Case Number: 556

Dykstra, Peter, 5 years old, throat cut with corn knife, South Holland, by his father, Abel Dykstra, who said the Lord demanded it as a sacrifice. He was arrested by constable and taken to County Jail.


Circumstances

Date of Offense April 19, 1899
Date of Death April 19, 1899
Time Between Offense and Death Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene
Address South Holland
Location Description South Holland
Type of Death Homicide
Type of Homicide Intentional murder
Characteristics Throat cut with corn knife
Method of Killing Other stabbing, stabbing unspecified
Weapon throat cut with corn knife
Motive the lord demanded it as a sacrifice
Description Child abuse
Total Number of Victims 1
Excessive Violence Excessive weapons or multiple means of killing
Location South Holland
Number of Defendants 1
Related to Organized Crime

Victim

Name Dykstra, Peter
Age 5 years
Gender Male
Race White
Ethnicity Other, european
Related by Blood or Marriage Child/Parent

Defendant

Name Dykstra, Abel
Gender Male
Ethnicity Other, european
Race White
Related by Blood or Marriage Parent/Child

Police

Allegations of Police Corruption No
Defendant Identified at Scene No
Time Between Crime and Arrest Less than 1 day
Total Number of Defendants Arrested 1

Legal

Charges Against Defendant No
Type of Legal Decision Recorded None
Allegations of Police Corruption No

Florence Kelley in Chicago, 1891-1899

Florence Kelley was the first woman factory inspector in the United States. A resident of Hull House, and a reformer – who refused to be associated with any political party–Florence Kelley lived in Chicago from 1891 until 1899, leading and participating in a variety of projects. Visit our companion site...