Gordon Stewart Northcott

“	I want to make it real clear that I never once got a fair shake from you, Your Honor, or from this court. The only one in here worth a good goddamn is her. 'Cause she's the only one who never badmouthed me to the press. She's the only one who understands what it is to be framed by the police for something you didn't do.	„
	~ Gordon before he is sentenced to death.

“	Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, mother and child.	„
	~ Gordon's last words as he sings the first verse of the Christmas song "Silent Night" before being executed by hanging.

Gordon Stewart Northcott is the main antagonist of the 2008 mystery crime drama film Changeling. He is a fictionalized version of real life serial killer Gordon Northcott, who molested and murdered several young boys, mainly in the Riverside area, in the late 1920s.

He was portrayed by Jason Butler Harner, who also portrayed Toby Carlson in The Walking Dead and Roy Petty in Ozark.

History[]

Northcott is depicted as a mechanic and chicken farmer living in rural Riverside County, California in 1928. During this time, he was the guardian of his 15-year-old nephew (cousin in the film) Sanford Clark; they were both natives of Saskatchewan, Canada. Northcott was a pedophile who probably molested Sanford. He took Sanford through the southern California area all day, every other day. They would kidnap boys as young as nine years old and take them back to their chicken coop. After about 4 or 5 boys, Northcott would take them to a room and murder one boy at a time with an axe, and would even force Sanford to hit them with the axe.

At one point, Gordon kidnapped 9-year-old Walter Collins from Los Angeles. Walter and a couple of other boys escaped one night, and Walter's fate was unknown. Walter's mother Christine would take on the Los Angeles Police Department and its head of Juvenile Division, Captain J.J. Jones, for their corruption and being against women's rights. As punishment for going to the press about Walter behind their backs, Jones had her forcefully thrown into a psychiatric ward with other women sent there for challenging police authority.

Five months after Walter Collins disappeared, Detective Lester Ybarra of Los Angeles traveled to Wineville, California for Sanford Clark, who was in California illegally. He came across Gordon, whose car was broken down on the side of the road, and asked for directions to the Northcott Ranch. Gordon, who was prepared to shoot Ybarra with the rifle in his trunk, asked why; he chose not to kill Ybarra after he explained that Sanford was in the States without a passport. Ybarra arrived at the Northcott Ranch and recovered Sanford. Later at an immigration building, Sanford asked if he could talk to Detective Ybarra. Sanford explained that his uncle Gordon kidnapped, molested, and killed several young boys; when pointing to pictures of the boys, one of them was Walter Collins. Christine was therefore released from the asylum after Dr. Jonathan Steele saw the newspaper about the murdered boys.

Sanford took police back to the ranch and dug up partial remains; an APB was put out for Northcott, who took a train from Seattle back to his hometown of Saskatoon. He visited his sister and brother-in-law Winifred (Rachel in the film) and John (Bob in the film) Clark, Sanford's parents. While Gordon took a shower, his family called local police and Northcott was brought back to California. He was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. Northcott was hanged in 1930, but not before being asked about Walter by Christine Collins, though at the end, despite Christine's angry pleas, Northcott refused to tell her whether he killed Walter or not and took his secret to the grave.

Quotes[]

Flashbacks[]

“	Well, there you are! We've been looking for you like mad. (Kid: You have?) Sure thing. Listen, your folks, they've been in an accident. And they sent us to come find you. Now, they're hurt real bad. The police took them to the hospital, but they didn't have time to come find you, so we said that we would do it. Now, come on. (Kid: All right.) Get in here. Hurry. Listen, we gotta get you to that hospital so you can see your folks. (Sanford Clark [present]: See, a lot of kids won't get in a car alone with a stranger, but when he's got a kid there...) That's a good boy. Scoot over. Scoot over, San. (Sanford Clark [present]: ...that made it easier.) I want you to hold on tight. (Sanford Clark [present]: They'd look at me and say...) We've got a long way to go. (Sanford Clark [present]: "Hey, if he's safe...") And we are gonna fly. (Sanford Clark [present]: "...I guess I will be, too. Everytime they got in the truck, I just wanted to die.)	„
	~ Northcott manipulating a boy into thinking that he and Sandford are looking for him and making up an excuse about his parents' absence

“	(Sanford Clark [present]: As soon as we got back to the ranch, they went in the coop.) You boys hungry? Huh? Watch the door, Sanford! Hey! Watch the door! What's the matter? I'm not gonna hurt you. Are you worried that I'm gonna hurt you? I'm not gonna hurt you. Huh? Come here! (Kid: No! No! No! No! Please!) I would never hurt you.	„
	~ Northcott about to murder the kidnapped children inside the ranch's coop while ordering Sanford to watch the door

