Bio

Allen Lee Nicklasson was born on July 25, 1972, in Kansas City, Missouri. His family life was troubled because he was raised in a fatherless home. His mother struggled with mental illness and worked as a stripper. She brought many different men into the house, and some of them physically abused her son.

Nicklasson experienced significant trauma as a child. He often went hungry and sometimes had to eat dog food for dinner. He was also exposed to his mother's drug use, as he witnessed her using heroin. He even recalled a time when she forced him to fight a Doberman dog for money. These experiences left lasting scars, both physically and mentally. Nicklasson had a scar from where one man burned him, which was a reminder of the violence he faced.

As he grew older, Nicklasson struggled with his mental health. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and often found himself living in institutions for troubled youth due to his behavior. His teenage years were unstable, and he was in and out of boys' homes for various petty crimes. By his twenties, Nicklasson was homeless and had turned to drugs.

In 1994, while at a rehab center in Kansas City, he met Dennis Skillicorn, a man recently released from prison. Together with Tim DeGraffenreid, they decided to travel from Kansas City to St. Louis to buy drugs. 

Murder Story

In August 1994, Allen Nicklasson, along with Dennis Skillicorn and Tim DeGraffenreid, decided to travel from Kansas City to get illegal drugs. During their trip, their car broke down near Kingdom City, Missouri. To deal with the situation, they burglarized a nearby home, stealing firearms and money. After failing to repair their car, they continued to drive but broke down again.

While stranded, Richard Drummond, a 47-year-old man who worked for AT&T, saw them and stopped to help. The three men took advantage of his kindness. After putting a gun to Drummond’s head, they forced him to drive. They later ordered him off the highway into a secluded area. There, Nicklasson shot Drummond twice in the head. Drummond’s remains were discovered eight days later.

After this murder, Nicklasson and Skillicorn fled to Arizona, where their vehicle got stuck in the desert. They approached the home of another good Samaritan, Joseph Babcock, who was 47 years old. After Joseph offered to help them, Nicklasson killed him. Charlene Babcock, Joseph's wife, was also murdered at their home.

Following their crimes, both Nicklasson and Skillicorn were arrested and later convicted of first-degree murder. Nicklasson received a death sentence in Missouri for his role in Drummond's death. Skillicorn was executed in May 2009, while Nicklasson's execution took place on December 11, 2013, through lethal injection. DeGraffenreid was sentenced for second-degree murder and did not receive the death penalty.