David Hassell, a 7-year-old boy from Farwell, Texas, was tragically murdered on December 2, 1926. His death was part of a horrific mass killing carried out by his uncle and stepfather, George Jefferson Hassell. Alongside David, eight other children and their mother, Susan Frances “Susie” Ferguson Hassell, were brutally slain in their home.
The murders occurred on a cold December night when George Hassell, prone to violent outbursts and alcohol-fueled rage, attacked his wife Susie
following an argument over his abuse of her daughter. He proceeded to move through the house, killing each child using a variety of weapons, including a ball-peen hammer, a straight razor, stockings, a shotgun, and an axe. David, along with his siblings, was murdered in this gruesome act.
After committing the crime, Hassell attempted to cover up the murders by claiming that his family had moved back to Oklahoma. He sold their belongings in a yard sale, but suspicions arose when a wagon rolled over a sinkhole near the house, leading law enforcement to investigate. Excavations revealed the bodies of the victims buried in a root cellar. Hassell attempted suicide but survived, and he later confessed to the killings.
A swift trial followed, and the town of Farwell, along with its neighboring city Texico, New Mexico, became the center of public attention. Hassell was convicted and sentenced to death. On February 2, 1928, he was executed in the electric chair, becoming the 27th person to be executed in Texas.
Hassell had a history of criminal behavior, including a previous family murder in California, embezzlement, and military desertion. His testimony suggested that his initial act was a crime of passion, and he killed the children to protect himself. A psychiatric report at the time characterized him as a sociopath.