“	(Sanford Clark [present]: Some days he'd do them right off. Other days he'd wait, pick up a few more, until he had about four or five of them.) Yeah. (...) No what? No what, huh? Come on. Come on. Come on! Sanford, keep your eye on that door! (...) (Sanford Clark [present]: He'd... He'd sometimes leave just one or two of them alive, barely, anyway. He'd say, "Finish them, San. Finish them or... Finish them or I'll finish you." And I did. And I killed them. And I did. I killed them. Oh, God, I killed them! Oh, God! Oh!)	„
	~ Northcott merciless and unhesitatingly murdering the kidnapped children despite their desperate pleas, leaving one or two barely alive and threatening a repented Sanford into killing him if he refused to cooperate

“	Come on. Come on, Davy. Davy! Come on. (Davy: Get off me!) Don't fight this much. Hey!	„
	~ Northcott kidnapping a kid named Davy Clay

“	Hello, boys. This is Davy. I know you'll make him feel... Hey! No. No! Hey! Shut up!	„
	~ Northcott introducing Davy to the other kids who plead to be let out before the former angrily silences all of them

“	Hey! What the hell are you boys... Oh! Mary, Mother of God! Hey! Hey! Hey! You get back here! Hey! Hold it! Hey! Hey! Hey! (Sanford Clark: Stop!) Check on the others! Stop! Damn it! Boys, I'm coming after you! Damn it! Damn it! Boys, I'll find you no matter where you are! (Sanford Clark: They're not in there!) Come on! Get in the car! I'm gonna find you! Damn it! Damn it! Come on. Shit! Get in the car, Sanford!	„
	~ Northcott furiously chasing after Davy, Walter and another kid vainly shooting them with his shotgun and driving his car, leaving it unclear whether or not Walter and the unnamed kid were recaptured and killed while Davy himself manages to escape from the monstrous killer's claws

Present[]

“	(Detective Ybarra: You have a problem?) Overheated, that's all. She'll be fine in a bit. (Ybarra: Hey, listen, could you give me a hand? I'm trying to find a place called the Northcott Ranch, up by Wineville.) Northcott Ranch, huh? Oh, yeah, yeah. You're almost there. You just... you just follow this road west, about two, no, three miles. And then you take the next right. And you stay on that and it will bring you right to it. Is something going on out there? (Detective Ybarra: No. Just looking into a juvenile matter. Thanks for your help.) Sure.	„
	~ Northcott giving Ybarra (who mistakes him for a peasant) the right directions to the Northcott Ranch while growing suspicious of his motives

“	Hello. I'd like a ticket to Canada. Alberta or Vancouver,whatever's leaving tonight. (Clerk: I don't have anything going that far tonight. The best I can do is put you on a train to Seattle. From there you can transfer to a local or drive across the border.) That would be fine. (Clerk: Roundtrip?) One way. (Clerk: That'll be $15.) Right. There you go. (Clerk: Thank you. There you go. Enjoy your trip.) I will.	„
	~ Northcott booking a trip to Canada to hide from the police

“	Hi, sis. (Rachel Clark: Gordon. I didn't know you were back in town.) Yeah, I got in a couple of days ago, figured I'd surprise you. Is that... Is that okay? (Rachel Clark: Yes. Yes, of course, come on in.) Where's that little niece of mine? (Rachel Clark: She went into town. Should be back this evening. Uh, Bob's here.) Oh, good. Uh, I was gonna ask if I could stay on a couple of days. (Rachel Clark: Staying?) Yeah. Listen, can I use your bathroom? It's been a long ride and I could really use a shower. (Rachel Clark: Of course.) Okay. Thank you. (Bob Clark: Is that...? [Rachel nods worriedly] All right, go next door. I'll call the police. Hurry.)	„
	~ Northcott arriving at the residence of Sanford's parents (who are his sister Rachel and brother-in-law Bob) in Vancouver, asking for a place to stay in order to escape imprisonment, not explaining the true reasons why. However, Rachel's husband is alerted about Northcott and calls the police who arrest him

“	(R: Mr. Northcott, any comment on your arrest?) (R: Mr. Northcott, how are you feeling?) Oh, I'm feeling fine. I've been on a little vacation, as some of you know. It was a really pleasant vacation. The police have certainly provided me with a lot of amusement. (R: How long you been in hiding?) (R: How did you avoid capture?) (...) Well, I didn't, did I? (R: Have you seen your picture in the paper?) Didn't know anybody wanted me until just recently. Didn't even try. My luggage still has my initials on it, fellas. (R: Did you know why the police were after you?) No, but I figured it'd be a good idea if I were to just stay out of it. (R: Any remorse, sir?) (R: Do you have anything to say to the parents of the children you murdered?) No comment.	„
	~ Northcott, now arrested, being interviewed by the reporters over his abominable crimes and showing no remorse when asked if he had something to say to the murdered children's parents

“	Oh, hey. I saw you in the papers. You got a lot of moxie, standing up to the police like that.	„
	~ Northcott greeting Christine and complimenting her fearlessness in confronting the LAPD over her son Walter's disappearance

“	(Judge: The defendant please will rise. Gordon Stewart Northcott, you've been charged with three counts of murder in the first degree, with an additional 17 counts under review by the district attorney's office. How do you plea?) Oh, not guilty, Your Honor.	„
	~ Northcott falsely denying his murder crimes despite the solid evidence pointing to the contrary

