Vanessa Richardson

By the time he reached high school, the boy had multiple skull fractures and was blind in one eye. Vaughn's cognitive impairment made school difficult, and according to a 2011 biography, he skipped class constantly. The author, Mel Ayton, described him escaping into fantasy stories and said that fairy tales and westerns were his favorite.

By the time he reached high school, the boy had multiple skull fractures and was blind in one eye. Vaughn's cognitive impairment made school difficult, and according to a 2011 biography, he skipped class constantly. The author, Mel Ayton, described him escaping into fantasy stories and said that fairy tales and westerns were his favorite.

In high school, he became obsessed with religion and compulsively read the Bible and other spiritual texts. Around the same time in the mid-1960s, Alabama became a battleground for the national civil rights movement. When his high school was desegregated in 1965, 15-year-old Vaughn was angered by the sight of black teenagers sitting next to him in class.

In high school, he became obsessed with religion and compulsively read the Bible and other spiritual texts. Around the same time in the mid-1960s, Alabama became a battleground for the national civil rights movement. When his high school was desegregated in 1965, 15-year-old Vaughn was angered by the sight of black teenagers sitting next to him in class.

He delved deeper into the writings of white supremacist Christian sects, and when he was 17, he stole a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf from the Mobile Public Library. Soon after that, he dropped out of high school and joined the American Nazi Party and the Ku Klux Klan. He became convinced that Jewish people were conspiring with Black Americans to take over the country.

He delved deeper into the writings of white supremacist Christian sects, and when he was 17, he stole a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf from the Mobile Public Library. Soon after that, he dropped out of high school and joined the American Nazi Party and the Ku Klux Klan. He became convinced that Jewish people were conspiring with Black Americans to take over the country.

And he believed he needed to take matters into his own hands. In 1973, James Clayton Vaughan changed his name. He started calling himself Joseph Paul, after Nazi propagandist Paul Joseph Goebbels, and Franklin after Benjamin Franklin. He'd fantasized about murdering Black and Jewish people for years. Now, with this new identity, he seemed ready to bring those bloody thoughts to fruition.

And he believed he needed to take matters into his own hands. In 1973, James Clayton Vaughan changed his name. He started calling himself Joseph Paul, after Nazi propagandist Paul Joseph Goebbels, and Franklin after Benjamin Franklin. He'd fantasized about murdering Black and Jewish people for years. Now, with this new identity, he seemed ready to bring those bloody thoughts to fruition.

He committed his first known murders in August 1977, when he shot an interracial couple in Madison, Wisconsin. Franklin then crisscrossed the United States, targeting people who were Black, Jewish, or who appeared to be in an interracial relationship. He continued to roam the country like this for over three years, living off of bank robberies and blood plasma donations.

He committed his first known murders in August 1977, when he shot an interracial couple in Madison, Wisconsin. Franklin then crisscrossed the United States, targeting people who were Black, Jewish, or who appeared to be in an interracial relationship. He continued to roam the country like this for over three years, living off of bank robberies and blood plasma donations.

Franklin attacked at least two more interracial couples and allegedly attempted to assassinate Vernon Jordan, a prominent civil rights activist. He also reportedly ambushed Larry Flint, the publisher of Hustler magazine, because one edition depicted interracial sex. In 1980, the year Nancy and Vicki were murdered, Franklin's crimes reached a fever pitch.

Franklin attacked at least two more interracial couples and allegedly attempted to assassinate Vernon Jordan, a prominent civil rights activist. He also reportedly ambushed Larry Flint, the publisher of Hustler magazine, because one edition depicted interracial sex. In 1980, the year Nancy and Vicki were murdered, Franklin's crimes reached a fever pitch.

Within two months, he shot two black children in Cincinnati, murdered an interracial couple in Pennsylvania, and killed two black joggers in Salt Lake City. By this point, law enforcement departments across the country had connected the attacks.

Within two months, he shot two black children in Cincinnati, murdered an interracial couple in Pennsylvania, and killed two black joggers in Salt Lake City. By this point, law enforcement departments across the country had connected the attacks.

They knew that the killer visited blood banks frequently and had a prominent tattoo of the Grim Reaper on his right arm, so they issued a nationwide alert. In October 1980, an employee at a Florida blood bank quietly recognized the menacing tattoo as Franklin rolled up his sleeve. The FBI was called and Franklin was arrested soon after.

They knew that the killer visited blood banks frequently and had a prominent tattoo of the Grim Reaper on his right arm, so they issued a nationwide alert. In October 1980, an employee at a Florida blood bank quietly recognized the menacing tattoo as Franklin rolled up his sleeve. The FBI was called and Franklin was arrested soon after.

He would ultimately be convicted of eight murders, although he's believed to have killed as many as 20 people. Franklin was imprisoned at a federal facility in Illinois. Even though he'd confessed to a few crimes, no one knew exactly how many murders he'd actually committed in those three years. Investigators from all over clamored to speak with him, including special agents from Wisconsin.

He would ultimately be convicted of eight murders, although he's believed to have killed as many as 20 people. Franklin was imprisoned at a federal facility in Illinois. Even though he'd confessed to a few crimes, no one knew exactly how many murders he'd actually committed in those three years. Investigators from all over clamored to speak with him, including special agents from Wisconsin.

They wanted to know if he'd killed a female hitchhiker whose body had been left in a state park. And to their surprise, he admitted to it instantly. While on the subject of hitchhikers, he then admitted to killing two women in West Virginia in the summer of 1980. The Wisconsin agent pressed for more details. Franklin said that he was on his way from North Carolina to Kentucky on June 25, 1980.

They wanted to know if he'd killed a female hitchhiker whose body had been left in a state park. And to their surprise, he admitted to it instantly. While on the subject of hitchhikers, he then admitted to killing two women in West Virginia in the summer of 1980. The Wisconsin agent pressed for more details. Franklin said that he was on his way from North Carolina to Kentucky on June 25, 1980.