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Serial Killer News - Issue #9

Monday, February 25, 2008

IPSWICH, England – Convicted serial killer Steve Wright, aka the "Suffolk Strangler," told Newsoftheworld.co.uk that he is planning to commit suicide. "I can't cope with the thought of spending the rest of my life behind bars," Wright said. "I'm going to do it with my sheets, through a grille in my cell or with the bed. I'm going to do it the first opportunity I get." A jury of nine men and three women recently found Wright guilty of murdering five prostitutes.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, FL. — Earlier this month the Daytona Beach Police Department announced plans to collect DNA samples from every person they arrest, for comparison to DNA recovered from four murder victims they have linked to a single serial killer. Apparently investigators believe the suspect to be illiterate, as they have chosen to announce they will be collecting DNA at a DUI checkpoint in South Daytona this Friday. Not only did they announce it but they have also supplied the exact time and place of the planned checkpoint. In an interview with News-journalonline.com, Lt. Ron Wright said the checkpoint would be on Nova Road, a back road often used to avoid the police. "They think we're all on U.S. 1, so they take Nova," Wright said, chuckling. "We'll be at both …We want people to know that we're going to be there." I think you've accomplished that, Ron. Not only will the people know you are going to be there, but so will the Daytona Beach Serial Killer. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call (888) 277-TIPS.


Wednesday, February 27, 2008

BOSTON – Suspected serial killer Leonard “The Quahog” Paradiso died at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Boston today. According to the State Department of Correction, Paradiso, 65, had been stricken with testicular cancer. Paradiso's death comes just one week after the release of a book Timothy Burke wrote about him, titled "The Paradiso Files: Boston’s Unknown Serial Killer." At the time of his death, Paradiso was serving a life prison sentence for the 1979 murder of 20-year-old Marie Iannuzzi. Investigators have long suspected that Paradiso was responsible for several other unsolved murders, including the 1974 deaths of Lois Centafante, Kim Benoit, and Kathy Williams, and the 1975 deaths of Holly Davidson and Melodie Stankiewicz.


MANILA, Philippines – Police say they are hunting a serial killer who has murdered at least two women this month. Few details are available at this time; however, police say both victims were burned after they were murdered. The suspect is described as a male, between 35 to 40 years of age, 5'5" to 5"6" tall, with a slender build. Investigators say they are confident they will catch the killer before he strikes again.


Thursday, February 28, 2008





HOLLYWOOD – The Capture of the Green River Killer, a two-part television miniseries about convicted serial killer Gary Leon Ridgeway, is slated to premiere March 31 on the Lifetime Movie Network. "For nearly 20 years, the Green River Killer haunted Washington State with a series of shocking murders," reads a description of the miniseries at Lmn.tv. "The LMN miniseries is told through the eyes of one young runaway, Helen Remus, whose fate, bad luck, and unwise choices lead to her encounter with the notorious serial killer. Leading the hunt for the murderer is Sheriff David Reichert, who becomes so entangled in the case that he's willing to risk his family and career to find justice for the slain girls. Surprisingly, it's a meeting with convicted serial killer Ted Bundy that may help Reichert finally find his man, but bringing him to justice will be anything but easy. Follow this incredible true-crime tale that's based on the book Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer by Congressman David Reichert."


Friday, February 29, 2008



LONDON – The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has banned the DVD release of "Murder Set Pieces," a fictional film about a serial killer who rapes and tortures his victims before killing them. The ban means the DVD cannot be legally sold anywhere in the UK. "It is the Board's carefully considered view that to issue a certificate to 'Murder Set Pieces,' even if statutorily confined to adults, would involve risk of harm within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, would be inconsistent with the Board's Guidelines, and would be unacceptable to the public," BBFC director David Cooke told Hollywoodreporter.com.


Trivia:


Last Week's Question and Answer:

Q: Which serial killer held block parties for his neighbors and entertained children as "Pogo the Clown"?

A: John Wayne Gacy



"Respectable Chicago-area businessman hires young men to work in his contracting company, then rapes and murders scores of them, burying their bodies on his properties. In prison, he became the focus of researching the psychopathic mind." Read the rest at Crime Library.

Melissa Church was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Melissa! This week Melissa asks readers:

What did the initials "BTK" mean to convicted serial killer Dennis Rader?

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week's edition of Serial Killer News Briefs and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.

