William was the son of Robert Kelly and Myrtle Lulu Morrison. He stood 6'2"--a tall height for the early 1900s. He attended Iowa Teachers College at Cedar Falls and became a schoolteacher. He wed on Christmas Day, 25 December 1929 at Logan, Harrison County, Iowa, to Leah Velma Jones; 1 son: William Kelly Jr "Billy".
The marriage went poorly. Tired of his physical abuse, Leah finally announced she was taking Billy and leaving. Angered, William grabbed a hammer and beat his wife and their young son to death.
At the end of August 1933, William E. Kelly was placed on trial for first degree murder. He pled guilty, and was sentenced to life in prison and sent to Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa.
William kept to himself and became a model inmate. He worked as a woodworker for several years, and then became a nighttime watchman, keeping an eye out for fires. He kept himself in shape and became a voracious reader. William also saved his money, eventually amassing $7000, a monumental sum for a prison worker.
When William finally did become eligible for parole in 1965, his former sisters-in-law testified to what he had done and helped to keep Kelly behind bars. Later, in 1978, he became eligible again. This time, his sentence was commuted by the Governor of Iowa.
William was released in 1978, but was uncomfortable with life outside prison walls. So much had changed since he was incarcerated in 1933 that he had a hard time adjusting.
He was given a place to live in Burlington, Iowa, by Earl Roberts, a former prison inmate who liked to help out newly-released inmates. Roberts and his wife even gave William a job as a janitor of an outdoor mall.
Just like prison had been in 1933, William had a hard time at first, but gradually began to adjust. Or so everyone thought.
Seven weeks after he had been paroled, William walked into the office of his parole officer, Mike McCullough, and asked to be sent back to prison. McCullough asked William to wait to decide until the following Wednesday. He knew there were other options, and wanted to help William out.
When Wednesday came, William walked into the office and began to slash at McCullough with a box cutter. The attack, while not fatal, gave the parole officer seventeen stitches and what would heal into an 8-inch scar across his neck.
Just as he had several decades before, Kelly stated that he was anxious to get on with the legal process and go back to prison. He didn’t bother explaining much else.
It didn’t take long for him to get what he wanted. William happily settled back into his old prison routine until 1982, when he was released a second time. This time, it was for good.
He moved to Des Moines, Iowa, living at a home for former prison inmates called the Hanson House of Hospitality. Kelly spent most of his time by himself, playing with his pet cat or watching the traffic go by through his window.
But, even after having paid for his crimes in the eyes of society and being a free man, he would still break down and cry when talking about murdering his family. Several people heard him talking to his dead wife while walking around the facilities.
William Kelly passed away in Des Moines at the age of 84. Although he died a free man, William had spent over 49 years behind bars, and in some ways, never left.
While he had been released from his cage, William was still very much haunted by the actions that he had committed all those years ago. He still wondered why he had chosen to kill his innocent son, and still tried to understand Leah’s murder by having imaginary conversations with her.
The marriage went poorly. Tired of his physical abuse, Leah finally announced she was taking Billy and leaving. Angered, William grabbed a hammer and beat his wife and their young son to death.
At the end of August 1933, William E. Kelly was placed on trial for first degree murder. He pled guilty, and was sentenced to life in prison and sent to Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa.
William kept to himself and became a model inmate. He worked as a woodworker for several years, and then became a nighttime watchman, keeping an eye out for fires. He kept himself in shape and became a voracious reader. William also saved his money, eventually amassing $7000, a monumental sum for a prison worker.
When William finally did become eligible for parole in 1965, his former sisters-in-law testified to what he had done and helped to keep Kelly behind bars. Later, in 1978, he became eligible again. This time, his sentence was commuted by the Governor of Iowa.
William was released in 1978, but was uncomfortable with life outside prison walls. So much had changed since he was incarcerated in 1933 that he had a hard time adjusting.
He was given a place to live in Burlington, Iowa, by Earl Roberts, a former prison inmate who liked to help out newly-released inmates. Roberts and his wife even gave William a job as a janitor of an outdoor mall.
Just like prison had been in 1933, William had a hard time at first, but gradually began to adjust. Or so everyone thought.
Seven weeks after he had been paroled, William walked into the office of his parole officer, Mike McCullough, and asked to be sent back to prison. McCullough asked William to wait to decide until the following Wednesday. He knew there were other options, and wanted to help William out.
When Wednesday came, William walked into the office and began to slash at McCullough with a box cutter. The attack, while not fatal, gave the parole officer seventeen stitches and what would heal into an 8-inch scar across his neck.
Just as he had several decades before, Kelly stated that he was anxious to get on with the legal process and go back to prison. He didn’t bother explaining much else.
It didn’t take long for him to get what he wanted. William happily settled back into his old prison routine until 1982, when he was released a second time. This time, it was for good.
He moved to Des Moines, Iowa, living at a home for former prison inmates called the Hanson House of Hospitality. Kelly spent most of his time by himself, playing with his pet cat or watching the traffic go by through his window.
But, even after having paid for his crimes in the eyes of society and being a free man, he would still break down and cry when talking about murdering his family. Several people heard him talking to his dead wife while walking around the facilities.
William Kelly passed away in Des Moines at the age of 84. Although he died a free man, William had spent over 49 years behind bars, and in some ways, never left.
While he had been released from his cage, William was still very much haunted by the actions that he had committed all those years ago. He still wondered why he had chosen to kill his innocent son, and still tried to understand Leah’s murder by having imaginary conversations with her.
