- Andrew Kehoe was the mastermind of the deadliest school massacre in U.S. history; his victims were mostly pupils between the ages of 7-12
- He was described as an impatient, angry, but highly intelligent man who created useful farm tools
- The maniac bomber was a farmer; He was responsible for killing his wife of about 7 years and had earlier killed animals and didn’t show any remorse
Andrew Kehoe had a seemingly normal life and was a successful farmer. In fact, he was trusted enough to be elected the treasurer of the Bath Township School board in Michigan. However, it turned into a one-sided cold war when he lost in reelection for the Bath Township Clerk and this led to his bombing the school and killing 45 people (including himself). 58 people were injured and the deed became the deadliest massacre in a school in the United States.
To make it even more tragic, his victims were mostly around the ages of 7 to 12. Prior to it, he killed his wife and there is a history of death in his family that was believed to be caused by someone. Could he have nurtured killing since he was younger or did his quest for power overshadowed him? Here is his full story.
His Childhood and How His Stepmother May Have Been His First Victim
Andrew Kehoe was born on February 1, 1892, in Tecumseh, Michigan, U.S. According to Wikipedia, he was among the younger of 13 children, and based on a report by the New York Post, he is the first male child after six sisters.
Whatever the case, he was said to have been revered in his family and seen in high esteem. To the analysis of others, how the mass murderer was placed high may have led to his feeling right and wanting to be placed high by everyone he came across.
Kehoe’s mother died and his father remarried a woman named Frances Wilderdied in 1911 at a young age. She died of a fiery kitchen explosion from her stove. Then, Kehoe was there to help put out the fire using water from a bucket but instead, the oil in the water caused more hazards and the woman died from the injuries sustained.
Some reports suggest that her death was questioned but no one suspected that Kehoe may have been responsible in any way – probably until he killed many people years later.
He Had a Considerable Normal Childhood
Kehoe’s childhood may have been normal and in fact, he grew up to be a renowned intelligent man in his neighborhood. He attended several schools and claimed to have attended Michigan State Agricultural College in East Lansing. This was where he majored in electrical engineering.
There are doubts as regards whether he actually went to the school since there is no concrete evidence. Irrespective of that, The maniac killer was good with physics and engineering seemed to have come with ease for him. In fact, he used mechanized farming instruments on his farm and would have his own electrical inventions that would help his family on the farm.
One peculiar thing about the killer was that he knew his way around hygiene. Really, it was too much for an average person but perhaps it was something to be admired. According to some reports given by people who lived around him, he would change his shirt mid-day at any slightest dirt. He seemed to be proud of being a farmer but wouldn’t dress as one.
Instead, he would look attractive enough to pass for a banker. From his outlook, this man seemed rather a little perfect.
But testimonies told him that he would easily lose his temper, raise his voice, and wanted to be head over many.
See Also: Kristen Gilbert: 10 Untold Facts About The American Female Serial Killer
He Started His Known Killing Spree With Animals
While he may have gotten worldwide attention after he killed over 40 people, Kehoe had started his known killing activities with animals. He killed his stepsister’s cat and would not even try to deny it. Then, he accepted without being remorseful for gunning down a neighbor’s nuisance dog.
To New York Post, this may seem good evidence that his mental health could be shaky. Then, he went ahead to prove this assertion true when he didn’t even let his own animals have a “good life”. In fact, in one of his moments of being extreme with life, he beat his horse to death with the claim that it has a bad attitude.
He didn’t seem to have felt sorry for what he did because, from all indications, it was easy to talk about it casually. He had told a farmer that when he was done with the animal, it was dead.
He Killed His Wife Before the Famous Bath School Massacre
Kevin’s wife Nellie Price returned from the hospital on May 16, 1927. Between the time and May 18, he killed her and moved her body to a farm building before setting their home on timed explosives.
Prior to that, Nellie had been sick and may have been suffering from tuberculosis. Finances were tight. But beyond that, there is no information as to whether the former couple had any brawl that may have caused the killing.
Kehoe was not done with his unkind plans as he set other numerous explosives in the Bath School where he was trusted enough to be made a treasurer of the board. According to the author of Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing, he was also the man fixing electrical problems in the school.
There were over 270 students according to reports and then there was an explosion. About 44 people lost their lives. Among them were about 38 children who were between 7 to 12 years old. Other victims were workers at the school.
The killer had planned the act ahead of time. Based on a report, a teacher wanted to have a picnic with her students on his farm and had fixed a date. However, he talked her into having it earlier – before the date of the killing. It is believed that he persuaded this teacher so as to have his young and innocent unknown victims have fun for the last time – some of them actually did!
After the killing, Andrew Kehoe went to his car where he set another explosive(s). This killed him, a major rival Emory Huyck and others (including a child who had survived the explosive earlier).
The killing was said to have been the first mass murder in a school in the United States. It was also the deadliest school killing in the country.
Terrible as it was, the crime would have been said to have given rise to modern killers – probably?
Why Did Andrew Kehoe Choose to Kill Young Students
The actual intention of Kevin has remained inconclusive since Kehoe committed suicide and all there is to know is from testimonies shared. However many of the claims leaned toward the fact that it had something to do with his finances, his failure to win an election and high taxes.
The story is that Kehoe was elected treasurer of the Bath Consolidated School board in 1924. He had issues with other board members, including a veteran, Superintendent Emory Huyck whom he killed in the explosion.
Then, in 1925, he was appointed as the Bath Township Clerk but failed to win in 1926. The failure led to his breeding revenge. Some of his neighbors Ellsworth and A. McMullen noticed that the man was not who he used to be and McMullen even thought that Kehoe was planning suicide. Well, it turned out to be something bigger.
In another report, the farmer cum engineer had some financial setbacks and his mortgage had piled. While he was dealing with that, he needed to pay taxes for the school. As a treasurer, he was able to reduce the taxes but he lost the position, and based on some recordings, he was on his way to losing his farm.
To even make it more troubling for him, his wife Price had been suffering from an ailment for some time.
So, the school that put him in the position of financial doom (due to tax payment) would have to pay (per reports).
Whatever the case, after the killing and suicide, investors found more explosives in his home. They also found a wooden sign wired to his farm’s fence and it read:
Criminals are made, not born
Several of the survivors of the attack have spoken out about what happened and the aftermath.
This site does not instigate or support violence or crime in any way. Instead, it only gives information about things that have happened or that are happening. If you can report crimes through the U.S. Department of Justice. If in the UK, you can check the Police.UK to see how you can report. Or go to Victim Support.
