Frank Bender, the renowned, late, forensic sculptor from Philadelphia, PA, recreated and up aged the head of John List. When it was shown on America's Most Wanted, he was captured in just a few days after the airing by a tipster that recognized him as a local from their community.
Before the murders, List wrote a letter to his children's schools saying the family would be out of town for a few weeks to care for a sick relative. The police were called when neighbors noticed the lights in the house going off one by one. Because it was not known if List's elderly mother was with the family, the police gained entrance to the home and discovered the bodies. Police also found a 5-page handwritten letter written by List and addressed to his pastor. In this letter List made a full confession.
When the List home burnt in 1972 it was discovered that the stained glass sky light over the ballroom was made by Louis Comfort Tiffany and worth an estimated $100,000.00.
Carroll Baker, who plays John List's mother is less than two years older than Robert Blake who plays her son.
John List stated in an interview that he originally planned to kill his family on November 1, 1971, because it was "All Saint's Day", a day he thought appropriate for sending them to Heaven. However, due to an interruption in his travel plans, he delayed the killings until eight days later, November 9.