While residing at his chicken ranch, Northcott abducted an undetermined number of boys and sexually abused them.

[6] In early 1929, Northcott's trial was held before Judge George R. Freeman in Riverside County, California.

The jury heard that he kidnapped, molested, tortured, and murdered the Winslow brothers and the "Headless Mexican" in 1928.

The rope failed to break Northcott's neck, resulting in taking 13 minutes for him to die from strangulation.

[8][9] Clint Eastwood directed Changeling in 2008, in which Gordon Northcott was portrayed by Jason Butler Harner.