World’s Worst Mom – Theresa Knorr
Background:
Theresa Cross endured tragedy from a young age, witnessing her mother die in her arms at age 15. She dropped out of high school soon after and quickly married her first boyfriend, Clifford Sanders. Their marriage was turbulent from the start, with Theresa prone to extreme mood swings and accusations of infidelity. After Clifford punched her during an argument, Theresa shot and killed him just weeks later in 1964. She claimed it was self-defense and was controversially acquitted. Shortly after, she married Robert Knorr and had six children together. But she continued to spiral into alcoholism, depression, and violent outbursts towards her children. Her abuse escalated over the years as the family moved around California in the 1960s and 70s.
Murders:
In July 1984, after shooting daughter Suesan the year before and badly botching removing the bullet, Theresa drugged the seriously ill Suesan and had her sons duct tape her mouth and dump her body along Highway 89. They stopped along the road, doused her with gasoline, and lit her on fire. The next year in 1985, Theresa accused daughter Sheila of giving her an STD. After a brutal beating, Sheila was locked in a tiny closet for six days without food or water until she died. Her body was dumped in a box in the bushes near Martis Creek Campground.
Read the full story in Volume 9 of True Crime Case Histories by Jason Neal.
Timeline:
1946 – Theresa Cross born
1964 – Shoots and kills husband Clifford Sanders, acquitted
1966 – Marries Robert Knorr
1984 – Burns daughter Suesan alive
1985 – Starves daughter Sheila to death in a closet
1993 – Daughter Terry contacts police about murders
1995 – Sentenced to two life sentences
Investigation:
The murders went unsolved for over a decade until Terry Knorr, using her sister Sheila’s ID, contacted the TV show America’s Most Wanted in 1993 and shared information with police. Fingerprints on the box Sheila was found in matched Theresa’s sons. William eventually confessed his role but Robert Jr. denied involvement initially before admitting guilt. Police used records to track down Theresa under her maiden name in Utah as she prepared to flee after learning she was wanted.
Arrest and Trial:
When questioned, Theresa refused to cooperate and asked for an attorney right away. She pleaded not guilty at first but changed her plea to avoid the death penalty. Her son William testified against her as part of a plea deal. In October 1995, Theresa was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the torture murders of her daughters.
Outcome:
Theresa remains in prison, eligible for parole in 2027 at age 81. William received probation and therapy for his coerced role as a teenager. Robert Jr. got additional prison time added to his existing murder sentence. Terry sadly died of a heart attack in 2011 at the age of 41. The tragic case is still discussed for the brutal abuse and cruelty Theresa inflicted on her own children.
Read the full story in Volume 9 of True Crime Case Histories by Jason Neal.
That sick, twisted, abusive BITCH made it so her SON had to take the blame for HER CRIMES?!?! MONSTER doesn’t even begin to describe that DEMON who should have NEVER been allowed to walk the earth EVER. Someone should have shot her dead instead of letting her live in a jail cell until she dies on her own. What a sick country we live in where her life was spared and her daughters lives weren’t!!! 🤬 Poor William. I feel so sorry for him. He actually tries to blame himself for something he had ZERO control over.