Simon Peter Nelson - 1978 Murders - Up for Parole (again)

[Ed in Columbia Maryland]

Ralph wrote:

Lisa: what do you mean "while an unsuspecting houseguest slept". Was someone else in the home when the children were killed?

Hi Ralph! Please allow me to offer some answers to this question, since other readers may not be aware of certain facts about the case. Due to the "character limits," I'll have to piost the reply in three or more submissions.

To begin with, Simon "Peter" Nelson (SPN) was tried and convicted of six (06) counts of filicide. Filicide is the deliberate act of a parent killing his (or her) own son/s and/or daughter/s. The word filicide derives from the Latin words filius meaning "son" or filia meaning "daughter" and the suffix -cide meaning "to kill, murder, or cause death." "A filicide" may also refer to the parent who killed his or her child/ren as well as to the criminal act itself. Parricide, however, is the deliberate act of an individual killing their father (patricide), mother (matricide), or other close relative, but neither infant child/ren (Infanticide) nor non-infant child/ren (Filicide). I digressed here for clarification's sake.

As evidenced in the trial transcripts, "SPN" had a very busy Friday afternoon and evening. He received a call between 3:00 - 3:30 PM from Mr. Karl Winkler, who was both a family friend and Ann's attorney. In that call, Mr. Winkler informed SPN that Ann (who was already spending the weekend out of town in Milwaukee, WI to [ostensibly]"clear her head," [with SPN's knowledge & consent]) had indeed, decided to file for a divorce upon her return. "He [SPN]," according to Mr. Winkler, "did not take the news well at all." After hanging up from that fateful call, he immediately phoned his boss at the employment agency, seeking an advance on his wages in order to, as he put it, "to go to Milwaukee to wine and dine Ann," in an apparent last-ditch effort to convince her that a divorce was not the right thing to do. In that call, he even spoke of his desire to start his employment agency locally. Later that night (see below), they met so SPN could get the advanced funds and during their brief encounter, SPN appeared confident that he could yet influence Ann's decision-making. His boss also testified that SPN seemed "upbeat, in good spirits, and very optimistic about being able to rescue his marriage." In cross-examination, he testified, however, that SPN never mentioned to him that Ann's attorney had called nor did he inform him that Ann had [apparently] already made a final decision regarding their marriage.

When SPN returned home from a few errands later that afternoon, the kids were playing about the house and Jenny even had a friend over, which was not unusual for her on a cold, Friday afternoon (shortly after school) in January. After checking in on all the kids about the house, he called his very good friend, Mr. Douglas Hamm, and asked him to come over in order to, as Mr. Hamm put it "babysat the kids while he ran [lengthy] errands later that evening." Mr. Hamm noted that he told SPN something along the lines that he'd be over after he made a couple of stops first and he arrived at the Nelson home in the early evening. In the meantime, Mr. Winkler, who was unable to reach Nelson when he tried calling back on several occasions [between 3/3:30 PM & 8:00 PM CST], grew more and more concerned about how SPN took the news regarding Ann's decision to file for the divorce, so he decided to stop over. He told the court that he arrived shortly after 8:00 PM, and that Mr. Hamm was there too. Mr. Winkler specifically testified, "Upon my arrival, I found him [SPN] to be in, seemingly good spirits, taking care of the children, and was feeding them a late dinner, etc." "Consequently," he added, "I left very shortly after my arrival."

Mr. Hamm told several people that SPN left the house around 9:00 PM, and he was quite specific about a scene he witnessed when he first arrived at the house...

[Ed in Columbia Maryland]

REPLY SECTION TWO:

"Jenny was very, very upset and crying (he [SPN] apparently told the children of their Mom's decision), and was in the kitchen, cradled on SPN's lap and in his arms." He heard him [SPN] tell Jenny, "Everything will be all right and I love you very much."

He said that he played with the kids for an hour or so following their dinner, ate snacks with them later, got them bathed and into pajamas, then into bed between 10:00 and 11:00 PM. All of the kids were in their own rooms and they went right to sleep. After getting them all settled, he went down to the living room, made a fire in the fireplace, laid down on the couch, and searched for something interesting to watch on TV. He fell asleep before Midnight, but suddenly woke up around 2:00 AM with a terrible sense of dread. He says that he remained on the couch for several minutes "Fear struck!" but did not know why. For whatever reason, he said he was compelled to leave so he got up, looked out the picture window and saw SPN's station wagon in front of the house. He then stirred the ashes and logs in the fireplace to be sure the fire was out, and left via the front door. He said that he never heard anything and has no idea ["no memory"] of what caused him to wake in such a startled state.

