True Crime All The Time Unsolved — Lester Eubanks (Episode 452)

Podcast: True Crime All The Time Unsolved
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Gibson
Date: February 16, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson explore the case of Lester Eubanks, a convicted murderer who has been on the run since 1973 after escaping custody during a prison honor program excursion. The hosts meticulously examine Eubanks’ criminal history, the murder that led to his conviction, the circumstances of his escape, and the ongoing manhunt. They also discuss the impact on the victim’s family and debate systemic issues that enabled Eubanks’ flight from justice. The episode maintains the podcast’s signature tone: approachable but detailed, with moments of levity between the hosts amid the gravity of the true crime narrative.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Case Summary

• Lester Eubanks' Crime and Escape (04:20)

  • Lester Eubanks was sentenced to death for the 1965 murder and attempted rape of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener in Mansfield, Ohio.
  • His sentence was commuted to life after the 1972 Supreme Court decision affecting Ohio death row inmates.
  • He escaped during an honor program’s unsupervised Christmas shopping trip in 1973, and has been on the run for over 50 years.

• Why this Case is Notorious (04:55–05:12)

  • Ferguson: “1973, that is a long time to still be out on the run.”
  • The case is notable for the failures of the penal system and the ongoing mystery of Eubanks’ whereabouts.

2. Lester Eubanks' Early Life & Criminal Behavior

• Juvenile Offenses & Pattern of Violence (05:55–07:36)

  • Eubanks’ offenses began as a teenager: assaulting young girls, probation, and seemingly lenient consequences.
  • Ferguson reflects, “I feel like today these would be attempted kidnapping… even at 16, he could be tried as an adult.”

• Adulthood & Outward Respectability (08:06–09:18)

  • Served in the Air Force as a medic, earned a black belt in karate, and maintained hobbies like oil painting.
  • Worked at a waterbed store and painted houses.
  • Perceived as a “churchgoer,” but his criminal behavior continued under the surface.

3. The Murder of Mary Ellen Deener

• Background on the Victim (09:29–11:26)

  • Mary Ellen was a high-achieving, religious 14-year-old with ambitions to become a nun (Ferguson: “She thought she could be of most service to people as a nun.”).
  • Her family life and strong Catholic faith are discussed.

• Timeline of the Crime (13:10–16:19)

  • On November 14, 1965, Mary Ellen and her sister were doing laundry late at night.
  • Eubanks approached and abducted Mary Ellen, shot her twice, and upon returning to the scene, killed her with a brick when he found her still alive.
  • Gibson: “He had the opportunity to get her help before he ran away and then again when he came back, but he chose to make sure that she would die.”

• Community and Family Impact (17:16–18:43)

  • Mary Ellen’s body was found by police after a neighbor’s call. Her sister and grandmother were traumatized by the discovery.

4. Investigation and Arrest

• Police Work & Identification of Eubanks (18:59–20:47)

  • Police traced a recently purchased .32 caliber handgun to Eubanks.
  • Community members identified him near the scene. Eubanks had a reputation as a loner and prior arrests for similar violent offenses.

• Quick Confession & Forensic Evidence (24:14–25:52)

  • Eubanks confessed soon after being brought in.
  • His version attempted to downplay the sexual aspect and framed the killing as a panicked accident.
  • Ferguson: “He confessed very, very quickly… but the story that he told…just seems ludicrous.”

5. Trial & Sentencing

• Testimonies and Eubanks’ Stories (26:19–37:23)

  • The coroner and a previous victim testified; Eubanks gave multiple, shifting accounts of the murder.
  • Hosts note his tendency to omit or minimize the sexual assault and to blame the victim for his own actions.
  • Psychiatrist Dr. Walter Massey detailed Eubanks’ “character neurosis” and lack of empathy.

• Verdict and Aftermath (37:24–39:03)

  • Guilty of first-degree murder while attempting to commit rape; sentenced to death.
  • Supreme Court’s 1972 decision commuted his sentence to life, with the hosts reflecting on timing and fate.

6. The Escape: Flawed Honor Program

• Unsupervised Christmas Shopping Excursion (40:04–42:36)

  • Eubanks earned a spot in the honor program, which allowed him and three others to shop at a mall unsupervised and in civilian clothes.
  • Ferguson, aghast: “If I'm at that mall with my wife and kids, I'm not happy that convicted murderers are walking around in Levi's and flannels. I can't tell them apart.”
  • At 2pm pickup, Eubanks was gone, aided by an associate. He vanished for decades.

