James Urban Ruppert

James Urban Ruppert was born on March 29, 1934. His upbringing was marked by family instability and emotional neglect. His mother, Charity Ruppert, reportedly expressed disappointment that her second child was not a daughter, while his father, Leonard Ruppert, was described as having a violent temperament and showing little affection toward his sons. Leonard died of tuberculosis in 1946 at the age of 37, leaving James without a father at the age of 12.

Following their father’s death, James’ older brother, Leonard Ruppert Jr., assumed a dominant role within the household and frequently mocked and belittled him. At age 16, James ran away from home and attempted suicide by hanging. He survived and returned home, but continued to struggle emotionally.

As an adult, Ruppert was described as quiet, bookish, and socially withdrawn. He stood approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed about 135 pounds. He had no criminal record prior to 1975. Ruppert attended college briefly before dropping out and later trained as a draftsman. Despite this, he struggled to maintain employment and remained financially dependent on his mother.

By the mid‑1970s, Ruppert was unemployed, unmarried, and still living at home. He reportedly harbored resentment toward his older brother, who had earned a degree in electrical engineering, owned a home in Fairfield, Ohio, and had eight children. Leonard Jr. had also married one of the few women James had previously dated. James’ financial problems worsened after he lost money during the 1973–1974 stock market crash, leaving him indebted to both his mother and brother. Charity repeatedly threatened to evict him due to his drinking and lack of steady employment.

On Easter Sunday, March 30, 1975, Leonard Ruppert Jr., his wife Alma, and their eight children visited the family home at 635 Minor Avenue in Hamilton, Ohio, for an Easter gathering. While the rest of the family participated in an Easter egg hunt outside, James Ruppert remained upstairs, sleeping after a night of drinking.

At approximately 4:00 p.m., Ruppert awoke and armed himself with a .357 Magnum revolver, two .22‑caliber handguns, and a .22‑caliber rifle. He went downstairs to the kitchen, where his mother Charity was preparing food with Leonard Jr. and Alma present. Ruppert shot Leonard Jr. in the head, killing him instantly, then shot Alma. When Charity attempted to intervene, he shot her once in the head and twice in the chest.

Ruppert then continued through the house, shooting three of the children before entering the living room, where the remaining children were gathered. He shot each child in succession, delivering additional shots to ensure they were dead. The attack lasted less than five minutes. Investigators later determined that Ruppert fired a total of 44 rounds, 40 of which struck his victims. The only visible sign of struggle in the home was a single overturned wastepaper basket.

After remaining alone in the house for approximately three hours, Ruppert called police and stated, “There’s been a shooting.” He then waited inside the front door until officers arrived.

Victims

• Charity Ruppert, 65 – mother
• Leonard Ruppert Jr., 42 – brother
• Alma Ruppert, 38 – sister‑in‑law
• Leonard Ruppert III, 17 – nephew
• Michael Ruppert, 16 – nephew
• Thomas Ruppert, 15 – nephew
• Carol Ruppert, 13 – niece
• Ann Ruppert, 12 – niece
• David Ruppert, 11 – nephew
• Teresa Ruppert, 9 – niece
• John Ruppert, 4 – nephew

Ruppert was arrested on the day of the massacre and charged with eleven counts of aggravated murder. He refused to cooperate with investigators and immediately indicated his intention to plead insanity.

His first trial took place in Hamilton, Ohio, in June 1975. A three‑judge panel found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment on July 3, 1975. However, a mistrial was declared after uncertainty arose over whether the verdict required unanimity. The retrial was moved to Findlay, Ohio, due to concerns over impartiality.

The second trial began on July 23, 1975. Prosecutors presented evidence of Ruppert’s deteriorating mental state, including his inquiries about firearm silencers, target practice sessions, and statements expressing resentment toward his mother. He was again sentenced to multiple life terms.

In 1982, an appellate court granted Ruppert a new trial. Defense attorney Hugh D. Holbrock personally funded psychiatric experts from across the country. During the proceedings, one juror collapsed and died of a heart attack after viewing crime scene photographs.

On July 23, 1982, a three‑judge panel found Ruppert guilty of two counts of first‑degree murder—those of his mother and brother—and not guilty by reason of insanity for the remaining nine victims. He received two consecutive life sentences. Due to the suspension of capital punishment in the United States between 1972 and 1976, Ruppert was not eligible for the death penalty.

Ruppert entered the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction on July 30, 1982, and was later housed at the Franklin Medical Center in Columbus. He was denied parole in hearings held in 1995, 2005, and 2015. In 2019, he was transferred permanently to the Franklin Medical Center due to declining health.

James Urban Ruppert died from natural causes on June 4, 2022, at the age of 88, while still incarcerated.