SOLVED: The Co-ed Murder 2

Summary

Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: SOLVED: The Co-ed Murder 2
Host: Carter Roy
Release Date: March 11, 2025

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Overview

In this gripping second installment of "SOLVED: The Co-ed Murder," host Carter Roy delves deeper into the tragic and complex case of Theora Hicks, a promising 24-year-old medical student whose life was brutally cut short in 1929. This episode meticulously unpacks the investigation, trial, and lasting impact of Theora's murder, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the events that led to the conviction of her professor and lover, Dr. James Snook.

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Background: Theora Hicks and Dr. James Snook

Theora Hicks, a dedicated medical student at Ohio State University, was found dead at a rifle range in Columbus, Ohio, on June 14, 1929. The case quickly gained national attention due to Theora's promising career and the scandalous affair she maintained with her much older professor, Dr. James Snook. Despite substantial evidence pointing towards Snook, uncertainties lingered, making the case far from straightforward.

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Discovery and Initial Investigation [05:00]

On the day Theora Hicks was discovered dead, detectives embarked on a thorough investigation to uncover the perpetrator. A pivotal lead emerged when Margaret Smalley, a local landlady, identified Theora and her supposed husband, James Howard, as residents of her boarding house. Strangely, James had vacated the room the same day Theora was found dead, raising eyebrows and suspicion.

Detectives soon unmasked James Howard as Dr. James Snook, a 49-year-old Olympian and respected professor of veterinary medicine. His connection to Theora was undeniable, especially after Mrs. Smalley's accurate identification. This revelation led to Snook's detainment on June 15, 1929.

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Interrogation and Confession [05:00 - 13:45]

During his initial questioning, Snook feigned ignorance about Theora, claiming minimal acquaintance. However, under Mrs. Smalley's insistence, he admitted to a three-year affair with her. This confession allowed detectives to detain him without an arrest warrant—a procedure sanctioned by the legal standards of the time, lacking safeguards like Miranda rights.

Subsequent retracings of Snook's steps on the day of the murder uncovered a series of suspicious activities:

• Rifle Range Visit: Snook led detectives to the very location where Theora's body was found. His reluctance to provide details only heightened suspicions.
• Scioto Country Club: Snook disclosed retrieving his shooting glasses, a seemingly innocuous detail that did little to clear his name.
• Boarding House Room: The discovery of a stained hat belonging to Theora in the room he had rented underscored the circumstantial evidence against him.

Further evidence surfaced at Snook's residence and vehicle:

• Stained clothing, a knife with unidentified smudges, bloodstained gloves, and additional weapons like a hammer and pocket knife were found.
• Laboratory analyses confirmed these items as the murder weapons, solidifying the circumstantial case against Snook.

Under intense interrogation lasting up to 24 hours, Snook eventually confessed to the murder, citing self-defense as his motive.

Notable Quote:

Snook (Timestamp [08:45]): "I only hurt her because I was terrified she was going to shoot me with her pistol."

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The Trial Begins [13:45 - 22:16]

Public Interest and Media Frenzy [07:00]

The trial of James Snook captivated the nation, with sensational headlines from prominent newspapers like The New York Times detailing the affair and the horrific murder. The courthouse became a hub of public intrigue, with hundreds flocking daily to witness the proceedings.

Defense Strategy: Character Assassination and Self-Defense Claim [09:30]

Initially, Snook's legal team attempted to claim temporary insanity. However, a subsequent mental health evaluation proved he was of sound mind, forcing the defense to pivot. They restructured their strategy to bolster Snook's self-defense narrative by meticulously deconstructing Theora's character:

• Drug Use Allegations: Snook's attorneys introduced evidence of Theora's drug use, attempting to portray her as unstable and violent. While tests confirmed the presence of cannabis and cantharidin in her system, these substances paradoxically acted as sedatives, undermining the defense's portrayal.

  Notable Quote:

  Snook (Timestamp [10:15]): "She threatened to kill my wife and daughter."

• Character Witnesses: The prosecution presented multiple character witnesses, including colleagues and university officials, revealing Snook's pattern of deceit and misconduct:

  • Affair Disclosure: It was uncovered that Snook was involved in multiple affairs, not solely with Theora.
  • Narcotics Misuse: Snook had been reprimanded for dispensing narcotics illicitly, and quantities of these drugs were found missing from his office.

These revelations dismantled the defense's attempt to paint Snook as a victim, instead showcasing him as manipulative and morally corrupt.

