Bio

George Kent Wallace was born on February 13, 1941. He grew up in North Carolina. Not much is known about his early life, including his family background or school experiences. In 1986, he moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Before this, he lived in North Carolina for most of his life.

Wallace had a history of criminal behavior. In his younger years, he was known for violent acts. He had several convictions for incidents involving violence and was in and out of the criminal justice system. These experiences shaped his later actions and criminal activities.

By the time he was arrested in 1990, Wallace had become a well-known figure within law enforcement circles due to his past crimes. He worked as a truck driver. He used this profession to travel across state lines. Reports indicate that he also had a history of impersonating police officers, which he would later use to lure his victims.

Wallace's life before his criminal activities reached their peak remains largely undocumented. However, it is clear he would go on to become a notorious figure in American crime history, earning him the nickname "Mad Paddler."

Murder Story

On December 9, 1990, George Kent Wallace abducted Ross Allen Ferguson, an 18-year-old, in a grocery store parking lot in Van Buren, Arkansas. Posing as a police officer, he handcuffed Ferguson and took him to a remote area. There, he stabbed Ferguson multiple times. Ferguson managed to escape by pretending to be dead, overpowering Wallace, and driving away in Wallace’s vehicle.

Later that night, police arrested Wallace nearby. Ferguson identified him in a lineup. Wallace was charged with aggravated kidnapping and attempted murder. In the investigation, police linked Wallace to the murders of two teenage boys in Oklahoma: William Eric Domer, who disappeared in 1987, and Mark Anthony McLaughlin, last seen in 1990. Their bodies were found in the same pond.

Wallace confessed to both murders. He led authorities to a pasture where a .22-caliber pistol was recovered; this weapon was identified as the same type used in the murders of both boys. During his confession, Wallace detailed how he had assaulted and shot McLaughlin and Domer.

While in custody, Wallace also confessed to two murders in North Carolina: the killings of Jeffrey Lee Foster in 1976 and Thomas Stewart Reed in 1982. Authorities did not formally charge him for these murders initially.

Wallace was sentenced to three life prison terms and 60 years after pleading guilty to the abduction and attempted murder of Ferguson and for the abduction of four other teenagers. In Oklahoma, he faced first-degree murder charges with the death penalty sought due to his violent history.

Wallace's defense during the trial was nearly nonexistent. He expressed a desire to be executed, stating he wanted to die as quickly as possible. In 2000, after years of legal battles and appeals, Wallace was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma. He was pronounced dead at 9:27 PM on August 10, 2000.