“	(Judge: Does the defendant wish to make a statement before judgment is passed?) I want to make it real clear that I never once got a fair shake from you, Your Honor, or from this court. The only one in here worth a good goddamn is her. 'Cause she's the only one who never badmouthed me to the press. She's the only one who understands what it is to be framed by the police for something you didn't do. (Judge: All right, that's enough.) And then to just be thrown in the hole, to just rot and to fester and to be forgotten and fade away, isn't that right? (Judge: Gordon! Counsel!) Isn't it? I never killed your boy, Mrs. Collins. (Judge: Counsel, that's enough!) I would never do that. I would never hurt Walter. (Judge: Counsel, get control of your client or I'll have him bound and gagged!) He's an angel. (Judge: Come on, Gordon.) Get off of me! (Counsel: Now get down)	„
	~ Gordon ranting about being convicted of murder while claiming to Christine that he "did not" murder Walter before the judge sentences him to death

“	Don't suppose you got a cigarette? (Christine: Mr. Northcott, you asked me to come here. You said that if I did, you would tell me the truth about my son.) Yeah. You're right. I did say that. But see, the thing is, I didn't really think that you would come. And now. (Christine: And now... And now what?) I just didn't expect that you'd... I don't wanna see you. (Christine: You don't wanna see me?) No. See, I can't do this. I don't wanna talk to you. I can't talk to you right now, not with what they're gonna be doing to me tomorrow. It's one thing, Mrs. Collins, to send a telegram, that is really easy. But when it's here, right now, in person, you know, I just, I can't... I can't tell you what you want to hear, Mrs. Collins. (Christine: And why not?) Because I don't want to go to hell with a lie on my lips. See, I did my penance, and I asked God to forgive me and he did, so far as I know. And I have been really good ever since. But if I lie now, if I commit any sins right now, I'm out of time here, and I won't be forgiven again. And I'll tell you one thing, I am not going to hell. I'm not...	„
	~ Northcott refusing to tell Christine whether he killed Walter or not, despite the former having asked her to come visit him in person in order to know the truth

“	(Christine: Mr. Northcott, you asked me to come here. Mr. Northcott, please look at me. Mr. Northcott, please look at me. Did you kill my son? Did you kill my son?) I don't what you're talking about. (Christine: Yes, you do. Yes, you do.) Hmm. (Christine: Did you kill my son?) I told you, I don't wanna talk to you right now. (Christine: Did you kill my son?! Did you kill my son?! Did you kill my son?) Hmm. (Did you kill my son?) I don't know. (Christine: You don't know? You don't remember? Did you kill my son?) Oh, no. (Christine: Answer me! You answer me! You answer me!) I don't know their names? (Christine: Did you kill my son? Yes...) You better get off of me. (Christine: Or what?) Hmm. (Did you kill my son?) I don't know. (Christine: Did you kill... Did you kill my son?! You know his name!) Oh, I don't. No. (Christine: You know his name! You called him an angel!) No. (Christine: You know his name!) No, I don't know his name. (Christine: Did you kill my son?!) They cried for their parents to come and get them and then I... (Christine: Did you kill my son?! Did you kill my son?! Answer me!) Or what? (Christine: Answer me!) What are you gonna do? You gonna hurt me? (Christine: I hope you go to hell. I hope you go to hell. Did you kill my son?!) Guard! Hey, guard! (Christine: Did you kill my son?! Did you kill my son?!) (Guard: Ma'am, please. Come on.) (Christine: I hope you go to hell! I hope you go to hell! I hope you go to hell!) (Guard: I'm sorry, ma'am.) (Christine: Did you kill my son?!)	„
	~ Northcott being repeatedly asked by a desperate Christine if he did kill Walter, to no avail as Northcott, despite the best efforts of the latter, manages to resist her demands and calls out for one of the guards to take him out, away from Christine

“	No. Nothing. I kept clean after I confessed, Reverend, just like I said I would. Will it... Will it hurt? Please, please, not so fast. Please, don't make me walk so fast! Please, don't make me! No, I don't wanna. No! Thirteen steps. Thirteen steps. But I didn't touch them all, you bastards. I didn't touch them all. I didn't touch them all. Please! A prayer! Please! God! Please! Somebody here, please, say a prayer for me! No, God. No! No! No! Silent night. Holy night. All is calm. All is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and child. [Gordon screams and is hanged with the rope, choking his neck tightly until it kills him]	„
	~ Gordon's last words as he pleads for his life while singing the first verse of the Christmas song "Holy Night" seconds before his execution, taking his secret about Walter to the grave

Trivia[]

There are several differences between what happened in the movie and in real life. For instance:
- Northcott's parents lived in Wineville with him and Sanford, and never talked about the murders until trial.
- Walter was partially confirmed murdered by Gordon's mother, unlike the movie when a boy said he escaped.
- Jessie Clark, Sanford's sister, was the one who reported the crimes, not Sanford.

Villains Wiki

Gordon Stewart Northcott

Contents

History[]

Quotes[]

Flashbacks[]

Present[]

Trivia[]

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