Gordon Northcott

Short Biography

In 1926, Saskatchewan-born ranch owner Gordon Stewart Northcott took his 14-year-old nephew, Sanford Clark, from his home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Before a family member told the police about the situation, Northcott had beaten and sexually abused Clark. In September 1928, the Los Angeles Police Department visited the Northcott Ranch in Wineville. Police found Clark at the ranch and took him into custody.Clark claimed that Northcott had kidnapped, molested, beaten, and killed several young boys with the apparent help of Northcott`s mother, Sarah Louise Northcott. He had also forced Clark to participate. The police found no complete bodies at the site, but they discovered body parts, the personal effects of missing children, and blood-stained axes. Clark said quicklime was used to dispose of the remains, and the bones had been dumped in the desert. The Northcotts had fled to Canada and they were arrested near Vernon, British Columbia.Investigators found a blood-stained axe as well as bones, hair and fingers from three of the victims that were buried in lime near the chicken house at the Northcott ranch near Wineville - hence the name "Wineville Chicken Coop Murders." Wineville changed its name to “Mira Loma” on November 1, 1930, due in large part to the negative publicity surrounding the murders. Wineville Avenue, Wineville Road, Wineville Park and other geographic references provide reminders of the community`s former name. Sanford Clark returned to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.On February 8, 1929, a 27-day trial before Judge George R. Freeman in Riverside County, California, ended. Gordon Northcott was convicted of the murders of an unidentified Mexican boy and brothers Lewis and Nelson Winslow (aged 12 and 10, respectively). The brothers had been reported missing from Pomona on May 16, 1928; however, it was believed Gordon may have had as many as 20 victims. The jury heard that he kidnapped, molested, tortured, killed, and dismembered these and other boys throughout 1928. On February 13, 1929, Judge Freeman sentenced Gordon to be hanged. The sentence was carried out on October 2, 1930.