The ‘Fatal Attraction’ Murder of Donald Pierce, Jr.
I watched Deadliest Decade: 1980’s for this case. It’s season 1 episode 6, titled ‘The Real Fatal Attraction.’ They also did an episode of Snapped about this case. This case is about an alleged affair that turned deadly. A man lost his life over something that may or may not have been made up by the culprit.
Background
Donald Pierce, Jr. was married to a woman named Katherine and he owned his own law firm, Pierce and Associates in Kansas City, Missouri. He was doing very well for himself, and often worked long hours so he could provide for him and Katherine.
Donald Pierce Jr.
Donald and his wife, Katherine
In 1984, Donald had hired a 28 year old woman named Linda Culbertson, as his legal secretary. Linda had worked her way up to office manager over the few years she worked for Donald. Donald had helped Linda through a lot, her divorce and given her extra hours so she could provide for her and her children.
Linda Culbertson
Linda had confided in her friend that she and Donald were having an affair. She said that it started with innocent glances and talks, but they both stayed late and confided in each other. Linda said that he had even bought her flowers once. Linda’s friend was skeptical.
The First Break in
On October 18, 1988, Linda was at the office by herself, working late. She claimed she had received numerous calls where the caller would just hang up and keep calling. A few minutes after that she said she heard a loud noise, and that someone had broken into the office.
Another attorney arrived at the office the next morning, and was surprised that Linda was not in. Linda was apparently the first and last one there every day. The attorney found Linda in the closet. She had claimed that someone came in and trashed the office, and stolen some equipment. Linda had also peed and pooped in the closet because she was afraid to leave.
Linda had told the police that this wasn’t the first break in, because a few months ago, there was another break in. She said someone had went into Donald’s office and spray painted his office with red paint. They had mostly went after his pictures of him and his wife and his credentials.
The police couldn’t determine who broke in to the office. Donald had also had to come back from his vacation early, and apparently was angry. He hired a security team for this office.
Evason Jacobs
A 21 year old named Evason Jacobs was hired for the security at Pierce and Associates. He and Linda had apparently become friends and would confide in each other. Linda had told him that Donald had been giving her more work since he came back, and would get angry if it wasn’t done when he wanted it to be. Linda had also told Evason that they were in fact having an affair, and that he had become abusive.
Evason was interviewed in this episode, and he said he had no reason to believe she was lying. He also said he heard them arguing from time to time because he worked the 5pm-1am shift. He said their fighting sounded more like “husband and wife” than co-workers fighting.
The Murder
On June 7, 1989, around 10pm, a frantic 911 call came in. The police rushed over to a familiar place: Pierce and Associates. They walked into a brutal murder scene.
They found blood in the hallway, and the body of Donald Pierce, Jr in the elevator. He had been shot 3 times, once in the chest, once in the knee and in the eye. They immediately knew the crime was personal and not a robbery. Donald still had his wallet with him, and his brief case.
The police began searching the building for evidence. They found Linda Culbertson, who was so frantic that she had to be carried out of the building. They also found Evason Jacobs tied and gagged on the 6th floor of the building.
The police also found a sawed off shotgun, wrapped up in a closet. They determined it was the murder weapon because they also found shot gun shell casings in the elevator.
Linda and Evason were both brought in for questioning.
Investigation
The police asked Linda what she thought happened and Linda said she heard a man yell at Donald and then a gunshot. She was also asked why they had a gun at the office, and she said because there had been multiple break ins at the office. Linda also told the police about her relationship with Donald, and that she was sexually abused by him.
The police weren’t buying it. Linda told the police another story, she said she was covering for the actual killer: her friend Evason Jacobs. She said Evason had found out that Donald had said some racist slurs, and that’s what set him off. Linda said Evason had also hired another man to stage the scene. The other man’s name was Quincy Brown, he was 19.
9 Hours after the murder
On June 8, 1989, Quincy and Evason are brought in again for questioning. Evason confessed that he and Quincy were hired to kill Donald. They were hired by Linda herself. Evason said he was offered money, a job and a car if he killed Donald. He said at the time he was 21 years old living with his parents with a child so he took the offer and hired Quincy.
Quincy and Evason’s fingerprints were in fact on the gun. So were Linda’s, and Evason said Linda was the one who finished Donald off.
The police received another tip to confirm what they had already thought about Linda. Her friend, the one she confided in about her affair, said that Linda had confessed to the other office crimes and had even doused Donald’s car with break fluid.
Linda eventually confessed, and she, Quincy and Evason were arrested.
Trial and Convictions
The trial began on September 10, 1990.
Evason said that Linda had asked him back in May of 1989 if she knew anyone who could kill Donald. She had asked him many times at the office during their late night chats. Evason said Quincy had shot Donald once in the knee and chest, and that he ran without taking the murder weapon.
The evidence showed that Donald was still alive, and had even crawled into the elevator, where he was shot one more time in the eye by Linda.
There was also receipts from Linda buying shot gun shells and shooting lessons. She also had tried to wipe her fingerprints off the gun that night.
Linda Culbertson was found guilty of first degree murder and armed criminal action. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Evason Jacobs was also found guilty of first degree murder and armed criminal action. Quincy Brown was found guilty of second degree murder and armed criminal action. They were both sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Linda Culbertson now
Quincy Brown
Evason Jacobs
FINAL THOUGHTS
The alleged affair has never been proven. All of Linda’s friends has stated that they believe she made it up, and had become obsessed with Donald. It seems like Linda may have been suffering from mental illness, but she was also a manipulative person.
I do feel bad for the other two people who got wrapped up in this, however they should have known right from wrong, and murdering an innocent man was definitely wrong and Donald is the only true victim in this case. All three of the perpetrators are right where they belong.
Sources
https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/linda-culbertson-guilty-boss-donald-pierce-jr-murder
