Eddie James

For the Canadian football player of the same name see Eddie James (Canadian football).

Eddie James, also known as Edward James, Edward T. James, or Edward Matlack, was described as having the most violent, leering face ever shown on America's Most Wanted. Eddie James was convicted of killing, after he strangled and raped an eight year old girl, Toni Neuner, and stabbed her grandmother, Betty Dick, to death - all of this after being a close friend of the family and invited to stay at Betty Dick's home.

Eddie talked about going into business with his friend, Tim Dick, but their business fell apart after Eddie dedicated his time to doing drugs, specifically crack, angel dust, and later LSD. Not only did he do these drugs regularly, he also was a heavy alcoholic. At the time, Tim Dick was living at his mother Betty's house. During the summer of 1993, Eddie James, joined his friend, Tim Dick, in all of Tim's family festivities, including summer BBQs. Eddie was always invited by the big family. Betty Dick, the matriarch, had moved to Casselberry, FL after her husband died. Betty, always had her grandchildren bustling about. But Betty was the center of it all. She loved her grandchildren, and kept her children close.

Two of the granddaughters were particularly close, Wendi Neuner and her sister Toni Neuner. Their mother, Lisa Neuner, was always able to count on Grandma Betty to help with the kids. Betty didn't mind. She had an open heart and a generous spirit, but perhaps too open, for she graciously accepted Eddie as part of the family.

Eddie was a sort of uncle to the kids, and especially to Toni. Eddie had a great sense of humor and always knew how to make the kids laugh. He was a clown and he loved to be the center of attention.

At this point, Eddie had taken to petty crime. He had a litany of assaults. He was charged for theft and shot a man, but this crime was later determined to be an act of self defense. To Betty and her clan, he was family. Tim Dick eventually moved next door to live with his girlfriend, which meant there was a room empty, and when Betty discovered Eddie didn't have a place to live, he was taken in.

On September 19, 1993, Eddie was out of work and he focused his energies on taking drugs. He became intoxicated at his friend's birthday party, and then headed home around 11 P.M. Lisa Neuner's children, Toni and Wendi and her two boys were asleep in the living room. Lisa Neuner was away and Betty was watching the children.

Eddie James was angry that Lisa had left her children with Betty, thinking that Betty was being taken advantage of. He was so completely enraged that he picked up the closest of the two little girls, Toni, and strangled her until her neck bones popped. He shouted, "Die, you little bitch." Afterward, seeing he had killed her, he decided he might as well have his way with her, and preceded to take her into the bedroom and rape her. Later it was discovered that she didn't die until after she was raped. Her body was mangled and torn, her hands clutching her vagina.

Eddie, still intoxicated and enraged, went into Betty Dick's room "to get me a grown woman." He hit her with a candlestick and preceded to stab her with a kitchen knife, while she screamed, "Why, Eddie, why?" But after she was too bloody for him to have continued sexual interest, he stabbed her twenty-two times. Little 9 year old Wendi heard the screams and saw Eddie stabbing through the doorway. After Eddie had left Betty motionless and dead, he saw Wendi and came after her. He grabbed her violently and tied her up and left the scene. Wendi eventually escaped and ran over to her Uncle Tim's place and soon all the bodies were discovered.

Eddie James had hit the road, but wasn't a fugitive very long. America's Most Wanted television show documented the case and soon there were leads of him selling Grandma Betty's jewelry in pawn shops in Colorado. He was finally caught at Bakersfield, CA on October 6th, 1993, at a state employment office. This, thanks to Priscilla Valdez, who after watching America's Most Wanted, recognized him and called the hotline.

Eddie James, after being arrested, confessed in detail his crime, and was sentenced to the death penalty.

Bibliography

Walsh, John (1998). "The Demon Within". No Mercy: The Host of America's Most Wanted Hunts the Worst Criminals of Our Time--In Shattering True Crime Cases. Pocket Books. ISBN 9780671019938. Archived from the original on 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2008-10-11. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

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