If you cant take reading about horrendous child abuse, and a mother capable of it, id skip this book. Theresa lost her mother, swannie cross at 15 to a heart attack. This book is very much like the scene of a car accident or train wreck. In june 1985, theresa cross knorr dumped her daughter sheilas body in californias desolate high sierra. She pulled her daughter closer to examine the wound, but her only concern was to see where the bullet had entered the body. Sheila knorr daughter suesan knorr daughter fortunates. Theresa knorrs childhood was not a very pleasant one and may have contributed to the kind of personality she grew up to become. That story is all here, the shocking life of a woman whose violence, jealousy, rage, and domination led to a brutally heinous crime of ruthless ferocity. At a young age knorr s father was disabled because of parkinsons disease, leaving only her mother to work. Terry knorr daughter theresa knorr was a woman who craved attention. Its horrifying and you know that you shouldnt look, but you cant help yourself.
When her mother died in 1961, she went into a depression. Such is the case of theresa knorr, a mother and serial child abuser who murdered two of her daughtersand forced her two sons to help. It tells the tale of a theresa sanders,a young wife and mother of 1, living in sacramento, california and married to howard sanders. Theresa knorr biography facts, childhood, family life. The 5foot, 4inch, 250pound knorr, who has been married. The true story of theresa cross knorr, the twisted child abuser who murdered two of her own daughterswith the help of her sons. But accused of imprisoning her children in a house of horrors. General information sex female race white number of victims 3 country where killing occurred united states states where killing occurred california.
In june 1985, theresa cross knorr dumped her daughter sheilas body in. Buy a cheap copy of mothers day book by dennis mcdougal. Jul 01, 2015 the true story of theresa knorr, the twisted child abuser who murdered her daughterswith the help of her sonstold by a former new york times reporter. At the time wensley wrote the book the mother from hell aka whatever mother says theresa knorr s trial hearing had not reached its conclusion. Clinically, like the nurse she had once been, theresa tried to rip the clothes off wounded suesan. Theresa jimmie francine knorr nee cross was born on march 12, 1946, in sacramento to james jim cross and swannie gay. By the time a sixth child, theresa terry, was born on august 5, 1970, at the sutter memorial hospital, theresa knorr had already separated from her husband robert. A true story of a mother, madness and murder by wesley clarkson. Whatever mother says by wensley clarkson, paperback barnes.
Theresa was a very controlling mother and would hand out vicious beatings upon her children when drunk, escalating in severity as the years went on. Theresa knorr was the first one to snap out of her trance. She physically assaulted her children, verbally abused them, and played all kinds of harmful emotional games with them. Whatever mother says a true story of a mother, madness. Whatever mother says a true story of a mother, madness and. And theresa knorr, 47, was arrested wednesday in salt lake city, where she was taking care of an 85yearold woman and sharing her house. Theresa knorr, fodd theresa jimmie francine cross 12 mars 1946 i sacramento, kalifornien, usa, ar en domd mordare, kand for att ha misshandlat och mordat. She was the youngest child in the family and very devoted to her mother. About me the true story of terry knorr by theresa walker terry knorr on wednesday, april, 2011 at 3. At the time of her arrest, knorr was using her maiden name of cross and was working as a caretaker for her landlords 86yearold mother.
The gruesome true story of a murderous modernday medea in june of 1985, theresa cross knorr, with the help of her teenage sons, dumped the body of her daughter sheila in california. For nearly nine years, theresa cross knorr got away with murder, until her youngest daughter, terry knorr graves, finally found a cop who believed the incredible story of her two murdered sisters. Raising her five kids alone in a rundown section of sacramento, theresa cross knorr seemed like the ultimate. Theresa marie terry knorr walker 19702011 find a grave. She had a possessive nature, however, and eventually drove her men into the arms of other women. The true crime book of the year one of the most fascinating. July 16th, 19621963knorr marries clifford sanders and gives birth to howard sanders at the age of. At the end of september that year, their divorce was finalized. Nov 29, 2008 the story of theresa knorr and her family is a shocking and disturbing one indeed. Mothers day by dennis mcdougal 1995, paperback for sale. Theresa knorr all too frequently became the last line of defense against her illtempered husband. Raising her five kids alone in a rundown section of sacramento, theresa cross knorr seemed. While at a grocery store, knorr s mother had a heart attack and died in her arms. Theresa knorr was born on march 14, 1946 to jim and swannie gay cross in sacramento, california.
Several books, movies, and television series have been written about her and her criminal exploits. Lately ive been very interested about this case and found out there are three books on it. However, the darkness and insanity inside of her had taken over knorr, making her kill her own family. Such is the case of theresa knorr, a mother and serial child abuser who. The gruesome true story of a murderous modernday medea in june of 1985, theresa cross knorr, with the help of her teenage sons, dumped the body of her daughter sheila in californias desolate high sierra. March 14th, 1946theresa cross knorr is born in sacramento, ca, to james cross and swannie gay. Theresa cross knorr is capable of killing her own children. She was born as theresa jimmie francine cross on march 14, 1946. Knorr, who has been married five times, was using her maiden name, theresa cross. She fell quickly for any man who made her the centre of his world, and married him just as quickly. Im hoping that by writing this down, i can, not only help myself, but can be help to others. As a wife, she killed one husband and divorced two others.