Prosecution’s Case: Forensic Evidence and Expert Testimonies [15:20]

The prosecution capitalized on the forensic evidence and expert testimonies to counter Snook's claims:

• Jugular Vein Wound: Expert witnesses highlighted the precision required to sever Theora's jugular vein, an expertise Snook possessed as a medical professional.
• Weapon Analysis: The thoroughness of weapon cleaning was insufficient to obscure Snook's involvement, reinforcing the prosecution's narrative.

Final Arguments and Verdict [20:00]

After two intense weeks of courtroom drama, the jury deliberated for a mere 28 minutes before delivering a unanimous guilty verdict on August 14, 1929. Snook was sentenced to death by electric chair, a punishment ultimately carried out on February 28, 1930.

Notable Quote:

Prosecutor Jack Chester Jr. (Timestamp [17:40]): "The evidence unequivocally proves that Dr. Snook acted with malice and premeditation."

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Aftermath and Legacy

Impact on Ohio State University [18:30]

The scandal extended beyond the courtroom, affecting institutional reputations:

• Dean David White's Resignation: Dean White, who had been subpoenaed during the trial, resigned after it was revealed he had been aware of Snook's inappropriate behavior but failed to take action.
• Public Apology: Ohio State University issued a public apology to Theora's family, though it fell short of addressing the deeper issues of institutional negligence.

Consequences for Snook’s Family [19:10]

Snook's wife, Helen, steadfastly maintained his innocence throughout and after the trial. Following Snook's execution, Helen and their daughter adopted her maiden name to shield themselves from public scrutiny, striving to rebuild their lives amidst the tarnished legacy.

Reputation of Theora Hicks [20:00]

While Theora achieved posthumous justice, Snook's manipulative testimonies cast a long shadow over her true character. Initial reports painted her as a volatile and sexually promiscuous individual, a narrative that obscured her genuine brilliance and potential. Decades later, archival documents revealed the distortion of her image, allowing for a re-evaluation of her legacy as a talented young woman unjustly maligned by her murderer.

Notable Quote:

Carter Roy (Timestamp [21:00]): "With everything we know about her true character, it's clear Theora was a brilliant young woman with a bright future ahead of her."

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Conclusion

This episode of "Murder: True Crime Stories" meticulously reconstructs the harrowing tale of Theora Hicks and the subsequent downfall of Dr. James Snook. Through detailed examination of investigative procedures, courtroom strategies, and the societal implications of the trial, Carter Roy provides listeners with a profound understanding of the complexities inherent in true crime cases. Theora's story serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of justice and the enduring impact of murder on all facets of life.

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Key Takeaways

• Investigative Challenges: Even with substantial evidence, proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt remains a formidable task, especially in an era lacking modern forensic technologies.
• Legal Evolution: The case underscores the importance of legal safeguards, such as Miranda rights, highlighting potential miscarriages of justice in historical contexts.
• Character Assassination: The defense's attempt to deconstruct Theora's character illustrates the powerful role of personal narratives in shaping public perception and jury opinion.
• Institutional Responsibility: Ohio State University's initial negligence reflects broader issues of accountability within academic institutions.
• Legacy and Memory: The distortion of Theora's character over time emphasizes the importance of preserving accurate historical records to honor victims appropriately.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Dr. James Snook:

  • "I only hurt her because I was terrified she was going to shoot me with her pistol." ([08:45])

• Prosecutor Jack Chester Jr.:

  • "The evidence unequivocally proves that Dr. Snook acted with malice and premeditation." ([17:40])

• Carter Roy:

  • "With everything we know about her true character, it's clear Theora was a brilliant young woman with a bright future ahead of her." ([21:00])

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Final Thoughts

Theora Hicks' murder case is a profound exploration of love, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Carter Roy's thorough narration not only brings clarity to the events of 1929 but also invites listeners to reflect on the broader implications of such crimes on individuals and society. As we remember Theora's brilliance and mourn her untimely death, this episode serves as a testament to the enduring quest to uncover the truth in the face of darkness.

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Transcript

[Jeremy Schwartz]

Foreign.

[Carter Roy]

