Pennsylvania Fire Chief Arrested After Admitting to Dropping Infant Daughter

John List, who gained notoriety for murdering five family members in 1971 and evading capture for 18 years, died in prison from pneumonia-related complications in 2008. List brutally killed his mother, wife, and three children in their Westfield, New Jersey home before disappearing. According to ABC News, he left behind a letter confessing to the murders, citing financial ruin as his motivation.
After the killings, List fled to Colorado, assuming a new identity and starting a new life, which included remarriage. His capture came in 1989 after his image aired on "America’s Most Wanted," leading a neighbor to inform authorities. Following his arrest, List was sentenced to five consecutive life terms in prison.
List's actions were reportedly driven by a belief that poverty would lead his children away from their faith. He attempted to cover his tracks by misinforming local services about his family's whereabouts. His case remains a chilling example of premeditated violence and the tragic consequences of mental distress.