Theresa was not just a bad mother, she was a cruel and abusive one. She was the second child born to her parents who were james cross and swannie gay. Horrific mother theresa cross knorr not only killed her daughters, but also had help from her sons. Theresa cross was a toxic mother, but the maternity myth blinded, deafened, and silenced those that might have stopped her. Theresa knorr nee cross watching true crime stories.
Suggested books for victimology classes child abuse. Theresa knorr was born theresa jimmie cross in sacramento, california. Read on for an excerpt of mothers day and then buy the book. Theresa knorr born march 14, 1946 is an american woman convicted of torturing and murdering two of her children while using the others to facilitate her crimes. Her father, jim cross, was an assistant cheese maker at sacramentos golden state dairy, and her mother, swannie gay cross, worked at a local lumber company. Ridgeway characterized theresa s crimes as callousness beyond belief, and sentenced her to two consecutive life sentences. The 5foot, 4inch, 250pound knorr, who has been married five times, was using her maiden name, theresa cross. Im the only survivoring daughter of serial killer theresa jimmie knorr cross. Im hoping that by writing this down, i can, not only help myself, but can be help. As a mother, she was a horrific individual who abused her daughters, and eventually killed both of them, burning one alive. Whatever mother says a true story of a mother madness and. With money saved, the cross family purchased a bigger home in nearby rio linda.
The crosses lived a relatively happy life in the early 1950s. At a young age knorrs father was disabled because of parkinsons disease, leaving only her mother to work. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Suggested books for victimology classes child abuse 1. The dennis mcdougal true crime collection bookshare.
Theresa also had two stepsiblings, william and clara, both out of swannies first marriage. The true story of theresa knorr, the twisted child abuser who murdered her daughterswith the help of her sonstold by a former new yor. It would be almost a decade after these horrific crimes before her youngest daughter, terry knorr graves, revealed her mothers history of unfathomable violence. Martins true crime library by wensley clarkson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Raising her five kids alone in a rundown section of sacramento, theresa cross knorr seemed like the ultimate survivor. Theresa knorr is arrested in salt lake city where she is working as an inhome care nurse. Newly divorced,and still trying to get over the abuse from childhood,and marriage. The famous criminal was born theresa jimmie francine cross in sacramento on march 12, 1946. Jul 06, 2014 theresa knorr was born theresa jimmie cross in sacramento, california. Victimology book list division on women and crime raising her five kids alone in a rundown section of sacramento, theresa cross knorr seemed like the ultimate survivor. Jul 14, 2014 whats the best book about theresa knorr. Theresa jimmie knorr born march 14, 1946 is an american woman convicted of torturing and murdering two of her children while using the others to facilitate and cover up her crimes. Theresa, a loner and jealous of her sister rosemary, competed for her mothers attention. Theresa was the younger of two daughters born to the couple.
According to statements from the surving children, life at the knorr home was less than happy. For nearly nine years, theresa cross knorr got away with murder, until her youngest daughter, terry knorr graves, finally found a cop who believed the incredible story of her two murdered sistersthat story is all here, the shocking life of a woman whose violence, jealousy, rage, and domination led to a brutally heinous crime of ruthless ferocity. Journalist dennis mcdougal reveals the terrifying truth of a child abuser who tortured and murdered two of her daughters before her youngest daughter. Mothers day and millions of other books are available for instant access. But her youngest daughter, 16yearold terry, told police another story. The story of theresa knorr and her family is a shocking and disturbing one indeed. Dennis donegal tells the true story of theresa cross knorr. Theresa knorr murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. This plunged her into severe depression due to her very close affinity with her mom. The publisher of this book allows a portion of the content to. I have been married several times and always end in divorce.
At the age of 16, she married clifford clyde sanders. Sep 03, 2011 theresa knorrborn march 14, 1946 is an american woman convicted of torturing and murdering two of her children while using the others to facilitate her crimes. The knorrs have not publicly discussed the allegations since being charged, and. Publisher description the true story of theresa knorr, the twisted child abuser who murdered her daughterswith the help of her sonstold by a former new york times reporter. On the 17th october 2005 she was sentenced to two life sentences for themurders of suesan and sheila, her flesh and blood. Suesan knorr, theresa knorr, robert knorr, william knorr, theresa sanders. Seasoned true crime author dennis mcdougal examines the chilling case of theresa knorr, her six children, and the horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of their mother in mothers day.
She grew more malicious, bitter, and hottempered with every passing day. Jan 29, 2019 made doubly horrific by the fact that she enlisted the help of her sons to cover up the murders of their two sisters, theresa cross knorr shot her daughter suesan and then attempted to cut out the bullet with a knifeinfecting the wound. She is currently serving two consecutive life sentences at the california institution for women in chino, california. The true story of theresa knorr, the twisted child abuser who murdered her daughterswith the help of her sonstold by a former new york times reporter. And not just that, but also capable of making certain they were hideously tortured before they finally found that final peace. Mothers day was a fascinating look at mental illness, abuse, murder, and the very worst of human nature. According to the 1995 book mothers day, by dennis mcdougal, theresa jimmie francine cross was born on march 12, 1946. Theresa knorr monster mother killers without conscience.
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