Joseph D. Ball, known as 'The Butcher of Elmendorf', kept five alligators behind his Texas tavern and allegedly used them to dispose of victims' bodies. Ball was suspected of murdering multiple women in the 1930s.
Tavern and Disappearances
Ball built a tavern southeast of San Antonio, Texas, during the early 1930s. It became a popular local hotspot until a barmaid named Hazel vanished without trace.
Ball's associate, Clifton Wheeler, told Bexar County deputies that Ball and Hazel were romantically involved. Wheeler claimed Ball was jealous and possessive, and when Hazel wanted to leave with a new partner, Ball shot her in the back.
Confession and Discovery
Wheeler confessed to helping dispose of Hazel's remains. He said they stuffed her body parts into a barrel and burned her head and belongings. Deputies found the barrel after noticing a peculiar odour.
When police moved to arrest Ball, he asked to lock up the tavern first, then shot himself in the chest. Days later, authorities found more bodies buried nearby, but the exact number was never established.
Alligator Pit
Wheeler claimed Ball used the alligator pit behind the tavern to dispose of other bodies. Ball made a spectacle of feeding the reptiles small animals, reportedly saying, "There's more to come, my pets!"
Reports said Ball kept a ledger with the word "fed" next to missing waitresses' names, but no evidence confirmed this. The alligators were relocated to what is now the San Antonio Zoo. Wheeler received a two-year prison sentence for his role in Hazel's murder.
