James Edward Wood

James Godwin

  Active for 18 years
(1976-1993) in United States

1

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

12

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 15 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 7 Books About James Edward Wood
  14. 3 External References
  15. Internal References

James Edward Wood (born James Godwin) an American serial killer and rapist also known as James Godwin. Wood was convicted and sentenced to death in 1993 for the kidnapping, dismemberment and murder of an 11-year-old newspaper delivery girl in Pocatello, Idaho. He was arrested in 1993 and later led authorities to the body that had been thrown into the Snake River in Idaho Falls. Wood would kidnap, rape molest, commit acts of necrophilia on the body and dismember the corpse of his victims. He has been suspected of multiple rapes, robberies and dozens of murders. In 2004, James Edward Wood died from a heart attack at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho.

James Edward Wood Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer James Edward Wood (aka) James Godwin, was active for 18 years between 1976-1993, known to have ( 1 confirmed / 12 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States

James Edward Wood was born on December 9th 1947 in Louisiana, US. He was raised by both parents until (Age 2), his mother and step-father until (Age 8), his Uncle Gene and Aunt Mildred Wood until (Age 14), ward of state until (Age 17), his biological father until adulthood. He was raised as a only child and had no siblings. His father, an unnamed man who was incarcerated, James (Age 2). After his fathers release he worked selling and installing chain fences. His mother, Hazel Godwin died in a potato processing plant fire, James (Age 8). During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems. James Edward Wood was sexually, physically, and psychologically abused at some point of his life.

He completed 11 years of school, no degree received. He married Angie Bell in 1967, divorced re-married Angie Bell in 1974, divorced. He had three children, two sons and one daughter.

Prior to his spree he had commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He was known to abuse alcohol.

In 1976 (Age 28/29) James Edward Wood started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, commit acts of necrophilia, torture, stalk, rape, mutilate, and murder his victims. James Edward Wood used a weapon and was in possession of a firearm during his crimes. At the time of his crimes he was living with his cousin Dave Haggard.

He was arrested on July 6th 1993 (Age 45), convicted on January 14th 1994 (Age 46), sentenced to death at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho, US.

James Edward Wood died on February 1st 2004 (Age 56), cause of death: natural causes at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho, US.

Profile Completeness: 96%
serial killers by profile completeness

James Edward Wood has been listed on Killer.Cloud since July of 2017 and was last updated 5 years ago.

James Edward Wood a known:

James Edward Wood
Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-07-13 Collected by Killer.Cloud
General Information
Name: James Edward Wood
Nickname: James Godwin
Victims: 1 - 12
Years Active: 1976 - 1993
Ages Active: 28/29 - 45/46
Active Countries: United States
Life Span: 1947 - 2004
Characteristics
Gender: Male
Sexual Preference: heterosexual
Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
Nov 22 - Dec 22
Birth Month: December
Marital Status: married Angie Bell in 1967, divorced re-married Angie Bell in 1974, divorced
Children: three children, two sons and one daughter
Living With: his cousin Dave Haggard
Childhood Information
D.O.B.: Dec 9, 1947
Birth Location: Louisiana, US
Birth Order: 1st of 1
Siblings: no siblings
Raised By: both parents until (Age 2), his mother and step-father until (Age 8), his Uncle Gene and Aunt Mildred Wood until (Age 14), ward of state until (Age 17), his biological father until adulthood
Birth Category: only child
Mother: Hazel Godwin died in a potato processing plant fire, James (Age 8)
Father: an unnamed man who was incarcerated, James (Age 2). After his fathers release he worked selling and installing chain fences

Cognitive Ability
IQ: N/A
Highest School: 11 years of school
Highest Degree: no degree received

Incarceration
Arrested: Jul 6, 1993 (Age 45)
Convicted: Jan 14, 1994 (Age 46)
Sentence: death
Prison Location: the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho, US
Executed: N/A
Previous Crimes: TRUE
Previous Jail: TRUE
Previous Prison: TRUE

Death Information
Death Date: Feb 1, 2004 (Age 56)
Cause of Death: natural causes
Death Location: the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho, US
Killed In Prison: FALSE
Suicide: FALSE
15 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
James Edward Wood

The 15 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer James Edward Wood. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.

Date Event Description
Dec 09 1947James Edward Wood was born in Louisiana, US.  #19471209
Dec 09 1967
(Age 20)
20th Birthday
1976
(Age 28/29)
James Edward Wood started his serial killing spree. #1976
Dec 09 1977
(Age 30)
30th Birthday
Dec 09 1987
(Age 40)
40th Birthday
Oct 31 1992
(Age 44)
moves to Pocatello, Idaho #19921031
Location: Pocatello, Idaho, US

James arrives at his cousin’s, Dave Haggard, and asks for a place to live. Haggard agrees to let him stay until he could get back on his feet.

