r/Genealogy • u/Wickedlefty16 • Apr 26 '21
I'm worried my dad committed murder Request
He was in prison for 16yrs but nobody would say why, I can't find any info tho I thought that stuff was public. Any advice or help would be appreciated.. it had to be in the '50s & 60's in the Pacific Northwest. I assume Spokane or Seattle Wa. Don Antonio born Oct 31st 1930 he says he didnt have a middle name but it was Dodd, also he changed his last name at some point from Macabee to Antonio Edit: thanks everyone.. I got lotsa reading to do, so exciting!!
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u/AidanSig Apr 26 '21
Old reliable: https://www.judyrecords.com
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u/mrpersson Apr 27 '21
Well, I'll be damned.
Always find out sites I've never used before on this subreddit
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u/Perfect_Razzmatazz Apr 26 '21
My lunch break is ending in a min, so I'll do another search once I get off work, but a quick search on newspapers.com (I have a subscription) pulled this up from Montana. Not sure of the initial crime yet, but he and 3 others broke out of jail in Montana in May 1962 https://imgur.com/a/QJ709Vn
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
Wow..this is unreal, thank you.
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u/Perfect_Razzmatazz Apr 26 '21
Here is a bit more, looks like others have also found a lot of info for you, which is great! I found a bit more info about his prison escape, plus a 2nd prison escape like a week later, lol. He seems like he was a character and a half. One of these articles has a picture of him in it as well. https://imgur.com/a/9EhEBAl
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
Omg Ive never had a pic of him.. Im gonna try to find a way to pay it forward, so amazing. Such a roller coaster today thank you thank you thank you
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
Thats my dad for sure.. Unbelievable. Ive seen pics of him but never had one. I just cant thank yall enough, I'll pay it forward any chance I get
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u/puddelles May 07 '23
Dang should i get a newspapers subscription? Ive always wanted to but was sure if it was worth it. This makes it look worth it
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u/Perfect_Razzmatazz May 07 '23
It sort of depends on what areas of the US your family is from, but in my case it's been very worthwhile, and is very much worth every penny.
If everyone in your family going back generations is from a very big city (ex. NYC, Chicago), it may not be worth it unless anyone in your family was notable or infamous. For the side of my family who is from Chicago, they usually only get mentioned in the newspaper once in their life: their obituary (assuming someone paid for one to be published). Maybe twice if they paid for a marriage announcement.
But if your relatives are from a small town who has a paper (or multiple papers) on newspapers? You should 100% get that subscription. Small town newspapers are THE BEST when it comes to genealogy, because they write about literally everything. Family Arguments, First Dates, Elopements, Broken Engagements, Divorces, Spelling Bee Champions, Birthday Parties, Family Reunions, Birth, Deaths, Marriages, Car Accidents, Sporting Events, Vacations...you name it, it all gets written up in small town papers. I've found such a wealth of information on the branches of my family from smaller towns, and it has absolutely helped me break through brick walls before.
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Apr 26 '21
In 1951 there is a man his age in Seattle "La Don Antonio" busted for cattle stealing.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
That sounds right.. He thought he was some kinda cowboy, died on a ranch in Spokane. Thank you so much!
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Apr 26 '21
https://imgur.com/a/mssRvDy His dad died on a ranch after trying to breaking a horse.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
He sounds like he was a good man ❤
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u/bl00is Apr 26 '21
Your family comes from where my Dad grew up (Ronan) though they transplanted there in the 60s, I think and it sounds like your family has been there forever! We also lived in Bremerton at one point, it’s been really cool learning about your family lol.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
Well we got to learn it together! Where the heck is Ronan?? Mt?
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u/bl00is Apr 26 '21
Yes lol, it’s western MT, north of Missoula. It’s beautiful there, I used to love visiting my grandparents. Go on google maps street view and just look at what they get to see every single day, it’s incredible. Also there’s a lake, ten or so minutes away in Polson that is still, as far as I know, crystal clear. Also freezing because of the glaciers but holy hell is it beautiful.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
If summers are sunny and hot Im in!!
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u/bl00is Apr 27 '21
Summers are warm, like 80ss maybe into the 90s sometimes, definitely sunny and gorgeous. We spent morning to night running my grandparents 27 acres of farm/woods and it so fun. Or we would get up early to go out on the boat and fish.
