Nine Angels Memorial Scholarship

The Nine Angels Scholarship was established in the Southern Illinois University Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Program (CCJ) in memory of nine women from four states who were victims of a serial killer during the years of 1977-1982. The victims were: Mary and Brenda Parsh (Cape Girardeau, MO), Sheila Cole (SEMO Student, Cape Girardeau, MO), Virginia Witte (Marion, IL), Joyce Tharp (SIU Graduate, Paducah, KY), Myrtle Rupp (Temple, PA), Margie Call (Cape Girardeau, MO), Deborah Sheppard (SIU Student, Carbondale, IL), and Mildred Wallace (Cape Girardeau, MO).

This scholarship was created by retired Carbondale Police Detective Lieutenant Paul Echols, who was/is also a CCJ adjunct faculty member and was instrumental in resolving these cases. The funding for this scholarship began with the proceeds of a book titled In Cold Pursuit written by Paul Echols and Christine Byers. Because of this book and in memory of the victims, other donors have stepped forward to support this scholarship.

• Scholarship for a full-time student majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
• Recipient must be a junior at the time of application and must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75.
• Applicants must provide one letter of recommendation by an active or adjunct faculty member of the Southern Illinois University Criminology and Criminal Justice Department, as well as a statement of 250 words or less introducing themselves and explaining their criminal justice ambitions.