Ethel Hestland30s, 1930s, oklahoma, illegaldoctorEthel Hestland, age 30, died on April 3, 1932, in the Oklahoma City area from a criminal abortion. Her death certificate was signed by Dr. Richard E. Thacker.[1]

Dr. Richard E. Thacker
Thacker (pictured) had been implicated for a string of other abortion deaths, including:

• Marie Epperson, February, 1929: Thacker suspected
• Isobel F. Ferguson, April, 1932, Thacker suspected, sued by widower
• Ruth Hall, April, 1932: Thacker convicted of murder
• Lennis May Roach, April, 1932: Thacker implicated by multiple witnesses; outcome of case unknown to me
• Nancy Joe Lee, April, 1932: Thacker implicated by multiple witnesses; outcome of case unknown to me
• Robbie Lou Thompson, April, 1932: Thacker implicated by multiple witnesses; outcome of case unknown to me

I believe that Thacker was never prosecuted for the other abortion deaths because the successful conviction in the Ruth Hall case took him off the streets.

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   “Probe ‘Epidemic’ of Illegal Operations in Oklahoma City,” Elyria, Ohio, Chronicle Telegram, April 29, 1932