Offender Record · OFF-2026-091
Frank Hickey (photo from the Radford University biography)
John Frank Hickey
Also known as J. Frank Hickey, The Postcard Killer
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'6"
Born
1865
Custody
Deceased
States
NJ, NY, MA
Distinguishing featuresScar on head of uncertain origin (possibly from blunt object blow or birth defect), per Radford document
Custody
Deceased at Auburn Correctional Facility
Custody record at the facility
Died May 8, 1922 at Auburn Prison, Auburn, New York, at age 56, per multiple sources including Wikipedia and Radford University document
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Summary of the record
John Frank Hickey was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 29, 1865. He was convicted of second-degree murder on November 29, 1912, in New York for the October 1911 strangulation death of seven-year-old Joey Joseph in Lackawanna, New York. Hickey confessed to three murders and numerous sexual assaults of children spanning 1883 to 1911. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at Auburn Prison in New York, where he died on May 8, 1922, at age 56.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Sep 01, 1883, Lowell, Massachusetts
Murder (Confessed to first murder)
Massachusetts · Unknown · Arrested Nov 18, 1912 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Subsumed into life sentence for Joey Joseph murder
On September 1, 1883, Hickey poisoned 34-year-old Edwin W. Morey, a pharmacist coworker at McGibbon's Drugstore in Lowell, Massachusetts, by adding laudanum (opium-based tincture) to his drink. Hickey initially reported finding Morey dead. The death was initially attributed to Morey's chronic alcoholism, and no charges were filed at that time. Hickey confessed to this murder nearly three decades later in November 1912 while in custody.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Hickey, Frank; J. Frank Hickey; J. Frank Hickey
Offense date Dec 10, 1902, New York City, New York
Murder (Confessed to second murder)
New York · Unknown · Arrested Nov 18, 1912 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Subsumed into life sentence for Joey Joseph murder
Hickey confessed to murdering ten-year-old Michael Kruck on December 10, 1902, in New York City by strangulation. No charges were formally filed for this victim; the conviction was based on the Joey Joseph case, but Hickey's confession to the Kruck murder was recorded.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Hickey, Frank; John Frank Hickey
Offense date Oct 1911, Lackawanna, New York
Murder (Second Degree)
New York · New York Supreme Court · Arrested Nov 18, 1912 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life in prison (indeterminate, twenty years to life)
On October 12, 1911, Hickey approached seven-year-old Joey Joseph near his father's store in Lackawanna and lured him with candy. Hickey strangled the boy into unconsciousness, sexually molested him, and then strangled him to death in an outhouse behind a saloon on Ridge Road. He disposed of the body in the outhouse cesspool. Hickey sent postcards to police and Joey's father describing the crime in detail, which led to his arrest on November 18, 1912. He confessed to this murder and two others.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Hickey, Frank; J. Frank Hickey; Forgotten Crimes: 'Postcard Killer' taunts family of slain Lackawanna boy; J. Frank Hickey
Offense date Aug 05, 1912, Unknown location, New York
Attempted murder / Assault
New York · Arrested Aug 05, 1912 · Charges dismissed Charges dismissed · Sentence: Fine only
In a drunken rage on August 5, 1912, Hickey was caught strangling a young boy in front of a train. He was apprehended and questioned by police, but charges were eventually dropped and he was only fined for the assault.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Hickey, Frank
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
1
Victims convicted
3
Victims confessed
12
Victims suspected
Active years
1883–1911
Victim profile
Children, Young women, Acquaintances
Stated motive
Sexual
Range from home
regional
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Divorced
Children
1
Died
1922-05-08 · natural
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
MA
Lowell, Massachusetts
approx. 1865 – 1880 · Born and raised in Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
approx. 1880 – 1883 · McGibbon's Drugstore, clerk/assistant
Lowell, Massachusetts
approx. 1880 – 1883 · Lived with stepmother after moving from boarding house
Lowell, Massachusetts
approx. 1883 – 1887 · Various jobs including Goodyear Rubber Plant, shipyard, newspaper
Lowell, Massachusetts
approx. 1887 – 1889 · YMCA Assistant Secretary
Lowell, Massachusetts
approx. 1902 – 1910 · Stayed with Madigan family for 2 months, kicked out for drinking; took room at Mrs. John Jones Boarding Home until winter 1910
NJ
Whiting, New Jersey
approx. 1910 – 1912 · Keswick Colony (religious temperance retreat), multiple stays: May 1910, December 1910, December 1911-April 1912
Whiting, New Jersey
Nov 18, 1912 – Nov 18, 1912 · Arrested at Keswick Colony after witness recognized his handwriting on postcards
NY
New York, New York
approx. 1889 – 1902 · Moved to New York area
City of Lackawanna, New York
approx. 1910 – 1912 · Steel mill/steel plant supervisor
City of Auburn, New York
Nov 29, 1912 – May 08, 1922 · Auburn Correctional Facility (Auburn Prison), sentenced to life imprisonment
Timeline
Oct 29, 1865
John Frank Hickey born in Lowell, Massachusetts to Irish immigrants Michael J. Hickey and Mary Ann Magrath.
