The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd

by Jana Bommersbach

If history is right, a 26 year-old beauty named Winnie Ruth Judd murdered her two best girlfriends one hot Phoenix night in 1931. Then she hacked up their bodies, stuffed the pieces into a trunk, and took them by train to Los Angeles as her baggage. If history is right, she was sentenced to die but "cheated the gallows" by acting insane. She spent nearly 40 years in Arizona's insane asylum-flummoxing officials by escaping six times. If history is right, she only got her freedom at age 66-after serving more time than any other convicted murderer in the history of the nation―because Arizona was finally tired of punishing her. But if history is wrong, Winnie Ruth Judd's life was squandered in a horrible miscarriage of justice. Award-winning journalist Jana Bommersbach reinvestigates the twisted, bizarre murder case that has captivated the nation for decades. She not only uncovers evidence long hidden, but gets Winnie Ruth Judd to break her life-long silence and finally speak. In telling the story of this American crime legend, Bommersbach also tells the story of Phoenix, Arizona―a backwater town that would become a major American city―and the story of a unique moment in American history filled with social taboos. But most of all, she tells the story of a woman with the courage to survive.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Crime, Biography, Book Club, Mental Illness

317 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1992

About the author

One of the Grand Canyon State’s most acclaimed journalists and authors, Jana Bommersbach has been a fixture in Arizona media since the early 1970s, making an indelible mark in both broadcast and print journalism. Raised in a large extended family in North Dakota, she attended graduate school at the University of Michigan before moving to the Southwest in 1972. Named Arizona’s "Journalist of the Year," she has also been honored with two lifetime achievement awards along with multiple local, regional and national accolades. Her first book, The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd, was a national bestseller and was named Arizona’s ONEBOOKAZ selection in 2010.

Always an obedient child, Jana ventured into children’s literature because her mother told her to! Living in a historic neighborhood in the heart of downtown Phoenix, she entertains the children in her life each Christmas with the annual Hoover Street Children’s Party. With the introduction of A Squirrel’s Story—A True Tale, she looks forward to entering the children's book market with gusto!

Reviews

[jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

In 1931, two traveling trunks were brought from Phoenix to L.A. on a train. By the time they were unloaded in L.A. they were leaking blood. The police opened the trunks and found the bodies of two young women inside, one of them having been cut into pieces. The owner of the trunks, Winnie Ruth Judd, had been aboard the train but vanished when she saw the police present. After a manhunt she was found and taken back to Phoenix to face murder charges. The victims had been her friends and former roommates in Phoenix and Judd admitted to killing them but not to the dismemberment. After several trials, Judd ended up spending nearly 40 years in custody.
I bought this at a book sale, having no knowledge about the case. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have if I'd noticed who the author is. Bommersbach is our local conspiracy theorist here in Phoenix. She has been in the local media for years screeching that the police or some other government office has instituted a cover-up of whatever she's angry about at that minute. So, I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that Bommersbach would treat Judd with such obvious hero worship, as here is a woman who was sentenced to death but "beat" the state by appeal after appeal, escaping from custody seven times, until finally she was so old that she was released. She had served about three times the sentence as anyone else would have for a comparable crime.
Bommersbach spends the book asking the reader to suspend their intelligence and believe as she does that Judd was simply an unlucky scapegoat and that the true criminals were her prominent sometime-boyfriend and the police department, the prosecuting attorneys, the media and the witnesses, all who conspired together and held their tongues for 40 years so that a popular, married businessman wouldn't get into trouble. Bommersbach sees Judd as a fragile, helpless woman whom everyone who comes into contact with loves and completely dismisses the many instances that are on record where Judd shows a violent temper or incoherently rambles or just seems unaware of what's going on. When a witness' testimony doesn't match with Bommersbach's theory, she simply dismisses the testimony as wrong and often gives quotes without attributing them to a speaker or source. To be fair, Judd's life was a rollercoaster ride so the story is very interesting and I would like to read more about the case, but from an author who is impartial.

[Ann Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom recommended this book, purely from personal interest. She met Winnie Ruth upon her return to Phoenix in the 1990's. My aunt and adopted grandmother worked at the women's prison in Florence. My aunt was the warden there when Judd returned after her long escape. My adopted grandmother was the prison nurse. They had become friends with Winnie Ruth while she was an inmate, and were surprised to receive a phone call from Winnie upon her return to living in Phoenix. She invited them to lunch. My aunt invited my dad (her brother), and my mom to go with them. Mom was hesitant, but went. After meeting her, my mom said she just a sweet old woman, nothing to be afraid of.

My grandmother was closer to Judd than my aunt, and I was hoping that she would be mentioned in the book. She was not. But my aunt was mentioned, only not by name. It said that when Arizona finally released Winnie Ruth, it was in the middle of the night and no fan fare was made to keep this news down. It said the only one there upon her release at 2am was the warden.

I'm glad that I read Bommersbach's book after hearing so much about Winnie Ruth through my aunt and grandma. I never really felt like I understood what happened and the whole story, other than my grandma's insistence that "she was innocent."

At times it was repetitive and perhaps a bit more detail than some readers may want. I'd scratch that completely though if someone is interested in this story or the history of Phoenix. I've decided to move on and read "Bury me Deep," a fictional account of Winnie Ruth by another author. Can't wait to see what they do with the story.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Phoenix area native, I can't remember a time when I wasn't fascinated by the Trunk Murderess, and even spent one Halloween night trying to find the house in downtown Phoenix where the murders took place (I found an empty lot, but it turns out the plots were relisted in the 40s - I drove past the actual house so many times without knowing what I was looking at!). When I read Jana Bommersbach's groundbreaking book in college, I saw Winnie Ruth Judd in a new light: as a victim of a powerful man and a corrupt system. I loved revisiting this fascinating true crime that has such strong ties to Phoenix history and culture. The writing style is very journalistic and maybe wouldn't be to everyone's taste (lots of incomplete sentences, one-line paragraphs, a little on the sensational side), but this volume is chock-full of of incredible detail. I've heard that new information has come to light about the case since this book was written in the 1990s, and I'm all set to get weirdly obsessed with it all over again.

[Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fuck Arizona? Was there really that much debauchery, sin and illegal activities going on in 1930s Phoenix that one woman had to be the sacrificial lamb to cover all that filth up?

Winnie Ruth Judd became infamous across the country as the Trunk Murderess after authorities found the two trunks she was trying take with her to Los Angeles contained a dead body and a dismembered body. Judd always claimed that she shot her friends Anne LeRoi and Hedvig Samuelson in self defense one night after an argument got violent, but there was more to the story and the problem was whatever that more was was fiercely covered up to protect her suspected accomplices. Judd alone would take the fall and refused repeated requests to tell the whole story, even into her old age she still feared something or someone. Sadly the world will never know.

[Bill reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winnie Ruth Judd is one of the most infamous female murderers in the history of Arizona. She was accused of shooting two women and was later captured after the trunks she was carrying were discovered with the bodies. The trial was a nationwide media sensation.
What follows is an incredible story of incompetence and intrigue as Winnie made an extremely bad choice in hooking up with a notorious playboy and married family man named "Smiling" Jack Halloran. The charismatic Irish-Catholic businessman carried on an affair with Mrs. Judd, a scandal in 1931.
Winnie was married at eighteen to a much older man who worked sporadically as a doctor due to his morphine addiction. Along came Jack and the young lady became entranced by the flamboyant Mr. Halloran. After an argument with former roommates, Winnie shot the women dead.
The author met Judd when she was out of prison and in her eighties. She is evasive as to how the bodies were dissected, only stating that Jack said that he took care of the problem. The mystery remains for more than ninety years. Why she would drag trunks with corpses to a train station is never answered.
Ms. Bommersbach has done her homework and The Trunk Murderess is a very good read.

[Randy Ladenheim-Gil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a sucker for historical true crime, and 1931 is plenty historical enough for me. Even the book is historical: I must have bought this book as a remaindered hardcover twenty years ago and never got around to reading it. I'm glad I finally did. The author, a newspaperwoman in Phoenix, where this story began, was determined to find out the "truth" behind Winnie Ruth Judd and the two bodies she transported from Phoenix to LA and then spent decades in an insane asylum and prison for a crime she certainly never was guilty of. Either Judd killed her two close friends in self-defense, or maybe she didn't kill them at all, or maybe she killed one of them but not the other, all because she was having an affair with a married playboy and didn't want her husband to find out. I'd like to know the real truth about what happened on that October night now almost 100 years ago, but I think Bommersbach has gotten as close to it as we ever will. And they say Chicago is corrupt!

[Luann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up in Arizona, yet I never remember hearing about Winnie Ruth Judd. I must have at some point, but I don't remember ever hearing her name or any details of the case. After reading this book, I feel like I've read everything I need to about the case. Jana Bommersbach was thorough and meticulous in her research. She paid great attention to detail including many first-person sources and interviews that have never before been published. Her writing was compelling and very readable. Once I started, I could hardly put the book down. This was the adult book for One Book Arizona for 2010, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a frustrating case of incompetence! How sad for poor Mrs. Judd to be in the middle of it all. Read it. You wont be sorry. I read this to Tom on our way home from a trip and we were just glued. We only had a few pages left when we got home and I didn't want the trip to end so we could finish it! What a crazy story, what a sad part of Arizona history. I am glad that Arizona picked this as the "One Book Arizona" this year.

[Josi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of how justice was not served back in the 30's. Just to protect a wealthy businessman, the police and courts provided false evidence to blame Judd of a crime she had a hand in but had help in the coverup. It seems back in the day, prosecution was not legally bound to provide their evidence to the defense; it was not instituted until the 60's. Therefore, the defendant's lawyers were walking into the trial blind.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an intriguing story of a woman involved in a murder and cruel disposal of the bodies. I concur with the author that she was not completely responsible for the incident. The writing was hard for me to get through as the author seemed to interject herself too much into the story and the middle section was very repetitive.

[Tony Bucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This famous case took place right here in Phoenix, so reading this book (for the second time!) was quite fun. Keeping track of all the different persons involved in the crime and investigations can be overwhelming at times. But being able to see the actual locations mentioned in the book is kind of cool.

