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David Hendricks

David Hendricks is an American businessman who was convicted in 1984 of the brutal axe and knife murders of his wife and three young children in their Bloomington, Illinois home, but whose conviction was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1990, leading to his acquittal in a retrial in 1991 after more than seven years of imprisonment.^[1]^[2]^[3] On the evening of November 7, 1983, Hendricks, then 29 and the owner of CASH Manufacturing, Inc.—an orthotics company he founded specializing in back braces—left his family's home at 313 Carl Drive in Bloomington for what he described as a multi-state business trip to visit clients in Wisconsin, Ohio, and South Carolina.^[1]^[4] The following morning, November 8, after being unable to contact his family, Hendricks called Bloomington police to request a welfare check, during which officers discovered the bodies of his wife, Susan Hendricks (age 30), and their children—Rebekah (age 9), Grace (age 7), and Benjamin (age 5)—in their bedrooms, each having been attacked while asleep with an axe and a butcher knife, with no signs of forced entry.^[4]^[5] The weapons were found cleaned and placed at the foot of the victims' beds, and the case marked Bloomington's first quadruple homicide.^[1]^[6] Arrested on December 5, 1983, and charged with eight counts of murder (two counts per victim), Hendricks was tried in Winnebago County due to a change of venue and found guilty on November 29, 1984, following a five-week trial that relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, including forensic disputes over the time of death and allegations of a religious motive tied to his devout Christian beliefs.^[7]^[1] He was sentenced to four consecutive natural life terms in prison on January 14, 1985.^[8] In 1990, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the conviction, ruling that the prosecution's evidence regarding motive—centered on Hendricks' supposed extramarital interests and views on divorce as a sin—was improperly prejudicial and irrelevant.^[1] The 1991 retrial in McLean County ended with his acquittal on March 29, 1991, after which he was released from custody, though the murders remain officially unsolved with no other suspects charged as of 2025.^[2]^[3] Following his exoneration, Hendricks remarried and pursued a career in writing, including authoring a book about a convicted murderer.^[9]

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Upbringing

David James Hendricks was born in 1954 in Morton Grove, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. He grew up in Oak Park, another affluent suburb in the Chicago area, where his family resided during his formative years.^[9]^[10] Hendricks was one of seven children in his family; his mother, Laverne Hendricks, later described him as "an almost-perfect child" and "the most obedient of her seven children," portraying a childhood marked by good behavior and mild-mannered demeanor. The family dynamics emphasized discipline and obedience, with Hendricks noted as a well-behaved boy in a household that valued such traits. His father, Charles Hendricks, was a retired electrical engineer who had worked in the Chicago area for 35 years.^[11]^[12] The family's suburban lifestyle in Oak Park provided exposure to typical mid-20th-century community settings, including local schools and neighborhood interactions in the greater Chicago area.

Education and Religious Influences

David Hendricks attended Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he demonstrated exceptional academic ability by completing the curriculum in just three years, becoming the first student in the school's history to graduate early in this manner.^[13] This accelerated path highlighted his strong performance in studies, though specific extracurricular activities are not well-documented in available records. Following high school, Hendricks briefly enrolled at Northwestern University Medical School for one year, reflecting an early interest in medical-related fields that later influenced his professional pursuits.^[13] He was raised in the Exclusive Plymouth Brethren, a conservative Christian denomination, as the fifth of seven children in the Chicago area.^[13] This faith marked a significant aspect of his worldview, drawing him into a community known for its fundamentalist principles, including a strong emphasis on biblical literalism and separation from secular society. The Plymouth Brethren, particularly the Exclusive branch, promote tenets such as avoidance of worldly entertainments like television and voting, communal worship without formal clergy, and a focus on personal piety and moral purity.^[1]^[4] Hendricks' adherence to Brethren teachings profoundly shaped his personal decisions and daily life. The group's doctrine of separation from "worldly influences" led him to adopt a modest, unadorned style of dress and to limit social interactions primarily to fellow believers, fostering a insular community-oriented lifestyle.^[1] This faith also influenced his career choices, steering him toward endeavors that aligned with values of industriousness and service, such as his later work in orthotics, which he viewed as a means to aid others without compromising religious principles. While specific early travels tied to the religious community are not recorded, his involvement included regular participation in Brethren assemblies, reinforcing the doctrinal impacts on his formative years.^[1]

