Solved Murders - True Crime Stories - The Execution That Failed A Serial Killer Survived the Gallows and Received a Chilling Note #76

Episode Date: August 18, 2025

#horrorstories #reddithorrorstories #ScaryStories #creepypasta #horrortales #truecrimehorror #failedexecution #serialkillerstory #deathpenaltyhorror #darkmystery  The Execution That Failed: A Serial Killer Survived the Gallows and Received a Chilling NoteIn this eerie tale rooted in historical horror, a notorious serial killer is finally sentenced to death by hanging. But when the execution goes terrifyingly wrong and he survives the gallows, the nightmare doesn’t end—it only begins. While recovering in custody, he receives an anonymous, chilling note that suggests something—or someone—wants him alive for a much darker reason. A haunting story of justice interrupted, death defied, and horror reborn.  horrorstories, reddithorrorstories, scarystories, horrorstory, creepypasta, horrortales, serialkiller, failedexecution, gallows, deathpenalty, survivalhorror, horrorhistory, creepyletter, chillingtwist, executiongonewrong, truecrimefiction, hauntingjustice, horrorwithatwist, disturbingstory, mysteriousnote

The hanging that didn't go as planned, it was just past three in the morning on January 31st, 1959, a time when most people were deep asleep, dreaming away in their beds. But not Jeremy Clock. He was wide awake, but not for a good reason. Jeremy was about to face the gallows, and his fate was sealed. He had been convicted for 54 murders. Yeah, 54. The kind of number that made the room go cold just by mentioning. it. No one was really sure how he managed to get away with so much bloodshed, but the courts finally caught up with him. And now, at 3.45 a.m., he was moments away from paying the ultimate price. The executioner, Christopher Ball Ace, was in the next room, wide awake and preparing. This guy wasn't some random official handed the job last minute. No, Christopher

was a professional. He had done this before and knew exactly what he was doing. or at least, that's what everyone thought. He methodically checked the ropes, tested the mechanism, and adjusted the platform. The old wooden structure creaked ominously in the cold air, setting the mood for what was about to unfold. Jeremy was led out into the execution chamber. The heavy iron door clanged shut behind him.

His hands were tied tightly behind his back, and a black cloth bag was pulled over his head. There were a few spectators, mostly guards and officials, watching in silence. They were all eager to see justice served. Some had even come to gawk, as grim as that sounds. The supervisor of the execution gave Christopher a subtle nod. Christopher's hand gripped the lever firmly.

Without hesitation, he pulled it. The platform dropped. Jeremy's body jerked sharply, and his legs kicked out in a desperate struggle. The sound of the rope snapping taut echoed through the chamber. This was supposed to be quick, a calculated, clean break of the neck that would end Jeremy's life instantly. That was the idea, at least. The standard drop method, as it was called, required precise calculations, the right length of rope for the prisoner's weight, enough force to break the neck but not so much as to decapitate.

It was a delicate balance. One mistake could turn an execution into a gruesome spectacle. But this time, something went terribly wrong. Instead of stillness, Jeremy's body convulsed violently. His legs thrashed, his torso twisted, and for 20 minutes, 20 long, horrifying minutes, he struggled against death. Everyone in the chamber froze, horrified and unable to look away. The silence was broken only by the wet, choking sounds that came from a

under the bag. Nobody knew what had happened. The rope length was off, obviously, but why? Had someone miscalculated Jeremy's weight? Or worse, had it been sabotaged? Christopher's face was pale but unreadable as he glanced toward the supervisor. After what felt like an eternity, the supervisor nodded again, and Christopher reluctantly signaled for the drop to be cancelled. They hauled Jeremy down, and the doctor rushed in. Jeremy was alive. He was rushed to the hospital and spent a few days recovering. The news of the botched execution spread like wildfire. Rumors flew, theories circulated, some said it was incompetence, others whispered of sabotage.

Then, just when things couldn't get weirder, Jeremy received something in the mail. A single rose, attached to a small card that read, Hope you enjoyed the execution. Hope you're ready for the next one. You killed my brother. I want you to feel the terror again, and soon, when they set a new date. The card was signed simply, CB. Panic hit the authorities immediately. They pieced things together and realized Christopher Ballace, the executioner, was missing.

Gone without a trace. No calls, no notes, nothing. The whole thing went cold after that. But let's back up a little and dig deeper. because the story of Jeremy Clock and his failed hanging wasn't just about a man trying to end a monster's life. It was about secrets, vengeance, and shadows lurking just beneath the surface. Who was Jeremy Clark, really? Jeremy wasn't your typical criminal. Not by a long shot. He was the stuff of nightmares. A serial killer whose spree had terrorized multiple towns and

States. The newspapers labeled him, the butcher of the Midwest, because his victims were left mutilated beyond recognition. The police investigation was one of the most complex in history. Every time they thought they had him, Jeremy slipped through their fingers like smoke. His arrest was a combination of luck, cunning detective work, and a bit of sheer desperation. And when they finally put him on trial, the evidence was so overwhelming that the jury barely hesitated to send him to the gallows. Enter Christopher Ballace, the executioner. Christopher was an old-school professional. His family had a long history of executioners, dating back to England where they'd worked in grim castles and public squares. By the time he was in the United

States, he had become a ghostly figure, rarely spoken about outside official circles. People said he was cold, meticulous, and detached, just the kind of man to carry out such grim tasks without blinking. But nobody really knew much about him. He showed up for work, did his job, and disappeared until the next one. The night of the execution, the whole place was under lockdown. No distractions, no surprises. Every little detail was accounted for. The rope was measured and re-measured. The weight of Jeremy was calculated down to the pound. But when the lever was pulled and Jeremy dropped, it was obvious immediately something wasn't right. His body didn't go limp. It fought against the news like a wild animal trapped in a cage. Christopher's grip

tightened on the lever, confusion flickering in his eyes. He looked toward the supervisor. The room was heavy with tension. The protocol was clear, if the prisoner didn't die within a reasonable time, the execution had to be stopped to avoid unnecessary suffering. Twenty agonizing minutes later, the nod came. The execution was called off. Jeremy was alive. The aftermath, Jeremy was rushed to the hospital. His neck was badly injured but not broken.

He was a walking miracle, or a nightmare, depending on who you asked. The hospital staff didn't want to talk about what they saw. Jeremy refused to speak. Maybe he was too shocked or maybe he was already planning what would come to. next. Then the rose came. The mystery of CB. The card was chilling, a direct message that only Jeremy, or maybe the authorities, could decipher. The initials CB meant something. Christopher Ball Ace, the executioner, was suddenly the prime suspect in a new dark game. But Christopher was gone. Vanished. No one could find him. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air. What really happened?

Rumors began circulating. Some said Christopher had a personal vendetta against Jeremy. Maybe Jeremy had killed someone close to him, like a brother or a friend. Some whispered that Christopher sabotaged the execution on purpose, to prolong Jeremy's suffering or to send a message. Others believed something far darker. That Christopher was part of a secret society task not just with executing criminals but with meeting out personal vengeance. That Jeremy's survival was no accident but a punishment in itself. The unsolved ending, years passed. Jeremy eventually disappeared from public view.

Some said he was moved to a maximum security hospital, others whispered he escaped. Christopher Ballace was never found. No records of him leaving town. No trace anywhere. The last anyone heard was the cryptic. message attached to the rose. What if? What if Jeremy wasn't the real villain? What if Christopher was the real monster hiding behind the mask of justice? And what if the hanging that didn't go as planned was just the beginning of a story far darker than anyone could imagine? This whole

twisted tale leaves more questions than answers, about justice, revenge, and the blurred lines between the two. The end.