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Have you ever seen the opening scene of Jeepers Creepers the place the creepy van follows the household automotive? Whereas the remainder of the movie is solely fictional, this specific scene was primarily based on truth.
Horrible driver was a person who had simply killed his spouse, and the couple being chased was a pair passing by who noticed what regarded like the person hiding the physique. When this man noticed them, a terrifying automotive chase ensued.
Easter Sunday
April 15, 1990, it was Easter Sunday. Ray and Marie Thornton determined to take a weekend street journey alongside Snow Prairie Highway. Twelve miles exterior of Coldwater, Michigan, a Chevrolet van appeared behind them.
The motive force of the van drove aggressively earlier than passing them and driving off into the gap. However that wasn’t the final time the couple noticed the van.
Alongside the best way they got here to an deserted schoolhouse. The couple noticed the van that had come from earlier stopped exterior the constructing. That was the time Marie noticed one thing disturbing.
The motive force of the van was holding what gave the impression to be a bloody sheet of paper. He walked in direction of the again of the college. The pair sped up, however the van from the schoolhouse rear-ended them for the subsequent two miles.
It was this encounter that impressed a scene from Jeepers Creepers.
The Thorntons weren’t involved about this case and tried to get the total license plate from the police. Ray Thornton even tried to show his automotive round and strategy the inexperienced van once more.
At the moment, they noticed the driving force of the automotive change the license plate on the again of the automotive and pull over. However it wasn’t the sight that caught the couple’s consideration; the within of the van was lined in blood.
The couple drove again to the college; with nice bravery or stupidity, relying in your outlook, they went behind the constructing and located a bloody sheet partially stuffed into the animal pit.
This second was them Michigan State Police contacted. They informed them their tales and what they witnessed. Little did they know that police have been already within the space looking for the person and his injured spouse.
Dennis DePue
Twenty-six years previous DePue was born in Michigan In 1943. In 1971, he married the lady of his desires.
Marilyn was a preferred highschool counselor; the couple had three kids, two ladies and a boy. Nonetheless, DePue quickly confirmed his true persona; he sulked and withdrew.
He started by isolating himself from his household after which repeatedly accused Marilyn of turning the kids towards him. Lastly, in 1989, Marilyn had sufficient and filed for divorce.
The couple’s divorce was finalized in December 1989. DePue didn’t declare the household dwelling, however requested to maintain his workplace within the storage. The association suited them each till it did not.
Homicide
Someday Marilyn returned dwelling and discovered her ex-husband sitting on the sofa in the lounge. The issue was altering the locks when the couple separated. It is not clear how Marilyn handled it.
On Easter Sunday 1990, DePue arrived on the household dwelling to choose up his two kids to spend the day collectively. The youthful daughter refused to go together with her father.
whom DePue waited for the opposite two, he was indignant along with his son for delaying his time; this made DePuene very indignant. Marilyn tried to calm the scenario, nevertheless it solely made her angrier. Lastly, he grabbed her and began yelling at her.
He turned on her and pushed her down the steps as her three kids watched. He then went down the steps and beat her whereas she was sleeping there. Their eldest daughter ran exterior to a neighbor’s home to name the police.
Whereas he was out, DePue left the home with Marilyn, who was significantly injured, telling her kids that he was taking her to the hospital. That is when DePue Thorntons got here their method.
The Chase
After the couple’s telephone nameforensic groups sealed off the deserted college constructing and decided that tire tracks on the college matched these of DePue’s van.
After that, the police began looking for the killer. Midway between the schoolhouse and the household dwelling, they discovered Marilyn’s physique. He was shot as soon as behind the pinnacle.
DePue was not carried out; over the subsequent few weeks, he despatched a collection of unusually rambling letters to family and friends justifying Marilyn’s loss of life.
Tv Look
Energetic March 20, 1991A Texas girl got here dwelling to seek out her boyfriend’s automotive parked within the driveway when he often retains it within the storage.
When he approached her, he apologized and mentioned he needed to make an pressing journey dwelling; then requested him to make a sandwich.
He intentionally distracted her within the kitchen so she would not see the second half of a TV present a few man named DePue who killed his spouse.
It was too late, as a neighbor noticed DePue’s van and the present bought phrase of his new location.
Catch
Louisiana State Troopers noticed a DePue van with pretend Texas plates. What started was fifteen miles of high-speed working. Lastly, DePue blew by a barrier in Warren County.
Sheriff hit each rear tires on the barrier. DePue returned fireplace, taking pictures on the officer’s automobiles. He additionally tried to guide them astray.
The van barely stopped at 4 am. Officers approached the van to arrest DePue. However he was decided that he would by no means face justice. Officers discovered him within the van with a .357 handgun and thumb on the set off. He left three kids with none of their mother and father.