French Quarter’s Three Months of Terror (1977)
In spring of 1977, five deaths among the French Quarter’s gay community rocked the district. The victims, men aging between 32 and 77 years old, were known to go to the gay bars in the Quarter. Four of them were found in their homes, some shortly after having sex. Between February and April, the crimes terrorized the gay community. New Orleans parish coroner Frank Minyard saying, “It seems to me if this same individual is committing these atrocious crimes, then this individual is deteriorating very fast in his mental activities and he needs to be caught in a hurry.” The killer’s identity shocked the community; The killer, Warren Harris Jr., was a sixteen-year-old New Orleans native, eighth grade dropout, and petty criminal. Upon capture, he confessed he was repulsed by homosexuals. Warren was convicted, sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without chance of pardon or parole.