Simon Nelson

Simon Nelson
Born October 2, 1931
Criminal penalty
 Six concurrent prison terms of 100 to 200 years
Spouse(s) Ann Nelson
Motive Divorce
Killings
Date January 7, 1978
Location(s) Rockford, Illinois, United States
Target(s) Family
Killed 6
Weapons Knife
Rubber mallet

Simon Peter Nelson is an American man who was convicted of murdering his six children aged 13, 11, 8, 7, 5, and 3. He used a knife and rubber mallet to kill the children as they slept on January 7, 1978 in Rockford, Illinois. He then drove to Milwaukee to beat his wife, who was seeking a divorce at the time.

Nelson claimed that he "snapped" when his wife announced her intention to divorce him, and alleges that he can’t recall the killings because of amnesia. He first was eligible for parole in 1986 and has been denied at least 15 times.

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