Chris Pritchard
Encyclopedia
Christopher "Chris" W. Pritchard (born November 25, 1968) is an American
man convicted for masterminding the attempted murder of his mother Bonnie Von Stein and the murder of his stepfather Lieth Von Stein in 1988 in Washington
, North Carolina
. Enlisting the help of friends James Bartlett Upchurch III
and Gerald Neal Henderson, Pritchard spearheaded the murder of Von Stein in hopes of winning a US$2 million inheritance.
to map them out for the purposes of incorporating them into their Dungeons & Dragons
game. In a later police interview, he claimed he and his friends once got high and played D&D in the steam tunnels with martial-arts style wooden weapons. Several ex-roommates and members of his gaming group, including James Upchurch
, also confirmed Chris's account in police interviews, putting the number of sessions at perhaps a half dozen. The weapons involved were variously described as darts, knives, torches, fake samurai swords, rattan sticks and clubs. Drugs and alcohol were said to be involved. Police investigators found the letters "CWP" spray-painted in the tunnels.
d on June 2, 2007.
by Joe McGinniss
was released on TV in May 1992 as a 2-part miniseries of the same name. The 1992 book Blood Games by Jerry Bledsoe
was adapted for TV in April 1992 under the title Honor Thy Mother. Both films heavily emphasized the involvement of the conspirators in the Dungeons & Dragons game.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
man convicted for masterminding the attempted murder of his mother Bonnie Von Stein and the murder of his stepfather Lieth Von Stein in 1988 in Washington
Washington, North Carolina
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. The closest major city is Greenville, approximately 20 miles to the west....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Enlisting the help of friends James Bartlett Upchurch III
James Upchurch
James Bartlett Upchurch III is an American man convicted for the murder of Lieth Von Stein and the assault with intent to kill of Bonnie Von Stein on July 25th, 1988, in Washington, NC...
and Gerald Neal Henderson, Pritchard spearheaded the murder of Von Stein in hopes of winning a US$2 million inheritance.
Dungeons & Dragons
During the investigation, Pritchard told police he and his friends occasionally entered the steam tunnels of North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
to map them out for the purposes of incorporating them into their Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
game. In a later police interview, he claimed he and his friends once got high and played D&D in the steam tunnels with martial-arts style wooden weapons. Several ex-roommates and members of his gaming group, including James Upchurch
James Upchurch
James Bartlett Upchurch III is an American man convicted for the murder of Lieth Von Stein and the assault with intent to kill of Bonnie Von Stein on July 25th, 1988, in Washington, NC...
, also confirmed Chris's account in police interviews, putting the number of sessions at perhaps a half dozen. The weapons involved were variously described as darts, knives, torches, fake samurai swords, rattan sticks and clubs. Drugs and alcohol were said to be involved. Police investigators found the letters "CWP" spray-painted in the tunnels.
Conviction and sentence
Pritchard was convicted of murder in the second degree (aiding and abetting) and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or do serious injury. He was sentenced to life in North Carolina on January 31, 1990, and paroleParole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
d on June 2, 2007.
In the media
The sensational case and trial are the subject of two books, each of which was adapted into a TV movie. The 1991 book Cruel DoubtCruel Doubt
Cruel Doubt is a 1992 television movie starring Blythe Danner and Matt McGrath. The film was first broadcast as a two-part miniseries on NBC in the United States and CTV in Canada on May 17 and May 19, 1992....
by Joe McGinniss
Joe McGinniss
Joe McGinniss is an American author of nonfiction and novels. He first came to prominence with the best-selling The Selling of the President, 1968 which described the marketing of then-presidential candidate Richard Nixon, and has authored 11 works since that time...
was released on TV in May 1992 as a 2-part miniseries of the same name. The 1992 book Blood Games by Jerry Bledsoe
Jerry Bledsoe
Jerry Bledsoe is an American author and journalist known for several true crime titles based on murders in his native state of North Carolina....
was adapted for TV in April 1992 under the title Honor Thy Mother. Both films heavily emphasized the involvement of the conspirators in the Dungeons & Dragons game.