The Chilling Saga of Warren Lee Irwin

original_full_html = '''

Support content like this: Discover more gripping true crime stories while this site stays ad-supported.

A Shadow in the Mitten: The Chilling Saga of Warren Lee Irwin and His Connection to a Previous Horror

Welcome to a deep dive into a true crime story that sends shivers down the spine, not just for the horrific acts committed, but for its unsettling connection to a past tragedy. In this exploration, we delve into the life and crimes of Warren Lee Irwin, a name that echoes with darkness in the annals of Michigan's history. As recounted in a recent episode of the "Malice in the Mitten" podcast [1], Irwin's story is a "nutty story" with unbelievable interrelations to a previous case involving Dominic Picone [1]. Prepare to be gripped by a narrative of troubled beginnings, escalating violence, and a desperate escape that captivated the nation.

Hosts Tracy Preston and Christy Mulligan unravel this chilling tale, building upon the research of Rebecca Hires, who also investigated the Picone case [1]. This episode reveals a startling link between the two seemingly separate incidents, both tracing back to the well-intentioned but perhaps flawed efforts of one man: Casius Barber [2, 3]. Join us as we dissect the tragic trajectory of Warren Lee Irwin, drawing exclusively from the details and insights shared in this compelling podcast episode.

Echoes of the Past: Casius Barber's Farm and the Troubled Boys

The narrative begins with a sense of déjà vu. Casius Barber, a staunch Catholic, felt a sense of pride as he watched his newest lodger, Warren Lee Irwin, working on his farm in 1940 [2-4]. Barber and his wife believed they were doing good by taking in troubled young boys, teaching them the values of farm life and guiding them towards becoming productive members of society [3]. This noble endeavor was, however, shadowed by the "unpleasantness last year with that picone boy" [3].

Listeners of "Malice in the Mitten" might recall the story of Dominic Picone, a troubled youth who also resided on Barber's farm [1, 2, 5]. As the hosts clarify, Dominic Picone was sent to live with Casius Barber at the age of 11 because he was "so out of control" [5]. Interestingly, one of Picone's issues on the farm was related to not feeding the pigs enough [5]. This shared history at Barber's farm immediately establishes a disturbing connection between the two individuals, suggesting a potential environment that, despite good intentions, may not have been conducive to rehabilitation for all [6]. The hosts themselves ponder whether Casius might have been "a little bit of a tyrant" despite his good intentions, potentially causing these boys to "snap" [6].

While most of the troubled boys who came to the farm were "success stories," Picone was an "anomaly" who later "beat and kidnapped that teacher last year" [4]. At the time of Irwin's arrival, Picone was serving his time in Jackson prison [4]. Little did anyone know that Irwin's stay at the farm would also end in tragedy and further highlight the complexities of reforming troubled youth [7].

A Troubled Beginning: The Early Life of Warren Lee Irwin

Warren Lee Irwin's background was described as "more troubled than most of the boys that came to the farm" [8]. Born in Nebraska in 1924, his early life was marked by significant trauma [8]. When Warren was only 10 years old, his father, Carl, a postal worker accused of stealing money from the mail (a federal offense), committed suicide rather than face federal prison [8].

Shortly after this devastating event, Warren's grieving mother moved them to Detroit, hoping for a fresh start by opening a rooming house [8]. However, this well-intentioned move did not alter Warren's path. He had been in and out of trouble even before the move, starting with stealing money from his mother and escalating to "bigger and more lucrative targets" [9]. Despite possessing an impressive IQ of 130, indicating near-genius level potential, Warren chose a life of crime over productive pursuits [9]. By 1938, at the young age of 14, he was sentenced to time in the state's juvenile detention center for auto theft and stealing [9]. His placement at Casius Barber's farm in 1940 was a condition of his parole [7, 9], mirroring Dominic Picone's situation [7].

The Farm and Further Descent: Irwin's Cycle of Crime

Despite Casius's hopes, Warren Lee Irwin "wouldn't learn much during his time at the farm" [7]. In 1941, just a year after arriving, he was sent back to prison for auto theft, receiving a 2 to 5-year sentence [7]. He was paroled in 1942, only to return to Southern Michigan prison in 1943 for breaking and entering and being a habitual criminal, this time sentenced to 7 years [7]. Tragically, while incarcerated, his sentence was extended by an additional 7 to 22 years for "deviant sex" [7].

