Between 1962 and 1964, Southern West Virginia was gripped by fear as a series of mysterious disappearances and brutal murders occurred. This unidentified figure, known as the “Mad Butcher,” became a chilling legend — but was it a true serial killer or just a story shaped by rumor and speculation?
The Disappearance of Ernest Gwinn
The eerie story begins on June 3, 1962, when 74-year-old Ernest Gwinn vanished from Oak Hill. Gwinn, a retired railway brakeman, was last seen after cashing his pension check and enjoying beers with friends. Witnesses claimed he later went to the Veterans Foreign Affairs Club, but the club’s proprietor denied this.
Months later, a skull with a bullet hole was discovered near the railroad tracks, thought to be Gwinn’s remains. While dental records could not confirm his identity, timing and circumstantial evidence suggested he was one of the first victims.
The Vanishing of Sammy Smith
In October 1962, 33-year-old Sammy Smith, a dishwasher at the Four Minute Lunch, went missing after his shift. He was last seen at the Top Hat Drive-In, getting coffee before heading home. Sammy never arrived, and no trace of him has ever been discovered.
The Gruesome Fate of Michael Rogers
The most horrifying discovery occurred in December 1962, when 19-year-old Michael Rogers, a gentle but mentally challenged young man, vanished while attempting to purchase cigarettes. Days later, his dismembered body was discovered on Gauley Mountain.
His body had been cut into 13 pieces and his torso stuffed into a military duffle bag. An autopsy revealed a bullet wound in the back of the head, confirming the execution-style killing. The brutality of this crime stunned the community and instilled widespread fear.
The Mystery of Lou Louis Bennett
In July 1963, Lou Louis Bennett, 42, went missing after leaving the Four Minute Lunch restaurant. Bennett, a veteran with a grim medical diagnosis, had ominously stated that he might disappear and “no one would see him again.”
His remains were discovered nearly two years later, along remote railroad tracks. While some speculated on suicide, others believed he had become another victim of the infamous Mad Butcher.
The Uncertain Fate of Shirley Gene Arthur
Shirley Gene Arthur, a Navy man and gospel singer, went missing in November 1963 while visiting his girlfriend. According to conflicting accounts, he left between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., but he was never seen again. His disappearance remains unsolved.
Myth or Murderer?
While several of these cases share eerie similarities — dismemberment, remote locations, and missing people linked to Oak Hill — the true identity of the Mad Butcher remains unknown.
Some believe the killer was a disturbed individual with a penchant for violence, while others argue that the deaths were unrelated or exaggerated by rumors and panic.
The Mad Butcher legend lives on in West Virginia folklore, serving as a chilling reminder that some shadows never fade. Whether true or not, these stories have become part of the region’s dark and mysterious history.
