Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:05 AM
niyad (24,169 posts)
a mass murderer who never seems to make the lists--priscilla joyce ford, 6 dead 23 wounded
on 27 November 1980 (Thanksgiving Day) Priscilla Joyce Ford drove her lincoln continental up the sidewalk on virginia street in reno, killing 6 people and wounding 23. (I was there, had just pulled into my parking lot seconds before her rampage, but saw the horror of what she did)
. . . . It takes another minute for the Lincoln to make its way to 100 feet south of the southeast corner of Second and Virginia streets. At 2:59 p.m., the Lincoln jumps the curb and careens down the sidewalk. It hits the curb at about 20 miles an hour, a speed not likely to blow the tires. The car rapidly accelerates to as high as 40 miles an hour, driving 100 feet down the sidewalk, witnesses will later say. It crosses the Second Street crosswalk and continues another 322 feet down the sidewalk in front of the bank, in front of Harrah’s, Nevada Club and Harold’s Club. Then it’s back on Virginia Street, crossing to the southbound lane and stopping two blocks later behind traffic at the Fifth Street traffic light. The light is red. Destruction follows the car’s path like an indictment. Five people are killed immediately, and 24 are injured. Fourteen people will be sent to Washoe Medical Center; the remaining 10 to St. Mary’s. Street signs, body parts, clothing and the wounded and dead lie on the sidewalk and in the gutter like victims of a natural disaster. But this is an entirely unnatural disaster. It takes only a few seconds for Ford to drive that five-block total. For the victims, every second following the attack is an eternity, waiting for help to arrive, for family members to come, for the news of survivors and casualties. But the longest wait, some will later say, is for justice. The two daily newspapers, the Nevada State Journal and the Reno Evening Gazette, contain chilling accounts of the killings in progress. “It looked as though someone had gone through the streets with a lawnmower, mowing people down,” a woman from Canada who’d witnessed the massacre from the Onslow Hotel-Casino tells the Gazette. “It looked like a battlefield—there were bodies all over the place.” . . . . http://www.newsreview.com/reno/day-terror-came-downtown/content?oid=20584
|
36 replies, 1602 views
| Author | Time | Post | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | OP | |
| TorchTheWitch | Dec 2012 | #1 | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | #4 | |
| NashvilleLefty | Dec 2012 | #2 | |
| BainsBane | Dec 2012 | #3 | |
| tblue | Dec 2012 | #6 | |
| BainsBane | Dec 2012 | #9 | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | #7 | |
| yardwork | Dec 2012 | #13 | |
| DURHAM D | Dec 2012 | #14 | |
| yardwork | Dec 2012 | #16 | |
| REP | Dec 2012 | #33 | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | #17 | |
| yardwork | Dec 2012 | #18 | |
| Starry Messenger | Dec 2012 | #22 | |
| Gormy Cuss | Dec 2012 | #29 | |
| Marrah_G | Dec 2012 | #35 | |
| tblue | Dec 2012 | #5 | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | #8 | |
| intaglio | Dec 2012 | #10 | |
| yurbud | Dec 2012 | #11 | |
| 99Forever | Dec 2012 | #12 | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | #19 | |
| 99Forever | Dec 2012 | #26 | |
| 99Forever | Dec 2012 | #27 | |
| Skraxx | Dec 2012 | #15 | |
| alarimer | Dec 2012 | #20 | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | #21 | |
| mainer | Dec 2012 | #23 | |
| OneTenthofOnePercent | Dec 2012 | #32 | |
| Honeycombe8 | Dec 2012 | #24 | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | #25 | |
| Honeycombe8 | Dec 2012 | #36 | |
| Shrike47 | Dec 2012 | #28 | |
| Debbie357 | Dec 2012 | #30 | |
| niyad | Dec 2012 | #34 | |
| panader0 | Dec 2012 | #31 |
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:12 AM
TorchTheWitch (7,454 posts)
1. I read about her before
|
And several other female mass murderers.
Interesting read: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/mass/female_mass_murderer/1.html |
Response to TorchTheWitch (Reply #1)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:24 AM
niyad (24,169 posts)
4. 1980 was a very difficult year in NV--the bombing at harvey's in august, the fire at the mgm just
|
a week before the reno horror.
|
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:21 AM
NashvilleLefty (811 posts)
2. "i was there" - I doubt it.
|
Plus, we're talking 1980.
WTF does that have to do with anything recent? |
Response to NashvilleLefty (Reply #2)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:24 AM
BainsBane (9,512 posts)
3. Murder by car
|
NRA meme.
|
Response to BainsBane (Reply #3)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:27 AM
tblue (13,920 posts)
6. Cars are licensed and registered
|
up the ying yang. As they should be.
|
Response to NashvilleLefty (Reply #2)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:27 AM
niyad (24,169 posts)
7. your doubts do not change the fact that I was there.
|
and what it has to do with is the seemingly endless list of mass murders by whatever means.
|
Response to NashvilleLefty (Reply #2)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 10:56 AM
yardwork (37,074 posts)
13. niyad has been a highly respected DUer since 2003.
|
You joined DU just last January, so you might not know that.
Niyad rarely posts about guns or gun control, afaik. She is interested in women's issues and other progressive ideals. If she says that she witnessed this incident I have no reason to doubt her. |
Response to yardwork (Reply #13)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:02 AM
DURHAM D (18,574 posts)
14. Check out his sig line.
|
That might it explain it.
|
Response to DURHAM D (Reply #14)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:08 AM
yardwork (37,074 posts)
16. I don't believe him. /nt
Response to DURHAM D (Reply #14)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 02:40 PM
REP (18,291 posts)
33. After this self-deleted OP, I consider the source.
Response to yardwork (Reply #13)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:19 AM
niyad (24,169 posts)
17. thank you so very much, yardwork.