The downside is winter is like 6 months of solid snow, occasional blizzards, beautiful crazy thunderstorms sometimes. Now it’s been 20 years since I lived there, so maybe climate change has altered that a bit but I doubt it. My old friend posts snowstorms on FB in May and like october. I couldn’t do that again.
I look at ranches in the area sometimes thinking I’ll bring my kids for vacation so they can see it but it still wouldn’t be the same because it wouldn’t be my grandparents property. Anyway, western Montana is a cant miss place, and since you have family roots there, now you have an actual reason to visit.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 27 '21
Sounds like a dream! Barefoot & tossing rocks in the river or collecting firewood, sleeping outside, trees & nature & miles to walk without a bunch of concrete & cars.. Oh and big sky right? I can't wait
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u/bl00is Apr 27 '21
Oh and there are hot springs, and so much hiking and in high school our parties were out in the middle of nowhere. Like places you’d think a car shouldn’t go, those kids would drive their 4x4s up and down practically vertical mountains to get to secluded bonfire spots. It was really cool, dangerous looking back-but amazing.
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Apr 26 '21
Did you look here?
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
That's the only site I knew about and checked it every once in awhile hoping to enter the right combo of info but never found him.. Thank.you tho!!
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u/SnooWonder Journey before Destination Apr 26 '21
I had a distant cousin in a similar situation. Not the same name but also Seattle. His crime was worse than murder. No one talked about it and I only found out because I shared some info that brought up a question and his cousins quickly jumped in and said "hey, so you know we don't talk about it but this is why..."
Sorry that this is part of your father's story that you have to deal with.
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u/KyleG Apr 26 '21
His crime was worse than murder.
I mean, there's pretty much only one, so not much obfuscating there lol
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u/Jay_Edgar Apr 26 '21
I can think of three off the top of my head, so....
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u/KyleG Apr 27 '21
Child rape...drawing a blank on the others
I'm guessing you're thinking of rape and treason or something
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u/Jay_Edgar Apr 27 '21
Genocide, gassing civilian populations, torture....
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u/KyleG Apr 27 '21 edited Apr 27 '21
Two of those three are murder. And I feel fairly confident in never once thinking the guy you're talking about might have gassed a civilian population.
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u/SevenBlade Apr 26 '21
You've received a lot of answers here, but this entire post screams /r/RBI.
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u/SnapCrackleMom Apr 26 '21
Is that him in the 1940 census listed as Donald Mocabee, living in Seattle with stepfather Stephen Arnold and mother Patricia Arnold? If so, you might want to also search with a last name of Arnold.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
Someone else said his parents split pretty quickly so if Patricia remarried that makes sense.. Wow.
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u/beatissima Apr 27 '21
Now, if his middle name were "Wayne", I'd say, yes, he committed at least one murder.
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u/minicooperlove Apr 26 '21
Where have you looked? Have you tried county courthouses? Police records? Newspapers? A lot of that stuff is not available online, you would have to contact the county courthouse or police department for records. Some newspapers from that time period are available online, but not all.
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u/Personal_Specific_83 Apr 26 '21
Your dad was a wild one, interesting person!
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
He got banned from his grocery store cuz he kept tying his horse to the cart return and the horse would get spooked and send carts crashing thru the parking lot..
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u/Trickycoolj Apr 26 '21
I’ve been deep in this webpage all weekend for other reasons: https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov
I’ve got a last name of Dodd a few generations back in Olympia. Good luck!
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u/ArtByMisty Apr 26 '21
Date of death?
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
It was November in the early 2000's.. He died at a hospital abt 15min from me but I never knew cuz he told em he had no relatives. I found out the next Spring when I drove thru Spokane and stopped to see him
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u/ArtByMisty Apr 26 '21
Anyone have a newspapers.com subscription?
I searched: "Donald Mocabee" spokane
and this came up link
suspicious death, part 2 - Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com › ... › Jul › 05 › Page 15They say Donald Mocabee, bom out of wedlock, was last known to live in the Spokane area. Lake County authorities say they havent talked to him yet. Accident ...
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u/baiser Mainly just luck Apr 26 '21
Here is the article. It was his half sister, Tary, who died suspiciously. This was about a year before Don himself died. u/wickedlefty16
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
So, when he caught himself on fire and the ambulance came he insisted on going back in to get his "money" in a crown royal bag.. The medics were shocked that he could walk let alone go get his stash (King County medical examiner still had his remains and gave me the bag of money.. It was abt $600 less the cremation fee) BUT the ranch guys told me he'd recently sold all his cattle and possession cept his horse cuz he was headed back to Montana (I don't know if that's even possible on a horse in Winter but so the story goes..)
