Ronald Ebens

Ronald Ebens
Black and white portrait of Ronald Ebens wearing a suit
Ebens c. 1984
Born
Ronald Madis Ebens

(1939-10-30) October 30, 1939 (age 84)
Dixon, Illinois
StatusReleased
Occupation(s)Chrysler plant supervisor, bar owner
MotiveResentment over unemployment in auto industry, blamed on Japanese imports, anti-Asian racism
Conviction(s)
Criminal penalty
  • Three years probation and $3,780 fine
  • 25 years in prison (overturned)
Details
VictimsVincent Chin (陳果仁) (killed)
DateJune 19, 1982
State(s)Michigan

Ronald Madis Ebens (born October 30, 1939)[1] is an American convicted killer. Ebens, with his stepson Michael Nitz as an accomplice, killed Vincent Chin,[2] a Chinese American man, on June 19, 1982. This led to a federal indictment for violating Chin's civil rights, but only after public outrage at the probationary sentence and small fine imposed by Michigan Third Circuit Court Judge Charles Kaufman. Ebens was found guilty on one count of violating Chin's civil rights and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, but the conviction was overturned on appeal.

  1. ^ Henry Yee and the Estate of Vincent Chin (deceased) vs. Ronald Ebens, Michael Nitz, and Fancy Pants lounge, 83-309788 CZ (Mich 3rd Cir 1983).
  2. ^ Article "20 years ago: The Vincent Chin murder – A product of anti-Japanese demagogy" on Spark