Serial Killer News - Issue #8

Monday, February 18, 2008

RENO, NV. – Investigators have positively identified a body found in south Reno as Brianna Denison, a 19-year-old Santa Barbara City College student who was abducted from a friend's house on Jan. 20. Police now say they have used DNA found on Brianna's body to link her murder to a serial rapist, who has attacked at least two women in the area. Police also say that a pair of underwear found at the scene does not belong to Brianna and contains the DNA of the man who murdered her, along with the DNA of an unknown woman. The underwear could belong to a victim who has yet to come forward or to another murder victim, who has yet to be found. "We know who you are genetically. Eventually we will find you - in some fashion or another. You will slip up. You will come into contact with law enforcement and we'll get your DNA," Deputy Police Chief Jim Johns said at a news conference. The suspect is described as a white man, with light brown/dirty blonde hair, 5'8'' to 5' 10'' tall, with a slender to medium build. Anyone with information is asked to call the Reno Police Department tip line at 775-745-3521.

TALLAHASSEE, FL. – The Florida Supreme Court has denied an appeal by convicted serial killer Gary Ray Bowles, 46, to vacate his death sentence for the 1994 murder of Walter Jammell Hinton. "We affirm the denial of Bowles' post conviction claims and deny his petition for writ of habeas corpus," reads the judgment, which is available at Flcourts.org. Following his arrest in 1994, Bowels, nicknamed the "95 Killer," allegedly confessed to committing a total of six murders in Florida, Georgia and Maryland.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

PRESS RELEASE, Kingtractorpress.com — Missouri Serial Killer Comic Book Goes Free. Starting with issue #6, Family Bones issues will be released online for free. Last month the publisher King Tractor Press released their back catalog via the Wowio.com service. Users can download each comic book, manga, and graphic novel for free. With Family Bones #6 they've released their first unpublished comic book for free.

"This is a totally new idea in publishing," said King Tractor Press representative Claudia Nolasco. "Giving away product seems counterproductive, but it's really wonderful. Other than some samples handed out at conventions or street corners, you would never have seen something like this ten or even five years ago. What reader doesn't want as many free books as they can get?" Family Bones is the gruesome tale of Ray and Faye Copeland, told through the perspective of their visiting nephew. The writer Shawn Granger is the actual great nephew of Ray Copeland and deftly blends his own experiences with those that he gleaned from the rest of his family. Family Bones is a kind of gothic coming of age. The fish-out-of-water city boy fights to survive a summer on the family farm with a pair of serial killers. What makes it even more chilling is the fact that Ray and Faye appear to be a kind warm apple pie grandparent-type, but the pie is full of blood.

You can download Family Bones #6 (it does require that you first create a free Wowio.com user account) at: www.wowio.com/users/searchresults.asp?nPublisherId=132

All back issues of Family Bones can be found at http://www.kingtractorpress.com/. Summer 2008 King Tractor Press will release Family Bones Volume 1, collecting issues 1 through 5 into a trade paperback. Bookstores can order through Ingrams ISBN: 978-0-9787-4860-9 and comic book retailers can order directly through Diamond Distributors this coming summer.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008



BOCA RATON, FL. – The television show America's Most Wanted will bring national attention to three unsolved murders this Saturday, during an episode that is scheduled to air at 9:00 p.m. on Fox. The show will cover the December 13, 2007, murders of Nancy Bochicchio, 47, and her 7-year-old daughter – a case that John Walsh believes is connected to the March 23, 2007 murder of 52-year-old Randi Gorenberg. "This is a serial killer. He is good at what he does. It's all about the power trip, and I know that when the cases get closer and closer together, like this pattern has, the killer is on the attack. So I say to everybody, don't let your guard down. It's a game for him," Walsh told WPBF last week. For moiré information on this case, read Criminal profiler Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin's recent profile of the killer.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

TRENTON, N.J. – The families of 23 victims of convicted serial killer nurse Charles Cullen have reached a confidential settlement with Cullin's former employers. According to NJ.com, the hospitals involved include Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township and St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa. Following his arrest in 2003, Cullen, 47, pled guilty to the murder of 29 patients and the attempted murder of six others. As a result, he was sentenced to 18 life prison terms. Visit the Star-Ledger for full coverage of the Cullen case.

IPSWICH, England – The trial of suspected serial killer Steve Wright, 49, came to an end today, when a jury of nine men and three women found him guilty of murdering five prostitutes. "These appalling crimes left the community, a county and a nation in a state of profound shock," Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull told a reporter with Mirror.co.uk after the verdict was read. "They left Suffolk Constabulary facing the most daunting challenge in its history. At its peak, there were more than 600 police officers and staff, both from Suffolk and other police forces, involved in the investigation into the murders." In December 2006, police arrested Wright after DNA evidence and security camera footage linked him to at least one of the Suffolk Strangler victims. Shortly thereafter, Wright was charged in four other murder cases. During his arraignment hearing at Ipswich Crown Court, Wright pled not guilty to each of the murder charges.

