July 4, 1954 —The beating death of Marilyn Sheppard in the early morning hours at the Bay Village home she shared with her husband, Samuel Sheppard, and their son sparked a controversial murder trial that could be considered the O.J. Simpson case of its day.
Police were suspicious of Sheppard’s claims that the murder was perpetrated by a bushy-haired man, and he was arrested on July 30th. As a media circus proliferated throughout the trial, the defense was ultimately unable to convince the jury of Sheppard’s innocence. On December 21, 1954 Dr. Sheppard was convicted of 2nd degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
After appeals, a Supreme Court ruling and a subsequent retrial in 1966, Sam Sheppard was found not guilty.
The Sheppard case has had an influence on our popular culture providing the premise for a television series (The Fugitive, 1963; remade in 2000) and a motion picture (The Fugitive, 1993).
Betty and Steve Sheppard walk down the steps of the courthouse.Betty Sheppard checks in at an office window as a visitor.Cleveland Press City Room waits for verdict in Sam Sheppard murder case, 1954Coroner Gerber questions Sam Sheppard at the Normandy Elementary School inquest. The inquest was held after some finger pointing headlines from local newspapers.Deputy Sheriff James Kilory fiddles with the handcuffs on Sam SheppardDeputy Sheriff James Kilroy leads Sam Sheppard out of cell to courtroomDeputy Sheriff James Kilroy leads Sam Sheppard to the courtroom, while the media looks onDeputy Sheriff James Kilroy leads Sam Sheppard to the courtroomDeputy Sheriff James Kilroy leads Sam Sheppard up the courtroom stairsMayor Houk, a suspect in the Sheppard murder case, stands.Members of the media crowd the court hallwayMrs. Sam Sheppard looks through mementos from the Sheppard Murder Case, 1974Richard, Betty, and Steve Sheppard sit in the fourth row of the courtroom. Chip, Sam and Marilyn’s son, lived with Betty and Steve after his father was arrested.Richard Sheppard walks down the street, after telling police he’ll think about giving a lie detector testSam Sheppard and Fred Garmone discuss something, while Deputy Sheriff James Kilroy observes the courtroom in the backgroundSam Sheppard waits to be arraigned at Bay Village City Hall, before being transported to jail in Cleveland. This took place on July 31, 1954.Sam Sheppard waits to be arraigned at the Bay Village City Hall. He was transported to jail in Cleveland. This happened on July 31, 1954.The defense team and Sheppard brothers huddle. From left – Richard Sheppard, unidentified man, Will Corrigan, Richard Sheppard, and Steve SheppardSaul Danaceau, one of the prosecutors for the Sheppard murder case.The jury for the Sheppard Murder Case poses for a picture in the courtroom.The Sheppard Defense team in the courtroom. Will Corrigan, Sam Sheppard, and Fred Garmone sit in a row.Will Corrigan and Sheppard brothers sit in the courtroomWilliam Corrigan Jr., who is freshly graduated from law school and the son of Defense Attorney William Corrigan, talks with Sam Sheppard during a lull in the trial.Dr. Samuel Sheppard (r), convicted of 2nd degree murder of his wife, Marilyn, July 4th, 1954, clutches tightly a picture of his son, Chip, as he is led away to a car to begin the trip to the Ohio Penitentiary. With Sheppard is Michael Jacko, an ex-convict, caught in a recent robbery, and a former cellmate of Pat McDermott, who was caught in New York. Sheppard will be eligible for parole in ten years.