After serving seven years, Irwin was paroled again in 1950, at the age of 26 [7]. He returned to his mother's care, and for about 13 months, there was a glimmer of hope that his time behind bars might have brought about a change [10]. At 27 years old, he presented a "studious demeanor" [10]. He was nearsighted and wore rimless glasses, which sat on his "pockmarked and scarred face" [10]. His "black hair" was slicked back from a "high forehead," and he had a "narrow mouth with thin lips" [10]. A tendency to squint gave the impression of "quiet competence," and his infrequent speech, due to a stutter, further reinforced this image of a "studious, serious nature" [10]. However, this carefully constructed impression was soon to be brutally shattered [11].

Need a break? While this case gets darker, enjoy a quick pause with recommended content and updates.

Shattered Illusions: The Murders Begin

The facade of change crumbled on May 31st, 1951. Robert Jenkee, a 24-year-old working at a gas station in Warren, Michigan, was simply trying to earn a living [11]. He looked forward to spending time with his wife after his shift, perhaps with dinner and a movie [11]. Warren Lee Irwin, however, had other plans. He held up the gas station and, in a callous act of violence, shot Robert in the back of the head as he made his escape [11]. It would take time for him to be linked to this heinous crime [12].

After the murder, Irwin returned to his mother's house and lay low until June 8th, 1951 [12]. On that day, Mrs. Adeline Shenigga left her home to walk to the doctor's office and then to the store [12]. As she left, she waved goodbye to her son, Cyro, who was riding his bike, unaware it would be the last time he saw his mother alive [12]. The podcast notes that there is no way to know precisely how Adeline crossed paths with Warren [12]. However, at 1:00 p.m., she was seen by Sheriff Leverne Robinson driving past her and an unknown man standing next to a parked car [13]. The sheriff, in his rearview mirror, saw them walking hand-in-hand into a nearby field, mistaking them for lovers seeking privacy and giving it no further thought [13].

Later that day, at 3:00 p.m., a local farmer, Wade Davis, was called to help a stranded male stranger pull his car out of a ditch [14]. Syrell Shenga, Adeline's son, assuming his mother was visiting her own mother, did not report her missing until June 14th [14]. The grim discovery was made the following day: Adeline's body was found in the woods with a gunshot wound to the back of the head [14]. Her watch, diamond ring, and purse were missing, and she had also been raped [14]. She left behind three children: Marlene (15), Syrell Jr. (11), and Beatatrice (7) [14]. A description of the missing items was circulated, leading Tobias Douglas, a 19-year-old friend of Warren's, to come forward [14, 15]. Warren had given Tobias's 11-year-old sister, Clea, a watch as a gift, which Tobias identified as the one stolen from Adeline [15]. This crucial identification allowed Sheriff Robinson and Wade Davis to also recognize Warren as the man they had seen near where Adeline's body was found and as the man Davis had helped with his car [15]. The sheriff also connected the car to the gas station where Robert Jenkee was murdered [15]. A warrant for Warren's arrest was issued on June 19th [15].

Desperate Flight and Further Terror: The Kidnappings

Upon hearing about the warrant, Warren made a quick escape from his mother's home [16]. He went to the house of 43-year-old Doris Meyers, whose mother was friends with Mrs. Irwin, making him a familiar face [16]. He concocted a false story about his mother and sister being in a terrible accident in Toledo, Ohio, and needing a ride to the hospital [16]. Doris, a compassionate person, readily agreed to drive him [16]. However, as they reached the outskirts of Toledo, Warren revealed his true intentions, pointing a gun at her head and demanding she drive west, filled with terror [16, 17].

During their journey, Doris bravely attempted to signal for help at full-service gas stations, hoping an attendant would notice her distress [17]. At one station, she believed she had succeeded when an attendant appeared to note the license plate number, but no help came [17, 18]. When they reached Davenport, Iowa, Warren left Doris at a restaurant to use the restroom, providing her opportunity to escape [18]. She fled across the street to a farm implement store, frantically telling the men there she had been kidnapped in Michigan and begging them to hide her and call the police [18]. Despite initially thinking she was "crazy," they hid her [18]. Warren, realizing she had escaped, searched nearby stores before abandoning his pursuit and leaving in Doris's car [19]. Doris was later taken to the local FBI office to give her statement, and the hunt for Warren intensified [19].

