In a tragic incident during the Christmas season, a man went on a killing spree, resulting in the deaths of his wife and six out of his seven children before taking his own life. The man, identified as Charles ‘Charlie’ Lawson, lived in Germanton, North Carolina, USA, and was a sharecropper. He was married to Fannie Manring in 1911, and they had eight children together. Their third child, William, passed away in 1920.
Just days before Christmas in 1929, Charles did something unexpected by taking his family to town for a family portrait session. This action was unusual for their modest family, as getting a portrait done was considered a costly luxury at the time, not typically affordable for a working-class farmer like Charles. The community was surprised when he purchased new clothes for his family for the photo session.
On Christmas Day, Charles carried out a horrific act of violence, killing his wife Fannie, aged 37, and their children Marie, 17, Carrie, 12, Maybell, 7, James, 4, Raymond, 2, and four-month-old Mary Lou. The only surviving child was Arthur, 16, who Charles had sent away on an errand.
The tragic events unfolded as Marie was baking a Christmas cake in the morning, while Carrie and Maybell were preparing to visit their aunt. However, their father ambushed them near the tobacco barn, shooting them with a shotgun and then bludgeoning them. Charles then returned home, where he shot his wife on the porch and proceeded to kill his other children, James and Raymond, who tried to hide. He also killed baby Mary Lou, opting to bludgeon her instead of using a firearm. Subsequently, he took his own life in the woods.
The bodies of the family members were found arranged in a particular manner, with their arms crossed and pillows placed beneath their heads, except for Carrie and Maybell, who had rocks under their heads. Charles’ body was discovered in the woods along with letters addressed to his parents.
Decades later, claims surfaced alleging that Charles had sexually abused his oldest daughter, Marie, and that she was pregnant with his child. Witnesses, including a family friend, hinted at underlying issues within the family but did not provide further details. The true motivation behind Charles’ violent actions remains a mystery to this day.