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4 O'Clock murders

SOLVED1988Texas, United States (specific sites unspecified)4 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On June 27, 1988, four people were killed in coordinated shootings carried out simultaneously at three separate locations in Texas. The attacks, which became known as the 4 O'Clock murders because they were timed to occur at the same hour, were carried out by members of the Church of the Firstborn, a Mormon fundamentalist group descended from the violent ministry of the LeBaron family. As set out below, Aaron LeBaron was later convicted of orchestrating the killings, while Heber and Patricia LeBaron were convicted as the assailants who carried them out.

Heber LeBaron had succeeded Ervil LeBaron as leader of a related organization. Ervil LeBaron, who led the similarly named Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God, was nicknamed the "Mormon Manson" (a reference to Charles Manson) and had previously orchestrated the murders of several individuals he regarded as apostates from his teachings. According to authorities, the network of religious organizations connected to the LeBaron family was responsible for more than 20 deaths over the course of several decades.

In the aftermath of the 1988 killings, several individuals were held legally responsible. Aaron LeBaron was identified as the orchestrator of the murders and was sentenced to forty-five years in prison. Heber LeBaron and Patricia LeBaron, described as the assailants who carried out the shootings, were both sentenced to life in prison. Douglas Lee Barlow received a five-year sentence after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.

The case has since been the subject of media treatment, including the 2024 Hulu documentary "Daughters of the Cult" and a 1992 book titled "The 4 O'Clock Murders: The True Story of a Mormon Family's Vengeance."

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
1988
Location
Texas, United States (specific sites unspecified)
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1988-06-27

    Four people are shot dead in coordinated attacks at three locations in Texas, timed to occur at the same hour.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Douglas Lee Barlow

    CONVICTED

    Convicted in connection with the murders; served a five-year sentence following a plea deal.

  • Aaron LeBaron

    CONVICTED

    Convicted as the orchestrator of the murders; sentenced to forty-five years in prison.

  • Heber LeBaron

    CONVICTED

    Convicted as an assailant in the 1988 shootings; sentenced to life in prison. Leader of the Church of the Firstborn.

  • Patricia LeBaron

    CONVICTED

    Convicted as an assailant in the 1988 shootings; sentenced to life in prison.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Texas, United States (specific sites unspecified)

31.0000, -100.0000

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Four people were shot dead in coordinated attacks at three Texas locations at the same hour on June 27, 1988, carried out by members of a Mormon fundamentalist group descended from Ervil LeBaron's ministry; Aaron LeBaron was later convicted of orchestrating the killings, and Heber and Patricia LeBaron of carrying them out.
Where did the murders happen?
Texas, United States (specific sites unspecified).
Who was convicted?
Douglas Lee Barlow (Convicted in connection with the murders; served a five-year sentence following a plea deal.), Aaron LeBaron (Convicted as the orchestrator of the murders; sentenced to forty-five years in prison.), Heber LeBaron (Convicted as an assailant in the 1988 shootings; sentenced to life in prison. Leader of the Church of the Firstborn.), and Patricia LeBaron (Convicted as an assailant in the 1988 shootings; sentenced to life in prison.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Texas

Sources

  1. PRESS4 murders in Texas linked to LeBaronsDeseret News · 2026-07-11
  2. ENCYCLOPEDIC4 O'Clock murdersWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The Washington PostThe Washington Post · 2026-07-10
  4. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — BBC NewsBBC News · 2026-07-10