Bio

Jack Foster Outten Jr. was born on March 23, 1966. He grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. Outten was the son of Carol and Foster Outten. 

His mother worked late hours at her job, leaving him and his siblings in the care of their father. Foster's drinking often led to violent outbursts, and the children were sometimes punished harshly. Jack's mother described incidents where they would hide in corners, scared of their father. Sadly, many times they went without food while waiting for her to return home.

Jack had trouble in school. He was placed in a class for learning disabilities due to his hyperactivity and struggled with reading and concentration. Despite the difficulties, Jack had a caring side, especially when it came to his family. He took care of his father during his last months battling cancer, showing a complex blend of love and resentment towards his father.

At sixteen, Jack ran away from home. He faced a series of challenges, including a lack of stability and support. He was placed in different foster homes, but his experiences were often difficult and traumatic. Jack also suffered from substance abuse, beginning to drink alcohol at a young age and eventually using drugs.

Jack had three children but faced tragedy when one of his infants died shortly after birth. The loss impacted him deeply. 

Murder Story

On January 12, 1992, Jack Outten Jr. and two of his cousins, Steven and Nelson Shelton, committed a murder after a night of drinking. They targeted 64-year-old Wilson Mannon. The group had been drinking at several bars in the Wilmington, Delaware area. At one point, they met Mannon and ended up leaving the bar with him.

Later that night, they drove to a remote location where they violently attacked Mannon. The murder involved hitting him with a hammer and another object. After they killed him, they robbed him, taking items such as money and his rings. Mannon's body was discovered the following morning, lying in a deserted area, showing clear signs of brutal violence.

The police quickly started investigating the murder and apprehended Nelson Shelton, who was found with Mannon's rings and blood stains on his jacket. His girlfriend, Christina Gibbons, who was also present during the crime, cooperated with the police, providing information that implicated Outten and Steven Shelton in the murder.

Jack Outten Jr. was arrested on the same day as the murder. In court, the jury convicted him of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to death on April 30, 1993. His co-defendants received similar sentences, with Nelson Shelton being executed on March 17, 1995. Outten's appeals in state and federal courts regarding his conviction and sentence were unsuccessful.