The Pearl Bryan Murder Case: A Cincinnati True Crime in Three Parts

Pearl Bryan, photographed in Greencastle, Indiana, in the early 1890s. Her life — and tragic death — became one of the most haunting true crime stories in Cincinnati history.

Photograph of Pearl Bryan, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati Libraries. Source

The Gruesome Murder of Pearl Bryan: A Headless Mystery Near Fort Thomas

On February 1, 1896, a gruesome discovery was made near Fort Thomas, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from

A Trail of Footprints, a Pair of Shoes, and the Shocking Truth Behind a 19th-Century Crime

Cincinnati. A young woman's body was found in a muddy orchard, headless and lifeless. It was one of the most horrific sights law enforcement had encountered. There were no signs of a struggle around the scene—only the body, clothing soaked in blood, and a trail of footprints leading toward the road.

“In 1896, a young woman’s body was found near this quiet Kentucky path. Her story, still unsolved in part, echoes through the mists of history… Read Part 1 of the Pearl Bryan case on our blog.”

Identification proved challenging. With the head missing, the authorities were forced to rely on clothing and personal items. Eventually, a pair of custom-made shoes led them to a match. The shoes had been purchased in Greencastle, Indiana, and belonged to Pearl Bryan, a 22-year-old woman from a respected family. Her cousin confirmed her identity by recognizing her clothing and physical characteristics.

Pearl was five months pregnant at the time of her murder. Her family had been unaware of her pregnancy or the details of her secret relationship with Scott Jackson, a dental student in Cincinnati. Jackson had introduced her to his roommate, Alonzo Walling, and Pearl reportedly traveled to Cincinnati in hopes of resolving the situation discreetly.

Investigators soon suspected that the motive behind her murder was to conceal the pregnancy, and more specifically, the result of a failed attempt at an illegal abortion. Jackson and Walling were arrested after evidence, such as blood-stained clothing, telegrams, and hotel records, linked them to Pearl's final days.

What happened next shook the entire region. When authorities arrested two young men from a respected Cincinnati school, no one could imagine the twisted details that would come out at trial. And the most disturbing part? Pearl's head was still missing.

.👉 Read Part 2: The Trial That Shocked the Nation »