Slaughter of the Innocents

Slaughter of the Innocents

Year: 1993

Runtime: 103 mins

Language: English

Director: James Glickenhaus

ThrillerActionHorrorMystery

A brutal murder triggers an intense hunt for an elusive child‑killer. A veteran FBI agent teams with his prodigy son to track the schizophrenic, self‑styled 'new Noah'—a radical extremist who claims divine selection. Their relentless pursuit pits law enforcement against a fanatical mind.

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Timeline – Slaughter of the Innocents (1993)

Trace every key event in Slaughter of the Innocents (1993) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

First murders in Timberlake

In Timberlake, Utah, a hooded figure murders two girls. The victims' mothers recall seeing an old woman wearing a black dress at the roadside, who appears to pick something up and place it into a basket before the killings.

Night of the initial murders (time not specified) Timberlake, Utah
2

Five years later: FBI pursuit begins

Five years after the Timberlake killings, Stephen Broderick, a Cleveland FBI agent, and his gifted 10-year-old son Jesse become involved in a new case that mirrors the Utah murders. Jesse eagerly engages with his father's work and notices striking similarities between the new crime and the earlier killings.

Five years after the Timberlake murders Cleveland, Ohio
3

Draper Penitentiary meeting and Martel's death

Broderick travels to Draper Penitentiary to meet Bobby Martel, the man sentenced for the Provo Canyon massacre. Roxanne Lemar joins him, but the warden refuses to delay the execution, and Martel dies before the new tests could exonerate him.

Before Martel's execution Draper Penitentiary
4

Timberlake trip and sage discovery

Broderick and Jesse travel back to Timberlake to pursue the case and gather clues. Jesse finds sage at the night scene and, using his father's notes, suspects the killer is pretending to be God by leaving ritualistic marks.

Shortly after Martel's death Timberlake, Utah
5

General store murder and linking clues

The killer murders a general store owner, shouting an unsettling line, and steals two taxidermied birds. A computer program links this attack to the earlier crimes, tying together the killer's pattern and motive.

Interim during investigation Timberlake, Utah
6

Forensic profile of the killer

Investigators assemble a detailed profile of the killer: the figure is 6'2" tall, about 205 pounds, right-handed, blood type B, and has not visited a dentist in a long time due to bite marks on a victim. They also note the killer uses a pre-1968 Volkswagen van.

Following the general store murder Various crime scenes
7

Gas station abduction and Utah house discovery

A young girl is abducted at a gas station, prompting Broderick to return to Utah. Police uncover a foul odor from a house where sage hangs from the ceiling, and a man, woman, and little girl in black robes are found alongside a ritualistically murdered boy.

During the hunt for the killer Gas station and a Utah house
8

Moab cult investigation

Broderick investigates the Moab religious sect and follows clues connecting the cult to the murders. The robes and sage usage appear tied to the killer's attempt to mask smells and tie the crimes to a ritualistic identity.

During the Utah investigation Moab, Utah
9

Library clues and literary connections

The killer visits a public library, drawing attention from staff who note a man fitting the description had been there. They find books including Mother Less Child and references to a 1930s mystic named Sarah Proctor who stored corpses, hinting at a macabre influence behind the crimes.

While profiling the killer Public library
10

Giraffes stolen—lead to Salt Lake City

Jesse uncovers an old police report about two giraffes stolen from the Salt Lake City Zoo and uses his father's credit card to book a flight to Salt Lake City to pursue leads further.

Before returning to Utah investigations Salt Lake City, Utah
11

Confrontation with Vale and its aftermath

Broderick and Roxanne track down Robert Vale, the former Moab sect leader who has become a Neo-Nazi. A confrontation ensues and Vale is killed, removing a key antagonist from the case.

During the Utah investigation Moab, Utah
12

Zoo sting and Mordecai Booth identified

Jesse visits the Salt Lake City Zoo, pressures an employee into admitting knowledge of the giraffe theft, and discovers a locker labeled Mordecai Booth. A crumpled Bible page and other notes tie Booth to the crimes.

Investigation in Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Zoo
13

Mining clues near Castle Rock

Jesse cross-checks the imagery from the Bible passage with locations near Booth's PO box and identifies a closed uranium mine near Castle Rock. He rents a dirt bike and travels there to pursue the next clues.

Following the zoo discovery Near Castle Rock, Utah
14

Ark and climactic rescue

Inside the mine, Jesse finds displays of tortured bodies and a life-sized ark covered with corpses and taxidermied animals. Booth captures Jesse and releases the ark toward a cliff as rain begins to fall; Broderick arrives, wounds Booth, and frees the trapped children.

Climactic moment Uranium mine near Castle Rock
15

Aftermath and resolution

The ark crashes off the cliff when Broderick climbs aboard to rescue the children, and Booth is killed. Roxanne arrives to assist, and in the aftermath Broderick buys a cemetery plot for Bobby Martel.

After the ark incident Castle Rock area

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:05

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Slaughter of the Innocents

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