As mentioned briefly above, while Mr. Hamm tended to the children, SPN met with his boss on Jefferson Street around 10:30 PM to get the advance he requested. They only spoke briefly, and although SPN was there for only a few minutes, the bartender testified that he seemed, "quite normal. " Where SPN went immediately following the meeting at the bar is unclear and Mr. Dan Doyle never offered any information either. Ann testified that she received calls from SPN, "all through the night right up to 2:30 AM." Around 4:30 AM (Saturday Morning, 01-07-1978), the newspaper carrier, for that part of Camp Avenue, stated that the family's station wagon left from its usual spot in front of the house. For those of you who do not remember, the weather was terrible that night, with strong winds, snow and icy road conditions. Ann further testified that SPN arrived at her hotel room [near Milwaukee] around 6:30 AM, so depending on SPN's driving speed, it is consistent time wise. Ann was actually at the hotel with her lover, but SPN testified that he phoned the man and asked him to go see her, get her to calm down, and somehow try to convince her that a divorce was not necessary. At the time, the man was a Wisconsin resident, one of Ann's [ice skating] students at Rockford's Riverview Ice House, and later her husband. They wed just before moving away from Rockford [and the state of Illinois].

Before murdering the children, SPN is known to have spent time in the basement, where he informed investigators, his defense team, and later testified that he attempted to commit suicide by cutting off his arm. Unable to gather the strength to overcome his fears, he told authorities, "I saw my father 's image suddenly appear and he began to berate me, call me names such as loser, coward, etc." He further claimed that he "fought" his "father's apparition" for some unknown length of time, "Until," he asserted, "he [his dead father] ascended the stairs [from the basement] with a mallet and hunting knife." He believed this "spirit being" was going to kill his children so SPN insisted that he, "became frantic and tried stopping him, as he screamed and chased him from the basement up to the 2nd floor and attic area," [where all the kids slept in various rooms], "but unfortunately was unable to catch him and powerless to stop him." "It is at that point," SPN said, "I blacked out."

Even if we were to disregard the alleged apparition and ensuing struggle, one would have to believe that SPN was probably making considerable noise in the middle of the night (and on into the early hours of Saturday morning).

[Ed in Columbia Maryland]

REPLY SECTION THREE:

Also, SPN is 6'-3" tall and he weighed over 300 lbs. at the time of the murders so climbing the narrow steps from the rear, offset basement of the tri-level house (with known, low clearances) would not have been easy (or graceful) if what he testified is true (i.e., "running frantically trying to stop an apparition from harming his children").

Regardless of whether he suffered a 'whiteout' or 'blackout,' SPN could indeed have been shouting [self-loathing taunts at himself or his Dad] aloud, while incidentally making many banging or thumping sounds, mixed with very heavy footsteps as he tore through the house/stairs, not to mention the unimaginably horrible screams and shrieks from the six (06) children who were brutally attacked (presumably in descending order). We also know that two of the boys fought their father, as did the dog! It's so awful and disturbing to even imagine. Keep in mind too, that most of the houses on Camp Avenue, while well-built, are neither very large nor terribly soundproof). I believe it is disingenuous [at best] that someone else in the house heard "nothing," especially when the same person claims to have suddenly awoke "fear struck," and that he "left the house [without first checking on the children]," whom he was charged to baby sit that night, merely because SPN's car was in front. Clouds of mystery shroud many aspects of Mr. Hamm's various claims but Judge Dan Doyle (prosecutor at the time of the case) never regarded him as what we would today call, "a person of interest." When questioned by one researcher/writer, he forgot who Mr. Hamm was entirely. I concur with those who remain suspicious of his role and actions (and/or inactions). Lastly, I also believe that he has convinced himself not only of the veracity of his story, but also of his complete innocence of any "sins of commission or omission," and that he's therefore blameless for what happened to the children that night.

