Charles Rogers (murder suspect)
Encyclopedia
Charles Rogers, (born December 30, 1921 - disappeared June 1965, declared legally dead
July 1975) was a United States
geologist
, pilot
, and suspected murderer.
Born and raised in Texas
, Rogers served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
and received a degree in nuclear physics
at the University of Houston
. He became a petroleum geologist as well as a licensed pilot in the Civil Air Patrol. While a member of the Civil Air Patrol, Rogers became a friend of David Ferrie
. After graduating from college in 1947, Rogers worked as a seismologist
for Shell Oil Company
until resigning in 1957. Following this, Rogers had no known source of income until his disappearance. It is believed that in 1956 Rogers joined the Central Intelligence Agency
.
Rogers' life was documented in the book, "The Man on the Grassy Knoll" researched by John R. Craig and A Rogers Philip. According to this non-fiction book, Rogers was a brilliant recluse who lived with his parents, Fred and Edwina Rogers, at 1815 Driscoll Street, Houston, Texas
. On June 23, 1965, Rogers' parents were found murdered in their home, their bodies dismembered and stored in the family's refrigerator. Rogers was never located for questioning in the case, although he was a prime suspect at the time, and Rogers remains the prime suspect in what Houston residents refer to as the "The Icebox Murders." Rogers is believed to have murdered his parents on Sunday, June 20. It is also believed that Rogers stayed at the house for several days following the murders, even answering a phone call on the morning of the 23rd, only leaving through a back exit after the police arrived at the house.
In their book, "The Man on the Grassy Knoll" Craig and Philip (referenced below) allege Rogers' involvement in the John F. Kennedy assassination
; authors Craig and Philip charge that Rogers murdered his parents because his mother became suspicious of his alleged involvement in the Kennedy assassination, and threatened to bear witness against him.
Rogers has been identified in some Kennedy assassination conspiracy theory forums as one of the "three tramps" arrested near Dealey Plaza
on the afternoon of Kennedy's assassination, along with E. Howard Hunt
. According to Watergate conspirator E. Howard Hunt's posthumously released confessions, a gunman nicknamed "Frenchy" had been a trigger man in the assassination, and "Frenchy" was alleged to be one of Rogers' CIA code names, alleged by Craig and Philip in their book.
Rogers disappeared subsequent to the discovery of his parents' remains in the family's refrigerator in 1965. According to Craig and Philip's book on Rogers, Rogers was last seen piloting a light plane from Houston, in the direction of Mexico
and Central America
. Rogers has not been seen or heard from since, and is still a wanted fugitive in the United States today.
Charles Rogers is featured in two fictional novels by James Ellroy
, American Tabloid
and The Cold Six Thousand
.
Death in absentia
Death in absentia is a legal declaration that a person is deceased in the absence of remains attributable to that person...
July 1975) was a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, and suspected murderer.
Born and raised in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Rogers served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and received a degree in nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. He became a petroleum geologist as well as a licensed pilot in the Civil Air Patrol. While a member of the Civil Air Patrol, Rogers became a friend of David Ferrie
David Ferrie
David William Ferrie was a pilot who was alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison later claimed to have proven Ferrie's involvement and that he knew Lee Harvey Oswald. Ferrie denied such involvement.-Early...
. After graduating from college in 1947, Rogers worked as a seismologist
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
for Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
until resigning in 1957. Following this, Rogers had no known source of income until his disappearance. It is believed that in 1956 Rogers joined the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
.
Rogers' life was documented in the book, "The Man on the Grassy Knoll" researched by John R. Craig and A Rogers Philip. According to this non-fiction book, Rogers was a brilliant recluse who lived with his parents, Fred and Edwina Rogers, at 1815 Driscoll Street, Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. On June 23, 1965, Rogers' parents were found murdered in their home, their bodies dismembered and stored in the family's refrigerator. Rogers was never located for questioning in the case, although he was a prime suspect at the time, and Rogers remains the prime suspect in what Houston residents refer to as the "The Icebox Murders." Rogers is believed to have murdered his parents on Sunday, June 20. It is also believed that Rogers stayed at the house for several days following the murders, even answering a phone call on the morning of the 23rd, only leaving through a back exit after the police arrived at the house.
In their book, "The Man on the Grassy Knoll" Craig and Philip (referenced below) allege Rogers' involvement in the John F. Kennedy assassination
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
; authors Craig and Philip charge that Rogers murdered his parents because his mother became suspicious of his alleged involvement in the Kennedy assassination, and threatened to bear witness against him.
Rogers has been identified in some Kennedy assassination conspiracy theory forums as one of the "three tramps" arrested near Dealey Plaza
Dealey Plaza
Dealey Plaza , in the historic West End district of downtown Dallas, Texas , is the location of the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963...
on the afternoon of Kennedy's assassination, along with E. Howard Hunt
E. Howard Hunt
Everette Howard Hunt, Jr. was an American intelligence officer and writer. Hunt served for many years as a CIA officer. Hunt, with G...
. According to Watergate conspirator E. Howard Hunt's posthumously released confessions, a gunman nicknamed "Frenchy" had been a trigger man in the assassination, and "Frenchy" was alleged to be one of Rogers' CIA code names, alleged by Craig and Philip in their book.
Rogers disappeared subsequent to the discovery of his parents' remains in the family's refrigerator in 1965. According to Craig and Philip's book on Rogers, Rogers was last seen piloting a light plane from Houston, in the direction of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. Rogers has not been seen or heard from since, and is still a wanted fugitive in the United States today.
Charles Rogers is featured in two fictional novels by James Ellroy
James Ellroy
Lee Earle "James" Ellroy is an American crime fiction writer and essayist. Ellroy has become known for a so-called "telegraphic" prose style in his most recent work, wherein he frequently omits connecting words and uses only short, staccato sentences, and in particular for the novels The Black...
, American Tabloid
American Tabloid
American Tabloid is a 1995 novel by James Ellroy. The novel chronicles three rogue American law enforcement officers from November 22, 1958 through November 22, 1963. Each becomes entangled in a web of interconnecting associations between the FBI, CIA, and the Mafia, which eventually leads to their...
and The Cold Six Thousand
The Cold Six Thousand
The Cold Six Thousand is a 2001 crime fiction novel by James Ellroy. It is the first sequel to American Tabloid in the Underworld USA Trilogy and continues many of the earlier novel's characters and plotlines...
.