William Edward Hickman was born on February 1, 1908, in Arkansas, USA. He began engaging in petty crimes during his youth, which escalated over time. By the mid-1920s, Hickman had moved to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a messenger at the First National Bank, the same institution where Perry Parker, Marion's father, was employed as a chief clerk. Hickman's employment at the bank ended after he was caught forging checks, leading to his dismissal and subsequent criminal activities.

On December 15, 1927, Hickman abducted 12-year-old Marion Parker from Mount Vernon Junior High School in Los Angeles. Posing as an employee of her father, he falsely claimed that Perry Parker had been in an accident and wanted to see his daughter. Unaware of the deception, school staff released Marion into Hickman's custody.

The following day, the Parker family received ransom letters demanding $1,500 in gold certificates for Marion's safe return. The letters were signed with aliases such as "Fate," "Death," and "The Fox," and some included words written in Greek.

On December 17, 1927, Perry Parker met the kidnapper at the designated location to exchange the ransom. Hickman handed over what appeared to be Marion, seated in his car, but as he drove away, he pushed her body onto the street. Marion had been strangled, dismembered, and mutilated; her eyes were held open with wires to give the illusion she was alive. Her limbs were later found in Elysian Park, wrapped in newspaper.

A massive manhunt ensued, involving over 20,000 police officers and American Legion volunteers. A reward of $100,000 was offered for Hickman's capture. Authorities traced the ransom money through serial numbers and tracked Hickman's movements across the Pacific Northwest. He was arrested on December 22, 1927, in Echo, Oregon, after a brief car chase. During interrogation, Hickman confessed to the crime, claiming that a deity named "Providence" had instructed him to commit the murder.

Hickman's trial began in early 1928. His defense team pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, marking one of the first uses of California's new law allowing such a plea. However, the jury rejected this defense, and on February 9, 1928, Hickman was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping. He was sentenced to death and executed by hanging at San Quentin State Prison on October 19, 1928.