Instead of continuing west, Warren went to the Davenport, Iowa airport and chartered a private plane with cash stolen from Doris [19]. The podcast hosts speculate about the cost of such a flight in the early 1950s, noting that private planes were perhaps more accessible then [20]. He flew to Chicago and disappeared into the city's "dark underworld" [20, 21]. The FBI eventually found Doris's abandoned car at the airport and traced him to Chicago, initiating a multi-state manhunt [21]. The hosts express confusion about why he went to Chicago instead of continuing west towards a fabricated funeral [21]. It is clarified that the story about his mother and sister was a complete fabrication to manipulate Doris [21]. This likely mirrored the deception used, or intended to be used, on other victims [22].

A Second Terrifying Encounter: Caroline Barker and Lawrence Gilbert

While the FBI searched for Irwin, he resurfaced in a horrifying manner on June 28th, 1951. Caroline Barker, 17, and her boyfriend, Lawrence Gilbert, 19, were sitting in Larry's car at the Washington Monument [23, 24]. It was Caroline's birthday, and Larry was keeping her occupied while her parents prepared a surprise party [24]. Larry, deeply in love with Caroline, seized the romantic moment and proposed marriage, presenting her with a ring which she accepted [24, 25].

As he slipped the ring on her finger, they noticed a man walk past their car [25]. The man, later identified as Warren Lee Irwin, turned back and wrenched open the passenger door, pushing Caroline over and holding a gun to her side [25]. The stranger, with a "scarred face," chillingly stated, "Drive me to Virginia i'm wanted by the FBI" [25]. What should have been a joyous occasion turned into a "48-hour nightmare" [26].

Larry started the car, but due to transmission issues, they could only travel slowly in first gear [26]. Warren himself lamented, "Wouldn't you know what i'd pick a lousy car for a getaway" [26]. After managing only 10 miles to Falls Creek, Virginia, Warren forced them into the woods at gunpoint [26]. He made Caroline tape Larry's hands and feet and then brutally raped her while Larry was forced to watch [27]. Afterward, he forced them back into the now completely dead car and made them walk towards Washington [27]. They stopped at a store for Cokes, and the terrified couple tried to signal the oblivious clerk for help, despite the gun pointed at them [27, 28].

At a fork in the road, Warren saw a bus approaching. He directed Larry down one road while he boarded the bus with Caroline, warning Larry that if the police came looking before midnight, Caroline would die [28]. Larry walked through the night until he reached the Washington DC Police Department at 1:00 a.m. Corporal Robert Kizner found him crying and initially unable to speak due to stuttering and fear [29]. He eventually recounted the horrifying events, his worry for Caroline palpable, insisting that no one search until midnight to protect her [29, 30]. However, the manhunt began immediately [30].

While Larry was recounting his ordeal, Warren and Caroline rode the bus to Washington DC, where he rented a hotel room and raped her four more times [30]. The next morning, they took another bus towards Pennsylvania, to the home of Warren's mother's sister, Martha Brewer, and her husband, George [31].

Desperation in Pennsylvania: The Brewers' Ordeal

Arriving early, Warren and Caroline went to a movie to hide out until dark [31]. They reached the Brewer home at 10:30 p.m., catching Martha and George just as they were preparing for bed and completely unexpected [31]. When George hesitantly opened the door, Warren pulled a gun and declared they would be spending the night [31]. He believed George had $5,000 and a car he could steal [31, 32]. He spent the entire night with his gun trained on Martha and George, bragging about his crimes, while an exhausted Caroline slept on the couch [32].

At 4:00 a.m., Warren woke Caroline and instructed George to drive them to Philadelphia, where he had left a change of clothes in a bus locker [32]. He threatened to kill Martha, George, and their 9-year-old son, Michael, if she told anyone [32]. Under this terrifying threat, Martha remained silent [32]. George quietly drove them to the Philadelphia bus station [33]. Upon arrival, Warren sent Caroline to retrieve his belongings. When later asked why she didn't try to escape then, Caroline explained she believed Warren would carry out his threats against the Brewer family, given his previous boasts about killing people [33].

Once Warren had his clothes, he forced George to drive back to their house [33]. As they arrived, George bravely entered first and then slammed the door in Warren's face, allowing Martha and Michael to escape out the back and run to the neighbors to call the police [33, 34]. It was 6:30 in the morning [33]. Seeing his relatives escape, a frustrated Warren stole their car and headed back towards New Jersey, failing to obtain the $5,000 he sought [34]. The FBI was once again alerted, and the manhunt resumed [34].

