Lawson Family Christmas
The Lawson Family’s Christmas tragedy is a dreadful event in North Carolina history. On Christmas Day, 1929, Charlie Lawson chillingly took the lives of most of his family. He began with his two girls, whom he targeted with a shotgun, then proceeded to fatally beat them. He then turned his rage and gun towards his wife. Marie, the eldest daughter, was found baking a cake – she became his next victim. The two younger brothers, James and Raymond, futilely sought to hide from their father. They were his next targets.
Lastly, baby Mary Lou met her cruel end. Charlie used brute force to end her life before inflicting the same fate upon himself. The tragedy’s sole survivor was Arthur, the eldest son. His father had sent him on a task the night before the deadly event took place.