Friday, February 22, 2008




HOLLYWOOD – The Parents Television Council (PTC) were probably a bit dismayed this week when Nielsen Media Research announced that 8.14 million viewers had tuned in to the CBS debut of Showtime's serial killer series Dexter, which depicts the life and crimes of a fictitious serial killer. "Sunday night was a great start. It was new programming for CBS and with more than 8 million viewers, terrific promotion for Dexter and Showtime," CBS spokesman Ed Harrison told Multichannel.com. According to a press release at PTC's Web site, which quotes PTC President Tim Winter, CBS is contributing to the "culture of violence" by airing the hit series. However, within the article, they fail to provide any statistical data to back up these claims. The PTC remains adamant that CBS cancel the show and they have created a form letter people can use to complain to the media about the program. If you agree with the PTC, visit the aforementioned link. If you disagree, click here to let the PTC know what YOU think.





WICHITA, KS – A documentary film about the 1974 murder of the Otero family by BTK serial killer Dennis Rader is scheduled to premiere at the Orpheum Theatre Monday. According to Imdb.com, the film, "Feast of the Assumption: The Otero Family Murders" is about "a living victim's personal journey through one of the most unique serial killer cases in U.S. history." Tickets for the film are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Surviving family member Charlie Otero is scheduled to make an appearance at the film's debut.

Trivia:




Last Week's Question and Answer:

Q: Which serial killer told the jury at their sentencing hearing: "May your wife and children get raped, right in the ass"?

A: Aileen Carol Wuornos

Case Description:

"She has been heralded in tabloid headlines and on television talk shows as America's first female serial killer. In fact, Aileen Wuornos was neither the first nor the worst, although she did display a curiously masculine tendency to prey on strangers of the opposite sex. Suspected of at least seven murders, sentenced to die in four of the six cases…" Read the rest at Skcentral.com.

Sharon Thomas, AKA Sharlock, was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Sharon! This week Sharon asks readers:

Which serial killer held block parties for his neighbors and entertained children as "Pogo the Clown"?

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week's edition of Serial Killer News Briefs and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.

Serial Killer News - Issue #7

Monday, February 11, 2008



PORTLAND, OR. – The Portland Chapter of the Parents Television Council is demanding that KOIN 6, a local CBS affiliate, cancel the television show Dexter, which depicts the life and crimes of a fictitious serial killer. In a recent post to Columbian.com, Stephanie Snow, Chapter Director of the Portland Chapter, expressed her anger about violence depicted on television. "Day after day and night after night, families of viewers are assaulted by graphic violence and explicit sexual situations," she wrote. "…Hollywood says it wants to ‘empower’ parents. If the entertainment industry really means what it says about parental control, it would give parents the ability to pick and choose channels." (Apparently Snow does not realize that no one is forcing her or anyone else to view "graphic violence.") According to Chris Sehring, general manager of KOIN 6, his station has received few complaints about Dexter. "This doesn’t really feel like it’s catching fire,” he said in an interview with Wweek.com, adding, "Have you seen the show? I think it’s very funny."

Tuesday, February 12, 2008



INDIANAPOLIS, IN. — Kenna Quinet, an associate professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, recently had an article, “The Missing Missing: Toward a Quantification of Serial Murder Victimization in the United States,” published in the Journal of Homicide Studies. In this article, Quinet claims that serial killers in the United States could be responsible for up to 10 times as many U.S. deaths as previously estimated. Citing the case of convicted serial killer Gary Ridgway, Quinet points out that many of the victims were transients and therefore their disappearances went unnoticed. "Their families don’t even report them as missing," Quinet said in a recent interview with Miller-mccune.com. "They’re estranged from their families, and no one follows up. These people fall between the cracks. It’s no one’s fault; it’s the transient nature of their lives, the lack of information sharing and the fact that missing-persons cases are not the most glorified police work. This is not priority police work." Quinet believes that current methods of calculating the victims of serial killers are unreliable, because they exclude people who have never been reported missing. As a result of her research, Quinet believes serial killers claim as many as 1,832 victims in the United States each year.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Mpumalanga, South Africa – Accused serial killer Lucky Mathebula, 27, made a brief appearance in Mkhuhlu magistrate’s court yesterday, where he was remanded into custody while police continue their investigation. Mathebula is accused of the rape, murder and dismemberment of a relative on December 17, 2007. Police also suspect that Mathebula is responsible for several other unsolved murders and rapes. "In the eyes of the community this man is seen as a serial rapist and killer, but we still have to conduct thorough investigations to confirm this," Mpumalanga police spokesman, Superintendent Abie Khoabane, told Sowetan.co.za. "We are calling on members of the community with information to come forward and help us build a watertight cases against him," he added.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

MOSCOW, Russia – Convicted serial killer Alexander Pichushkin received an unwelcome Valentine’s Day gift today, in the form of a rejection letter by Russia's Supreme Court, in regard to an appeal he recently filed, claiming his sentence was "harsh and unfair." In November of last year Pichushkin, dubbed by the media the "Bitsevsky maniac," was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of killing 48 people between 2001 and 2006. Prosecutors were unable to seek the death penalty because Russia imposed a moratorium on executions in 1996. Perhaps he'll have better luck if he files another appeal before Defender of the Fatherland Day.