Skipping the horrible details of what happened upstairs (and the curious actions and statements both of and by Mr. Hamm, following his departure from the home), SPN testified, "I woke up just as my father finished murdering the last two boys." Undoubtedly a bloody, sweaty mess (following his allegedly 'unsuccessfully fighting his Dad's Spirit,' as the latter bludgeoned the kids and dog!), SPN said, "I went to the bathroom, washed myself up, changed clothes, got in the car and drove to Ann's hotel." Details of what SPN said to Ann upon his arrival is mentioned elsewhere in this forum. For some reason, though, he forgot to take/wear his glasses on the trip yet he managed to get there safely in a nighttime winter storm. SPN wore thick bifocals due to his being severely nearsighted and farsighted. How he safely navigated from Rockford to Milwaukee remains a real mystery! As an aside, it is also interesting that Mr. Hamm's presence at SPN's house was never brought up by the defense at trial. However, when questioned by authorities in Wisconsin (later in Illinois) as they routinely went over SPN's activities for the last 24 hours prior to being taken into custody, and asked about whom he had watch the kids while running errands [in Rockford], he replied, "Doug [Mr. Hamm], "babysat the kids for a short time Friday night."

So Ralph (and anyone who wondered too), I hope this lengthy 3-part reply helps answer your question/s about who was in the house (and when) during that fateful evening/early morning of Friday, January 6th and Saturday, January 7th, 1978. To those with more specific questions (or information you can share with me too), please do not hesitate to contact me at [e-mail]. I've been fighting a severe, chronic pain condition for most of the last 8+ months and only now am I getting to where I can again resume daily Emails, IMs, etc.(after several false starts this year). I look forward to hearing from others.

BEST WISHES TO ALL READERS!~ Ed L.

[jane from Rockford]

Ed did you hear about his parole hearing being postpone until August which is this month.? I assume he was denied but I never like to assume anything

[Ed in Columbia Maryland]

jane from Rockford wrote:

Ed did you hear about his parole hearing being postpone until August which is this month.? I assume he was denied but I never like to assume anything

Hi Jane ~

I think you may be mixed up on the year. In May 2011, Nelson's parole hearing's decision was supposed to be ruled on rather quickly, but it was delayed until August last year. It was my understanding then that he'll not be eligible for another hearing for 3 years, meaning he'll have to wait until sometime in 2014. Perhaps nature will run its course by then, doing society a favor, saving Illinois tax payers the expense, and sparing residents of Rockford (former and current) the agony of re-examining the horrific crime every time he tries getting free.~ Ed L.

[Ralph]

Thanks for the info. Ed. Sounds like you will have quite a book when it's finished. Sad to think only hours before the murders he was tellig Jenny he loved her and that everything would be alright.
Do you think Mr. Hamm was awakened when SPN came home and went into the basement? I think after SPN got his advance at 10:30 he drank, became angry & enraged. Could have had an alcolholic blackout and murdered them at 2:30 and left for Milwaukee at 4:30. Were the kids too scared of him to fight back? I don't think Mr. Hamm was there when they were murdered. Is that you opinion?

[OO7-A]

this is all bull, dan doyle framed nelson. if you think different, your a brainwashed fool.

[Neighbor]

OO7-A wrote:

this is all bull, dan doyle framed nelson. if you think different, your a brainwashed fool.

Who is that and why do u say that??

[Ed in Columbia Maryland]

Neighbor wrote:

<quoted text>
Who is that and why do u say that??

Hi Neighbor ~

I just read the comment written by someone overseas on September 20th, and it doesn't warrant a response. If you're asking who 'Dan Doyle' was, he was the lead prosecutor for the case against SPN. To say anyone was "framed" in the murders of the children is laughable at best. However, there is NOTHING funny about what happened that night. Further, how someone gets 'framed' after-the-fact is beyond me. Perhaps he meant "railroaded" or "was used as a scapegoat." The true mysteries or lingering, open questions surrounding the crime, stories told, and/or timeline, are well-known and largely identified in the posts above. The best thing to do in the face of ignorance is to simply "ignore" it - period.~ Ed L.

[Jill Johnson]

Machesney wrote:

Can anyone tell me where the children were buried? My wife & I would like to put flowers out for the children.

Calvary Cemetary in Rockford- far west side.

[china]

Why is this creep still alive. what a monster. Why do all the creepy people come to Rockford?

[OO7-A]

one can be "framed" after the fact, that is my understanding of the word, but "railroaded" or "scapegoated" is fine with me

[jccs4]

ObamaHater wrote:

I have no problem with the life sentence, but he should have gotten the chair for what he did to the dog. Now that was mean!

you are an I***t