The Devil of Pope County: America's Worst Family Massacre
In December 1987, Ronald Gene Simmons murdered 16 people – including his entire family – and wounded four more in Russellville, Ark. In this six-part series that includes interviews with those who survived the violent rampage, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Tony Holt looks back on Arkansas' largest mass murder and its aftermath.
Episodes
The state of Arkansas executes its most notorious serial killer, but how notorious is he really? Nightmares linger for those familiar with the case.
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Ronald Gene Simmons stands trial twice, gets convicted twice. He beckons the state to execute him as quickly as possible.
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Ronald Gene Simmons retires after a decorated military career. He and his family abandon New Mexico before authorities can move in to arrest him for sex crimes.
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One day after Christmas, the rest of the Simmons family visits Mockingbird Hill and are executed. Detectives find all the carnage. Simmons invites a local news anchor to visit him in jail.
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Ronald Gene Simmons methodically murders his wife and younger children. A large hole on the property becomes a massive grave.
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Two people are killed and four are injured during a shooting spree the morning of Dec. 28, 1987 across Russellville. Law enforcement becomes fearful of a gruesome discovery at a house near Dover.
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Join Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Tony Holt as he looks back on the story of Ronald Gene Simmons and the largest massacre in the history of Arkansas.
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