This is Crime House. When it comes to murder trials, the investigation can be long and winding. Even when the case seems open and shut, there can be no room for doubt. The stakes are just too high. One slip up and a killer could go free. That means investigators have to put together a detailed timeline, find a possible motive, and gather ironclad evidence. Even with things like GPS tracking and phone logs, it's hard to do today. Now imagine how difficult it was nearly 100 years ago. In 1929, after 24 year old Theora Hicks was found dead, the older professor she'd been having a years long affair with, Dr. James Snook, became the primary suspect. And although detectives had a mountain of evidence against him, the case wasn't clear cut. During his trial, James Snook turned the tables. Without Theora there to defend herself, he dragged her name through the mud and tried to convince the court she deserved what happened to her. And it was up to the jury to decide which version of the truth they believed. People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy and this is True Crime Stories, a Crime House original. Every Tuesday I'll explore the story of a notorious murder or murders. And for more true crime stories that all happened this week in History, check out Crime the Show. Each episode covers multiple cases unified by the same theme. So every week you get something a little different. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Murder True Crime Stories. Wherever you get your podcasts, your feedback truly matters. And to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad free and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two part series, you'll get access to both at once. Plus exciting bonus content. This is the second and final episode on the murder of Theora Hicks, a promising medical student whose burgeoning career was cut short at only 24 years old when she was murdered by her much older professor and lover. Last time I told you about Theora's childhood, her academic career, and her tumultuous affair with Professor James Snook. For several years that affair seemed like a true romance until it ended in tragedy. Today I'll follow the quest to bring Fiora's killer to justice. As detectives pieced together the facts, they became convinced James Snook was Theora's killer. But the question remained, could they prove it? All that and more coming up.

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[Carter Roy]

On June 14, 1929, the body of 24 year old medical student Theora Hicks was discovered at a rifle range in Columbus, Ohio. The story of her shocking murder made front page news as people wondered who could have wanted Theora dead and why. Thankfully, there were plenty of leads for the police to chase down. After seeing Fiora's photo in the newspaper, a local landlady named Margaret Smalley came forward. She said she recognized the murder victim, but she knew her as Theora Howard, not hicks. According to Mrs. Smalley, Theora and her husband James had rented a room at her boarding house. Strangely enough, he'd given up the room the same day Fiora was found dead. It seemed like too much of a coincidence. Detectives looked into James Howard and quickly realized he was actually 49 year old James Snook. He was an Olympian and professor of veterinary medicine at the Ohio State University where Theora was studying. It was enough for detectives to bring James in for questioning on June 15, 1929, the day after Theora's body was discovered. During his initial interrogation, James insisted he had nothing to do with Theora's murder. In fact, he said he barely knew her. But after Mrs. Smalley correctly identified him as the man she saw with Theora, James couldn't deny it any longer. He admitted he did know Theora rather well. He had been having an affair with her for around three years. The revelation was enough for detectives to hold James at the station without an arrest warrant. At the time, this was legal. It was also legal back then for authorities to deny James access to an attorney during questioning. Miranda rights, which guarantees suspects the right to counsel, didn't exist until 1966, and they were going to use that time to take him for a little ride. Once the interrogation was over, detectives brought James along as they retraced his steps day of Theora's murder. First, they led him to the rifle range where Theora's body was found. They tried asking James more questions about what happened that day, but he refused to answer. From there, they went to the Scioto Country Club. James claimed to have been there on the afternoon of Thursday, June 13, hours before the murder. This time, he gave detectives a bit more information. He explained he went to the club that day to retrieve his shooting glasses, which he'd accidentally left behind. He wasn't giving detectives much to work with, but they weren't done with him yet. After the country club, the group visited the room James had rented from Mrs. Smalley. The landlady told detectives James returned his keys at 2pm on Friday, June 14, the day after Theora's murder. James had told her he was being transferred to another location for work, so he and Theora didn't need the room anymore. Before leaving the building, James had gathered their things. But in his rush to get out of there, he forgot a stained brown hat. Detectives discovered the hat during their tour of the property. It was later confirmed to belong to Theora. It was suspicious, but all circumstantial. James admitted he was using the room to carry out his affair with Theora, but that fact alone didn't amount to murder. Luckily for the authorities, the rented room was just the tip of the iceberg. After bringing James back to the station, detectives hunted down more evidence. At James house, officers uncovered a stained shirt and hat, a knife with an unidentified smudge on it, and two freshly dry cleaned suits. A search of his car yielded even more incriminating information. Inside, detectives found dried blood, a man's hat and women's gloves, both also blood stained. Then there was an umbrella, hairpins, and locks of hair that were the same color as the aura's. And that wasn't all. The authorities also located a hammer and a pocket knife. The knife and hammer had been rinsed off, but not thoroughly cleaned. Once the lab results came in, the answer was definitive. These were the murder weapons. Used to kill Theora Hicks. Despite James attempts to throw detectives off the scent, it seemed undeniable he was Theora's killer, and the detectives were going to get James to admit it. After a grueling interrogation that lasted anywhere from 19 to 24 hours straight, James cracked. He told prosecutor Jack Chester Jr that he had killed Theora in self defense. According to James, on the night of her death, he picked Theor up in his car on the corner of 12th and High streets near the OSU campus. They drove west towards the Scioto Country Club, where they planned to have sex in James Ford coupe. But once they arrived, Theora wanted to go somewhere more private. According to him, she said, I would like to go someplace further where I can scream. So James drove until they crossed the bridge to the rifle range. After a few failed attempts at intimacy in the tiny car, James told Theora he had to go home. He was taking his wife and daughter to his mother's house for the weekend. James said that when Theora heard that, she flew off the handle. According to him, she threatened to kill his wife and young daughter. After that, James claimed Theora forcibly performed oral sex on him. He said it was violent and painful. He started to worry she was going to injure him or worse. According to James, Fiora then reached into her handbag. That made him nervous. He'd given her a.41 caliber Derringer pistol a few years earlier, and she always carried it in her purse. James said he was terrified she was going to shoot him with it. So he reached into the toolkit he kept in the backseat of his car and grabbed a hammer. Fiora realized what he was doing and tried to open the car door and run. James admitted to hitting her in the head with the hammer, but just to stun her. However, prosecutor Chester didn't buy it, especially when James said he continued to beat Theora until she fell to the ground outside the vehicle. By then, Theora was clinging to life. The many blows to her head had already fractured her skull. If James was to be believed, he knew the wound was fatal. In order to relieve her suffering, he sliced her jugular vein with his pocket knife. And then James watched as Theora bled to death. Despite James confession, he didn't seem to grasp the severity of the situation. After Chester wrapped up the interrogation, he said James casually asked him for a ride downtown. When Chester informed him that wasn't possible, since he was a suspect in a homicide investigation, James attitude changed. Suddenly he wanted to take back everything he'd said. By then, it was too late though. James could try to retract his confession, but he couldn't hide the truth.

