Crimmins, Alice (1941–)
Crimmins, Alice (1941–)
American accused of murder. Born 1941; m. Edmund Crimmins; m. Anthony Grace; children: Alice Marie (known as Missy, d. 1965) and Eddie Jr. (d. 1965).
The subject of one of the most sensational murder cases in New York (1960s), was tried for deaths of her 2 children in court of law and for promiscuous lifestyle in court of public opinion; husband, from whom she was separated, reported their 2 children missing (July 14 1965, 4-year-old Missy was found strangled to death the same day and 5-year-old Eddie was found dead several days later); almost 2 years after killings, was charged with daughter's murder, tried (May 1968) and found guilty of manslaughter; following appeal, was tried again for manslaughter in case of her daughter and, for the 1st time, for murder of her son; found guilty for both deaths, sentenced to life imprisonment; had 1st-degree murder conviction for death of son reversed, as was manslaughter conviction for death of her daughter; saw manslaughter conviction reinstated; paroled (Nov 1977). Crimmins' case—the story of which has appeared in print, tv, film, and on stage—has been controversial, with some maintaining that she was railroaded by police.