Career and Family Life

Professional Development

Following his associate's degree in orthotics and prosthetics from Northwestern University in 1973, David Hendricks obtained certification in prosthetics in 1975 and in orthotics in 1976.^[14]^[15] He initially worked in patient care within the field for approximately three years before establishing his own practice, Hendricks Orthopedic Prosthetic Enterprises, in Bloomington, Illinois, shortly after his orthotics certification.^[16]^[15] In 1978, Hendricks invented and patented the Cruciform Anterior Spinal Hyperextension (CASH) orthosis, a specialized back brace designed to treat spinal conditions.^[14]^[1] This innovation led to the founding of CASH Manufacturing, Inc., in Bloomington, where the company focused on producing and distributing the device to medical professionals.^[1] By 1981, the brace's strong market reception prompted Hendricks to cease direct patient care and dedicate himself fully to the manufacturing and sales operations of CASH Manufacturing.^[15] The business model centered on direct sales of the patented brace to prescribing professionals, such as physicians and therapists, emphasizing its clinical advantages through targeted marketing materials.^[1] Sales strategies included frequent business travel to meet potential clients and the use of professionally photographed brochures featuring models wearing the brace, a common practice in the orthotics industry that began in 1981.^[1] The company operated on a small scale, with Hendricks and an office manager handling core functions like bookkeeping, correspondence, and order fulfillment.^[1] CASH Manufacturing experienced significant growth in the early 1980s, enabling the company to solidify its base in Bloomington and support Hendricks' personal financial stability, including the purchase of a large home in 1982 and ownership of a private airplane for business travel.^[15]^[17] This success marked Hendricks as a rising entrepreneur in the orthopedic sector prior to 1983.^[18]

Marriage and Children

David Hendricks married Susan in 1973 after meeting her as teenagers at a Bible conference.^[8] The couple, both members of the fundamentalist Plymouth Brethren religious group, shared a commitment to its strict doctrines, which emphasized traditional family roles and prohibited practices like divorce, jewelry, and makeup for women.^[1] Susan, described as quiet and reserved, did not work outside the home, focusing instead on homemaking and child-rearing.^[8] The Hendricks had three children: Rebekah, born in 1974; Grace, born in 1976; and Benjamin, born in 1978.^[19] Their family life revolved around Plymouth Brethren practices, including regular attendance at meetings and Bible study, which fostered a close-knit, insular community involvement.^[1] Daily routines emphasized family bonding, such as shared meals, reading together, and simple recreational activities like playing hide-and-seek or visiting the local library.^[1] The family resided in a home in Bloomington, Illinois, where Hendricks' growing success in the orthotics business provided financial stability and supported their modest, faith-centered lifestyle.^[8] Dynamics within the household reflected the Brethren's emphasis on piety and separation from worldly influences, creating a structured environment for the children's upbringing.^[1]

The 1983 Murders

The Crime

On November 7, 1983, David Hendricks departed his home in Bloomington, Illinois, shortly after 11:00 p.m. for a business trip to visit clients in Wisconsin, where he planned to promote his orthopedic back brace product.^[20]^[21]^[1] He had spent the earlier evening with his children at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant for dinner before putting them to bed. The attacks occurred in the family's ranch-style home later that evening, with the victims—Susan Hendricks, age 30, and their three children, Rebekah, age 9, Grace, age 7, and Benjamin, age 5—killed while asleep in their beds.^[19] The assailant used an axe and a kitchen butcher knife from the home to bludgeon and stab the victims, inflicting severe injuries including massive cerebral damage from the heavy, sharp blows; there were no signs of struggle or defensive wounds.^[1]^[19] Initial forensic analysis of the victims' stomach contents, which included partially digested pizza from their dinner, indicated that the deaths took place between approximately 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on November 7, 1983, aligning with the time after the children had eaten and gone to bed but before Hendricks' departure.^[1]^[4]

