, Illinois
464:lethal injection
406:October 17, 1989
402:Date apprehended
393:
368:
344:Criminal penalty
333:
286:
251:
238:Great Depression
191:October 17, 1989
187:Date apprehended
178:
153:
133:Criminal penalty
122:
90:Potosi, Missouri
81:
78:October 19, 1993
55:
41:
21:
1055:
1054:
1050:
1049:
1048:
1046:
1045:
1044:
1015:Married couples
985:
984:
971:
959:
956:
932:
930:Further reading
927:
926:
916:
914:
905:
904:
900:
890:
888:
879:
878:
874:
864:
862:
853:
852:
848:
841:
828:
827:
823:
816:
803:
802:
798:
791:
787:
782:. January 2004.
772:
771:
767:
758:
757:
753:
746:
733:
732:
713:
703:
701:
692:
691:
672:
665:
644:
643:
624:
615:
614:
610:
605:
588:
534:
492:
472:Ortrie D. Smith
457:death sentences
403:
391:
375:
366:
329:
307:Criminal status
294:
288:
284:
275:
269:
267:
266:
256:
234:
188:
176:
160:
151:
118:
93:
83:
79:
70:
64:
46:
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1053:
1051:
1043:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
987:
986:
983:
982:
969:
955:
954:External links
952:
951:
950:
947:
946:
944:978-1558176751
931:
928:
925:
924:
898:
872:
859:Forensic Files
846:
840:978-0978748616
839:
821:
815:978-0978748609
814:
796:
785:
765:
751:
744:
711:
670:
663:
622:
607:
606:
604:
601:
600:
599:
594:
587:
584:
554:Forensic Files
542:Temporary Help
533:
532:In other media
530:
529:
528:
521:
514:
507:
500:
491:
488:
483:medical parole
438:search warrant
431:Crime Stoppers
412:
411:
408:
407:
404:
401:
398:
397:
394:
388:
387:
384:
380:
379:
376:
373:
370:
369:
364:
360:
359:
355:
354:
350:; commuted to
345:
341:
340:
334:
326:
325:
322:
321:
318:
314:
313:
308:
304:
303:
300:
296:
295:
289:
287:(aged 82)
281:
277:
276:
270:
268:August 4, 1921
264:
262:
258:
257:
254:
246:forging checks
233:
230:
222:life in prison
197:
196:
193:
192:
189:
186:
183:
182:
179:
173:
172:
169:
165:
164:
161:
158:
155:
154:
149:
145:
144:
140:
139:
134:
130:
129:
123:
115:
114:
111:
110:
107:
103:
102:
99:
95:
94:
84:
82:(aged 78)
76:
72:
71:
65:
61:
57:
56:
48:
47:
44:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1052:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
992:
990:
979:
975:
972:Lohr, David.
970:
966:
962:
958:
957:
953:
949:
948:
945:
941:
938:
934:
933:
929:
913:
909:
902:
899:
886:
882:
876:
873:
860:
856:
850:
847:
842:
836:
832:
825:
822:
817:
811:
807:
800:
797:
794:
789:
786:
781:
780:
775:
769:
766:
761:
755:
752:
747:
741:
737:
730:
728:
726:
724:
722:
720:
718:
716:
712:
700:
696:
689:
687:
685:
683:
681:
679:
677:
675:
671:
666:
660:
656:
651:
650:
641:
639:
637:
635:
633:
631:
629:
627:
623:
618:
612:
609:
602:
598:
595:
593:
590:
589:
585:
583:
581:
580:
574:
572:
571:
566:
562:
561:
556:
555:
549:
547:
543:
539:
531:
526:
522:
519:
515:
512:
508:
505:
501:
498:
494:
493:
490:Known victims
489:
487:
484:
481:authorized a
480:
475:
473:
467:
465:
460:
458:
452:
450:
447:
443:
439:
434:
432:
426:
423:
419:
409:
405:
399:
395:
389:
386:United States
385:
381:
377:
371:
365:
361:
356:
353:
349:
346:
342:
338:
335:
332:
331:Conviction(s)
327:
323:
319:
315:
312:
309:
305:
301:
299:Occupation(s)
297:
292:
282:
278:
273:
263:
259:
252:
249:
247:
243:
239:
231:
229:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
194:
190:
184:
180:
174:
171:United States
170:
166:
162:
156:
150:
146:
141:
138:
135:
131:
127:
124:
121:
120:Conviction(s)
116:
112:
108:
104:
100:
98:Occupation(s)
96:
91:
87:
77:
73:
68:
62:
58:
54:
49:
42:
37:
33:
19:
18:Faye Copeland
977:
964:
936:
915:. Retrieved
901:
889:. Retrieved
884:
875:
863:. Retrieved
858:
849:
830:
824:
805:
799:
788:
777:
768:
754:
735:
702:. Retrieved
698:
648:
611:
577:
575:
568:
564:
558:
552:
550:
546:off-Broadway
541:
538:Family Bones
537:
535:
476:
468:
461:
453:
435:
427:
415:
285:(2003-12-23)
235:
209:
205:
201:
200:
80:(1993-10-19)
45:Ray Copeland
446:.22 caliber
442:bloodhounds
242:petty crime
989:Categories
965:Mayhem Net
745:1558176756
704:23 January
664:0760775664
603:References
479:Bob Holden
367:5–12
339:(5 counts)
152:5–12
128:(5 counts)
378:1986â1989
226:death row
163:1986â1989
917:22 March
885:FilmRise
586:See also
418:drifters
396:Missouri
392:State(s)
311:Deceased
218:drifters
181:Missouri
177:State(s)
67:Oklahoma
891:3 March
865:3 March
383:Country
363:Victims
358:Details
232:History
168:Country
148:Victims
143:Details
942:
837:
812:
742:
661:
449:Marlin
317:Spouse
293:, U.S.
274:, U.S.
206:Wilson
106:Spouse
92:, U.S.
69:, U.S.
655:64â65
422:hobos
348:Death
204:(nÊe
137:Death
940:ISBN
919:2022
893:2017
867:2017
835:ISBN
810:ISBN
740:ISBN
706:2016
659:ISBN
567:and
420:and
280:Died
261:Born
75:Died
60:Born
991::
976:.
963:.
910:.
883:.
857:.
776:.
714:^
697:.
673:^
657:.
625:^
573:.
563:,
557:,
228:.
88:,
980:.
967:.
921:.
895:.
869:.
843:.
818:.
762:.
748:.
708:.
667:.
619:.
579:X
38:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