William was the son of Robert Kelly and Myrtle Lulu Morrison. He stood 6'2"--a tall height for the early 1900s. He attended Iowa Teachers College at Cedar Falls and became a schoolteacher. He wed on Christmas Day, 25 December 1929 at Logan, Harrison County, Iowa, to Leah Velma Jones; 1 son: William Kelly Jr "Billy".
The marriage went poorly. Tired of his physical abuse, Leah finally announced she was taking Billy and leaving. Angered, William grabbed a hammer and beat his wife and their young son to death.
At the end of August 1933, William E. Kelly was placed on trial for first degree murder. He pled guilty, and was sentenced to life in prison and sent to Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa.
William kept to himself and became a model inmate. He worked as a woodworker for several years, and then became a nighttime watchman, keeping an eye out for fires. He kept himself in shape and became a voracious reader. William also saved his money, eventually amassing $7000, a monumental sum for a prison worker.
When William finally did become eligible for parole in 1965, his former sisters-in-law testified to what he had done and helped to keep Kelly behind bars. Later, in 1978, he became eligible again. This time, his sentence was commuted by the Governor of Iowa.
William was released in 1978, but was uncomfortable with life outside prison walls. So much had changed since he was incarcerated in 1933 that he had a hard time adjusting.
He was given a place to live in Burlington, Iowa, by Earl Roberts, a former prison inmate who liked to help out newly-released inmates. Roberts and his wife even gave William a job as a janitor of an outdoor mall.
Just like prison had been in 1933, William had a hard time at first, but gradually began to adjust. Or so everyone thought.
Seven weeks after he had been paroled, William walked into the office of his parole officer, Mike McCullough, and asked to be sent back to prison. McCullough asked William to wait to decide until the following Wednesday. He knew there were other options, and wanted to help William out.
When Wednesday came, William walked into the office and began to slash at McCullough with a box cutter. The attack, while not fatal, gave the parole officer seventeen stitches and what would heal into an 8-inch scar across his neck.
Just as he had several decades before, Kelly stated that he was anxious to get on with the legal process and go back to prison. He didn’t bother explaining much else.
It didn’t take long for him to get what he wanted. William happily settled back into his old prison routine until 1982, when he was released a second time. This time, it was for good.
He moved to Des Moines, Iowa, living at a home for former prison inmates called the Hanson House of Hospitality. Kelly spent most of his time by himself, playing with his pet cat or watching the traffic go by through his window.
But, even after having paid for his crimes in the eyes of society and being a free man, he would still break down and cry when talking about murdering his family. Several people heard him talking to his dead wife while walking around the facilities.
William Kelly passed away in Des Moines at the age of 84. Although he died a free man, William had spent over 49 years behind bars, and in some ways, never left.
While he had been released from his cage, William was still very much haunted by the actions that he had committed all those years ago. He still wondered why he had chosen to kill his innocent son, and still tried to understand Leah’s murder by having imaginary conversations with her.
The marriage went poorly. Tired of his physical abuse, Leah finally announced she was taking Billy and leaving. Angered, William grabbed a hammer and beat his wife and their young son to death.
At the end of August 1933, William E. Kelly was placed on trial for first degree murder. He pled guilty, and was sentenced to life in prison and sent to Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa.
William kept to himself and became a model inmate. He worked as a woodworker for several years, and then became a nighttime watchman, keeping an eye out for fires. He kept himself in shape and became a voracious reader. William also saved his money, eventually amassing $7000, a monumental sum for a prison worker.
When William finally did become eligible for parole in 1965, his former sisters-in-law testified to what he had done and helped to keep Kelly behind bars. Later, in 1978, he became eligible again. This time, his sentence was commuted by the Governor of Iowa.
William was released in 1978, but was uncomfortable with life outside prison walls. So much had changed since he was incarcerated in 1933 that he had a hard time adjusting.
He was given a place to live in Burlington, Iowa, by Earl Roberts, a former prison inmate who liked to help out newly-released inmates. Roberts and his wife even gave William a job as a janitor of an outdoor mall.
Just like prison had been in 1933, William had a hard time at first, but gradually began to adjust. Or so everyone thought.
Seven weeks after he had been paroled, William walked into the office of his parole officer, Mike McCullough, and asked to be sent back to prison. McCullough asked William to wait to decide until the following Wednesday. He knew there were other options, and wanted to help William out.
When Wednesday came, William walked into the office and began to slash at McCullough with a box cutter. The attack, while not fatal, gave the parole officer seventeen stitches and what would heal into an 8-inch scar across his neck.
Just as he had several decades before, Kelly stated that he was anxious to get on with the legal process and go back to prison. He didn’t bother explaining much else.
It didn’t take long for him to get what he wanted. William happily settled back into his old prison routine until 1982, when he was released a second time. This time, it was for good.
He moved to Des Moines, Iowa, living at a home for former prison inmates called the Hanson House of Hospitality. Kelly spent most of his time by himself, playing with his pet cat or watching the traffic go by through his window.
But, even after having paid for his crimes in the eyes of society and being a free man, he would still break down and cry when talking about murdering his family. Several people heard him talking to his dead wife while walking around the facilities.
William Kelly passed away in Des Moines at the age of 84. Although he died a free man, William had spent over 49 years behind bars, and in some ways, never left.
While he had been released from his cage, William was still very much haunted by the actions that he had committed all those years ago. He still wondered why he had chosen to kill his innocent son, and still tried to understand Leah’s murder by having imaginary conversations with her.
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