Glennon Engleman

Glennon Edward Engleman

Glennon Engleman was an American dentist and serial killer who led a double life, working professionally in his dental practice while secretly committing murders for financial gain. Engleman's criminal activities spanned several decades, from the 1950s until his arrest in the 1980s, making him one of the most notorious criminals in American history.

Early Life

Glennon Engleman was born on February 6, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri. Little is known about his early life, but he served in the United States Army during World War II. After his military service, Engleman pursued an education in dentistry, eventually establishing his own dental practice in St. Louis.

Crimes

Engleman's modus operandi involved befriending individuals, often women, who stood to inherit substantial amounts of money or owned valuable property. He would then orchestrate their murders, making the deaths appear accidental or due to natural causes, to ensure that the inheritance or property would be passed on to his accomplices or himself. Engleman would sometimes personally commit the murders or hire hitmen to do the job. His crimes were meticulously planned, involving detailed knowledge of his victims' lives and finances.

One of Engleman's most notorious murders was the killing of James Bullock, the son of a wealthy couple, in 1958. Engleman had convinced Bullock's wife to participate in the crime, promising her a share of the inheritance. Bullock's death was initially ruled as an accident, allowing Engleman and his accomplice to profit from the crime.

Arrest and Conviction

Glennon Engleman's criminal activities came to an end in the early 1980s when one of his accomplices, fearing for her own life, decided to cooperate with the authorities. This led to Engleman's arrest and subsequent trial. In 1980, he was convicted of multiple counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Death

Glennon Engleman died on March 3, 1999, in the Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri. He was 72 years old. Despite his death, the full extent of Engleman's crimes remains unknown, with investigators believing he may have been responsible for more murders than those for which he was convicted.

Legacy

The case of Glennon Engleman highlights the chilling reality that individuals capable of extreme violence can hide behind a facade of normalcy and professionalism. His life and crimes have been the subject of various true crime books and documentaries, serving as a grim reminder of the capacity for evil in seemingly ordinary individuals.