The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (127 page)

pected of two more

TIMS: Three+ suspected

379

The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers

MO: Robbed/murdered women

MO: Killed/scalped woman; shot policeman who

DISPOSITION: Executed in Washington, D.C., on one stopped his car

count, Dec. 20, 1948

DISPOSITION: Killed while attempting escape from custody, Apr. 26, 1985

Medrano, Juan Martin
(1955– ) AKA: The Jackal SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony

Mengele, Dr. Josef
(1911–79?)

DATE(S): 1970s VENUE: U.S./Mexico VICTIMS:

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: Sad./PC-

32 confessed

extremist

MO: Contract killer for Mexican crime syndicates who DATES(S): 1943–45 VENUE: Auschwitz, Poland

admitted 25 murders in Mexico and seven in three VICTIMS: Dozens

U.S. states

MO: Nazi physician who murdered concentration

DISPOSITION: Life sentence in Texas, 1978, after con-camp inmates in personal fits of rage, killing others fessing seven murders in Texas, Alabama, and Mex-in the course of weird medical experiments; person-ico; transferred to Mexico in a Dec. 1980 prisoner ally ordered execution of hundreds more, including exchange; released in Mexico, 1984; arrested for 300 children burned alive in one incident

drugs in Texas, Dec. 2001; received a life prison DISPOSITION: Fled to South America after World term after confessing 25 more slayings, including 23

War II; allegedly suffered heart attack while swim-in Mexico and two in Florida

ming and drowned, 1979

Meeks, Douglas Ray
(1953– )

Mentzer, William
(?– )

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE

DATES(S): 1974 VENUE: Taylor County, Fla. VIC-

DATES(S): 1974–88 VENUE: Calif./N.Y./Fla. VIC-

TIMS: Two

TIMS: Five+ suspected

MO: Killed two victims in personal disputes

MO: Contract killer with ties to drug syndicates; also DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts, 1975

named by DAVID BERKOWITZ as participant in

satanic cult murders

Melton, Antonio Lebaron
(1972– )

DISPOSITION: Life without parole on two counts in SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE

Calif., 1991

DATES(S): 1990–91 VENUE: Escambia County, Fla.

VICTIMS: Two

Menzi, Kurt
(1962– )

MO: Killed holdup victims

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

DISPOSITION: Life term on one count, 1991; conDATES(S): 1983–84 VENUE: St. Gallen, Switzerland demned on second, 1992

VICTIMS: Two

MO: Rape-slayer of girls age 10 and 18

Menarik, Carl
(1889–?)

DISPOSITION: Life sentence on one count, 1985

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: PC-non-

specific

Merrett, John Donald
(1908–54)

DATES(S): 1914 VENUE: Yonkers, N.Y. VICTIMS:

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE/PC

Eight confessed

DATES(S): 1926/54 VENUE: Scotland/England

MO: Austrian immigrant, poisoned patients at rest VICTIMS: Three confessed

home where he worked

MO: Smuggler who killed his mother (1926); later DISPOSITION: Confined to asylum, 1915; escaped killed his estranged wife and mother-in-law (1954) 1916; never found

DISPOSITION: Acquitted, 1926; suicide by gunshot on Feb. 17, 1954

Mendoza, Ivan
(1966– )

SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

Mesa, Joseph, Jr.
(1980– )

DATES(S): 1981–82 VENUE: New York City VIC-

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: CE-felony

TIMS: Two

DATE(S): 2000–01 VENUE: Washington, D.C.

MO: Stabbed women during robberies

VICTIMS: Two

DISPOSITION: Convicted on both counts, 1983

MO: Deaf student at Gallaudet University, who

beat/stabbed two male fellow students, both age 19,
Mengel, Alex J.
(1955–85)

in their dormitory rooms during attempted robberies SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./CE

DISPOSITION: Convicted on two counts in May

DATES(S): 1985 VENUE: N.Y. VICTIMS: Two

2002; received life prison term

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Appendix A: Solo Killers

Metheny, Joe Roy
(1955– )

Miller, Gerald Wesley
(1936– )

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-domestic

DATES(S): 1976–95 VENUE: Baltimore, Md. VIC-

DATES(S): 1984/89 VENUE: Salem, Ore. VIC-

TIMS: 10 confessed

TIMS: Two

MO: Admitted mutilation-murders of men and women MO: “Bluebeard” slayer of wives

DISPOSITION: Life term on one count, 1997; con-DISPOSITION: Life term on two counts, 1993

demned on second count, 1998; death sentence

overturned on appeal, July 2000

Miller, Hugh
(1969– )

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC

Meyer, Thomas
(1961– )

DATES(S): 1995 VENUE: Burlington City, N.J.