Discovery of the Bodies

On November 8, 1983, Bloomington, Illinois, police received a request for a welfare check on the Hendricks family after they failed to answer the phone or attend a scheduled dinner with relatives. David Hendricks, who was on a business trip in Wisconsin, called his mother-in-law, Nadine Palmer, who attempted to contact the family but received no response; she then informed her husband, who contacted police. Officers arrived at the family's home at 313 Carl Drive around 10:30 p.m., finding the back door unlocked with no signs of forced entry.^[1]^[19] Upon entering, police discovered the bodies of Susan Hendricks, 30, and her three children—Rebekah, 9; Grace, 7; and Benjamin, 5—in their bedrooms, apparently slain while asleep in their beds. The victims had suffered massive cerebral damage from repeated blows and stabs inflicted by a heavy, sharp object, with an axe and a kitchen butcher knife found cleaned and placed at the foot of the victims' beds. There were no indications of struggle or defense wounds, and the scene appeared otherwise undisturbed.^[1]^[19]^[4] David Hendricks returned home from his trip shortly after the discovery and was notified of the deaths by family members, including Nadine Palmer. He was questioned by police that evening, who examined his clothing and vehicle for evidence but found nothing conclusive at the time. The brutality of the killings sent shockwaves through the close-knit Bloomington community, prompting immediate calls for increased neighborhood vigilance and drawing extensive local media coverage in outlets like The Pantagraph, which described the event as a tragic and gruesome mystery that altered the city's sense of security.^[1]^[19]^[22]

Investigation and Prosecution

Initial Police Inquiry

Upon discovering the bodies on the evening of November 8, 1983, Bloomington police immediately secured the Hendricks family home as a crime scene, noting that the victims—Susan Hendricks and her three children—had been attacked in their beds with no apparent signs of struggle or forced entry, as the back door was found unlocked.^[1] Forensic examination revealed that the murders were committed using a kitchen butcher knife and an axe, both of which were discovered cleaned and placed neatly at the foot of one of the beds; the overall scene showed minimal disarray, with no significant blood spatter patterns indicating movement or defense by the victims.^[1] Investigators also assessed possible entry points, confirming the absence of broken windows or other signs of intrusion, which initially suggested the perpetrator may have had access to the home.^[1] Police conducted preliminary interviews with neighbors and members of the Hendricks' Plymouth Brethren community to establish the family's routine and any unusual observations prior to the murders.^[20] Neighbors reported seeing Susan Hendricks and the children during a normal day, including an outing to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza around 7:00 p.m. on November 7, and Susan attending a baby shower later that evening, with no reports of suspicious activity or strangers in the vicinity.^[23] Associates from David Hendricks' medical device business were questioned about recent interactions, but these yielded no immediate leads on conflicts or external threats, though the Brethren community's insular nature limited deeper insights into personal matters.^[4] To reconstruct the timeline, investigators focused on David Hendricks' business trip to Wisconsin, verifying his departure from the Bloomington home after 11:00 p.m. on November 7 through gas receipts and odometer readings from his vehicle.^[1] Hotel records confirmed his check-in at a Madison, Wisconsin, establishment around 5:00 a.m. on November 8, followed by his calls to family members and police later that day when unable to reach his wife, aligning with the estimated time of death between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on November 7 based on undigested stomach contents from the victims' last meal.^[23]^[8] Susan Hendricks' time of death was estimated separately, based on her consumption of vegetables, cookies, and punch at the baby shower around 9:20–9:30 p.m.^[1] No other suspects were identified through initial canvassing, and the inquiry remained open to possibilities unrelated to family dynamics, including random violence in the quiet neighborhood.^[1]

Evidence and Arrest

The investigation into the murders centered on circumstantial evidence that positioned David Hendricks as the primary suspect. Forensic analysis of the victims' stomach contents revealed that the children had consumed pizza from a Chuck E. Cheese's meal around 7:00 p.m. on November 7, 1983, with experts estimating the time of death between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., suggesting the killings occurred before Hendricks claimed to have departed for his business trip.^[1] His alibi was undermined by inconsistencies; while he stated to investigators that he left home after 11:00 p.m., he had previously told police the departure was around midnight, raising doubts about his whereabouts during the critical window.^[1] The absence of forced entry at the home further supported the theory that the perpetrator was someone familiar to the victims, aligning suspicions with Hendricks.^[1] On December 5, 1983, Hendricks was arrested and charged with eight counts of murder based on an information filed by McLean County State's Attorney Ronald Dozier.^[1]^[24] He was held without bond pending hearings, amid intense public and media scrutiny; his mother-in-law, Nadine Palmer, publicly proclaimed his innocence, describing the charges as a "miscarriage of justice" and noting the family's prayers for both Hendricks and the true perpetrator.^[24] The case garnered widespread attention in local and national outlets, highlighting the community's shock over the brutal slayings in the quiet Bloomington suburb.^[24]