• Hosts Criticize the System (40:04–42:36)

  • Both hosts question the logic and safety of such programs for violent offenders.
  • Gibson: “There's no reason that you need to come out and do any of that [if you have a life sentence].”
  • Ferguson: “To go on trips, it’s just not my thing. It’s not what prison is for.”

7. The Manhunt & Life On the Run

• Early Leads & Sightings (46:19–47:30)

  • Reports indicate Eubanks stayed with an acquaintance in California after his escape and used aliases.
  • Possible work in a mattress factory and as a janitor under the name “Victor Young.”

• Victim’s Family and Long-Term Trauma (48:45–48:56)

  • The Deener family struggled with the loss and the horror of Eubanks’ escape; several family deaths followed.

• Recent Investigative Developments (50:56–56:55)

  • Multiple efforts in recent years: U.S. Marshals’ most wanted list, DNA strategies using familial samples, reward increases, and age progression photos.
  • Notable quote: Brian Fitzgibbon (U.S. Marshals) — “He’s alive. I feel we’re getting closer.” (52:16)
  • Agencies believe Eubanks may have remained in the L.A. area for decades.
  • Age-progressed images released as recently as May 2025.

8. Reflections, Theories & Systemic Lessons

• Could He Still be Alive? (56:55–59:47)

  • With Eubanks now theoretically 82, the hosts debate whether he’s alive and what kind of life he might have led since.
  • Ferguson: “He has done an amazing job of eluding the authorities… It wouldn’t surprise me at all if, at some point, they do link him to additional crimes.”

• Justice & “Paying the Price” (58:03–59:47)

  • Discussion of whether it matters if Eubanks reformed, and the tragedy of never having served his sentence.
  • Gibson: “The sad thing is that he did horrible things that he never paid the price for.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“He had the opportunity to get her help before he ran away and then again when he came back, but he chose to make sure that she would die.”
— Mike Gibson on Eubanks’ brutality (16:19)

“If I'm at that mall with my wife and kids, I'm not happy that convicted murderers are walking around in Levi's and flannels. I can't tell them apart.”
— Mike Ferguson on the prison’s honor program and public safety (41:47)

“What does that say?”
— Mike Ferguson about Eubanks’ ability to kill and then go on a date and to church the next morning (31:05)

“He has done an amazing job of eluding the authorities… Because there have been quite a few different agencies who have been looking for him. I mean, he’s on the US Marshals top, you know, most wanted list.”
— Mike Ferguson (57:14)

“Nothing [justifies him not paying for what he did].”
— Mike Ferguson (58:21)

Important Timestamps

• 04:20 — Case summary and Lester Eubanks’s conviction
• 09:29–11:26 — Profile of victim Mary Ellen Deener
• 13:10–16:19 — Details of the abduction and murder
• 18:59–20:47 — Investigation zeroes in on Eubanks
• 26:19–39:03 — Trial details and shifting testimony
• 40:04–42:36 — Eubanks’s escape and systemic criticism
• 46:19–47:30 — Early leads on Eubanks’s whereabouts (post-escape)
• 50:56–56:55 — Recent developments and reward increases
• 56:55–59:47 — The hosts’ discussions: “Could he be alive?” and justice served
• 58:03–59:47 — Reflections on justice and the enduring impact

Final Thoughts

• The episode highlights glaring failures in the penal system—specifically, trusting a violent offender with unsupervised release—and the devastation this caused for Mary Ellen’s family.
• The hosts balance careful research with candid commentary, consistently expressing frustration at systemic lapses and sympathy for the victim.
• The case remains unsolved, with hope placed in renewed efforts such as DNA forensics and continued public awareness.
• The episode leaves listeners with haunting questions about justice delayed, lost potential for closure, and the enduring pain for the families impacted by both the crime and Eubanks’ escape.

For tips regarding Eubanks:
Contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4-WANTED or submit a web tip (reward available; tipsters can remain anonymous).

Episode delivered in the thorough, conversational, and grounded style True Crime All The Time Unsolved fans expect.