1869
Hickey's mother dies of carditis (heart inflammation) when he is age 4.
Apr 16, 1877
Hickey's father dies of tuberculosis when Hickey is age 12.
1880
Hickey and his brother move to Lowell with their stepmother; Hickey is convicted of petit larceny at age 15.
1880
Hickey is expelled from Lowell High School during freshman year for stealing charges.
Sep 01, 1883
Hickey, age 18, poisons 34-year-old coworker Edwin W. Morey at McGibbon's Drugstore in Lowell, Massachusetts, and reports finding him dead; death initially attributed to alcoholism.
1887
Hickey hired as Assistant Secretary for the YMCA at age 22, a position giving him access to young people; he is later fired for monetary improprieties.
Apr 30, 1890
Hickey marries Edith W. Lees.
Mar 09, 1891
Hickey's son Harold P. Hickey is born.
1893
Hickey and Edith divorce.
Dec 10, 1902
Hickey strangles 10-year-old Michael Kruck (newsboy) to death in New York City; body hidden and later found.
May 1910
Hickey stays at Keswick Colony, a religious retreat, in attempt to cure his alcoholism.
Dec 1910
Hickey stays at Keswick Colony again.
Oct 12, 1911
Hickey, employed as steel plant supervisor in Lackawanna, New York, lures 7-year-old Joey Joseph with candy, strangles him into unconsciousness, sexually molests him, and strangles him to death in an outhouse behind a saloon on Ridge Road; disposes body in outhouse cesspool.
Oct 30, 1911
Hickey mails first postcard to Lackawanna police chief Gilson describing Joey Joseph's location and the crime in detail.
Nov 11, 1911
Postcards from Hickey are still being sent to police and Joey Joseph's father with crime details; Hickey leaves for Keswick Colony.
Aug 05, 1912
In a drunken rage, Hickey is caught strangling a young boy in front of a train, apprehended and questioned; charges eventually dropped, fine imposed only.
Nov 16, 1912
Joey Joseph's body is found in outhouse pit behind Doyle's Saloon in Lackawanna; Buffalo Evening News publishes photographs of Postcard Killer's letters.
Nov 18, 1912
Hickey is arrested at Keswick Colony in Whiting, New Jersey after witness recognizes his handwriting on postcards; interrogation begins.
Nov 26, 1912
Hickey's hearing begins.
Nov 27, 1912
Hickey is taken to jail.
Nov 29, 1912
Hickey is convicted of second-degree murder for Joey Joseph's killing; confesses to three total murders (1883, 1902, 1911) and claims 12 murder attempts; sentenced to life in prison; unsuccessfully attempts insanity defense.
May 08, 1922
Hickey dies in Auburn Prison at age 56 from natural causes, having served approximately 10 years of his life sentence.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Grokipedia ·
J. Frank Hickey“Arrested on November 18, 1912, at the Keswick Colony farm in Whiting, New Jersey, after a witness recognized his handwriting on a postcard, Hickey was extradited to New York and tried for Joseph's murder. On December 23, 1912, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to an indeterminate term of twenty years to life at Auburn State Prison.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
J. Frank Hickey“John Frank Hickey (October 29, 1865 – May 8, 1922) was an American child molester and serial killer. On September 1, 1883, 18-year-old Hickey contacted police and said that he had found 34-year-old pharmacist Edwin W. Morey dead on the floor of the McGibbon's Drugstore, where both had worked.”
News report · Buffalo News ·
Forgotten Crimes: 'Postcard Killer' taunts family of slain Lackawanna boy“On October 12, 1911, Hickey, then employed as a steel plant supervisor in Lackawanna, New York, noticed seven-year-old Joey Joseph playing at his father's men's furnishing store. There Hickey strangled Joey into unconsciousness, sexually molested him, and then strangled him to death.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
John Frank Hickey“Status: Sentenced to life in prison on November 29, 1912. Died in prison on May 8, 1922. After his arrest, Hickey confessed to three murders and numerous sexual assaults of children. Hickey was suspected of at least twelve other murders.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Hickey, Frank“J. Frank Hickey born October 29, 1865; Hickey murders Joey Joseph in Lackawanna and put his remains down a latrine; Hickey confesses to killing Joey Joseph and Michael Kruck and states that he was successful in 3 killings and 12 attempts; Gets Life in Prison, after an unsuccessful attempt to plead not guilty by reason of insanity; Hickey is taken to jail on 11/27/1912; Hickey dies 05/08/1922”
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