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
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