The Most Disturbing Texas Crimes That Happened In Summer

Summer Means More Violent Crime In Texas

Summertime means more crime in Texas. Is it the heat? The extended daylight hours? Whatever the cause, violent crimes like murder, assault, and robberies gone wrong are more likely to happen in the summer months.

But what about the worst, most disturbing types of crimes? While they may happen in the dead of winter in a crime novel, it seems that the most shocking actually happen in the heat, at least here in Texas.

Here is a look at some of the most terrible crimes that happened during Texas summers.

The Icebox Murders, June 23, 1965

An elderly Houston couple was found dismembered inside their own refrigerator, their heads in paper sacks- the eyes removed. Police found "a claw hammer, a razor, and a keyhole saw," which they believed were used to dismember the couple. They were likely killed by their own son, who was never found after the crime. Did he wander off and kill himself, leaving his body to animals? Or did he start a new life in another country? We will likely never know.

University of Texas Tower Shooting, August 1st, 1966

15 dead, 31 injured. Long before the sick, sad age of daily mass shootings in America, Charles Whitman had the idea to be the first mass shooter in Texas history. He shot indiscriminately from the University of Texas tower's observation deck onto a crowd. Before the shooting, he stabbed and killed his wife and his mother, bringing his death toll to 17. He was killed by the Austin police, and his autopsy revealed he had a brain tumor, which may have made him more violent.

The Lover's Lane Murders, August 23rd, 1990

A woman was brutally sexually assaulted and murdered, and her boyfriend was found dead, tied to a tree. The young Houston couple had gone missing after attending a club the night before. This case was ice cold for decades, until DNA tied Floyd William Parrott to the crime. However, before he could be extradited to Texas, he killed himself in a Nebraska prison this past April. It's possible he had been impersonating a police officer to stop the couple and get them out of their car.

Murder of James Byrd Jr., June 7, 1998

This truly horrific, racially-charged murder of James Byrd Jr. by white supremacists led to stronger hate crime laws. James, who accepted a ride from the three men, was beaten, chained, and dragged behind a pickup. The details are truly disturbing, and the random hate is unbelievable. Two of the three murderers were executed, including Lawrence Brewer, whose insane last meal request led to the abolishment of the practice- now death row inmates get what every other prisoner is eating for their final meal.

Read More: Texas Death Row: Weirdest And Wildest Last Meal Requests

Andrea Yates Kills Her Children, June 20, 2001

This absolutely heartbreaking crime captured national attention and has been the subject of numerous TV shows, documentaries, and podcasts. The Houston woman drowned all five of her children in a bathtub after experiencing postpartum depression and psychosis. Her orginal Texas jury didn't buy an insanity defense and sentenced her to live with the possibility of parole. That sentence was later overturned, and Andrea Yates now spends her days in a low-security Texas mental hospital.
Read More: New Docuseries Brings Andrea Yates Trial Back Into Focus

There are more summer crimes I could give you details on, and perhaps I will write a Part 2. In the meantime, stay cool- both literally and figuratively- we have no need to add more crimes to the Texas heat list.