{{Short description|Canadian serial killer (1906–1930)}} {{refimprove|date=July 2025}} {{Use Canadian English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox serial killer | image = Gordon Stewart Northcott booking photo from September 19, 1928.png | caption = Northcott in 1928 | birth_date = {{birth date|1906|11|09|mf=y}} | birth_place = Bladworth, Saskatchewan, Canada | death_date = {{death date and given age|1930|10|02|23|11|09|mf=y}} | death_place = San Quentin State Prison, California, U.S. | conviction = First degree murder (3 counts) (February 8, 1929) | sentence = Death (February 13, 1929) | victims = 3–20 | beginyear = 1926 | endyear = 1928 | states = California | apprehended = September 19, 1928 | criminal_status = Executed by hanging | known_for = Wineville Chicken Coop murders }} '''Gordon Stewart Northcott''' (November 9, 1906 – October 2, 1930) was a Canadian serial killer, child rapist, and child abductor who was convicted of the murders of three young boys in California, U.S., and confessed to the murders of nine in total. He was executed on October 2, 1930.
==Biography== Gordon Stewart Northcott was born in Bladworth, Saskatchewan and raised in British Columbia. He had an early fondness for animals, particularly ducks and rabbits. His father later described Northcott as "an abnormal boy, both physically and mentally". Northcott's mother insisted that her son wore dresses and played with dolls until his mid-teens.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1928 |title=Pathological study |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregon-daily-journal/182361053/ |work=The Oregeon Daily Journal |pages=4}}</ref> He moved to Los Angeles with his parents in 1924.
Northcott asked his father to purchase a plot of land in Wineville, California. On this land, he built a chicken ranch and a house with the help of his father—who was in the construction business—and his nephew, Sanford Clark. It was under this pretext that Northcott brought Sanford from Canada to the United States.
Police and press commonly referred to Northcott as "Ape Man" in reports, due to both his father and nephew taking note of his excessive body hair.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1928 |title='Ape Boy' Sought In Killings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bee-ape-boy-sought/208549/ |work=The Bee |pages=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gordon Stewart Northcott |url=https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/id/10002/ |access-date= |website=Los Angeles Public Library}}</ref><ref>The 'Ape Man' Has Confessed To Killing Four" (December 4, 1928); Navasota Daily Examiner p. 3, Vol. 31, No. 254, Ed. 1</ref>
==Wineville Chicken Coop murders== {{Main|Wineville Chicken Coop murders}} While residing at his chicken ranch, Northcott abducted an undetermined number of boys and sexually abused them. Typically, after abusing a victim, he would drive the boy home and let him go. However, he murdered some of them at the ranch.
The police in Canada arrested Northcott and his mother on September 19, 1928.<ref>{{cite news|title = Murder Farm' Fugitive Held: Young Northcott Arrested by Canadian Police Mother Also Believed to be in Their Custody Blood Found on Suspects' Ranch Called Human|work = Los Angeles Times|date = September 20, 1928|url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/368263112.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+20%2C+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A1&desc=MURDER+FARM%27+FUGITIVE+HELD|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130104110754/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/368263112.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+20,+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A1&desc=MURDER+FARM'+FUGITIVE+HELD|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 4, 2013|accessdate = 2010-04-24 }}</ref> Due to errors in the extradition paperwork, they were not returned to Los Angeles until November 30.<ref>{{cite news|title =Error in Extradition Papers to Delay Northcott's Return: Officers Go On To See Suspect State Aides Discover Flaws in Legal Documents Burying Alive Charge Laid to Sanford Clark Examination Continues of "Death Farm" Clews|work = Los Angeles Times|date = September 26, 1928|url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/368281002.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+26%2C+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A2&desc=Error+in+Extradition+Papers+to+Delay+Northcott%27s+Return|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130131201004/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/368281002.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+26,+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A2&desc=Error+in+Extradition+Papers+to+Delay+Northcott's+Return|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 31, 2013|accessdate = 2010-04-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Youth's Nerves At High Tension: Northcott Embarrassed on Debarking from Train Request for Picture Brings Defiant Refusal Prisoner Lodged in Cell That Housed Hickman|work = Los Angeles Times|date = November 30, 1928|url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/367450522.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+1%2C+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A2&desc=YOUTH%27S+NERVES+AT+HIGH+TENSION|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130201015349/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/367450522.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+1,+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1923-Current+File)&edition=&startpage=A2&desc=YOUTH'S+NERVES+AT+HIGH+TENSION|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 1, 2013|accessdate = 2010-04-24 }}</ref> Northcott was implicated in the murder of Walter Collins, but because Northcott's mother had confessed to murdering Collins and had been sentenced for it, the state chose not to prosecute Northcott in that murder.<ref>{{cite book|first=James Jeffrey|last=Paul|title=Nothing is Strange with You: The Life and Crimes of Gordon Stewart Northcott|year=2008|publisher=Xlibris|location=Bloomington, Indiana|isbn=978-1436366267|page=141}}</ref>
