Andrew Wessel Six, born on May 14, 1965, in Pershing, Iowa, had a turbulent upbringing characterized by significant developmental, psychological, and environmental challenges. Diagnosed with hyperactivity in preschool, he faced behavioral issues early on. His childhood was marked by a dysfunctional family environment, which included abuse and neglect, leading to involvement from social services. Additionally, he suffered from untreated hearing impairment during his elementary years and ultimately dropped out of high school. Psychiatric evaluations later revealed a history of clinical depression, hyperactivity, and substance abuse, contributing to the emergence of a personality disorder with antisocial traits.
Iowa Family Murders (1984)
On April 12, 1984, Six committed a triple homicide in Ottumwa, Iowa, resulting in the deaths of Justin Hook Jr., his mother Sarah Link, and his fiancée Tina Lade. The victims were found dead within days of each other, with all three having suffered fatal head injuries. Despite initial investigations, the case remained unsolved for years, with Six later being posthumously identified as the perpetrator through DNA evidence in 2014.
Murder of Kathy Allen (1987)
Six’s most notorious crime occurred on April 10, 1987, when he, alongside his uncle Donald Petary, kidnapped and murdered 12-year-old Kathy Allen. The two men approached Allen’s family under the pretense of purchasing their truck. After restraining Kathy’s family, they abducted her and ultimately killed her in Missouri. Following their arrest, Kathy’s body was discovered in a ditch, revealing that she had died from a stab wound to the neck.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Both Six and Petary faced state murder charges in Missouri for Kathy Allen’s murder and were also prosecuted federally for kidnapping due to the interstate nature of the crime. In 1988, Six was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, while Petary received a similar sentence shortly thereafter. They were both sentenced to 200 years in prison for the federal kidnapping charges, ensuring they would spend life in prison.
Six’s appeals against his conviction and death sentence were consistently rejected, culminating in his execution by lethal injection on August 20, 1997. His case marked a significant moment, as he became the first individual from Iowa to be executed outside the state.
Posthumous Developments
In 2014, DNA evidence linked Six to the unsolved 1984 triple homicide, confirming suspicions that had lingered for years. The reopening of the case by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation led to the identification of Six as the murderer, providing closure to the families of the victims.