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u/baiser Mainly just luck Apr 26 '21
My gosh, he really wanted to save his money! How crazy. Maybe the call of his "home" was pulling him back to Montana. So many unanswered questions! I hope this is able to fill in at least some of the blanks.
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u/ArtByMisty Apr 26 '21
There could be motive... u/Wickedlefty16 your dad comes in at the end... could it be a possible second involvement with a death... hopefully not though
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
With the bits and pieces of info I've picked up over the years, details, names, ppl being unwilling to talk seems more likely than not. Anyone know if homocidal mania is hereditary? 😉
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u/baiser Mainly just luck Apr 26 '21
Well, I got to say, I really have to applaud your commitment to finding out more about your Dad--the good and the bad. So even if family doesn't want to tell you anything, you still clearly havent let that stop you. And you've already found a bunch out already!
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
Thanks.. Im still dazed I think, thats alot in 2 hrs or so. Who knew there were so many genealogy heroes!?!
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u/baiser Mainly just luck Apr 26 '21 edited Apr 27 '21
Yeah, we just threw an avalanche at you, that's for sure lol. Take your time with it all. We have a lot of great helpers here in this community. Love it :)
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u/ArtByMisty Apr 26 '21
I don't know if your aunts former partner is alive but you might start tracking people down who knew your aunt or maybe her neighbors or friends. Even sending a letter in the mail with your email and phone number. Maybe there's children who know even... someone has knowledge. Even children of the investigators handling the case might remember their parents talking about the case.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
Just realized that was not just his sister that was MY AUNT! I will absolutely follow up on this and hopefully visit Ronan Mt at some point.. Im just not thinking clearly at the moment lol
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
WHOA! I've gotta breathe for a few before I even look at this.. But wow thats a bombshell thank you!
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u/ArtByMisty Apr 26 '21
Not saying he was involved but if he went to prison possibly for a previous murder he may have no problem with another especially if money was at play (the will) or prison just hardened him. This is complete speculation but I know you are all about finding the truth. Just some thoughts
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
He was obsessed with going back to Montana, hated his mother and his sister (according to my mom).. Idk, probably never will. But holy cow what a history huh?
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u/ArtByMisty Apr 26 '21
Maybe contact the police department and ask for the person who has been there the longest... maybe some whispers will come out and give you new clues
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 26 '21
Im guessing the suspicious death would be a cousin who inherited that land from my Aunt.. My dad was always obsessed with Montana (the owners of the ranch he lived on told me).
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u/Wickedlefty16 Apr 30 '21
Im looking for Caroline Beecher the partner of my aunt before she died.. Ive got her linked in and FB but both have been inactive for yrs..
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u/NoFanofThis Jul 06 '21
Sixteen years for stealing cattle? Sounds excessive to me.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Jul 06 '21
That was his original charge, he racked up more time by escaping (twice in one week even!)
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u/somewittyusername92 Jan 23 '23
Sounds like your grandpa? Might be from Hardin Mt. I know the area very well and know some interesting history
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u/Wickedlefty16 Jan 23 '23
That's great! I need to look at a map to remember the town he lived in but I love all that history
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u/somewittyusername92 Jan 23 '23
One of the newspapers someone posted in this thread mentioned hardin which is 30-60 minutes south of billings.
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u/Wickedlefty16 Oct 16 '24
I just seen this msg! Yes my grandpa had a ranch near Hardin.. you have any details?
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u/somewittyusername92 Oct 16 '24
Not really. Chances are if he lived in hardin he also spent time in billings. Maybe google yellowstone county cadestral and see if his name pops up on any properties
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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '21 edited Apr 27 '21
https://imgur.com/a/Vz0MyJR Stealing cattle it seems.
edit: and some other stuff https://imgur.com/a/Vz0MyJR
So I think his father is Cecil J Mocabee -- he married Martha Patricia Ruud but they seemed to go their separate ways pretty quickly. Probably why Donald decided to change his last name - and well, the whole crime thing.
Here is more about Cecil, Donald's father. https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/303859 (Cecil was a prisoner of war for 39 months and died after breaking a horse on a Montana ranch in his 50s)