Serial killers and true crime

Suspected serial killer’s last known boss says he’s shocked

By Katie Bauer

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) –Neighbors say William Clyde Gibson was always willing to lend a hand, mowing lawns and helping with home repairs. Gibson’s last known employer says he is shocked at how everything has unfolded.

For more than a year and half, David King says Gibson worked for him at his flooring company in southern Indiana. “It’s just mind blowing,” said King.

King says his father met Gibson at church. “He was 54 years old, I was
giving him a chance, it’s hard to find work out there so, I thought I was doing a good job,” said King.

At first he was very impressed. He says Gibson worked incredibly hard and was always dependable, up until about two months ago when he had to let him go because he kept calling in sick.

“I can’t believe that I sat next to him that long and knowing what I do know now,” said King. Now, the man he thought he knew is charged with last month’s murder of Christine Whitis and the 2002 murder of Karen Hodella. Charges are expected to be filed soon against him in the death of Stephanie Kirk, who was found buried in his backyard last month. That’s a lot to take in about someone who seemed harmless. “I was scared for my customers and my family and my neighbors, he knows where I live, and I feel very blessed that nothing happened,” said King. Thinking back, King says there were some odd things Gibson did that now stand out. “You know hooting and hollering at women and stuff, you know guys do that, but him being who he is a whole new, yeah,” said King. King admits, he never did a background check on Gibson, a policy he has changed moving forward. “I should have done the background check on him,” said King. “I failed at that point because he came recommended by somebody.” King says Gibson did not have a temper and was never violent.

More