In early 1930, Gertie came to St. Joseph, Missouri, and checked into a hotel, where she drank a bottle of poison in a failed suicide attempt. Taken to a hospital, she slowly recovered, and when she got out, she made her way to Savannah (MO) because an elderly woman she met in the hospital had told her what a nice place it was.
In Savannah, Gertie went to work for the McCormick family, and the first day she was there, she met Virgil Reece, a World War I veteran and prominent citizen of the community. The two hit it off immediately, and they dated for the next two years.
During those two years, Gertie also worked for the Breit family and for Virgil's father. She enjoyed living and working on the Reece farm, and she told friends that she and Virgil were planning to get married.
Her dreamworld came crashing down when she learned in early June 1932 that Marie Thompson, an old friend of Virgil’s, was coming back to Savannah. Gertie noticed that Virgil “showed considerable interest” in Miss Thompson’s return, and he became cold toward Gertie.
Gertie was devastated by Virgil’s loss of interest in her, but she put on a brave front, telling him that he could "take the gate." Gertie left the Reece farm and went back to stay with the McCormicks on June 16. Mrs. McCormick later recalled that Gertie seemed cheerful, but she wasn't as carefree as she let on. A week or so later, she visited the Breits, and, knowing the layout of their home and where everything was kept, she slipped a .32 caliber revolver into her purse while no one was watching.
Gertie was devastated by Virgil’s loss of interest in her, but she put on a brave front, telling him that he could "take the gate." Gertie left the Reece farm and went back to stay with the McCormicks on June 16. Mrs. McCormick later recalled that Gertie seemed cheerful, but she wasn't as carefree as she let on. A week or so later, she visited the Breits, and, knowing the layout of their home and where everything was kept, she slipped a .32 caliber revolver into her purse while no one was watching.
Miss Thompson arrived from Oklahoma near the same time as Gertie’s visit to the Breit home, and the Thompson woman began keeping company with Virgil. Gertie still pretended not to care, but she was seething with jealousy and anger on the inside.
On the evening of June 27, when she saw Virgil and Miss Thompson pull up in Virgil's car and park on the north side of the Savannah square, Gertie strode out into the street and pulled out the stolen revolver. She strolled up to the driver's side door and escorted Virgil to the gates of hell by shooting him in the head.
When a bystander demanded to know why she'd done that, Gertie replied, "Virgil knows," as she walked away.
On the evening of June 27, when she saw Virgil and Miss Thompson pull up in Virgil's car and park on the north side of the Savannah square, Gertie strode out into the street and pulled out the stolen revolver. She strolled up to the driver's side door and escorted Virgil to the gates of hell by shooting him in the head.
When a bystander demanded to know why she'd done that, Gertie replied, "Virgil knows," as she walked away.
Approached by a night patrolman, Gertie handed over the revolver. She announced, "I just killed Virgil," and she later said that she had planned to kill herself, too.
Virgil was rushed to a hospital but died a few hours later. Meanwhile, Gertie was taken to jail and charged with first-degree murder. She waived preliminary examination, and her trial was held in November 1932. The key point of contention between the prosecution and the defense was whether Gertie acted from mere spite or from righteous indignation. The defense argued that Virgil's rejection of her drove her to temporary insanity. Implicit in the argument, although not directly stated, was the contention that Virgil had taken Gertie to bed under a false promise of marriage. The prosecution argued, on the other hand, that Virgil had made no such promise. He had, to the contrary, made it clear he did not want to get married.
After closing arguments, the judge gave instructions that left no room for an in-between verdict. Either Gertie was not guilty by reason of insanity, or she was guilty of first-degree murder, which carried a penalty of death or life imprisonment. The jury came back hopelessly deadlocked, and the judge declared a mistrial.
At Gertie’s retrial in February 1933, the jury found her not guilty, despite the fact that the charge had been reduced from first-degree murder to second-degree murder. The jury held that Mrs. Lytle was now sane but was insane at the time of the crime, and she walked out of the courtroom a free woman.
After closing arguments, the judge gave instructions that left no room for an in-between verdict. Either Gertie was not guilty by reason of insanity, or she was guilty of first-degree murder, which carried a penalty of death or life imprisonment. The jury came back hopelessly deadlocked, and the judge declared a mistrial.
At Gertie’s retrial in February 1933, the jury found her not guilty, despite the fact that the charge had been reduced from first-degree murder to second-degree murder. The jury held that Mrs. Lytle was now sane but was insane at the time of the crime, and she walked out of the courtroom a free woman.
The story above is a condensed version of a chapter in my latest book, Gangster Queen Bonnie Parker and Other Murderous Women of Missouri https://amzn.to/3RsmBJ1.
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