CRIME FILES

RICHARD SPECK, THE MASS MURDERER OF EAST DALLAS

It was 50 years ago this month that a sensational mass murder took place in Chicago, making headlines around the world.

The killer, who stabbed and strangled eight nursing students the night of July 13, 1966, was reared in our neighborhood.

Richard Speck grew up in Old East Dallas and attended J.L. Long Middle School. He dropped out of Crozier Tech High School in ninth grade. He had worked for the Dallas Parks Department and 7-Up. Old newspaper stories say he lived on Reiger and on Terry Avenue prior to the vicious crime.

After being arrested a staggering 41 times in Dallas, Speck moved to Illinois four months before he committed the murders.

Speck’s Dallas rap sheet included forging a check at Minyard’s, 6015 Lindsley. He stole 57 cartons of cigarettes and 14 six packs of beer burglarizing McKee Food Store off Live Oak. He was out on parole for those crimes in January 1965 when he attacked 28-year-old Sarah Wadsworth with a 17-inch knife behind her home at El Dubo Apartments, 5315 Junius.

A Dallas County judge sentenced Speck to 490 days (almost 17 months) in jail; he served five months of that sentence when his parole was revoked, and he was sent back to the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the earlier robbery and burglary. But upon his release July 2, 1965, Dallas County failed to call him back to finish serving the 12 months or so left on his sentence for the assault.

If they had, he might’ve been behind bars in July 1966.

As it happened, Speck’s sister Carolyn Wilson drove him to the Greyhound station in downtown Dallas and put him on a bus to Illinois, where he had family, in March 1966. Dallas police were looking for him after they’d caught bootleggers selling 70 stolen cartons of cigarettes out of the trunk of Speck’s car at A&M Grocery and Market, 5641 Culver.

If she hadn’t done that, this might be a different story. — RACHEL STONE

July 4

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA

Little Forest Hills offers its own Independence Day parade and festival beginning at 9 a.m. Floats head out of the parking lot of the Promise of Peace Community Garden and make their way to Casa Linda Park.

San Saba, lfh4thofjulyparade.webstarts.com, free

July 8

DISCO FEVER

Eager to introduce your kids to classic tunes and for your kids to give you a taste of modern pop? Head to Disco Kids where there will be music, food trucks and even silly string.

It’ll Do Dallas, 4322 Elm, 214.827.7236, facebook.com/ItllDoClub, $5+

July 10

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Gives Dallas runners a challenge with this 5k or 15k. Do you think you have what it takes or is it “too hot to handle?”

Norbuck Park at White Rock Lake, runproject.org, $24-$64

July 12

POUR YOURSELF INTO HISTORY

Drink up a little bit of Dallas history while sipping on cocktails. The Dallas Historical Society offerings this chance to learn about Dallas’ most interesting places. San Francisco Rose, 3024 Greenville., 214.826.2020, sanfranciscorose.net, free

July 19

‘THE AUDIENCE’

In a rare appearance, catch Helen Mirren as the queen, live and on the big screen, in her Tony-winning performance of “The Audience” at the Angelika Film Center & Café.

Angelika Film Center & Café, 5321 E. Mockingbird, Suite 230, 972.943.1300, angelikafilmcenter.com, $20

July 1-24

‘PINKALICOUS’

For anything and everything pink, look no further than “Pinkalicous, The Musical.” Based on the book, the musical returns to Dallas Children’s Theater by popular demand.

Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman, 214.978.0110, dct.org, $22-$28

July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

FAMILY FUN FRIDAYS

It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to the Dallas Arboretum. Each Friday, the Arboretum has face painting, a petting zoo, silhouette artist Micki Triggs and music.

Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland, 214.515.6500, dallasarboretum.org, $10-$15

July 2-July 23

‘RICHARD III’

What pairs wells with a nice picnic on the grass? Shakespeare in the Park’s “Richard III.” Prepare yourself for a night full of “the all-consuming nature of the desire for power.”

Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre, 1500 Tenison Parkway, 214.559.2778, shakespearedallas.org, $7-$15

July 4

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

One of Lakewood’s biggest events of the year, the Fourth of July parade, is all about dreaming big. Enjoy the floats, old vehicles and dancing troupes on Lakewood Boulevard at 10 a.m. Lakewood Boulevard and Cambria, lakewoodparade.com, free quigleyac.com

972.441.7052