ATLANTA, GA. – It was recently revealed that suspected serial killer Gary Michael Hilton, 61, made sure his dog would be cared for while he was in prison, by modifying his plea agreement to stipulate that his dog would be placed in a good home. According to the Associated Press, the dog's new owner is "someone close to the case," whom Hilton did not know prior to his arrest. Last month, Hilton entered a guilty plea in the murder of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson. As a result, Dawson County Superior Court Judge Bonnie Chessher Oliver sentenced Hilton to life in prison with parole eligibility in 30 years. Hilton still faces potential murder charges in both Florida and North Carolina.




Friday, February 15, 2008



BATON ROUGE, LA – The Backyard Gallery will be hosting the Aileen Wuornos Show tonight at the Violet House on 870 Violet Street. According to the hosts, Adam Tourek and Tiffany True, the purpose of the event is to showcase works of art related to the notorious female serial killer. "The show is not necessarily promoting any issues," Tourek told Lsureveille.com. "But perhaps a look at Wuornos' life will bring to mind issues that still find their way into the headlines - capital punishment, mental stability, family life, prostitution, movie deals, violence, gun control, surveillance, law enforcement." The show starts at 8 p.m.





BOCA RATON, FL. – The Broward Sheriff's Office has released a sketch of the man who robbed a woman at the Town Center Mall in August. Police believe the same man could be responsible for the December 13, 2007, murders of Nancy Bochicchio, 47, and her 7-year-old daughter – a case that John Walsh, host of the popular television show America's Most Wanted, believes is connected to the March 23, 2007 murder of 52-year-old Randi Gorenberg. "This is a serial killer. He is good at what he does. It's all about the power trip, and I know that when the cases get closer and closer together, like this pattern has, the killer is on the attack. So I say to everybody, don't let your guard down. It's a game for him," Walsh told WPBF. Criminal profiler Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin recently profiled the killer for Investigation Discovery. Click here to read her analysis of the case.

Trivia:



Last Week’s Question and Answer:

Q: The "Brides in the Bath Murderer" was a moniker associated with which serial killer?

A: George Joseph Smith

Case description:

"George Joseph Smith has gone down in British criminal history as being one of the most evil men. Yet despite being described as cunning, conniving, ruthless and unattractive he managed to convince several women to 'marry' him. All of them suffered in some way for falling under his spell. Most lost their money or possessions; some paid with their lives." Read more at Shyscyberchamber.com.

Michael Moore was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Michael! This week Michael asks readers:

Which serial killer told the jury at their sentencing hearing: "May your wife and children get raped, right in the ass"?

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week’s edition of Serial Killer News Briefs and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.

Serial Killer News - Issue #6

Monday, February 04, 2008

NEW ORLEANS, LA. — Attorneys for accused serial killer Derrick Todd Lee have asked the state Supreme Court to reconsider its recent decision, to uphold his conviction and death sentence, in the 2002 murder of Charlotte Murray Pace. Within the rehearing request, attorney Marcia Widder accused the court of ignoring the "highly prejudicial nature of the extraordinarily pervasive publicity.” It was just last month that the high court upheld Lee's conviction, dismissing claims that he suffered from mental retardation.

Tuesday, February 05

PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa – Police are investigating similarities between three recent murders and a string of unsolved homicides from the late 1990s, attributed to the media dubbed "Sleepy Hollow killer," who is believed to have murdered at least 13 women. According to police Superintendent Henry Budhram, the most recent killings bear the trademark of the long elusive killer.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

MOSCOW, Russia – According to a spokesperson for Russia's Supreme Court, justices will meet on Feb. 14, to consider an appeal filed by convicted serial killer Alexander Pichushkin. In November of last year Pichushkin, dubbed by the media the "Bitsevsky maniac," was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of killing 48 people between 2001 and 2006. Prosecutors were unable to seek the death penalty because Russia imposed a moratorium on executions in 1996. "I told my defendant when we met that the appeal would probably be rejected, but he nevertheless insisted that we should go ahead," Pichushkin's lawyer, Alexander Karyagin, said in an interview with En.rian.ru.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL. – The Daytona Beach Police Department has announced plans to collect DNA samples from every person they arrest, for comparison to DNA recovered from four murder victims they have linked to a single serial killer. "Genetically, we know who he is," Daytona Police Chief Mike Chitwood told Local6.com. "We have DNA evidence from the murder scenes -- so, we got that. That is never going to go away. And, sooner or later, we will match the DNA to the physical person and bring closure to everything that is going on." Anyone with information in this case is asked to call (888) 277-TIPS.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