Need a break? While this case gets darker, enjoy a quick pause with recommended content and updates.

The Final Pursuit and a Tragic End

By 12:30 p.m., Warren and Caroline had crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey, where a patrol car spotted George's stolen vehicle [34, 35]. The officer recognized the car and, seeing a male and female inside, gave chase in the rain [34, 35]. Reaching a hunting preserve near where the body of Charles Lindbergh's baby had been found in 1932, Warren lost control of the car as the police closed in [35]. He pushed Caroline out of the passenger side, telling her to run with him into the woods [35]. Instead, utterly exhausted and sore, Caroline ran towards the police, who were firing at the fleeing Warren [35]. She collapsed and was taken to a local hospital [35]. Thankfully, Caroline and Larry would eventually marry and have two children, both passing away in 2007 [35, 36].

Over 300 police and FBI officers descended on the area in what became the largest manhunt in New Jersey history, second only to the Lindbergh baby case [36]. The difficult, rainy conditions hampered the search [36]. The Civil War Air Patrol joined the effort, and Joseph Nerduchi and Arthur Bowen finally spotted a body during a flyover at 1:30 in the morning [36]. The 27-year-old robber, thief, rapist, and murderer, wanted in 12 states, had taken his own life with a gunshot to his left temple [36, 37]. He was found lying in a patch of poison ivy [37].

Aftermath and Reflections

Warren's mother heard of his death via radio [37]. Her reaction, "No matter what he has done he is still my son and I love him," speaks volumes about the complex and enduring bond between a parent and child [37]. She sent money to New Jersey for his burial but did not attend the funeral herself [37]. The podcast hosts reflect on the heartbreaking nature of this story, imagining the devastation a parent must feel when their child commits such horrific acts [37, 38]. The decision of Warren's mother not to attend the funeral highlights the profound shame and pain she must have endured [39]. Furthermore, the hosts note the additional tragedy of her husband's suicide by gunshot, suggesting a deep-seated history of trauma and sorrow in Warren's family [39].

The hosts also return to the figure of Casius Barber, pondering whether his methods of "tough love" might have inadvertently contributed to the destructive paths taken by both Irwin and Picone [6, 23]. While Barber seemingly acted out of good intentions, the fact that two of the boys from his farm went on to commit such violent crimes raises questions about the effectiveness of his approach [40]. The hosts acknowledge that Barber likely touched and changed many lives for the better, but the cases of Irwin and Picone serve as stark reminders of the complexities of human behavior and the limitations of even the most well-meaning interventions [40, 41].

The podcast episode also highlights the incredible resilience of the victims, particularly Doris Meyers, Caroline Barker, and Lawrence Gilbert, who survived their terrifying encounters with Warren Lee Irwin [22, 35]. Caroline and Larry's eventual marriage and life together stand as a testament to their strength and the enduring power of their love in the face of unimaginable trauma [35, 36].

You've reached the end of this story, but not our journey. Subscribe for more chilling deep dives.

Key Takeaways and Reflections

• The story of Warren Lee Irwin is a chilling example of how a troubled past and a life of crime can escalate to unimaginable violence [8, 9, 11, 12].
• The interconnectedness of true crime stories, as highlighted by the link between Irwin and Picone through Casius Barber's farm, underscores the complex factors that can contribute to criminal behavior [1, 3, 5].
• Despite good intentions, interventions aimed at reforming troubled youth are not always successful and can have unforeseen consequences [3, 6, 7].
• The resilience of victims like Doris Meyers and Caroline Barker demonstrates the strength of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity [18, 35].
• The impact of a criminal's actions extends far beyond the immediate victims, affecting their families and communities, as seen in the cases of Robert Jenkee and Adeline Shenigga [14, 37, 38].

The story of Warren Lee Irwin, meticulously recounted by "Malice in the Mitten," serves as a sobering reminder of the darkness that can exist and the lasting impact of violent crime. It also prompts reflection on the complexities of rehabilitation and the enduring strength of those who survive such horrific experiences [1].

Call to Action

Thank you for delving into this dark chapter of history with us. If you found this account informative and thought-provoking, please consider sharing it with others who are interested in true crime. What are your thoughts on the connections between these cases and the role of individuals like Casius Barber? Share your insights in the comments below or on social media. For more gripping true crime stories from the Mitten state, be sure to subscribe to the "Malice in the Mitten" podcast!