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[Carter Roy]

After confessing to the murder of 24 year old Theora Hicks, 49 year old James Snook tried to backtrack. He insisted the confession was coerced. According to James, Prosecutor Jack Chester Jr. And other police officers physically assaulted him to get him to break again. This was 1929. It wasn't unusual for the authorities to rough up their suspects, especially murder suspects. So James accusation was certainly possible. If he was telling the truth and the police did force him to confess, it would be a serious miscarriage of justice. But given the level of detail James had provided, it was difficult to believe he hadn't killed Theora. And the authorities weren't about to let him walk away scot free. They just had to prove it in court. Jury selection for James murder trial began on July 24, 1929, a little over a month after Theora was killed. As word got out about the scandalous affair that ended in murder, Theora's story made waves beyond Columbus. National papers like the New York Times reported on her death and the lurid details of Theora and James relationship. By the time the trial began early that month, the public was raring to get a look at Theora's suspected killer. Spectators started lining up outside the courthouse as early as 3am, clamoring for seats like they were at a movie premiere. During the two weeks of proceedings, there were an average of 150 to 200 people seated in the courtroom per day. James defense team knew they had an uphill battle ahead of them. At first his lawyers planned to argue temporary insanity, but when a mental health evaluation showed James was of sound mind, they were forced to Pivot. After considering the different angles, James lawyers realized his only hope of escaping a first degree murder charge was ironically his his own confession. James had claimed he killed Theora in self defense. If he could show the jury Theora was dangerous, there was a chance they might side with him. As the trial got underway, the first piece of evidence emerged in James confession. He claimed that Theora was using drugs and they made her erratic and unstable. The first part of that was true. Tests showed that at the time of Theora's death, cannabis and an aphrodisiac called cantharidin were in her system. James lawyers used that information to push the theory that Theora was a violent drug addict. But there were a few problems with that. First, those drugs would have acted more like a sedative, making it hard for Theora to act the way James claimed she had. And second, the prosecution argued that James was the one who gave her the drugs to begin with. As a professor of veterinary medicine, he would have had them readily available to him. In fact, quantities of these drugs were found missing from his office. During the autopsy, the coroner discovered Fiora had eaten a sandwich that evening. The prosecution theorized James had secretly placed the drugs inside in order to sedate her. It was just a theory, but whether or not Fiora knowingly took the drugs, James was probably the one who acquired them. Which made it hard to believe he hadn't planned to kill her. With the drug addict angle all but lost, James team turned to their next strategy. Destroying Theora's character. James testified that Theora wasn't the respectable, hard working medical student the public believed her to be. He insisted she carried a dark secret. According to James, Fiora was a sex crazed maniac. He claimed she was a sadomasochist who took pleasure in causing and receiving pain during sex. James said she was conniving and would stop at nothing to bend him to her will. He detailed their sexual escapades which included oral sex and bondage which might be more widely accepted in today's modern society. But back then they were very much taboo. Remember, oral sex was even illegal at the time. James claimed Theora was always the instigator and he was afraid to tell her no. His lawyers hoped James testimony would prove he was a straight laced, honest man and Theora was a violent nymphomaniac. And it might have worked if it weren't for what James own family said about him. Foreign For My Life to Change ABC Sundays American Idol is all new. Give it your all.