BOCA RATON, FL. – John Walsh, host of the popular television show America's Most Wanted, is investigating possible connections in the Dec. 13, 2007, murders of Nancy Bochicchio, 47, and her 7-year-old daughter, Joey and the March 23, 2007 murder of 52-year-old Randi Gorenberg. "This is a serial killer. He is good at what he does. It's all about the power trip, and I know that when the cases get closer and closer together, like this pattern has, the killer is on the attack. So I say to everybody, don't let your guard down. It's a game for him," Walsh told WPBF. The segment is scheduled to air February 16, 2008, on Fox.

Friday, February 08, 2008

MODIMOLLE, South Africa – Police have arrested Matamba Patrick Mulaudzi, 33, in connection with seven murders and eight rapes that occurred between 2004 and 2007. "We believe we have made a breakthrough in arresting a suspect in connection with the rapes and the murder cases that were committed in Modimolle," Limpopo police spokesman, Motlafela Mojapelo told Sowetan.co.za. Mulaudzi is expected to appear in the Modimolle magistrate's court sometime next week.

Trivia:

Last Week’s Question and Answer:

Q: Which serial killer said: "I sat down to think things over a bit. While I was sitting there, a little kid about eleven or twelve years old came bumming around. He was looking for something. He found it too. I took him out to a gravel pit about one-quarter miles away. I left him there, but first committed sodomy on him and then killed him. His brains were coming out of his ears when I left him, and he will never be any deader."

A: Carl Panzram

Cory Tameris was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Cory! This week Cory asks readers:

The "Brides in the Bath Murderer" was a moniker associated with which serial killer?

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week’s edition of Serial Crimes and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.

Serial Killer News - Issue #5

Monday, January 28, 2008

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. — Earlier this month, confessed serial killer Timothy Krajcir, 63, admitted in court to the 1981 attempted murder of 51-year-old Ida White. However, police chief Chris Mendenall now suspects that Krajcir may be claiming responsibility for a crime he did not commit. According to Mendenall, the evidence points to another man as being the real killer. Mendenall told Cbs2chicago.com he believes Krajcir lied because he had nothing to loose. “It matters not what he claims he's done. He's never going to get out of prison,” Mendenall said. “Whether he confesses to 30 homicides or one, he's not getting out of jail.” In December 2007, Krajcir, who was already serving a 40-year prison sentence for a 1982 murder, confessed to killing eight women in Illinois and Missouri.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

AUSTRALIA – Convicted serial killer Paul Steven Haigh, 49, has asked the Supreme Court to set a minimum term for his imprisonment. During the court proceeding, he said his murders were, “in the context of the criminal world, understandable and appropriate,” adding, “Overall, from a more mature perspective, I see that a clear-thinking person, a more self-respecting person and law-abiding person would not go to such a horrendous extreme… I was pretty much disturbed and out of control.” Haigh is currently serving a life term with no parole. The Supreme Court will continue to hear the case at a later date.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

BANGALORE, India – Police say the number of victims attributed to suspected serial killer Mallika, 43, is now at seven, following her confession to the murder of a 22-year-old housewife last year. “During interrogation Mallika revealed that she murdered 22-year-old Renuka after taking her to a lodge in Kaiwara in Kolar district on December 7, 2006. A missing case was lodged by her (Renuka's) husband on December 29, 2006,” Assistant Commissioner of Police, B R Prasad told Dnaindia.com. “The case was however, closed by the Chintamani police as there were no external injuries on Renuka's body.” According to police, Mallika, used cyanide to murder at least six of her victims.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

GAINESVILLE, GA. – Suspected serial killer Gary Michael Hilton, 61, has entered a guilty plea in the murder of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson. As a result, Dawson County Superior Court Judge Bonnie Chessher Oliver sentenced Hilton to life in prison with parole eligibility in 30 years. In handing down the sentence, Olive told Hilton he would likely have died of natural causes before a death sentence could have been carried out. Despite the leniency he received in Georgia, Hilton still faces potential murder charges in both Florida and North Carolina.

Friday, February 01, 2008

BANGALORE, India – Police recently arrested 48-year-old Chandrakant Sharma, a local businessman, his wife and son, in a murder case. Following his arrest, Sharma allegedly confessed to a series of other murders, dating back 15 years. Police have since conducted a Brain-mapping test on Sharma, which they claim has revealed details about a case his son, Monto Sharma, was involved in. It is not yet known if investigators will conduct further testing on Sharma.

