Inside the Unsolved Hendricks Family Murders: Evidence, Trial, and a Shocking Acquittal | David Hendricks

On November 7, 1983, David Hendricks, a businessman and father of three, claimed he left his home in Bloomington, Illinois, for a work trip after spending an evening with his family. However, upon his return, he discovered that his wife, Susan, and their three young children had been brutally murdered in their home. What followed was an intense investigation that led to his arrest and eventual conviction, though he maintained his innocence throughout.

David Hendricks was born in 1954 in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in a conservative Christian household, his religious beliefs deeply influenced his lifestyle. In 1973, he married Susan, and they had three children: Rebekah, Grace, and Benjamin. David became a successful businessman, founding CASH Manufacturing, Inc., a company producing orthopedic devices, including spinal braces.

On the night of November 7, 1983, Susan Hendricks left for a baby shower, while David took the children to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner. Afterward, they stopped by the bookmobile and returned home around 8:30 p.m. Susan arrived home later, and according to David, they briefly spoke before she went to bed.

David left for a business trip around 11 p.m., making several stops on his way to Wisconsin. Throughout the next day, David tried to contact his family but couldn’t reach them. Concerned, he asked a neighbor to check on them. When the neighbor found no response, David called the police to request a welfare check.

Late on November 8, police entered the Hendricks’ home to find a horrific crime scene. Susan and the children had been murdered in their beds. The children, Rebekah (9), Grace (7), and Benjamin (5), were brutally attacked with an ax and a butcher’s knife, both of which were found at the scene. Benjamin appeared to have suffered the most, suggesting he might have seen his killer.

Investigators noted the absence of defensive wounds on any of the victims, leading to the belief that they were asleep when attacked. The crime scene was eerily clean, with no signs of forced entry or struggle. One expert remarked that it was “the cleanest bloody crime scene” he had ever seen.

Despite no physical evidence linking David Hendricks to the murders, investigators grew suspicious of him due to his calm demeanor during the initial interviews. One officer said, “His reaction was so calm, it immediately raised red flags for us.” Further investigation revealed potential motive: David’s changing lifestyle, his interactions with female models hired for his business, and alleged conflicts between his religious beliefs and his behavior.

Prosecutors argued that David, burdened by guilt and a desire for a new life, killed his family to avoid, what he said was the sin of divorce. Testimonies from women who worked as models for David’s products claimed he made inappropriate advances during fittings, adding weight to the prosecution’s case.

One of the crucial pieces of evidence presented at trial was the undigested pizza found in the children’s stomachs. A forensic pathologist estimated their time of death to be around 9:30 p.m., contradicting David’s claim that he left after 11 p.m. However, the reliability of using stomach contents to determine time of death was later questioned.

In 1984, David Hendricks was convicted of the murders and sentenced to life in prison without parole. However, in 1991, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned his conviction, ruling that the testimony regarding his religious beliefs and alleged womanizing was prejudicial.

During the retrial, the prosecution was unable to use much of the previous testimony, and without it, the circumstantial evidence was insufficient to convict. On March 29, 1991, David Hendricks was acquitted and released from prison after serving seven years.

Following his release, David Hendricks rebuilt his life, eventually remarrying and starting a new family. He continued his work in the prosthetics industry and relocated to Florida. To this day, no one else has been charged with the murders of Susan, Rebekah, Grace, and Benjamin Hendricks.

The Hendricks family murders remain one of Illinois’ most perplexing cases. The lack of physical evidence, conflicting timelines, and overturned conviction have left many questions unanswered. Journalist Steve Vogel’s book Reasonable Doubt continues to spark debates about the case, with public opinion divided on whether Hendricks is guilty or innocent.

Though David Hendricks walks free, the murders of his family have never been solved, leaving a dark shadow over the legacy of the Hendricks family.

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