Legal Proceedings

First Trial and Conviction

The trial of David Hendricks for the murders of his wife Susan and their three children took place in Winnebago County Circuit Court in Rockford, Illinois, after the venue was changed from McLean County due to pretrial publicity.^[1] The proceedings began in September 1984 and lasted approximately five weeks, presided over by Judge Richard Baner.^[25] The prosecution was led by McLean County State's Attorney Ronald Dozier, while the defense team included attorneys Mercer Turner, Thomas D. Decker, Richard H. McLeese, and Jon R. Waltz.^[1]^[25] The prosecution built its case entirely on circumstantial evidence, arguing that Hendricks killed his family between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on November 7, 1983, while claiming to be preparing for a business trip.^[1] Forensic testimony from pathologists emphasized the timeline, based on analysis of the victims' stomach contents, which indicated the children had eaten dinner around 6:00 p.m. and were killed shortly thereafter without signs of struggle.^[1] Additional forensic evidence described the wounds as deep lacerations inflicted with an ax and a kitchen butcher knife while the victims were asleep in their beds, with no defensive injuries observed, suggesting they were attacked unawares.^[1] Prosecutors linked Hendricks to the crime through his unexplained knowledge of a supposed burglary, the absence of forced entry, and testimony from three women about his rebuffed sexual advances, positing a motive rooted in religious conflicts with his wife and desire for sexual freedom.^[26] The defense countered by verifying Hendricks' alibi, presenting evidence that he had driven to Wisconsin after midnight on November 7 for a business meeting and checked into a motel around 3:00 a.m.^[1] They argued conflicting forensic interpretations of the time of death and proposed an alternative perpetrator theory, suggesting an intruder—possibly a burglar—committed the murders, as the weapons were cleaned and left near the bodies.^[1] Hendricks testified in his own defense, maintaining his innocence and describing his family life positively.^[25] After deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on November 29, 1984, convicting Hendricks on all eight counts of first-degree murder.^[27] At sentencing on January 14, 1985, Judge Baner imposed four consecutive terms of natural life imprisonment, declining to impose the death penalty despite eligibility, and also fined Hendricks $20,000 plus court costs.^[25]^[1]

Imprisonment and Appeal

Following his conviction in November 1984, David Hendricks was sentenced to four consecutive terms of natural life imprisonment and transferred to Menard Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison in Chester, Illinois, where he would serve the majority of his sentence. Menard, the state's largest facility with a capacity exceeding 2,000 inmates, was notorious during the 1980s for overcrowding, frequent violence, and harsh conditions, including a major riot in 1978 that caused significant damage and a deadly inmate fight in 1989 that left one dead and 21 injured. Inmates at Menard followed a regimented routine typical of maximum-security prisons in that era, with most of the day spent in 8-by-10-foot cells during frequent lockdowns, meals served in the cell or a supervised chow hall, and limited opportunities for recreation or work programs amid the facility's volatile environment. Hendricks used his time there productively, diligently researching and preparing legal documents to challenge his conviction, and he remarried in December 1988 to Patricia Miller in a ceremony held on-site.^[8]^[28] Hendricks filed a direct appeal shortly after his conviction, arguing errors in the admission of evidence and prosecutorial conduct, but the Illinois Appellate Court upheld the verdict in a split decision issued in late 1988. He then petitioned the Illinois Supreme Court for leave to appeal, which was granted, leading to a review of key issues including prosecutorial misconduct in introducing prejudicial testimony about his religious beliefs and alleged sexual advances toward models as motive evidence without sufficient foundation, as well as flawed forensic analysis of the victims' stomach contents that unreliablely estimated the time of death. The Supreme Court initially affirmed the conviction on December 20, 1988, but granted rehearing and, on July 3, 1990, reversed Hendricks' convictions in a unanimous decision, ruling that the evidentiary errors—particularly the improper motive testimony—denied him a fair trial, though it found the remaining evidence sufficient to warrant a retrial rather than outright acquittal.^[1] Hendricks had served approximately seven years in prison by the time of the ruling, including over seven years, three months, and 23 days from arrest to his eventual release following the retrial.^[3]

