Gordon Stewart Northcott

Early life and move to California

Gordon Stewart Northcott was born on November 9, 1906, in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, to parents Cyrus G. Northcott and Sarah Louise Northcott. He was raised in British Columbia and was described by his father as an abnormal boy both physically and mentally. His mother insisted he wear dresses and play with dolls until his mid-teens. In 1924, Northcott moved with his parents to Los Angeles, California. He later convinced his father to purchase a plot of land in Wineville, California, in Riverside County. On this land, with the help of his father and his nephew Sanford Clark, he built a chicken ranch and a house, which became the site of his crimes.

The Wineville Chicken Coop murders

At his chicken ranch in Riverside County, Northcott began abducting young boys, sexually abusing them, and often releasing them afterwards. However, he murdered an undetermined number of victims at the ranch, with the total speculated by police to be as high as 20. The crimes came to light in 1928 after Northcott's nephew, Sanford Clark, had endured months of imprisonment, torture, and forced participation in the murders. Clark was abused sexually and physically almost from his arrival, and was sometimes put into a pit and chained up. Clark's sister came to check on him, which ultimately led to authorities moving in. Northcott and his mother were arrested by Canadian police on September 19, 1928, but extradition paperwork errors delayed their return to Los Angeles until November 30.

Gordon Stewart Northcott was implicated in the murder of Walter Collins. However, his mother Sarah Louise Northcott had already confessed to murdering Collins and had been sentenced for that crime. Therefore, the state of California chose not to prosecute Northcott for that particular murder. The state could only produce evidence to support an indictment for three specific murders. Northcott was formally charged with the murders of an unidentified underage Mexican national, later identified as Alvin Gothea, and the brothers Lewis and Nelson Winslow.

• Alvin Gothea, an unidentified Mexican national whose headless body was found on February 2, 1928, near Puente.
• Lewis Winslow, age 12, reported missing from Pomona on May 16, 1928.
• Nelson Winslow, age 10, reported missing from Pomona on May 16, 1928.

Gothea's decapitated body was found covered by a sack that had formerly contained chicken feed. An autopsy showed death was caused by gunshot wounds and decapitation occurred soon after. Northcott told his nephew he killed the Mexican boy because he knew too much, and he attempted to destroy the victim's head by fire and an axe. The Winslow brothers were kidnapped, molested, tortured, and murdered by Northcott in 1928, with their case forming a central part of the trial.

Trial, conviction, and execution

Northcott's trial was held in early 1929 before Judge George R. Freeman in Riverside County. The prosecution presented evidence that he kidnapped, molested, tortured, and murdered the Winslow brothers and Alvin Gothea. The jury heard detailed and gruesome testimony about the crimes. On February 8, 1929, the jury found him guilty of these murders. Judge Freeman sentenced him to death on February 13, after the jury failed to make any recommendation as to punishment. Northcott was imprisoned at San Quentin State Prison on February 12, 1929, the day before his sentencing.

While in prison, Northcott suffered from appendicitis in September 1929 but refused medical intervention. He again suffered from appendicitis in May 1930 but again refused treatment. His appeal reached the Supreme Court of California, which refused it on June 26, 1930, in the case People v. Northcott. The court's opinion summarized the evidence, noting the bullet that killed the Mexican boy was a .22 long rifle bullet, Peters ammunition, matching the type Northcott owned. Northcott was executed by hanging at San Quentin on October 2, 1930. His last meal consisted of ham, eggs, biscuits, hot cakes and syrup, mush, and coffee. The execution was botched when the rope failed to break his neck, resulting in his death by strangulation after 13 minutes.

Role of Sarah Louise Northcott and Sanford Clark

Northcott's mother, Sarah Louise Northcott, was deeply involved in the crimes and was arrested alongside her son. She pleaded guilty to the murder of a nine-year-old boy, widely believed to be Walter Collins, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Her confession to that murder meant the state chose not to prosecute Gordon Northcott for that specific killing. Northcott's nephew, Sanford Clark, was a central figure as both a victim and an unwilling accomplice whose testimony was crucial for the prosecution. Sent from Saskatoon at age 13 under the false pretence of helping on a chicken ranch, Clark was subjected to sexual and physical abuse, chained in a pit, and forced to assist in the murders.

After the case broke, Clark spent two years in a progressive-style reformatory in California before returning to Canada. Sanford Clark later returned to Saskatoon, where he led a productive life, serving in the Second World War and working for many years as a postal worker. He died in 1991. His son, Jerry Clark, co-authored the book The Road Out of Hell with Anthony Flacco to tell his father's story of survival and redemption. The book recounts the long months of Clark's imprisonment and torture, and his subsequent reclamation of a normal life. Northcott had an early fondness for animals, particularly ducks and rabbits.

Legal proceedings and evidence summary

The legal case against Gordon Stewart Northcott was built largely on the testimony of his nephew, Sanford Clark, and physical evidence recovered from the ranch. The prosecution presented three counts of murder in an indictment from the Riverside County grand jury. A fourth count, charging an entirely different offense, was dismissed upon motion of the district attorney. The evidence for the murder of Alvin Gothea included the discovery of his headless body, the testimony that Northcott confessed to the killing, and the matching of bullet fragments to Northcott's .22-caliber rifle. Small pieces of human skull were found at the ranch where an attempt was made to burn the victim's head, and the victim's clothes were destroyed by fire on the property.

