Bio

James Edward Wood was born on December 9, 1947. His birth name was James Godwin. He grew up in a troubled family environment. His father was incarcerated in Leavenworth Penitentiary. This absence likely affected Wood's early life. At a young age, Wood experienced the loss of his mother, who died in a fire. This tragedy further complicated his childhood.

After his mother's death, Wood was raised by his stepfather. There are vague claims of abuse during his upbringing, but details remain unclear. His early life was marked by instability and family-related trauma. This difficult background may have contributed to the development of his later criminal behaviors.

As a young adult, Wood became involved in criminal activities, leading to several convictions. He eventually became a career criminal, which laid the foundation for his later crimes. Throughout his life, he was known to have violent tendencies and a disregard for the law.

Murder Story

On June 29, 1993, James Edward Wood kidnapped 11-year-old Jeralee Underwood while she was collecting payments for her newspaper route in Pocatello, Idaho. He held her captive for over a day. During this time, he sexually assaulted her and later shot her in the head with a .22 caliber pistol. After the murder, Wood concealed Jeralee's body by partially covering it with brush.

A few days later, Wood returned to the location of the murder. He then undressed the body and committed acts of sexual mutilation, including the removal of certain body parts. He subsequently dismembered her remains and disposed of them in the Snake River.

Wood was arrested on July 6, 1993, after extensive police work and interrogation led to his confession. Shortly after his arrest, he guided law enforcement to Jeralee's body. During the investigation, he also admitted to committing multiple other crimes.

On January 14, 1994, Wood pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and two counts of rape. He was sentenced to death. Wood spent years appealing his sentence, but eventually died in prison on January 30, 2004, likely from a heart attack, while still on death row.