It was speculated that Northcott may have killed as many as 20 boys, but the state of California could not produce evidence to support that allegation. Ultimately, the state only brought an indictment against Northcott for the murders of an unidentified underage Mexican national, later to be identified as Alvin Gothea—known as the "Headless Mexican"—and the brothers Lewis and Nelson Winslow (aged 12 and 10, respectively).<ref>{{cite news|title = Northcott Convicted of Slaying Three Boys; His Last Dramatic Plea Fails to Move Jury|work = The New York Times|date = February 7, 1929|url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB061EFE3E5A167A93CAA91789D85F4D8285F9|accessdate = January 16, 2008 }}</ref> The brothers had been reported missing from Pomona on May 16, 1928.<ref>{{cite web|last = Wetsch|first = Elisabeth|title = Chicken Murders|publisher = Serial Killer Crime Index|year = 1995|url = http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/N/NORTHCOTT_gordon_stewart.php|accessdate = 2008-01-26|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120106024432/http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/N/NORTHCOTT_gordon_stewart.php|archive-date = 2012-01-06|url-status = dead}}</ref>
In early 1929, Northcott's trial was held before Judge George R. Freeman in Riverside County, California. The jury heard that he kidnapped, molested, tortured, and murdered the Winslow brothers and Alvin Gothea in 1928. On February 8, Northcott was convicted of those murders. On February 13, Freeman sentenced him to death.<ref>{{cite news|title = Northcott put in Doomed Row: Slayer Becomes No. 46,597 at San Quentin Meeting With "Mother" May be Arranged Later Youth "Wisecracks" About Forthcoming Hanging|work = Los Angeles Times|date = February 13, 1929|url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/369683682.html?dids=369683682:369683682&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+13%2C+1929&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=NORTHCOTT+PUT+IN+DOOMED+ROW|accessdate = 2008-01-26|archive-date = 2008-10-09|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081009202725/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/369683682.html?dids=369683682:369683682&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+13%2C+1929&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=NORTHCOTT+PUT+IN+DOOMED+ROW|url-status = dead}}</ref> He was hanged on October 2, 1930,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Kurz |first=John |date=1988-12-15 |title=Mira Loma History, Riverside County, California: Wineville Chicken Murders |url=http://www.usacitiesonline.com/camiralomahistory.htm |accessdate=2008-01-26 |publisher=Rubidoux Historical Society}}</ref> at San Quentin State Prison.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Healey |first1=Floyd J. |title=Northcott Executed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-northcott-executed/197152921/ |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=3 October 1930 |pages=1}}</ref> The rope failed to break Northcott's neck, resulting in it taking 13 minutes for him to die from strangulation.<ref name=":0" />{{Failed verification|date=December 2025|reason=Source only says the execution was carried out on October 2, 1930. Doesn't say the execution took place at San Quentin, or that the execution was botched. Not mentioned in other sources}}
==Popular culture== In 2008, Clint Eastwood directed the film ''Changeling'', in which Northcott was portrayed by Jason Butler Harner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.universalpictures.com/index.html|work=Universal Studios official website|access-date=30 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202232508/http://www.universalpictures.com/index.html|archive-date=2 February 2008|title=Changeling}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Susan|title=Changeling actor reveres his boss: Clint Eastwood|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=7 September 2008|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-changeling7-2008sep07,0,3529964.story|access-date=5 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011062508/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-changeling7-2008sep07,0,3529964.story|archive-date=11 October 2008}}</ref>
==See also== * List of serial killers in the United States * List of botched executions
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Northcott, Gordon Stewart}} Category:1906 births Category:1930 deaths Category:20th-century Canadian murderers Category:20th-century executions by California Category:Botched executions in the United States Category:Canadian male criminals Category:Canadian murderers of children Category:Canadian people executed in the United States Category:Canadian rapists Category:Executed Canadian serial killers Category:Murder in Riverside County, California Category:People convicted of murder by California Category:People executed by California by hanging Category:People from Saskatchewan Category:Inmates of San Quentin State Prison Category:Serial killers from Los Angeles Category:Violence against men in the United States