Bio

Joseph Alexander Peel was born on September 25, 1924 in West Palm Beach, Florida. He grew up in the area and eventually became a lawyer in 1949. Three years later, he became West Palm Beach's only municipal judge.

Peel's career as a lawyer and judge was marked by unethical behavior. He took bribes from illegal gambling operators. He would grant them warrants so the police could raid their establishments. After the police left, Peel would notify the criminals about the raids. Each of these operators paid him $500 for protection. His actions eventually caught the attention of higher authorities.

In 1953, Peel represented both sides in a divorce case, which is considered unethical. Judge Curtis E. Chillingworth, who was Peel's superior, publicly reprimanded him. He warned that further misconduct could lead to disbarment. Chillingworth was a respected judge and had served in both World Wars. He was known for his strong moral character.

In 1955, Peel informed a client that her divorce had been finalized, even though it hadn’t. This mistake led to the woman being recognized as a bigamist when she remarried. In fear of losing his career, Peel recruited two ex-criminals, Floyd "Lucky" Holzapfel and George "Bobby" Lincoln, to deal with Chillingworth.

During this time, Peel was married and had two children. He continued practicing law alongside his duties as a judge. However, his legal troubles and the fear of exposure were rolling in like formidable waves.

Murder Story

On June 14, 1955, Judge Curtis E. Chillingworth and his wife Marjorie returned to their beach house in Manalapan, Florida, after dinner with friends. They went to bed that night, but they would never be seen alive again. Around 1 a.m., Floyd “Lucky” Holzapfel and his accomplice George “Bobby” Lincoln arrived at the beach house. They approached the couple under the pretense of needing help as stranded boaters.

Once inside, they overpowered Chillingworth and Marjorie. Holzapfel brandished a gun and forced them out of their home. They were bound with adhesive tape, and nooses were placed around their necks. The couple was then taken to a small boat and brought several miles offshore.

Holzapfel and Lincoln prepared to dispose of the Chillingworths. Holzapfel threw Marjorie overboard first, saying, “Ladies first.” The Judge, realizing what was happening, jumped into the water. Despite being bound, he struggled to stay afloat. Holzapfel then struck Chillingworth in the head with a shotgun, knocking him unconscious. They attached lead weights to the judge and an anchor, and he was also thrown into the sea.

The couple's bodies were never recovered. The next day, their absence from a scheduled court hearing raised alarms. Investigators discovered bloodstains and rolls of tape at their home.

In August 1960, police began to piece together evidence suggesting Peel's involvement. Peel was arrested on October 4, 1960, after Holzapfel confessed to the murders while under the influence of alcohol and during a police setup.

On March 30, 1961, Joseph Alexander Peel was found guilty of being an accessory to murder. He was sentenced to two life terms. After serving 18 years, he was paroled in 1979 due to terminal illness. He died just nine days after his release in July 03, 1982. The bodies of Curtis and Marjorie Chillingworth were never found.