The Disappearance of Ruth (Bedford) Rhoades-Knight: A MURDER AT THE OLD SPANISH MINE.

The historic Old Spanish mine was located and prospected by local miners before, the year 1894, and was once a lucrative producer of gold in the boundaries of the Lower Springs Mining District, near Redding, California, which was later subdivided into a local neighborhood with modern homes. Its adits and winzes were also plugged for safety reasons at that time as well. However, its history can still be documented, and this former mining property is where Shasta County authorities removed the remains of Mrs. Ruth (Bedford) Rhoades-Knight who went missing from Marysville, California, in 1945, eighty-one years ago. Mrs. Knight's gruesome murder occurred at the Old Spanish mine, and her body was dumped into a 60-foot winze of this mine by her husband, Louis Barney Knight. For those of you who are true crime fans I hope you enjoy this episode of Exploring Shasta County history as I trace the life and chilling murder of Mrs. Ruth (Bedford) Rhoades-Knight whose tragic story has become forgotten over the years. She is buried in the Anderson District Cemetery in Anderson, California. For more information click the YouTube link below, please watch, like, comment, share and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

RESOURCES:

1900 U.S. Census

1910 U.S. Census

1920 U.S. Census

1930 U.S. Census

1940 U.S. Census

Woman's Body Found in Mine is Identified - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 21, 1946

Hubby Held In Mine Death - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 22, 1946

California Authorities Enroute to Return 1st Degree Murder Suspect - The Daily Herald newspaper of Provo, Utah, July 23, 1946

Man Will Face Slaying Probe - The Albuquerque Tribune newspaper of Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 23, 1946

The Deseret News newspaper of Salt Lake City, Utah, July 23, 1946

Knight Waves Extradition in Shasta Slaying - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, July 24, 1946

Slain Woman's Husband Held on Murder Charge - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, July 24, 1946

Knight Agrees to Face Wife’s Death Inquiry - The Albuquerque Journal newspaper of Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 25, 1946

Man Held in Utah for Shasta Death - The Salinas Californian newspaper of Salinas - July 25, 1946

Knight Waves Extradition in Mine Slaying - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 25, 1946 

Knight Declares That Wife Killed Self - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 25, 1946

The Almost Perfect Crime - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 25, 1946

Suspect Admits Striking Wife With Hatchet Officers Say -  The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper of Salt Lake City, Utah, July 25, 1946

Mine Murder Count Names Louis Knight - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 25, 1946

Knight is Taken to Murder Scene at Shasta Mine - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, July 26, 1946

Knight Craves Water; Has Sheriff Shake Rain Water Onto His Face - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 26, 1946

Knight Declares Wife Suicide - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 26, 1946

Knight to Stand Murder Trial - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, July 26, 1946

Officer Studies Knight Murder Car - The Daily Herald newspaper of Provo, Utah, July 26, 1946

Knight's Story Unchanged at Murder Scene - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 27, 1946

Coroner's Jury Indicts Knight - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 29, 1946

Knight is Held Responsible for Death of Wife - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, July 29, 1946 

Jury Names Knight As Slayer - the Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 29, 1946

Knight May Get Hearing Tomorrow - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 30, 1946

Knight Sticks to Same Story - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 31, 1946

Knight Confesses Slaying - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 1, 1946

Knight Arraignment Continued; Toung-Slip Helped Break Case - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 2, 1946

Delay is Granted Confessed Wife Slaying for Plea - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, August 2, 1946

Knight Admits Wife Murder - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, August 2, 1946

Knight Given Delay Before Making Plea - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, August 3, 1946

Slip of Tongue Brings Confession in Knight Case - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, August 4, 1946

Knight Arraignment Continued; Tongue Slip Helped Case - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 8, 1946

Knight Given Postponement- The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 13, 1946

The Daily Herald newspaper of Provo, Utah, August 14, 1946

Body of Former El Dorado Woman Discovered in Mine - The El Dorado Springs Sun newspaper of El Dorado Springs, Missouri, August 15, 1946

