Eccentric Heiress Murdered After Stashing Millions in Her House
In 1977, the brutal murder of Marjorie Jackson, a wealthy but eccentric heiress in Indianapolis, shocked the nation. Jackson, who inherited millions from her late husband's grocery empire, became known for her extreme distrust of banks. She withdrew her fortune, stashed it throughout her home, and ultimately paid the price for her paranoia. Her murder remains one of Indianapolis's most notorious crimes.
Living Among the Millions
Marjorie Jackson was the widow of Chester Jackson, whose father founded Standard Grocery, a once-prominent Indiana grocery chain. When Chester died in 1970, Marjorie inherited an estimated $14 million (more than $94 million by today's standards). Initially, she placed the money in the Indiana National Bank, but her trust was shattered when an employee embezzled roughly $700,000 from her account. Furious, she began withdrawing her fortune, sometimes demanding up to $1 million at a time, and hiding it in her home.
By 1976, she had withdrawn all her money, nearly $9 million, storing it in grocery bags, suitcases, and even packages labeled as gifts for Jesus Christ. The reclusive heiress became an easy target for criminals as rumors of her hidden wealth spread throughout the community.
A House Too Rich to Ignore
Jackson's troubles escalated when two local teenagers, Walter Bergin Jr. and Douglas Howard Green, broke into her home on May 16, 1976. The intruders initially sought jewelry but stumbled upon vast amounts of cash, making off with $817,000. The crime became an open secret, but Jackson refused to report it, even pulling a toy gun on officers who visited her to discuss the case.
Her refusal to involve authorities made her home even more vulnerable. In early May 1977, burglars Howard Willard and Manuel Robinson set their sights on her fortune, stealing approximately $1 million from her home. Seeing it as an opportunity for easy money, they returned just days later for more.
A Desperate Attempt to Escape Justice
During the second robbery attempt by Willard and Robinson, Jackson was shot in the stomach with a .22 caliber rifle inside her home. She bled to death on the kitchen floor. In an effort to cover up their crime, the men attempted to burn the house down. Luckily for investigators, the fire only partially consumed the home, leaving Jackson's body and crucial evidence intact.
Authorities later arrested Willard and his former wife, Marjorie Pollitt, in Arizona, where they were attempting to buy a motor home with the stolen cash. Similarly, police arrested Robinson when he attempted to buy a new car.
Ultimately, Willard was convicted of Jackson's murder and sentenced to life in prison. Robinson was acquitted of the murder charge but convicted on other related counts. Pollitt received a five-year sentence for conspiracy to transport stolen money across state lines.
The Mystery of the Missing Millions
Police recovered $5 million still hidden within Jackson's home after her death. However, the total amount stolen from her remains uncertain. One theory suggests an FBI agent working the case may have taken a significant sum. To this day, several million dollars of Jackson's fortune remain unaccounted for.
The Jackson home stood abandoned for years, a reminder of the woman who lived in fear, surrounded by a hidden fortune.
References: Eccentric Heiress Kept Millions in Cash at Home Because She Distrusted Banks. Then She Was Found Slain | Missing millions and the murder of grocery heiress Marjorie Jackson | Marjorie Jackson Murder Case