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[Carter Roy]

In order to prove James Snook killed Theora Hicks in self defense, his lawyers called on a total of 42 character witnesses during the trial, including James mother and his wife Helen. When Helen took the stand, she testified that on the night of Theora's murder, she found James in the kitchen eating a sandwich. She went on to say they spoke briefly and she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary about his appearance or behavior. James lawyers hoped Helen's description would show her husband was innocent after all. If he had killed someone in cold blood that night, he would have been much more distraught. But the prosecution pointed out that based on Helen's timeline, she would have encountered James in the kitchen just a few hours after he murdered Theora. They argued he wasn't calm that evening because he was innocent, but because he was a stone hearted killer without any remorse. Additional character witnesses only made James look worse. The head of OSU's vet clinic. The dean of the veterinary college, a veterinary surgeon and a fellow member of the pistol team all said that James had been acting strange the last few months. James coworkers also testified that they knew he was having an affair with a student, though they didn't know it was Theora at the time. And Theora wasn't the only person he was sleeping with. According to those co workers, James was having multiple affairs. What's worse, they said he was recently reprimanded for providing an unnamed woman with narcotics from the clinic. The jury was able to put two and two together. It was clear that James wasn't the respectable professor his lawyers tried to portray him as. And based on those testimonies, he was clearly the one who provided Theora with the drugs found in her system. As the trial neared its end, James had one last chance to prove he had acted in self defense. Going back to the confession he'd made to the police, he told the court he only hurt Fiora because he was worried she was reaching into her purse to retrieve her pistol. He believed she intended to shoot him with it and hit her with his hammer. To protect himself during his confession, James had also said he'd slit Theora's throat afterwards to put her out of her misery. And the autopsy confirmed that she died from this wound. But on the stand, James claimed he wasn't the one who'd cut her throat, that someone else must have done it. The prosecution called on several expert witnesses to prove he was lying. They explained that the exactness with which Theora's jugular vein had been cut required a deep knowledge of anatomy, the kind only a medical practitioner like James would have. After two weeks of proceedings, the jury began to deliberate. On August 14, 1929, after just 28 minutes, they came to a unanimous decision. James Snook was guilty of first degree murder. As punishment, the judge sentenced him to death. James lawyers filed several appeals. And In November of 1929, James was given a stay of execution pending a review by the Ohio Supreme Court. But it only prolonged the inevitable. In the end, they upheld the original ruling. On February 28, 1930, 50 year old James Snook died by electric chair at the Ohio Penitentiary. While James had dragged Theora's name through the mud, he also tarnished his own reputation in the process. And he wasn't the only one who paid the price for his actions. Following the trial, the Ohio State University forced Dean David White to resign. White had been subpoenaed during the trial and it turned out he knew about James Nefarious behavior and chose not to do anything about it. The university issued a public apology to the Hicks family, but didn't do much more than that. As for James family, his wife Helen continued to proclaim his innocence during and after the trial, but once he was executed, she and her daughter took Helen's maiden name. Helen hoped to protect her family, but it was too little too late as far as public scrutiny. In the months following James trial, public interest in the case only grew. Newspapers at the time refused to publish the details, claiming they were too explicit. But later on, a stenographer published James uncensored testimony. Although Theora did receive justice, James also got his wish. With those documents swirling around, the truth about who Theora was became muddled. People who didn't know her saw a person who was violent and obsessed with sex, a dangerous woman without any self respect. In the nearly 100 years since Theora's death, our collective memory of her has been marred by James testimony. But it doesn't have to be that way. With everything we know about her true character, it's clear Theora was a brilliant young woman with a bright future ahead of her. She wasn't confined by the restrictions of the society she was born into, and if she had lived, there's no doubt Fiora would have continued to shatter the status quo. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Carter Roy and this is Murder True Crime Stories. Come back next week for the story of a new murder and all the people it affected. True Crime Stories is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on social media Rimehouse on Instagram. Don't forget to rate, review and follow True Crime Stories. Wherever you get your podcasts, your feedback truly matters. And to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad free and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two part series, you'll get access to both at once plus exciting bonus content. We'll be back next Tuesday. True Crime Stories is hosted by me, Carter Roy and is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Murder True Crime Stories team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Natalie Pertzofsky, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Carroll, Emma Lehman, Sheila Patterson and Russell Nash. Thank you for listen.