Trivia:

Last Week’s Question and Answer:

Q: What was Richard O. Macek's nickname?

A: The Mad Biter

Patrick Fleming was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Patrick! This week Patrick asks readers:

Which serial killer said: “I sat down to think things over a bit. While I was sitting there, a little kid about eleven or twelve years old came bumming around. He was looking for something. He found it too. I took him out to a gravel pit about one-quarter miles away. I left him there, but first committed sodomy on him and then killed him. His brains were coming out of his ears when I left him, and he will never be any deader.”

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week’s edition of Serial Crimes and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.

Serial Killer News - Issue #4

Monday, January 21, 2008

MARION, Ill. — Confessed serial killer Timothy Krajcir, 63, has admitted in court to the 1981 attempted murder of 51-year-old Ida White. The crime was initially pinned on a man named Grover Thompson, who received a 40-year prison sentence for the crime. Unfortunately, Thompson died while behind bars. Last week, Pennsylvania authorities charged Krajcir with the 1979 rape and murder of a 51-year-old woman. In December 2007, Krajcir, who was already serving a 40-year prison sentence for a 1982 murder, confessed to killing eight women in Illinois and Missouri.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, FL. – Police have set up a toll-free hot line for taking tips in the Daytona Beach serial killer case. “I don't know exactly how many calls investigators have taken, but we're getting some good tips,” Daytona Police Chief Mike Chitwood told News-journalonline.com. “We just need people to keep coming forward who may know something.” According to Chitwood, police have positively linked the recent murder of 30-year-old Stacy Gage to the deaths of three prostitutes in 2006. Last week police assembled a task force to track down the killer and Crime Stoppers announced an $11,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call (888) 277-TIPS.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

CHANDIGARH, India – The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld convicted serial killer Satish Kumar’s life sentence. Kumar has been behind bars for the last ten years, following his conviction in the rape and murder of nine girls, all of who were under the age of ten. With today’s ruling, Kumar will have to serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

BANGALORE, India – Police recently arrested 48-year-old Chandrakant Sharma, a local businessman, his wife and son, in a murder case. Police now say Sharma has confessed to a series of other murders, dating back 15 years. “He has made startling revelations saying he's committed 20 murders in Maharashtra,” Joint Commissioner Gopal Hosur told Ibnlive.com. “So a team is being sent to Maharashtra. It could be that all of it is false. However, it is also necessary to verify and find out since these murders are supposed to have taken place 10-15 years back.” The investigation continues.

Friday, January 25, 2008

AUSTRALIA – In 1981, John Alan Wilde, 45, was arrested and convicted for a string of rapes and home invasions. Released in 1993, Wilde was jailed less than two weeks later for the rape of a Sydney woman. For his crime he was sentenced to 16 years in jail. In November, Wilde’s maximum jail term expired, however he was not released because of a series of interim detention orders. NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos recently asked that Wilde serve an additional two years behind bars, citing Wilde’s propensity towards violence. After reviewing the case this week, Justice Derek Price ruled that Wilde remain in jail for another eight months, to undergo rehabilitative treatment. Wilde will now be eligible for release in September.

Trivia:

Last Week’s Question and Answer:

Q: How many nurses did Richard Speck kill and how many got away?

A: Eight were killed and only one escaped.

Marguerite Ahl was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Marguerite! This week Marguerite asks readers:

What was Richard O. Macek's nickname?

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week’s edition of Serial Crimes and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.

Serial Killer News - Issue #3

Monday, January 14, 2008



MUHLENBURG, PA. — Authorities have charged confessed serial killer Timothy Krajcir, 63, with the 1979 rape and murder of a 51-year-old woman. According to the arrest avadavat, Krajcir entered the woman’s house under the guise of a police officer and then sexually assaulted and murdered her. Nonetheless, Krajcir may never face the charges. Earlier this month, Governor Rod Blagojevich rejected a request by prosecutors in Missouri to extradite Krajcir until he faced murder charges in Williamson County. In December, Krajcir, who was already serving a 40-year prison sentence for a 1982 murder, confessed to killing eight other women in Illinois and Missouri.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