1993
(Age 45/46)
James Edward Wood ended his serial killing spree. #1993
Jul 06 1993
(Age 45)
James Edward Wood arrested. #19930706
Jan 14 1994
(Age 46)
James Edward Wood was convictedand sentenced to death at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho, US.  #19940114
Jul 25 1995
(Age 47)
appeal rejected #19950725
Location: Idaho, US

Sixth district judge rejects Wood’s appeal.

Dec 09 1997
(Age 50)
50th Birthday
Oct 09 1998
(Age 50)
appeal rejected #19981009
Location: Idaho State Supreme Court, Idaho, US

Idaho State Supreme Court rejects Wood’s appeal

Dec 22 1998
(Age 51)
stay of execution #19981222
Location: Idaho, US

Supreme Court justice O’Connor signed a stay of execution until Wood’s death sentence appeal could be heard by the entire U.S Supreme Court.

May 16 1999
(Age 51)
appeal rejected #19990516
Location: U.S. Supreme Court, US

U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Wood’s appeal.

Feb 01 2004
(Age 56)
James Edward Wooddied.cause of death:natural causesat the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho, US. #20040201
Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as James Edward Wood (1976-1993).

Serial Killers By Active Year


38 / 40
ANSWERED
Serial Killer
Boolean Questions:
Killer
Question
Killer
Answer
Total
Answered
problems in school TRUE 221
physically abused TRUE 231
psychologically abused TRUE 224
sexually abused TRUE 226
alcohol abuse TRUE 226
previous crimes TRUE 367
previous jail TRUE 352
previous prision TRUE 336
used weapon TRUE 453
used gun TRUE 451
rape TRUE 453
torture TRUE 426
stalk TRUE 418
sex with body TRUE 430
mutilated TRUE 447
robbed TRUE 418
living with children FALSE 268
suicide FALSE 225
killed in prison FALSE 218
father drug abuse FALSE 192
mother drug abuse FALSE 195
teased in school FALSE 218
physically defect FALSE 300
speach defect FALSE 300
head injury FALSE 299
psychologist FALSE 258
forensic hospital FALSE 257
previous killed FALSE 208
kill at killers home FALSE 320
kill at victims home FALSE 323
blindfold FALSE 363
bound FALSE 406
strangle FALSE 443
ate part of body FALSE 451
drank blood FALSE 442
posed body FALSE 365
totem body part FALSE 365
totem personal item FALSE 354


Books that Mention James Edward Wood

Book: Mother's Milk (mentions serial killer James Edward Wood)
Edward St. Aubyn
Mother's Milk
Book: Eye of the Beast (mentions serial killer James Edward Wood)
Terry Adams
Eye of the Beast
Book: Shaping an American institution (mentions serial killer James Edward Wood)
James C. Worthy
Shaping an American institution
Book: Church and State in the Modern Worl... (mentions serial killer James Edward Wood)
James Edward Wood
Church and State in the Modern World
Book: Church and State in Historical Pers... (mentions serial killer James Edward Wood)
James Edward Wood
Church and State in Historical Perspective
Book: The Unknown War of Edward D. Wood,... (mentions serial killer James Edward Wood)
James Pontolillo
The Unknown War of Edward D. Wood, Jr.
Book: Good Night James Wood-the Story of... (mentions serial killer James Edward Wood)
Steve Milner PhD LCS...
Good Night James Wood-the Story of a Serial K...

7 Books that mention Serial Killer
James Edward Wood

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1250206553 Mother's Milk 1
1938803507 Eye of the Beast 1
0252010515 Shaping an American insti... 1
0313256047 Church and State in the M... 1
0313256039 Church and State in Histo... 1
1548869473 The Unknown War of Edward... 1
1543915590 Good Night James Wood-the... 1
External References
  1. Juan Ignacio Blanco, James Edward WOOD on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
  2. Jessica Weber, Heather Wells, James Edward Wood on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
  3. Rebecca Boone, Idaho death-row killer dies in prison on www.deseretnews.com, Retrieved on Jun 10, 2019.
Internal References

James Edward Wood is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

  1. #43 of 43[ Page 3 ] of Sagittarius Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  2. #45 of 45[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in December
  3. #53 of 53[ Page 4 ] of Serial Killer Stalkers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  4. #54 of 651[ Page 4 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  5. #60 of 60[ Page 4 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
  6. #66 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  7. #89 of 89[ Page 6 ] of Serial Killer Torturers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  8. #306 of 307[ Page 21 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
  9. #327 of 327[ Page 22 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
  10. #632 of 651[ Page 43 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
  11. #650 of 651[ Page 44 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
Statistics:
Serial Killers Statistics, charts James Edward Wood is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Birth Category, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
Years Active: