Who is John Hinckley Jr.? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Girlfriend: Leslie deVeau (ex)

Also Known As: John Warnock Hinckley Jr.

Age: 69 Years, 69 Year Old Males

Family:

father: John Warnock Hinckley Sr.

mother: Jo Ann Moore

siblings: Diane Hinckley, Scott Hinckley

Born Country: United States

American Men Male Criminals

More Facts

education: Texas Tech University

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Childhood & Early Life

John Warnock Hinckley Jr. was born on May 29, 1955, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, to John Warnock Hinckley Sr. and Jo Ann Hinckley. He is from a wealthy family. His father was a businessman. He was the president of ‘World Vision United States.’ He has a brother named Scott and a sister named Diane.

His family moved to Texas when he was 4 years old. Hinckley Jr. attended the ‘Highland Park High School.’ In 1973, he graduated high school. Thereafter, Hinckley Jr. joined the ‘Texas Tech University.’ However, he dropped out soon. He moved to Los Angeles, hoping to become a songwriter. Not finding any success in this venture, he returned to his parents’ home. During this period, Hinckley Jr. turned reclusive. He was prescribed anti-depressants and tranquillizers to deal with emotional disturbances.

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Career

During the 1970s, John Hinckley Jr. started purchasing weapons and learned how to use them. In 1976, Hinckley watched the movie ‘Taxi Driver.’ It was a movie in which the protagonist tried to assassinate a presidential candidate. Jodie Foster was the lead actor of the movie. She played the role of a child prostitute.

After watching ‘Taxi Driver,’ Hinckley Jr. became infatuated with Jodie Foster. When Foster joined ‘Yale University’ in Connecticut, Hinckley, too, shifted to Connecticut. He joined a writing class, only to get close to Foster. Hinckley Jr. spent most of his time stalking her. He wrote her several messages and poems and even tried to contact her over telephone.

Even after repeated attempts, Hinckley Jr. was unable to attract the attention of Foster. He devised plans to become popular, just to impress her. Hinckley Jr. planned to assassinate President Jimmy Carter and started following him. However, he was arrested for possession of arms. After this failed attempt, Hinckley Jr. returned to his parents’ home.

Although Hinckley Jr. underwent psychiatric treatment for depression, his condition did not improve much. In 1981, when Ronald Reagan was elected as the president of the US, Hinckley Jr. started devising plans to assassinate him. Before the attempted murder, he wrote a letter to Foster, revealing his plans and his reasons for executing them.

On March 30, 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was leaving ‘Hilton Hotel,’ in Washington, D.C., Hinckley Jr. fired a revolver at him. Though the president was not directly hit, a bullet ricocheted and hit him on the chest. Police officer Thomas Delahanty, ‘Secret Service’ agent Timothy McCarthy, and Press Secretary James Brady were also injured in the shooting. After the incident, Hinckley Jr. did not try to flee. He was arrested on the spot.

After his arrest, Hinckley Jr. was charged with 13 offenses. At his trial in 1982, he was found to be not guilty, by reason of insanity. Though psychiatric experts categorized him as insane, prosecution reports mentioned him as “legally sane.” There was a widespread public uproar following the verdict that declared Hinckley Jr. not guilty. Several states altered their laws regarding the admissibility of mental illnesses in court proceedings.

Hinckley Jr. was admitted to the ‘St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.’ He was treated for conditions such as schizoid disorder, dysthymia, and aggressive disorder. He was considered as a dangerous man who could harm himself or others. According to Hinckley, his act was “the greatest love offering in the history of the world.” He was disappointed that his actions had failed to impress Foster.

In 1999, Hinckley Jr. was allowed to make supervised visits to his parents’ home. After years of treatment, in 2016, a federal judge ruled that he was fit to be released from hospital. He was to live with his mother and was to follow several conditions upon release. Hinckley was barred from accessing alcohol, violent music, and online pornographic sites. In November 2018, the court ruled that Hinckley Jr. could move out of his mother’s home and live independently. There is no information about his current whereabouts.

Family & Personal Life

John Hinckley Jr. is not married. During his time at ‘St. Elizabeths Hospital,’ he was reportedly in a relationship with a girl named Leslie deVeau, who was also a patient.

John Hinckley Jr. Biography