IPSWICH, England — Opening arguments in the trial of suspected serial killer Steve Wright, 49, began today. In December 2006, police arrested Wright after DNA evidence and security camera footage linked him to at least one of the Suffolk Strangler victims. Shortly thereafter, Wright was charged in four other murder cases. During his arraignment hearing at Ipswich Crown Court, Wright pled not guilty to each of the murder charges.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – In a unanimous decision, the state Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction and death sentence of Derrick Todd Lee, 38. In 2004, Lee was convicted in the first-degree murder of LSU student Charlotte Murray Pace. According to police, they have DNA evidence that links Lee to the murders of six other women in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas, however he has yet to be tried on those cases.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, FL. – Police have assembled a task force to track down the killer responsible for the murder of 30-year-old Stacy Gage earlier this month. Police believe the suspect is a serial killer, who is also responsible for the murders of three prostitutes in 2006. “This is a sick, sadistic animal scumbag that's out there preying upon members of our community,” Daytona Police Chief Michael Chitwood told Myfoxorlando.com last week. Crime Stoppers is offering an $11,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call (888) 277-TIPS.

Friday, January 18, 2008

DRAPER, UT. – The state Board of Pardons and Parole has extended confessed serial rapist Blaine Hogge Nelson's prison term through the rest of his natural life. The parole board said they came to their decision after an October interview with Nelson. In 1987, Nelson was given multiple sentences of five years-to-life and 15 years-to-life, following his confessions that he committed at least 70 rapes across the United States, 20 of which occurred in the state of Utah.

Trivia:

Last Week’s Question and Answer:

Q: What was the make and model of the vehicle most often associated with serial killer Ted Bundy?

A: Volkswagen Bug (Beetle)

Shannon Payne was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Shannon! This week Shannon asks readers:

How many nurses did Richard Speck kill and how many got away?

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week’s edition of Serial Crimes and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.

Serial Killer News - Issue #2

Monday, January 07, 2008

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Homicide investigators have arrested 29-year-old Davey Mato Butorac in the murder of two prostitutes after finding DNA evidence in his car. Investigators are now trying to determine if Butorac is responsible for other murders. “We are looking at him linked to other homicides,” RCMP Cpl. Dale Carr, of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said during a press conference. “How many? It is so early to tell … There is a possibility of just about anything. We want to ensure we go through this very slowly and methodically and make sure we don't miss anything.” According to Carr, his department began investigating Butorac as a possible suspect last fall. “Investigators set up around-the-clock surveillance on the suspect to ensure public safety while they actively continued the investigation to gather additional evidence,” Carr said. In October, investigators obtained a search warrant for Butorac’s residence and his vehicle, a 1990 white Chevrolet Cavalier. DNA evidence found in the vehicle connected Butorac to the 2007 murders of Gwendolyn Jo Lawton and Sheryl Lynn Koroll. Following Butorac’s arrest, prosecutors charged him with two counts of second-degree murder. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 18.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL. – Police suspect a body found near the 1600 block of Hancock Boulevard last week may be the victim of a serial killer. According to Daytona Police Chief Michael Chitwood, there are obvious similarities between this murder and the killings of three prostitutes from 2006. “This is a sick, sadistic animal scumbag that's out there preying upon members of our community,” Chitwood told Myfoxorlando.com. The most recent victim has been identified as 30-year-old Stacy Gage, a known drug user. Stacy was last seen driving a 1998 white Plymouth Voyager. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (888) 277-8477.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

BANGALORE, India – Last week investigators arrested a 43-year-old woman whom they suspect is India’s first known female serial killer. Since that time police have received several complaints about the suspect, including a report by one woman who claims that her sister was with the suspect when she went missing two years-ago. “[The suspect] has not disclosed some information. She has only disclosed information about six cases. Now, three more are missing. At some point, she may have to undergo brain mapping or polygraph or even narco analysis,” Joint Commissioner Gopal Hosur said in an interview with Ibnlive.com. According to police, the suspect, identified only as Mallika, used cyanide to murder at least six women.

HOLLYWOOD – Zodiac [2-Disc Director's Cut] is now available on DVD. According to Dean Winkelspecht, a movie reviewer for DVDtown.com, the DVD contains previously unreleased footage, however Winkelspecht warns the additions do not include “anything radical when compared to the theatrical release.”

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Investigators have exhumed the body of notorious serial killer Belle “the Black Widow” Gunness, so they can compare DNA from the body to cells from letters Gunness had sent to possible suitors. In 1908, the headless body of a woman was found in the basement of Gunness’ burned-out farmhouse. For nearly 100 years historians have speculated on whether the body was in fact Gunness or was part of an elaborate plan so she could escape undetected. “Gunness has got to be the most prolific female serial killer in history,” Andrea Simmons, the lead forensic researcher, said in an interview with Livescience.com. “She clearly killed 25 people, arguably 40, in less than a decade but we're not sure when she died. We're trying to put a lid on this case.” Simmons said if all goes well her lab should have the results by April. “I'm just waiting for the science to tell whether or not the body belongs to Belle,” Simmons said. “If she did die in that farmhouse fire, it raises a lot of questions of how it all happened. If not, we can say this serial killer fled in the night, faked her death and probably led a full life.”