Response to niyad (Reply #17)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:21 AM
yardwork (37,074 posts)
18. Just saying the truth.
|
|
Response to NashvilleLefty (Reply #2)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:38 AM
Starry Messenger (21,463 posts)
22. And you are?
|
Oh, right. We all know the answer to that.
|
Response to NashvilleLefty (Reply #2)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 02:19 PM
Gormy Cuss (26,675 posts)
29. And you doubt it because...?
|
More to the point, WTF does your doubt have to do with anything?
|
Response to NashvilleLefty (Reply #2)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 06:08 PM
Marrah_G (22,431 posts)
35. Calling a long time well-respected DUer a liar for no reason is a shitty thing to do. nt
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:24 AM
tblue (13,920 posts)
5. I remember that!
|
What was her deal?
|
Response to tblue (Reply #5)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 03:29 AM
niyad (24,169 posts)
8. her story changed many times--jesus told her to do it, the devil told her, she was punishing
|
people for her daughter being put in foster care--she thought she was divine--the list was endless.
|
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 04:00 AM
intaglio (4,639 posts)
10. Lucky she didn't have a gun n/t
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 10:42 AM
yurbud (31,406 posts)
11. we had an incident like that here in Santa Monica, CA but...
|
those seem to be more rare than the gun kind.
|
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 10:51 AM
99Forever (5,168 posts)
12. How many mass murders have been commited by car...
|
... in the last 3 months?
Your NRA propaganda attempt case happened over 32 years ago. Got something a little more recent. We've got some gun nut shooting and killing firefighters TODAY!. |
Response to 99Forever (Reply #12)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:23 AM
niyad (24,169 posts)
19. amazingly enough, this has nothing to do with the nra--it was brought to mind by an earlier
|
post (in jest) about semi-automatic cars, and how the poster could only mow down 30 because of switching gears.
and, 32 years or not, I remember it far too well. |
Response to niyad (Reply #19)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 12:24 PM
99Forever (5,168 posts)
26. Way to deliberately miss the point.
|
Funny how common that is among those spewing NRA talking points, isn't it?
|
Response to niyad (Reply #19)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 12:27 PM
99Forever (5,168 posts)
27. Oh, and BTW...
|
... how many mass murders with vehicles has been committed in those 32 years compared to how many mass murders with guns?
I'll bet you won't give an honest answer to that question, will you? |
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:06 AM
Skraxx (350 posts)
15. Damn Good Thing Cars Are WELL REGULATED, Isn't It?
|
Last edited Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:07 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1) Tests, insurance, licensing, inspections, regulations regarding where you can use them and HOW you can use them and WHO can use them etc. Sounds good doesn't it?
|
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:30 AM
alarimer (11,684 posts)
20. There have been 32 mass shootings this year alone.
|
How many of these types of incidents that you mention? None.
It is estimated that by 2015, the number of people killed by guns will exceed those killed by cars. |
Response to alarimer (Reply #20)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:35 AM
niyad (24,169 posts)
21. I am well aware of the statistics. but one is allowed to think of other situations as well, to
|
remember them, even if not the current headlines.
|
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:43 AM
mainer (6,667 posts)
23. Her alcohol level .16. There's a law against it, you know.
|
A few DUIs and they take away your car. But the "car lobby" doesn't have a problem with confiscation of that sort.
|
Response to mainer (Reply #23)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 02:35 PM
OneTenthofOnePercent (6,268 posts)
32. One murder.. just one (not a few) and they take away your guns.
|
The NRA doesn't have a problem with that. Hell, you can loose your right to own a gun for actions 100% not gun related (felonies, other criminal record).
Do you really want to compare auto/gun legislation? There some 20,000 firearm laws on the books. You just hate to admit it, but guns ARE extensively regulated... you just don't the existing regulations. |
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:46 AM
Honeycombe8 (18,006 posts)
24. That was not murder. It's called negligent homicide: accident from negligence resulting in death.nt
Response to Honeycombe8 (Reply #24)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 12:02 PM
niyad (24,169 posts)
25. and yet, she was convicted of six counts of murder, and 23 counts of attempted murder, NOT
|
negligent homicide. there was no "accident" about what she did, as the story makes quite clear.
|
Response to niyad (Reply #25)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 07:37 PM
Honeycombe8 (18,006 posts)
36. Oh, I see. I didn't read far into the article. It was intentional, but sounds like she was
|
insane, although not found insane. She heard voices, thought she was "divine," etc. She was at first ruled incompetent to stand trial.
Goes to show you how a mental health list won't work. She wouldn't have been on one, but she was nutty as a fruitcake, and very dangerous. |
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 12:49 PM
Shrike47 (451 posts)
28. It appears to me she was and had been mentally ill for quite a while.
|
Mentally ill and drunk is not a good combination for any use of a potentially dangerous device of any kind.
|
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 02:25 PM
Debbie357 (28 posts)
30. I was there
|
Missed being on the street by 5 minutes. I'll never forget that day. I live in Reno and was working at Cal Neva at the time.
|
Response to Debbie357 (Reply #30)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 05:10 PM
niyad (24,169 posts)
34. welcome to DU--glad you missed it.
Response to niyad (Original post)
Mon Dec 24, 2012, 02:35 PM
panader0 (9,560 posts)
31. Luby's restaurant in Killen, Texas, 1991
|
50 shot, 23 dead.
|