Retrial and Acquittal

Following the Illinois Supreme Court's reversal of his 1984 conviction in 1990 due to improper admission of prejudicial evidence regarding Hendricks' alleged extramarital affairs, a retrial commenced on February 19, 1991, in McLean County Circuit Court in Bloomington, Illinois.^[1] The jury was selected from Macon County and bused daily to the venue to ensure impartiality, and the proceedings were expected to—and did—last approximately eight weeks. Unlike the first trial, the prosecution was barred from introducing testimony about Hendricks' interactions with models for his back brace business, significantly altering the case's focus on motive.^[2] The prosecution, led by special prosecutor Brad Murphy, shifted emphasis to circumstantial evidence, arguing that Hendricks staged a burglary at the family home and fabricated a business trip to Wisconsin as an alibi before murdering his wife and children on November 8, 1983. Key to their timeline was forensic analysis of stomach contents, which indicated the victims had eaten pizza shortly before death, suggesting the killings occurred around 9:30 p.m., after Hendricks claimed to have left home. They also presented testimony from former inmate Danny Wayne Stark, who alleged that Hendricks confessed to the murders while both were incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center, portraying the crime as driven by personal rage.^[29]^[2] The defense, headed by attorney Michael Costello, aggressively challenged the prosecution's evidence, emphasizing the absence of any direct physical link between Hendricks and the crime scene, such as fingerprints or blood evidence tying him to the murders. They contested the reliability of the stomach content forensics, arguing that digestion rates vary due to factors like physical activity, trauma, and decomposition, rendering the timeline inconclusive. Costello proposed a two-perpetrator scenario, suggesting intruders—possibly including Hendricks' brother-in-law Jon Lewis—committed the attacks, supported by unidentified fingerprints and a footprint found at the scene that did not match Hendricks. The defense also highlighted the book Reasonable Doubt by journalist Steve Vogel, which detailed investigative flaws and raised broader questions about the case's handling.^[29]^[2] Witness testimonies further fueled jury doubts: Stark's account was undermined by his criminal history and potential motives for testifying, while family members and in-laws, including Hendricks' parents, affirmed his character and alibi, describing him as a devoted father uninvolved in the crime. After more than 11 hours of deliberation, the eight-man, four-woman jury acquitted Hendricks on March 29, 1991, of all four counts of first-degree murder. He was released immediately from McLean County Jail after serving over seven years in prison. On April 23, 1991, the Bloomington Police Department placed the investigation into an inactive file, declaring the case solved to the fullest extent possible but leaving it officially unsolved without new leads.^[2]^[30]

Post-Exoneration Life

Relocation and Remarriage

Following his acquittal on March 29, 1991, David Hendricks relocated from Illinois to Ohio in late spring of that year, seeking to rebuild his life away from the intense media scrutiny and social ostracism he faced in Bloomington. He moved there with his second wife, Pat, whom he had married in prison in 1988 while awaiting his retrial; however, the marriage ended in divorce shortly after, amid challenges including his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder as diagnosed by a psychologist. After divorcing Pat, Hendricks entered a third marriage that ended in divorce after about three years. During this period in Ohio, Hendricks renounced his lifelong affiliation with the strict fundamentalist Plymouth Brethren faith, which had profoundly shaped his upbringing, marriage, and daily life, including prohibitions on divorce and modern entertainment, stating he was no longer a man of faith. This marked a significant personal shift away from religious beliefs.^[9]^[15]^[31] Hendricks' time in Ohio proved difficult, as he encountered employment barriers and continued emotional recovery from the trauma of imprisonment and the loss of his first family, leading him to maintain a low public profile and withdraw from former social circles. Seeking further stability, he eventually relocated to the Orlando area of Florida in the late 1990s or early 2000s, via intermediate moves including to Tampa in 1995 and Atlanta, where he settled permanently and focused on personal healing through therapy and a quieter existence. This move allowed him to distance himself from the lingering stigma of the case, emphasizing privacy and gradual emotional restoration over public engagement.^[9]^[31]^[32] In Florida, Hendricks formed a new family through his fourth marriage to Gazel, whom he met during a vacation in the Philippines in 2001; the couple wed in 2003 and built a blended household that included children, fostering a sense of normalcy and companionship after years of isolation. Gazel, originally from the Philippines, provided emotional support during his ongoing recovery, and their life together in the Orlando suburbs centered on domestic routines, such as walking their dogs, while avoiding the spotlight of his past. This remarriage represented a pivotal step in his personal rebuilding, enabling him to embrace a more conventional family structure.^[9]^[32]^[33]