Thursday, January 10, 2008

WICHITA, KS — A documentary film about the 1974 murder of the Otero family by BTK serial killer Dennis Rader is scheduled to premiere at the Orpheum Theatre on Feb. 25. According to Imdb.com, the film, “Feast of the Assumption: The Otero Family Murders” is about “a living victim's personal journey through one of the most unique serial killer cases in U.S. history.” Tickets for the film are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Surviving family member Charlie Otero is scheduled to make an appearance at the film’s debut.

Friday, January 11, 2008



New Westminster, British Columbia – Attorneys for convicted serial killer Robert Picton, 58, have filed an appeal against his recent murder convictions. In December, a jury found Pickton guilty on six counts of second-degree murder, in the deaths of Sereena Abotsway, 29; Mona Wilson, 26; Andrea Joesbury, 22; Brenda Wolfe, 30; Georgina Papin, 34, and Marnie Frey, 23. The following day, Justice James Williams sentenced Pickton to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years. According to Pickton’s attorneys, the judge made several errors when he instructed the jury and allowed inadmissible evidence. The prosecution is also appealing, in an effort to make Pickton face a new trial on 26 counts of first-degree murder.

Trivia:

Last Week’s Question and Answer:

Q: What did the media nickname the killer couple Paul Bernardo and Karla HomolkaQ: What did the media nickname the killer couple Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka?

A: Ken & Barbie

Christine MacDougall was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Christine! This week Christine asks readers:

What was the make and model of the vehicle most often associated with serial killer Ted Bundy?

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week’s edition of Serial Crimes and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.

Serial Killer News - Issue #1

Monday, December 31, 2007

LANZHOU, China – Convicted killer Ran Zhouping, 32, has been sentenced to death following his confession that he committed a series of murders dating back to 2002. Zhouping, who was already serving a life sentence for the 2002 murder of a prostitute, admitted to the 2001 murders of a mother and her four children, the shooting death of a farmer, and the fatal stabbing of a taxi driver. Zhouping said he would not appeal the decision.

Tuesday, January 01, 2007

BANGALORE, India – Investigators have arrested a 43-year-old woman whom they suspect is India’s first female serial killer. According to police, the suspect, identified only as Mallika, used cyanide to murder at least six women. “So far, we have detected six such murders, one of which was committed way back in 1999, and the remaining five that happened in the last two months of 2007,” City Police Commissioner N Achuta Rao told Dnaindia.com. “It appears that she has committed the cold-blooded murders single handedly. We have yet to trace any accomplices and determine whether she was involved in more offences or committed more such murders,” he added.

Wednesday, January 02, 2007

CHICAGO, IL — Members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) community suspect that a serial killer is targeting them following the recent murders of two gay men. The first victim, Larry Bland, 24, was shot to death on November 17, 2007, inside his home. Approximately five weeks later, on December 23, 2007, Donald Young, 47, was also shot to death in his home on Chicago’s south side. Friends of the men have described them both as openly gay. “We are concerned the police department has not issued a necessary community alert,” Marc Loveless from the Coalition for Justice and Respect said in an interview with NBC5.com. In response, Dana Starks, acting superintendent of the city’s police department, said, “We normally would not put out a community alert unless there was some type of activity leading us to believe there was a serial incident.” As of this writing, there is no evidence that the two cases are connected.

Thursday, January 03, 2007

MARION, IL — Governor Rod Blagojevich has rejected a request by prosecutors in Missouri to extradite confessed serial killer Timothy Krajcir, 63, until he faces murder charges in Williamson County. In December, Krajcir, who was already serving a 40-year prison sentence for a 1982 murder, confessed to killing eight other women in Illinois and Missouri.

Friday, January 04, 2007

CROWTHORNE, England — According to sources at Broadmoor Hospital, convicted serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, 61, has announced plans to sue the hospital following injuries he received there last month when a fellow patient stabbed him in the face with a knife. Roughly ten years ago, Sutcliffe received £196,000 in compensation after he lost an eye in a similar incident. “This time, the knife missed Sutcliffe’s eye and bounced off his cheekbone—there was a lot of blood. Half an inch higher, and he’d be blind,” an unnamed source said in an interview with Thesun.co.uk, adding, “He has made it quite clear that he would be looking at taking legal action for what happened.” Sutcliffe is currently serving a life sentence for the murders of over a dozen women.

Trivia:

This Week’s Question:

Q: What did the media nickname the killer couple Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka?

The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week’s edition of Serial Killer News Briefs and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.