For the murders of the Winslow brothers, the prosecution detailed the sequence of their abduction and the circumstances of their deaths on the ranch. Northcott's defence contended that no motive was shown for a first-degree murder charge, but the court ruled that proof of motive was not necessary for a conviction. The California Supreme Court, in its appeal ruling, stated the evidence amply supported the verdict and referenced the precedent of People v. Tom Woo. The court's opinion also noted the prosecution's evidence that the homicide was perpetrated because the victim knew too much, which itself indicated a motive. Police and press commonly referred to Northcott as Ape Man in reports, due to his excessive body hair.

Cultural depictions and case legacy

The Wineville Chicken Coop murders have been referenced in several media works, most notably the 2008 film Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood. In the film, Gordon Stewart Northcott is portrayed by actor Jason Butler Harner. The case is also covered in true crime podcasts and documentaries. The story maintains a connection to Canada through Northcott's Saskatchewan origins and the long-term impact on the Clark family in Saskatoon.

The key details of the case and its aftermath include a number of specific cultural and historical references. The 2008 film Changeling brought the case to a wide international audience. The book The Road Out of Hell by Anthony Flacco and Jerry Clark details Sanford Clark's ordeal and his life afterwards. Northcott is commonly referred to in crime media as The Wineville Chicken Coop Murderer. Press reports from the era often referred to Northcott as Ape Man due to his excessive body hair. The murders led to the unincorporated community of Wineville changing its name to Mira Loma in 1930. The case remains a subject of legal study regarding evidence and confession admissibility.

Northcott's crimes had an impact on the community and the families involved. The notoriety of the case ensured it remained in public memory, aided by periodic media retellings. For the Clark family, the publication of the book served as a form of closure and a record of Sanford Clark's resilience. The legal proceedings established important precedents regarding the necessity of proving motive in murder trials. The physical evidence, including the chicken feed sack and bullet analysis, was considered strong for its time. The botched execution added another layer of infamy to the case.

Physical description, aliases, and key dates

Gordon Stewart Northcott was known for a distinctive physical appearance that was remarked upon during his life and in press coverage. Both his father and his nephew took note of his excessive body hair, leading police and press to commonly refer to him as Ape Man in their reports. This nickname was used frequently in newspaper articles about the crimes and the trial. In addition to this moniker, Northcott has been referred to in various true crime contexts as The Wineville Chicken Coop Murderer. These aliases contributed to the sensationalized reporting of his case and have persisted in historical accounts.

Contemporary photographs of Northcott, including mugshots and images from his ranch, show a man with a heavy build and the noted excessive hair. His appearance was often contrasted with the youthful victims he targeted. The use of such descriptive nicknames was typical of crime reporting in the 1920s. The chronology of the Wineville Chicken Coop murders case is defined by several key dates.

• February 2, 1928: The headless body of Alvin Gothea is discovered near Puente.
• May 16, 1928: Lewis and Nelson Winslow are reported missing from Pomona.
• September 19, 1928: Northcott and his mother are arrested by Canadian police.
• November 30, 1928: Northcott is returned to Los Angeles after extradition delays.
• February 8, 1929: Northcott is convicted of three counts of murder.
• February 13, 1929: Judge George R. Freeman sentences Northcott to death.
• June 26, 1930: The Supreme Court of California refuses Northcott's appeal.
• October 2, 1930: Northcott is executed by hanging at San Quentin.

Questions about Gordon Stewart Northcott

Who was Gordon Stewart Northcott?

Gordon Stewart Northcott was a Canadian serial killer born in Saskatchewan in 1906. He was convicted of murdering three young boys at his chicken ranch in Wineville, California, in the late 1920s. He confessed to a total of nine murders and was executed in 1930. His crimes are known as the Wineville Chicken Coop murders.

What was Northcott's connection to Canada?

Northcott was born in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, and raised in British Columbia. His nephew and victim, Sanford Clark, was from Saskatoon. Clark was sent to California at age 13 to work on Northcott's ranch, where he was abused and forced to participate in the murders. Clark later returned to Saskatoon, where he lived until his death in 1991.

How many people did Gordon Northcott kill?

Gordon Stewart Northcott was convicted for the murders of three young boys: Alvin Gothea and the brothers Lewis and Nelson Winslow. He confessed to killing a total of nine boys while residing at his chicken ranch in Wineville, California. Investigators speculated he may have killed as many as 20 boys, but the state of California could not produce evidence for that higher allegation. Ultimately, the state only brought an indictment against him for the three murders for which he was executed.

What happened to Northcott's mother and nephew?

Northcott's mother, Sarah Louise Northcott, pleaded guilty to the murder of a nine-year-old boy, widely believed to be Walter Collins. She served 12 years in prison for her involvement in the crimes. His nephew, Sanford Clark, who helped build the ranch, testified against Northcott at his trial. Clark later spent two years in a California reformatory before returning to live in Saskatoon, Canada.

Which movie was based on the Wineville murders?

The 2008 film Changeling was based on the Wineville Chicken Coop murders. It was directed by Clint Eastwood. In the film, Gordon Stewart Northcott is portrayed by actor Jason Butler Harner. The story also inspired a book titled The Road Out of Hell, which tells the story of Sanford Clark.

How did Gordon Northcott die?

Gordon Stewart Northcott was executed by hanging at San Quentin State Prison on October 2, 1930. The execution was botched because the rope failed to break his neck. As a result, he died from strangulation, which took 13 minutes. His final appeal to the Supreme Court of California had been denied on June 26, 1930.

Sources and further reading

• Gordon Stewart Northcott (Wikipedia)
• Abused father's story told in son's book (cbc.ca)
• PEOPLE v. NORTHCOTT | Docket No. Crim. 3220. | Cal. (casemine.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.