Later Career and Personal Changes

After initial relocation to Ohio following his 1991 acquittal and subsequent moves, David Hendricks settled in Florida in the late 1990s, where he reestablished his career in the orthopedics industry by resuming the manufacture and sale of back braces and related devices.^[6] This venture built on his pre-incarceration success with similar businesses in Illinois, allowing him to rebuild financially in a new environment.^[6] In March 2010, Hendricks founded Blue Diamond Orthopedic, LLC, in Orlando, Florida, a company focused on designing and producing orthopedic braces and supports for spinal and other conditions.^[34] Registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, the firm operates from an Orlando address and remains active as of September 2025, following an amendment filing on September 15, 2025, with Hendricks listed as the principal and manager.^[34]^[35] The business represents a continuation of his expertise in prosthetics and orthotics, though specific details on growth metrics or expansions are not publicly detailed beyond its ongoing operations. On a personal level, Hendricks underwent profound changes, including renouncing his prior religious faith; he has stated, “I am not a man of faith anymore,” reflecting a departure from the fundamentalist beliefs that once shaped his life.^[6] This shift coincided with his integration into a more conventional social existence in Florida, away from the isolation associated with his earlier affiliations. He has since maintained a low profile, authoring a 2012 book about a former cellmate while prioritizing family.^[6] As of the mid-2010s, Hendricks resided in Orlando with his fourth wife, with whom he shares children, including at least two born after his release.^[36]^[37] By 2025, he continues to live in the Orlando area, focusing on family life and his business without notable public engagements or philanthropy initiatives.^[34]

Media Portrayals

Books and Publications

The book Reasonable Doubt: A True Story of Lust and Murder in the American Heartland by Steve Vogel, originally published in 1989 and reissued with updates in 2018 (ISBN 978-1-54392-868-6), provides a detailed account of the investigation, trials, and conviction of David Hendricks for the murders of his family. Drawing on trial transcripts, interviews with family members, law enforcement, and legal experts, Vogel examines the circumstantial evidence, including forensic analysis and witness testimonies, that led to the initial guilty verdict and subsequent appeal. The work became a New York Times bestseller and is frequently used in criminal justice curricula to illustrate the legal principle of reasonable doubt. The Hendricks case is referenced in Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death by Jessica Snyder Sachs, published in 2001 (ISBN 978-0-7382-0771-1), which explores challenges in determining postmortem intervals through biological evidence. Sachs highlights the role of flawed time-of-death estimates based on stomach contents and insect activity in the Hendricks investigation, underscoring how such forensic uncertainties contributed to the wrongful conviction. The book uses the case as an example of broader issues in forensic ecology and its admissibility in court.^[38] These publications have shaped public understanding of the Hendricks case by emphasizing the pitfalls of circumstantial and forensic evidence in high-profile prosecutions. Vogel's book, in particular, prompted ongoing discussions about innocence and judicial error, with Hendricks himself corresponding with the author post-publication to affirm his exoneration. References to the case in wrongful conviction literature, such as analyses of forensic reliability, have further amplified awareness of systemic flaws in the U.S. criminal justice system.^[39]

Television and Podcasts

In 2018, the Investigation Discovery network aired an episode titled "The Darkest Night" as part of its 20/20 on ID Presents: Homicide series, which detailed the 1983 murders of Susan Hendricks and her three children, as well as the subsequent trials and wrongful conviction of David Hendricks.^[40] The hour-long program featured interviews with local investigators and experts, emphasizing the circumstantial evidence that led to Hendricks' initial conviction and the forensic and procedural flaws that contributed to his exoneration.^[33] The case gained renewed attention in audio formats through podcasts exploring true crime narratives. On October 4, 2021, the popular Crime Junkie podcast released an episode titled "MURDERED: The Hendricks Family," hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, which examined the family's brutal axe murders, the rapid police focus on Hendricks despite his alibi, and the lingering questions about the unsolved nature of the crime.^[41] The episode highlighted themes of investigative overreach and the challenges of proving innocence in the absence of physical evidence linking Hendricks to the scene.^[42] More recent media coverage has continued to dissect the case's complexities, including its religious undertones—stemming from the Hendricks family's devout Christian faith and the defense's portrayal of David as a pious family man—and the enduring mystery of the perpetrator's identity. In April 2025, The REal Crime Podcast devoted an episode in its fifth season to "The Hendricks Family Murders," analyzing the crime scene details and the impact of Hendricks' religious beliefs on public perception during the trials.^[43] Similarly, on October 23, 2025, Killer In The Family podcast, hosted by Clare Laxton, released Episode 81 titled "The Hendricks Family," which focused on the wrongful conviction aspects and speculated on alternative theories while underscoring the case's unresolved status.^[44] Video content in 2025 has further amplified discussions of the wrongful conviction and unsolved elements. A YouTube video titled "November 8 - The Hendricks Family Murders," uploaded on November 8, 2025, by a true crime channel, provided a detailed timeline of the discovery of the bodies, Hendricks' business trip alibi, and the religious motivations cited in court, framing the story as a cautionary tale of justice system failures.^[45] These portrayals collectively emphasize the blend of faith, family tragedy, and forensic ambiguity that has kept the Hendricks case in the public eye decades later.

