The Unforgettable Crime and the Remarkable Transformation of James Gordon Wolcott

James Gordon Wolcott, at the age of 15, committed a shocking crime that left a small Texas town in disbelief. On August 5, 1967, Wolcott murdered his father; his mother; and his sister in their Georgetown, Texas home.

Each family member was shot multiple times with a .22 caliber rifle, resulting in their deaths. Young Wolcott was arrested for the murders shortly after they occurred. He had been an upstanding student, involved in Methodist youth work and peace activism, but confessed to the killings, citing family disagreements and personal frustrations as his motives.

Wolcott's case was unique in that he was the first juvenile in Williamson County to be tried as an adult.

The Wolcott Family and the Murders

The Wolcott family, consisting of Southwestern University professor, Gordon B. Wolcott, his wife, Elizabeth Wolcott, and their 17-year-old daughter, were well-known in their community of about 5,000 in Georgetown, Texas.

Their 15-year-old son, James Gordon Wolcott, who was known for his high IQ and involvement in peace activism, was an upstanding student at Georgetown High School.

However, the family's status drastically shifted on August 5, 1967, when the family was found murdered in their home, the perpetrator of the crime being none other than James Gordon Wolcott himself. Wolcott was arrested following the murders, which he had confessed to almost immediately​.

The details of the murders were gruesome, with all members of the family being shot with a .22 caliber rifle.

The Trial and Verdict

James Gordon Wolcott's trial in 1968 marked a significant event in Williamson County's legal history, as it was the first time a juvenile was tried as an adult.

The trial spanned over six months, after which the jury delivered their verdict, acquitting Wolcott on the basis of insanity. Following the acquittal, Wolcott was admitted into Rusk State Hospital on February 2, 1968, where he spent the next six years of his life.

During the trial, the defense, prosecution, and court psychiatrists all concurred that Wolcott was suffering from paranoia and delusions at the time of the murders, arguing that these mental health conditions were a significant factor in his actions.

Their evaluations revealed that Wolcott showed no remorse for his actions and that he had contemplated suicide several times in the months leading up to the killings.

This mental instability was further evidenced by the fact that Wolcott had been sniffing glue, a behavior often associated with trying to self-medicate or escape from psychological distress. Given these circumstances, the psychiatrists unanimously recommended that Wolcott be committed to a psychiatric hospital, a suggestion that was eventually followed given the verdict of the trial.

Wolcott's Life Post-Trial

After his acquittal by reason of insanity, James Gordon Wolcott was sent to Rusk State Hospital. He remained there until 1974 when he was released after a court found him sane after just 15 minutes of deliberation.

The chief psychiatric social worker at Rusk Hospital, Wilson Nicar, characterized Wolcott as a "dependable, trustworthy, and highly intelligent individual". Later that same year, he enrolled at Stephen F. Austin University, demonstrating a remarkable transition from mental patient to university student.

Two years following his release from the hospital, Wolcott legally changed his name, disappearing from public scrutiny.

Nearly four decades later, he reemerged, not as James Gordon Wolcott, but as Dr. James St. James, an award-winning professor of psychology. In 1976, after assuming his new identity, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology and subsequently joined the faculty of Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

James St. James: An Award-Winning Professor

James Gordon Wolcott, now known as James St. James, is a respected professor of psychology at Millikin University. He earned three psychology degrees, including a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, and has been teaching at Millikin for over 30 years.

Despite the shocking revelation of St. James' past, Millikin University stood by him, lauding his efforts to rebuild his life and establish a successful professional career. The university affirmed its commitment to its mission of education and expected St. James to continue teaching.

Refrences:

Beloved psychology professor outed as killer who murdered his family as a teen and was locked up for just 6 years after being found INSANE

The Family Annihilator Turned University Professor – James Gordon Wolcott

Downstate university stands by professor linked to 1967 killings