Bio

George Howard Putt, also known as Buster, was born in 1946 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father was a petty criminal who often drifted away from home and was physically abusive when present. When George was just three months old, his father was arrested for cruelty to a minor, having severely beaten him with a leather strap.

Putt's family moved frequently during his childhood. In January 1947, he was left with a family friend in Tupelo, Mississippi, where he stayed without hearing from his parents for a year. By 1954, both of his parents were imprisoned for forgery, and George, along with his six siblings, was sent to live with their grandparents in Richmond, Virginia.

Life with his grandparents was not stable either. In November 1957, George and an older brother were caught for shooting out a neighbor's windows with a stolen air rifle. His grandparents, frustrated with their behavior, sent George and four of his brothers to a rural orphanage, where strict religious discipline was enforced, often with beatings. George struggled with discipline during his time there and eventually was expelled after running away twice.

After his expulsion, he was placed in the Richmond Home for Boys. It was here that he suffered a serious injury during a football game when he was kicked in the forehead. As a result, he began to experience unusual behavior, including sleepwalking, blackouts, and violent seizures. Following this incident, he was arrested for attacking two young girls, which revealed a troubling pattern of behavior.

Psychological evaluations of Putt indicated a concerning interest in violence, and authorities considered placing him in a mental institution. However, Putt escaped from custody and, after being diagnosed with a sociopathic personality, was deemed fit for trial. By the end of 1961, he had escaped again and committed a series of more serious offenses, including kidnapping and robbery in Virginia and Texas.

When he turned 21, Putt was released from a maximum-security juvenile facility and moved back to Tupelo, Mississippi, where he briefly worked as a hospital orderly. His life continued to deteriorate; he was fired for stealing money and involved in several other thefts. In the fall of 1967, he married a woman in Mississippi but exhibited violent jealousy and aggressive behavior.

In October 1968, Putt was arrested in Memphis after attacking a woman. His life of crime escalated significantly in 1969 when he began a series of violent crimes that would change many lives forever.

Murder Story

George Howard Putt's murder spree took place over a short period in 1969, specifically from August 14 to September 11. His first victims were Roy Dumas, 58, and Bernalyn Dumas, 46. They were found in their home, bound and strangled in a brutal manner. Bernalyn was also sexually assaulted and mutilated. On August 25, Putt killed an 80-year-old widow named Leila Jackson, who was found in a similar state, having been strangled and mutilated.

The third victim, Glenda Harden, a 21-year-old, was abducted on August 30 and killed in Riverside Park. Her body showed signs of having been stabbed fourteen times. The community was filled with fear as detectives struggled to find leads in this case.

Putt's final victim was Christine Pickens, 59. On September 11, he attacked her in her apartment. Neighbors heard her screams and alerted the police. Putt fled the scene, but was pursued and eventually arrested. When caught, he was found with blood on him and confessed to all five murders within 48 hours.

He was tried for his crimes, starting with the murder of Christine Pickens, for which he was sentenced to death in 1970. This sentence was later commuted to 99 years when the death penalty was deemed unconstitutional. In 1973, he was convicted for the murders of the Dumas couple, which added an additional 398 years to his sentence. In total, George Howard Putt was sentenced to 497 years in prison. He remains behind bars and has faced multiple parole hearings.

Putt died October 26, 2015 at Lois DeBerry Special Needs Facility of natural causes.