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10 Horrifying Facts About the Hollywood Video Murders at San Mateo Boulevard

On 3rd March 1996, the community of San Mateo Boulevard was shocked by the killing spree that took place in their society. Five people were brutally murdered by a felon who was on a robbing spree that turned out to be a killing spree. Three store workers of the Hollywood Video store were brutally murdered alongside two grandparents of one of the victims.

41-year-old Esther Beckley and 26-year-old Shane Harrison, who were prison inmates who were free under an early release program committed the murders. The two had planned to commit a robbery at the store while armed with firearms. Esther was behind bars on a six-year sentence for drug trafficking and Shane was in for ten years for armed robbery charges.

At around 2:00 am, George and Pauline McDougall were to pick up their grandchild, Zachary Blacklock when the store was closed. The two free convicts were around the block and got to the store to commit the robbery. However, they took the three employees, Zachary Blacklock, Jowanda Castillo, and Mylinh Daothi to the back room where they were shot dead.

The grandparents of Zachary were kidnapped by the two who killed them too. Their bodies which had marks of several gunshot wounds were found in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque. Esther Beckley and Shane Harrison were later arrested and sentenced to life in prison.

Here are the 10 Horrifying Facts About the Hollywood Video Murders at San Mateo Boulevard:

1. The Murders Involved Five Victims

The brutal Hollywood Video Murders involved five victims. Three of them were workers at the Video store, while two were an elderly couple who had gone to pick up their grandson.

19-year-old Zachary Blacklock, 18-year-old Jowanda Castillo, and 30-year-old Mylinh Daothi were the first victims of the murders. 74-year-old Pauline McDougall and her 77-year-old husband George McDougall were the other two to be murdered.

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2. Two Prison Inmates Who Were on Early Release Program Committed the Murders

On that unfortunate day, the five victims were murdered by some known felons. 41-year-old Esther Beckley and 26-year-old Shane Harrison committed the murders at San Mateo Boulevard.

The two were prison inmates who had been released earlier before their sentences were over. Esther was in for drug trafficking and had been handed 6 years of jail time, and Shane was in for ten years for armed robbery.

3. Shane & Esther had Planned for a Robbery at the Hollywood Video Store

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After their early release from prison, the two former inmates were not on the cool from breaking the law again. They hatched a plan of robbing some stores to get easy money. The two then targeted the Hollywood Video store for their robbery which turned out to be a horrendous murder scene.

4. Esther Thought they Could Use BB Guns for the Robbery but Shane had Dangerous Firearms

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Before the planned robbery Esther Beckley and Shane Harrison had, they had some plans on how it could take place. The two had planned to use BB guns to commit the robbery, but Shane had different plans.

As they stormed the Hollywood Video store, the unexpected happened. Instead of brandishing the BB guns, Shane Harrison pulled out a pump-action shotgun and a Tech-9 semiautomatic pistol.

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5. Esther Lured Zachary’s Grandparents Away from the Store as Shane Committed the Robbery

The robbers arrived at the store at 2:00 am when it was about to be closed for the day. Zachary’s grandparents had arrived at the store to pick him up but got themselves in the incident. Esther Beckley lured the two back to their vehicle.

She had told them that she knew their grandson and they were to keep warm in their vehicle. Esther Beckley believed that no one was to be harmed during the incident, but Shane had different plans.

6. Shane Bound the Three Store Workers & Shot them Dead

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After Esther and the two grandparents of Zachary had gotten out of the store, Shane continued with his crime. He led Zachary Blacklock, Jowanda Castillo, and Mylinh Daothi to the backroom of the store.

He bound them to chairs and shot them dead which was against the initial plan he had with Esther. Esther testified that they heard popping sounds like gunshots from the store from the grandparents’ vehicle before Shane showed up.

7. The Three were Shot in the Back of the Head by Shane

The popping sounds Esther and Zachary’s grandparents heard were from the execution of the three victims who were in the store. Shane shot the three victims thrice in their heads killing them instantly.

At around 9:30 am on Sunday, March 3rd, the other employees of the store were shocked by their discoveries. They found the doors of the store unlocked and the bodies of the three spawned across the backroom.

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8. The Grandparents of Zachary were Kidnapped

After committing the murders of Zachary, Jowands, and Mylinh, Shane stole money from the store and hopped into the vehicle of Zachary’s grandparents. The innocent grandparents who found themselves in the mix were kidnapped by Esther and Shane. Police were hoping to find them alive after the kidnapping but this was not the case.

9. George and Pauline McDougall were Brutally Murdered & Dumped in the Sandia Mountains

Photo by Faruk TokluoÄŸlu:

Reports circulated across San Mateo Boulevard about the kidnapping of Pauline and George McDougall. The search by the police intensified without any success of where they were or whether they were alive.

A few days later, two passers-by in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque recognized the vehicle that belonged to George and Pauline McDougall. After making the report of their discovery, police found the bodies of the two.

The bodies of George and Pauline McDougall had multiple gunshot wounds. Esther Beckley testified in court that Shane pumped off the shotgun on the elderly couple and killed them off using a pistol.

10. Esther’s On & Off Lover Turned in the Two to the Authorities

After discovering the bodies of the grandparents, it was time to find the perpetrators. Initially, there were no leads but the police put up a $93,000 reward to anyone who turned the killer of the five in. What shocked many is that the on-and-off lover of Esther turned them in and received the reward.

In March 1997, Esther Beckley pleaded guilty to all the charges she was facing. She also testified against Shane to avoid getting the death penalty. Esther was handed a 95 and half years prison sentence. On the other hand, Shane was sentenced to two consecutive life terms and 198 years in prison.

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