Remembering Awilda, Curtis Jr., Jody, William, Evelyn, Jennifer, and Dawn Maddox

 

A Twisted Vendetta

On December 26, 1985, Awilda Maddox, age 71, was excited to be spending time with her five grandchildren. Mrs. Maddox’s son, Curtis Jr., had recently moved in with his mother after separating from his wife. The boys, Jody, age 10, and William, age 8, and the girls, Evelyn, age 9, and twins Dawn and Jennifer, age 7, were spending that Christmas with their father and Mrs. Maddox. The children went to bed that evening and were looking forward to watching movies the next day on the new VCR their grandmother had gotten for them for Christmas. Sadly, they would never get the chance.

Awilda Maddox’s daughter, Rhoda, age 39, and her young daughter were also living with Mrs. Maddox. Rhoda Maddox was not happy that Christmas. She was angry that her brother and his children had received better Christmas gifts than her. She was also mad that her mother had not given her the deed to the house. Mr. Maddox had promised Rhoda the deed before he died, however since Mrs. Maddox was still alive, there was no reason for her to give Rhoda ownership of the home. An irate Rhoda left the house and decided to stay with friends that evening.

Later that night, Rhoda Maddox went out with her boyfriend, Orville Wheeler Jr. While driving around town, Rhoda and Wheeler decided it was time to get even with Awilda Maddox, Curtis Jr. and the children. They decided that Rhoda should start a fire in the house while everyone was sleeping and make it look like an accident. After spending the night working on the plan, Wheeler drove Rhoda to the house sometime after midnight. Rhoda snuck inside, took a blanket from the couch and placed it next to to a pot-bellied stove. She then lit the blanket on fire. Rhoda grabbed some valuable items from the house and ran back to the car. The two drove away, leaving two sleeping adults and five sleeping children in the burning home.

Getting Away With Murder

At approximately 3:00 a.m., a man driving by the Maddox home saw the house on fire. He immediately called the fire department and fifteen firefighters rushed to the scene. They tried to put out the fire, however it was out of control. The fire was spreading rapidly due to the 25 mph winds that were gusting up to 46 mph. By 6 a.m., the house had burned to its foundation. Awilda Maddox, Curtis Jr. and all five children were found dead in their bedrooms. They all suffered and died from smoke inhalation. All that remained by the time the bodies were removed was a melted and twisted television antenna, a few burned-out walls and the swing set the children liked to play on.

The fire department, with help from the fire marshal’s office, investigated the fire and determined it to be accidental and caused by a defective pot-bellied stove. Rhonda Maddox and Orville Wheeler Jr. thought they had committed the perfect crime. For three years, they lived in the community and spent time with the surviving Maddox family members. They acted like nothing happened and showed absolutely no guilt or remorse. During that time, Rhoda Maddox’s surviving brother always wondered why, every time he went to Rhoda Maddox’s home, he would see items in her house that were in their mother’s house before the fire. He would get his answer in the summer of 1988.

The Truth Revealed

After three years, Rhoda and Wheeler were feeling confident they had gotten away with murder. Both started talking and boasting to people about what they had done. One of those people called Toledo Crime Stoppers. After receiving the information from the call, Maumee Police Detective Doug Brainard reopened the case. In July 1988, he brought Rhoda Maddox in for questioning. During the interrogation, Rhoda Maddox confessed to the setting the fire that killed seven of her family members. She told authorities Wheeler came up with the plan and she set the fire. She claimed that she believed the fire could be set without any injuries. A short time later, police arrested Orville Wheeler Jr. Both faced a possible death sentence for the murders.

Rhoda, not wanting to risk a possible death sentence, agreed to plead guilty to seven counts of involuntary manslaughter (accidentally killing someone while committing a felony) and one count of aggravated arson. She successfully avoided the death penalty and received a sentence of 48-200 years in prison. She showed absolutely no remorse or regret for her actions.

Wheeler went to trial for his part in the murder. The trial lasted four days and 15 witnesses testified. The key witness was Rhoda Maddox. During her testimony, she continued to play games with the prosecutor and the Maddox family. First, she testified she entered the house and followed Wheeler’s instructions and started the fire. Then she said Wheeler went into the house and started the fire. When her defense attorney asked her which story was true, she responded “One story is true and one is false.” The only time she showed any remorse was when she discussed Wheeler assaulting her two months after the fire. Rhoda Maddox’s conflicting testimony made it impossible for the jury to determine what exactly happened that night. The jury convicted Wheeler of seven counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of aggravated arson. He received the same sentence as Rhoda Maddox, 48-200 years in prison.

Due to a new law, their minimum sentences were later reduced to 15 years.

Lack Of Remorse

Since the time of their convictions, Rhoda Maddox and Orville Wheeler Jr. have shown no remorse, no regret, and continue to refuse to take responsibility for their actions. The Maddox family requested to meet with both Rhoda and Wheeler in an attempt to get answers. The meeting never happened because the family was advised that both inmates were refusing to admit to their crimes and would not answer any of their prepared questions. While in prison, Orville Wheeler Jr. has made it clear he is not finished with the Maddox family. Wheeler told a fellow inmate during a card game that he killed half the family and all he has to do now is kill the other half.