References

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People v. Hendricks :: 1990 :: Supreme Court of Illinois Decisions
The defendant, David Hendricks, was arrested on December 5, 1983, based on an information filed by the McLean County State's Attorney, for the murders of ...
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Bloomington businessman David Hendricks, whose earlier conviction was thrown out by the state Supreme Court, was acquitted of the ax slayings of his wife and. ... Hendricks acquitted of killing family. By DONALD B ...
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Mar 29, 1991 · After seven years, three months and 23 days behind bars, David Hendricks walked out of McLean County Jail yesterday a free man just minutes ...
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They found the mutilated bodies of Hendricks' wife and three children, all of whom had been hacked to death with an ax and butcher knife.
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Nov 7, 1983 · ... bodies were discovered on November 7, 1983. The space below the names had been reserved for an epitaph that David Hendricks never finished.
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Nov 7, 2017 · Hendricks Family Murders 1983. Members of the David Hendricks family of Bloomington, Ill., who were discovered murdered in their beds in shown ...
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Hendricks, 29, who will be arraigned today in McLean County Circuit Court, is charged with eight counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Susan, 30; ...
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Dec 22, 1988 · ... David Hendricks, a former well-to-do Bloomington salesman found guilty by a jury in 1984 for the ax-bludgeoning and stabbing deaths of his ...
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Dec 20, 2012 · ... conviction. In March 1991 a jury acquitted him, and he moved to Ohio to get his derailed life back on track. It was a rocky restart. A ...
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Apr 4, 2022 · The family consisted of David and Susan Hendricks. The couple had three children, Rebekah, Grace, and Benjamin. David was born in Morton Grove ...
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Jan 10, 1985 · Convicted murderer David Hendricks ... She described her son as an almost-perfect child and the most obedient of her seven children.
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Feb 10, 1991 · ... Oak Park native David Hendricks, 37. The ceremony was conducted in a small office at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Ill. Pat`s ...
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Dec 20, 2024 · Susan and defendant were members of a nondenominational religion, the Plymouth Brethren.In 1982, defendant moved to 313 Carl Drive in ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Jan 9, 2019 · I attended Northwestern University Medical School and in 1973 I receive a degree in Prosthetics. During the next two years, I took courses in ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
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Jun 30, 2021 · David Hendricks was born in August 1954 in Chicago Illinois. He was the fifth of seven children and he grew up in Oak Park.
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Mar 27, 2023 · David Hendricks was retried in 1991 in McLean county court; because both the models' testimony and the accusation of motive related to his ...
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Murder in Bloomington: The Hendricks and S&S Cases - HubPages
Sep 29, 2023 · ... Hendricks' family in 1983 and the S&S Liquor Store murders in 1988 ... Hendricks Murder Victims. Susan Hendricks, age 30. Rebekah Hendricks ...
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Nov 9, 1983 · Police said they had no suspects in the first quadruple homicide in the city's history. Investigators said the murder weapon was found ...Missing: ages | Show results with:ages<|control11|><|separator|>
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Mar 12, 2021 · 1983 Bloomington quadruple-homicide remains unsolved ... 313 Carl Drive, the home where the murders took place, as it looks today. Photo: Samira ...
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Nov 5, 2023 · David Hendricks cries with his family as his wife and children were buried, Nov. ... The Hendricks murders were also examined on the Discovery ...
[21]
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Mar 26, 2016 · His family had been brutally murdered with a knife and an axe, both of which had been found neatly cleaned and lying at the foot of his bed.
[23]
Dead woman's mother says son-in-law innocent of murder - UPI
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[24]
HENDRICKS GETS LIFE SENTENCE - Chicago Tribune
Jan 12, 1985 · Hendricks was convicted of the murders in November. The trial was moved to Rockford because of the publicity in the Bloomington area. ”DAVID ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Judge to decide Hendricks' penalty - UPI Archives
Dec 1, 1984 · Bloomington back brace designer David Hendricks has asked his trial judge -- rather than a jury -- to decide if he should be sentenced to ...
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Nov. 30, 1984: David Hendricks found guilty - The Pantagraph
