Andrew Kehoe American mass murderer Date of Birth: 01.02.1872 Country: USA

1. Biography of Andrew Kehoe
2. Education and Marriage
3. Farming and Financial Troubles
4. The Bath School Massacre

Biography of Andrew Kehoe

Andrew Kehoe was an American mass murderer who orchestrated the Bath School massacre on May 18, 1927. He was born in Tecumseh, Michigan, and had 12 siblings. When he was only 5 years old, his mother passed away, and his father remarried. Unfortunately, his relationship with his stepmother was strained, and it ended tragically when she died in a stove explosion when Andrew was 14. Despite his efforts to save her by pouring water on her, the fuel that caused the explosion was oil-based and couldn't be extinguished by water.

Education and Marriage

Andrew Kehoe received his higher education at Michigan State College, where he met his future wife, Ellen Price. Ellen came from a wealthy family, and after their marriage, the couple purchased a farm near the village of Bath. They paid a total of $12,000 for the 75-hectare property. Andrew and Ellen settled on their farm and started building relationships with their neighbors. While some neighbors appreciated Andrew's intelligence, others were afraid of his quick temper. He often took out his anger on animals, even beating a horse to death. Andrew was also known for his impeccable cleanliness and would change his clothes at the slightest sign of dirt.

Farming and Financial Troubles

Although Andrew Kehoe was a skilled mechanic, he struggled with agriculture. His innovative methods often ended in failure as he rarely relied on the experience of others. Despite his inefficiency in farming, Andrew was chosen as the treasurer of the local school board due to his frugality. However, his family's financial situation was far from ideal, especially with Ellen's tuberculosis. The mounting debts forced Andrew to stop paying insurance and mortgage premiums.

The Bath School Massacre

Known as the Bath School massacre, the events that took place in the village were described as three explosions. A total of 45 people were killed, and almost 60 were injured, most of whom were children between the ages of 7 and 12. Andrew's first victim was his own wife, whom he killed before setting fire to a large part of his farm. While firefighters were trying to extinguish the fire, Andrew initiated the first explosion, destroying the northern wing of the school. It was later revealed that Andrew had been planning the massacre for months, gradually sneaking explosives into the school. As rescuers and curious onlookers gathered at the site, Andrew detonated a second bomb, killing the school superintendent and himself.

During the cleanup, authorities discovered an additional 230 kilograms of unexploded explosives. It appeared that the southern wing of the school survived only because Andrew failed to detonate the second part of his plan in time.