The Wiz's Quiz - Ten "Bad Apples"

Jesse Pomeroy

It is almost unthinkable to believe that children are capable of murder, but they are.

1. Jesse Pomeroy was 14 in 1874 when he was arrested for murder. How many children did he kill?

a. 1
b. 5
c. 4
d. 2

2. In 1979 New York State enacted the 'Willie Bosket Law'. Who was Willie Bosket?

a. A Judge
b. A District Attorney
c. A murderer
d. A State Senator

3. How many elderly women did 15-year-old Cindy Collier and 14-year-old Shirley Wolf murder in 1983?

a. 3
b. 6
c. 2
d. 1

4. In 1998 14 year old Joshua Phillips killed his 8-year-old playmate, Maddie. He claimed it was accidental. On what charge was he convicted?

a. Manslaughter
b. 1st degree murder
c. 2nd degree murder
d. Accidental death

5. On the 12th of February, 1993 at 3.39pm, two boys were caught on a surveillance camera in a shopping centre in Liverpool, England. They were leading a toddler from the centre. Who was this small victim?

a. Jack Burgess
b. James Bulgiss
c. James Bulger
d. John Bulger

6. On the 110th anniversary of Hitler's birth, two teenagers began a killing spree which would end, not only in their own deaths, but would leave thirteen others dead and 25 injured. Where did this take place?

a. Pearl, Mississippi
b. Jonesboro, Arkansas
c. Springfield, Oregon
d. Littleton, Colorado

7. In 1999, an 11 year old boy was tried for murder, he was the youngest person ever to stand trial for murder in Michigan. Who was this boy?

a. Ronnie Greene
b. Nathaniel Abraham
c. Edmund Kemper
d. Jon Katz

8. In Kentucky in 1997, 14-year-old Michael Carneal committed a horrific crime. What did he do?

a. Killed his parents
b. Killed three teenage girls
c. Killed his siblings
d. Killed his grandparents

9. In Clearfield, Pennsylvania in 1998, Jessica Holtmeyer aged 16, killed Kimberley Dotts aided by 18-year-old Aaron Straw. How did she kill her?

a. She shot her
b. She hanged and bludgeoned her
c. She bludgeoned her
d. She stabbed her

10. On the 24th of March 1998, there was yet another school massacre. 13 year old Mitchell Johnson and 11 year old Andrew Golden killed 4 classmates and a teacher. Where did this massacre take place?

a. Jonesboro, Arkansas
b. Pearl, Mississippi
c. Columbine, Colorado
d. Springfield, Oregon


Answers

Willie Bosket

1. Correct answer is 2

Pomeroy 'The Boston Boy Fiend', was first arrested at the age of 11 and convicted of the torture of seven boys. He was sent to reform school but released early. Soon afterwards he mutilated and killed a 10 year old girl, then murdered a four-year-old boy. He was convicted and sentenced to death. However, public outcry caused his sentence to be commuted to 40 years of solitary confinement.

2. Correct answer is A Murderer

Willie Bosket was a 15-year-old persistent offender, who committed violent crimes. He did not fear the juvenile justice system as he knew that whatever he did, he would still be released before the age of 21. After killing a boy in a fight, he went on to shoot and kill two men in the subway 'just to see what it felt like'. It was his criminal career which caused the Justice System to enact the 'Willie Bosket Law' in 1979 which allowed juveniles as young as 13 to be tried as adults

3. Correct answer is 1

Collier and Wolf started prowling apartments in California knocking on doors at random. An elderly woman let them in and sat chatting to them unaware that they were trying to think of a plan to steal her car. Finally Wolf grabbed the elderly woman by the neck and stabbed her 28 times. When arrested, they confessed and said it was fun, a kick, and they would love to do it again.

4. Correct Answer: 1st degree murder

Phillips was caught when his mother noticed fluid leaking from beneath her waterbed, it was Maddie's body. He said that while playing he had accidentally hit her in the eye with a baseball. When she screamed, he panicked. He dragged her to his house, bludgeoned her with a baseball bat and stabbed her 11 times. The Florida jury were unconvinced and he was convicted of 1st degree murder.

5. Correct Answer: James Bulger

Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both aged 10, had skipped school that day to shoplift and have fun. They decided to see if they could get away with a kidnapping. After luring James away, they took him to the railroad tracks two miles away where they murdered him and left his body. It is estimated that as many as 38 people saw them along the way. Some even questioned them as the toddler seemed very distressed, but unbelievably, no one stopped them. When caught, the boys' confession was horrifying. They were sentenced to a secure facility for no less than eight years. Thompson and Venables, having reached the age of 19 were both freed, only for Venables to be sent back to prison for a separate offense a few years later.

6. Correct Answer: Littleton, Colorado

These were the "Columbine High School Murders". On Tuesday the 20th of April 1999, Eric Harris aged 18 and Dylan Klebold aged 17, entered their school cafeteria carrying semi-automatic weapons. They rampaged through the school shooting students who were desperately trying to either hide or flee. Police also had to contend with the defusing of several home made explosive devices. The last shots were heard at 12.30pm as Harris and Klebold took their own lives. The building was finally declared secure at 4pm.

7. Correct Answer: Nathaniel Abraham

Nathaniel Abraham stole a rifle and started practising on targets. He began to brag that he was going to shoot someone. On the 29th of October 1997 he shot and killed Ronnie Greene outside a store. Abraham claimed the shooting was accidental, but he was tried for murder and sentenced to be held in a juvenile detention centre until the age of 21.

8. Correct Answer: Killed three teenage girls

Carneal opened fire on a group of eight students at prayer. 3 were killed and 5 wounded, one of whom was left paralyzed from the waist down. According to McCracken County Commonwealth Attorney Tim Kaltenbach, it was believed that Carneal had planned the attack after watching 'The Basketball Diaries'. Carneal was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years.

9. Correct Answer: She hanged and bludgeoned her

Holtmeyer was a known bully with a clique of friends, which learning-disabled Kimberley was desperate to join. In the woods in front of a group of teens, Holtmeyer aided by Straw hung Kimberley from a tree. As she was still alive, Holtmeyer lifted a large rock and battered her on the head. Holtmeyer was found guilty of murder and was facing the death penalty, however, Kimberley's parents begged the judge for clemency who relented and commuted her sentence to imprisonment.

10. Correct Answer: Jonesboro, Arkansas

The two boys, heavily armed and wearing camouflage clothing, hid in the trees outside their school and fired on students and teachers during a false fire alarm. They killed 4 students, 1 teacher and wounded 11 others. Police said no definite motive was ever established. The two boys were remanded to a detention center under a controversial juvenile law which will allow them their freedom at the age of 21.