David Hendricks could be sentenced to death after being convicted yesterday of killing his wife and three children with an ax and a butcher ...
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The Grim Realities Of Life In Supermax Prisons - NPR
Jun 21, 2012 · WELBORN: Well, the Illinois Department of Corrections had an epidemic of violence, late '70s, '80s, and through the early '90s. I worked at the ...
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1 KILLED, 21 HURT IN PRISON FIGHT - Chicago Tribune
Sep 27, 1989 · He had been at Menard since June 2, 1988. Eight inmates suffering from gunshot or stab wounds were hospitalized, as was an inmate who had ...
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The Hendricks prison press conference: His opening statement and ...
May 30, 2018 · In July of 1986, less than a month after an Illinois Appellate Court upheld David Hendricks's conviction on charges that he murdered his ...
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Testimony begins in David Hendricks murder re-trial - UPI Archives
Feb 19, 1991 · All four were found dead in their Bloomington home on Nov. 8, 1983. Hendricks was found guilty in 1984 and sentenced to natural life in prison ...
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Hendricks' killings probe placed in 'inactive' file - UPI Archives
Apr 23, 1991 · The more than seven-year investigation into the bloody killing of four members of David Hendricks' family moved into the police department's 'inactive' file ...Missing: murders initial
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Luciano: Man once convicted of murder now telling a murderer's story
Sep 4, 2012 · Jurors believed he killed his family as they slept. Hendricks was sent to serve life imprisonment in Menard Correctional Center. Inside prison, ...
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Flick: Now an author, Hendricks back after 29 years - The Pantagraph
Sep 7, 2012 · He's married, with a wife, Gazel, of 10 years and two dogs. He invented spinal braces that made him a millionaire when he lived in ...
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https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/corporationsearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=ForwardList&searchNameOrder=BLUEDIAMONDORTHOPEDIC%2520L100000511481&aggregateId=flal-l10000051148-e572f392-25b3-4fb8-8c07-ff9e73bf86ca
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BLUE DIAMOND ORTHOPEDIC, LLC Company Profile | Orlando ...
Who is BLUE DIAMOND ORTHOPEDIC, LLC's key principal? BLUE DIAMOND ORTHOPEDIC, LLC's key principal is DAVID J HENDRICKS. What year was BLUE DIAMOND ORTHOPEDIC ...
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Killings of Bloomington mother, three kids featured in true crime series
especially the slaying of 5-year-old Benjamin — as the basis for his doubt that ...
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Where the Hendricks' case stands now - IWU Argus
Mar 22, 2021 · He did get married to his second wife, Pat in a prison ceremony in 1988 two years before he was released. Hendricks currently is living in ...
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Corpse: Nature, Forensics, And The Struggle To Pinpoint Time Of ...
Corpse is the fascinating story of the 2000year search to pinpoint time of death. It is also the terrible and beautiful story of what happens to our bodies ...
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The Hendricks letters - Steve Vogel | Author of The New York Times ...
Nov 4, 2018 · You'll see an evolution in his thinking about Reasonable Doubt. Here's the first letter, written from prison the same month the book was first ...Missing: education | Show results with:education
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Hendricks case featured in true crime series - The Pantagraph
Among those interviewed was Steve Vogel, whose 1989 best seller "Reasonable Doubt" chronicled the Hendricks case. The public is still interested in the case, ...
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Steve's observations about the ID Network documentary about the ...
Apr 8, 2018 · The only real quarrel I have with the production is that in reporting about the young women David Hendricks had hired to model the back brace he ...Missing: Manufacturing career
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MURDERED: The Hendricks Family | Crime Junkie Podcast
For years, David Hendricks was the walking embodiment of the true crime trope "The Husband Did It," after his family was brutally murdered.
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MURDERED: The Hendricks Family - Crime Junkie - PodScripts
But these new 12 people found David not guilty. David is no longer religious. He has married and divorced and remarried a couple of times, but he has been ...
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S5 - Episode 8: The Hendricks Family Murders - The REal Crime ...
It was November 7th, 1983 ... Five bodies, four young children and their mother had been savagely murdered in the city. In their beds. ... David Hendricks appeared ...
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Episode 81 - The Hendricks Family - Apple Podcasts
now the prime suspect. In 1984, David Hendricks was convicted of killing his wife and ...
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5S1l3nEzso