[Dara S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not riveting. At times it seem repetitive. It was well researched and she uncovered some facts that might not have come to light. It would probably be more interesting to someone familiar with the case.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not guilty! Fascinating read of early Phoenix and the scandal that rocked this town for many decades. I'm grateful our legal system/police work and discovery have made some progress over the years.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The summary of the book, above, says it all. This is a true story of a woman, who was unjustifiably found responsible for two murders. The case became highly publicized because of the attempts to dispose of the bodies: one body was folded up into a suitcase; the other was dismembered and the pieces put into a steamer trunk.

Winnie Ruth Judd's biggest problem was that she was uneducated, simple minded, and naively trusting of others. She trusted the wrong people to champion her welfare -- and they did not do that. Maybe she just didn't know what else to do to defend herself. She had several court proceedings, with high performing lawyers of the era: I don't understand why they could not bring forward the appropriate justice for this woman. Meanwhile, the actual perpetrators of this murder were never brought to justice... Unfortunately, the truth does not always "win", although many times, the truth DOES come out.

[Amelia Osterud · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was awful. I had such high expectations and they were dashed.
Perhaps the book would make more sense if I knew all the details of the crime, but since I don't, I was hopelessly confused as the author laid out her theories on the cover-up for various parts, without ever explaining what the original story was.
Also, I got sick and tired of hearing about how innocent she was... SINCE SHE CONFESSED TO SHOOTING BOTH WOMEN.
Was there someone else to help her load the trunks up? Likely. But she was still a murderer. Also, the whole "putting the trunks on the train to LA" business? Whomever thought that up was a moron.

[Cecelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting to read, I learned a lot. I never seemed to get too bored throughout the pages, and found the writing style to be intriguing informative.

It's pretty shocking how women were hardly regarded as being capable of having a brutal and psychotic mentality - unfortunately they can.

One thing I didn't like too much about this book is how the writer paints Judd as almost a character who needs sympathy in a biased manner.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author's point of view is far from impartial, (she became close friends with Ms. Judd during her research), however; this book gives a fascinating look into the history of Phoenix. As someone interested in both true crime, and history; I I found this book quite interesting and supplemented it with further research. The interview with Ms. Judd mentioned in the book can now be found on YouTube and I definitely thought the cop they interviewed sounded incredibly suspect.

[EC · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read this book when it was initially released back in 1992. Just reread an updated 2011 version for a book club and enjoyed the new information that was added to the more recent book. Somewhat choppy writing, but it was a fascinating true tale of two horrible murders and an elaborate cover up. The book illustrated the extensive corruption that existed in the legal/political/business systems in Phoenix during the 1930s-1970s and how little power women had.

[Cyndy Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Bommersbach did some incredible research. I feel as though I can believe every word. I previously read The Murderess by Laurie Notaro, and I was mesmerized by that book and couldn’t let it go, so I found this book to keep reading. After finishing both books, I think I have the whole story now, even though nobody else has it! I’m enraged that Jack Halloran never got his due. I pray Winnie Ruth Judd rests in peace.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story of Winnie Ruth Judd and learned a lot about Phoenix history. Sometimes the author was repetitive however the book held my interest.

I was born in Arizona but left at an a very early age. I was brought up in Chicago so the idea of cover ups regarding who did it etc is not foreign to me. It was an intriguing story and well written.

[Amanda R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

I loved this book. I had never heard of this case and was completely moved by the story. That poor, poor woman got railroaded in a time when I'm sure this was common in a world still dominated by men.. Thank you so much to the author for her extensive research and diligence in writing this book.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I didn't like about the book: writing style a little hard to read, too much repetition especially since you never her what Winnie Ruth Judd says is the truth.
What I like about the book: I live in the Phoenix area and wanted to hear about a real local murder mystery.
And the police and politicians were sure unfair to her, so they had to have someone paying them for there deeds. So sad!

[Therese Dotray-Tulloch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very moving true story about a young woman in 1931 in Phoenix who murders her two friends in self-defense and then puts them in trunks and takes them to Los Angles. Her treatment behind bars for 40+ years is tragic. A testament to one woman's will to live.

[mike johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best true crime book ever

Such a compelling story. I am 71 years old an a native of Phoenix and this was an eye opener. I have driven by the house on 2nd street which is still there. This story illustrates what a different city Phoenix was back then.

[Gwen Kubberness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I don't know I'm really like not sure the book was really good don't get me wrong but what she really guilty was it self-defense or was she cold-blooded murderer I don't know I have a criminal justice degree and I I need to reflect on this a little more.

[Cspindel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to see how this crime was viewed over the decades. Would be willing to bet Judds outcome would be different if tried in this millennium.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating. Read it in 2 days. Couldn’t put it down.

[Shelly Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very interesting to learn that she got 38 years for a crime she had to have help committing. That she escaped the mental hospital not 1 but 7 times and the last for 6 years.

[Mydonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Sad story. Ruth suffered consequences beyond what her involvement was in the whole situation.

[Gregg]

Chilling story not only of a horrible double murder, but a coverup that all but ruined a survivor's life.