Joseph D. (Joe) Ball (January 6, 1896 – September 24, 1938), was an American serial killer, sometimes referred to as "The Alligator Man", the "Butcher of Elmendorf" and the "Bluebeard of South Texas".He is said to have killed at least 20 women in the 1930s. His existence was long believed to be apocryphal, but he is a familiar figure in Texas folklore.
After serving on the front lines in Europe during World War I, Ball started his career as a bootlegger, providing illegal liquor to those who could pay. After the end of Prohibition, he opened a saloon called the Sociable Inn in Elmendorf, Texas. He built a pond that contained five alligators and charged people to view them, especially during feeding time; the food consisted mostly of live cats and dogs.
Women Mysteriously Vanish:
After several barmaids, girl friends and two of his wives vanished into thin air, the local authorities began to suspect that Ball was up to no good. However, his intimidating nature kept the suspicious and curious at bay.
One Shot to the Head:
On September 24, 1948, a group of Texas Rangers decided to go and question Ball about all the missing women. Instead of talking to them, he opted to shoot himself in the head.
The Handy Man Talks:
A handy man for Ball, Clifford Wheeler, soon admitted to helping Ball get rid of the bodies of some the women Ball killed. He led them to the remains of Hazel Brown and Minnie Gotthard. Wheeler told authorities that Ball murdered at least 20 other women, but the alligators had disposed of any evidence to back up his claim.
A Neighbor in Fear:
A neighbor, who had fled to California after fearing that Ball would kill him, admitted to seeing Ball dismembering a body near the alligator pit.
No Evidence:
No real evidence was ever found that determined that Ball actually fed his victims remains to the alligators.
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