Knight Guilty; Goes to Prison - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 3, 1946

Knight Pleads Guilty to Wife Slaying Charge - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, September 4, 1946

Louis Knight Gets Five Year to Life for Murder of Wife - The Daily Herald newspaper of Provo, Utah, September 5, 1946

Knight Sentenced in Wife Slaying - The Albuquerque Journal newspaper of New Mexico, September 5, 1946

Engineer Captured at Provo, Draws Sentence in Killing - The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper of Salt Lake City, Utah, September 5, 1946

Wife Slayer Seeks Parole - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 12, 1948

North State Felons - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, March 30, 1948

California, U.S., Prison and Correctional Records, 1851-1950 for Louis Knight

1950 U.S. Census

The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, January 24, 1950

Three Convicts Appeal Terms - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 26, 1950

Parole Denied - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, March 27, 1950

Authority Acts on Parole Requests - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 18, 1953

The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, April 8, 1954

Murder of 1945 to be Reviewed - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 8, 1955

The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, March 24, 1955

Man 79, Gets Prison for Molesting Girl, 8 - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, October 11, 1967

Bob L. Knight Obituary - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 20, 1969

The Disappearance of Thomas F. Halcomb

Filmed on location.

Resources:

1920 U.S. Census

1930 U.S. Census

File: Redding, California, 1930 Census Enumeration District Maps. Source: Wikimapia.

Community Is Searched for Missing Boy - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 6, 1932

 

Halcomb Youth Still Missing After 2 Days - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 6, 1932

Redding Plane Crash Kills Three - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 7, 1932

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1932

Young Halcomb Believed Seen Wednesday P.M. -  The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1932

Structural Defect Was Not Cause of Accident to Plane - Inspector - The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1932

George Halcomb, Wife, O.A. Rose Die in Air Crash - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1932

Reports Halcomb Youth Found Without Ground - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1932

Searchers For Missing Youth Die in Plunge - The Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper of Sant Cruz, July 8, 1932

Three Victims of Plane Crash - The Madera Tribune newspaper of Madera, July 8, 1932

Three Die in Plane Crash at Redding - The Tulare Daily Times newspaper of Tulare, July 8, 1932

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 9, 1932

Halcomb Is Continued Monday - The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 11, 1932

Search Still Being Pushed for Missing Boy; Reported Seen - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 12, 1932

Halcomb Estate Comprises $4,000 Insurance Policy - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 13, 1932

The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 14, 1932

$100 Reward for Finding Halcomb - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 16, 1932

Reward Spurs Search for Boy - The Bee News Bureau newspaper of Sacramento, July 18, 1932

Statewide Appeal Made in Boy Hunt - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 19, 1932

Plane Victims’ Estates Are Probated - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 22, 1932

Grandparents May Contest Custody of Halcomb Baby - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 23, 1932

Halcomb Youth - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 12, 1932

Contest Over Halcomb Youth - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 29, 1932

Hearing on Contest Over Halcomb Boy Is Continued in Two Weeks - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 30, 1932

Halcomb Boy’s Body Believed Found in River - The Colusa Herald newspaper of Colusa, September 22, 1932

Amos Halcomb Named Guardian of Grandson - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 26, 1932

Thomas Halcomb's Body Is Found - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 26, 1933

Halcomb Boy’s Body Is Found in Oregon Gulch - The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 27, 1933 

Funeral Services to Be Held Today for Halcomb Boy - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 28, 1933

Card of Thanks - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 2, 1933

Halcomb Action Over Insurance to Start Today - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 3, 1933

The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 4, 1933

Jury Holds Rose Made Contract to Carry Halcomb's on Fatal Journey - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 5, 1933

Correction Made - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 5, 1933

Thomas F Halcomb in the California, U.S., Death Index, 1905-1939

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 7, 1940