Member-only story
The Salacious Murders of Alfred Wells
The true crime story involving a deformed man who had an an illicit affair with his sister, murdered most of his relatives, and left San Bernardino shook
Around 8 PM on May 7, 1941, Lester Bellah and his wife drove to a Devore Heights party, rural San Bernardino County, California. Lester thought he heard a muffled voice yelling for help, but his wife didn’t hear a thing. Lester was rattled, but the couple continued to the party. They left the party at 10 PM for their nearby home. As Lester walked toward their porch steps, he heard the voice again, “Help! Help! Help…” He couldn’t tell if the voice was male or female, only that it was weaker than before. Lester decided to investigate with his friend, Lars Bjorkman.
The two men drove towards the end of the road, and the voice became louder.
“Who’s there?” Lester yelled in no particular direction.
“I’m here!” said a female. They walked into a wash towards the sound of her cries. On the rocky ground, they spotted a bleeding and distressed young woman.
“What happened to you?” Lester inquired.
The girl’s answer broke his heart. “I’ve been shot. Don’t bother with me; I’m done for. Go and find the baby. I tried to bring her, but I couldn’t get her to leave her mother.”
“What baby? Is it hurt?” Lester asked as he looked around.
“I don’t think she is. There’s a dead woman over there,” the young girl muttered and pointed down the wash, “She has a baby!” Lars went to look for the child, and Lester stayed with the girl.
“Who are you?” Lester asked, “Who did this to you?”
“I’m Rose Destree. Al Wells shot me. I don’t know why he shot me, but I know why he shot her!”
Unable to find the baby or the other woman, Lester rushed to the nearest telephone and called the sheriff. Deputy Sherrif MW Armstrong arrived on the scene and located the baby. She was alive and clinging tightly to her dead mother. The mother…