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

VICTIMS: Three

DATES(S): 1986–87 VENUE: Bonna, Germany

MO: Shot his mother, ex-girlfriend, and a male VICTIMS: Three

acquaintance

MO: Home invader; killed females age 13–37 and set DISPOSITION: Three consecutive life terms, 1998

fires

DISPOSITION: Life sentence on three counts, 1988

Miller, James B.
(1861–1909) AKA: Killin’ Jim SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/CE

Mfeka, Samuel Bongani
(?– )

DATES(S): 1883–1909 VENUE: Ark./Tex./N.

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

Mex./Okla. VICTIMS: 40–50 claimed

DATES(S): 1993–96 VENUE: KwaZulu Natal, South

MO: Gunfighter and hired killer; occasional lawman Africa VICTIMS: Six

DISPOSITION: Lynched in Okla., Apr. 19, 1909

MO: Rape-slayer of women; also suspect in “NASREC

STRANGLER” case

Miller, John Lawrence
(1942– )

DISPOSITION: Confessed six counts at arrest, Sept.

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-non-

1996

specific

DATES(S): 1957/75 VENUE: Los Angeles County,

Middleton, David
(1961– )

Calif. VICTIMS: Three

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.

MO: Bludgeoned an infant, 1957; shot his parents, DATES(S): 1993–95 VENUE: Colo./Nev. VICTIMS:

1975

Three

DISPOSITION: Convicted of murder, 1958 (paroled MO: Ex-cop and paroled rapist; sex-slayer of women 1975); life term, 1975

age 18–45; torture devices found in his home

DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts in Nev.,

Miller, Joseph D.
(1965– )

1997

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

DATE(S): 1987–90 VENUE: Dauphin and Perry

Miller, Donald Gene
(1955– )

Counties, Pa. VICTIMS: Four

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

MO: Rape-slayer of women discarded at local trash DATES(S): 1978 VENUE: Lansing, Mich. VIC-dumps; led police to graves and confessed four slay-TIMS: Four confessed

ings after arrested for assault in 1992

MO: Rapist who killed his fiancée and three other DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts; life term women

on a third count; death sentence commuted on

DISPOSITION: 30–50 years for rape and attempted appeal, Dec. 18, 2002

murder of surviving victims, 1978; 15 years on plea bargain to voluntary manslaughter, 1979

Miller, Joseph Robert
(1954– )

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

Miller, George Thaxton
(1900– )

DATES(S): 1976–77/1993 VENUE: Ill. VICTIMS:

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-

Four

extremist

MO: Strangler of prostitutes in Chicago (1970s) and DATES(S): 1926 VENUE: Crenshaw County, Ala.

Peoria

VICTIMS: Two admitted

DISPOSITION: Served 15 years for first two kills; con-MO: Ku Klux Klansman; shot black men “in self-

demned, 1994; sentence commuted to life, 2003

defense”

DISPOSITION: Claimed acquittals by all-white juries
Miller, Vernon C.
(d. 1933)

(records lost)

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE

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The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers

DATES(S): 1925–33 VENUE: Midwest USA VIC-

MO: Schizophrenic released from mental hospital three TIMS: “Numerous”

days before he killed a married couple in their home; MO: War-hero lawman turned contract killer

later strangled and dismembered his father

DISPOSITION: Murdered by gangland associates,

DISPOSITION: Life sentence reduced to 10-year mini-Nov. 28, 1933

mum on appeal; attempted to strangle fellow

inmate, April 2000

Miller, Walter
(d. 1870)

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE

Mitchell, Roy
(1892–1923)

DATES(S): 1870 VENUE: Chelsea, England VIC-

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE/Sex.

TIMS: Two

DATES(S): 1909–11 VENUE: Waco, Tex. VIC-

MO: Robbed/killed elderly victims in their homes TIMS: Five confessed

DISPOSITION: Confessed two counts and was hanged MO: Killed constable with an ax; attacked couples in lover’s lane; at least one rape

Minghella, Maurizio
(?– ) AKA: Strangler of DISPOSITION: Hanged July 30, 1923

Valpocevera

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

Mitchell, Tony Garrett
(1979– )

DATES(S): 1978 VENUE: Valpocevera, Italy VIC-

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

TIMS: Four

DATE(S): 2002 VENUE: Mt. Pleasant, Tenn. VIC-

MO: Rape-slayer of young women

TIMS: Two

DISPOSITION: Life sentence

MO: Kidnapped and shot three black women, killing two; bodies dumped within a one-mile radius in
Minow, Paul
(?–?)

wooded area

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: PC-non-

DISPOSITION: Pled guilty on two murder counts to specific

avoid death sentence, Nov. 4, 2002; received two DATES(S): 1907 VENUE: Berlin, Germany VIC-consecutive life terms; pled guilty on one count of TIMS: Three

attempted murder, Jan. 3, 2003

MO: Epileptic “ripper” of girls, all under five years old DISPOSITION: Confessed, Nov. 1907; sentence

Mmbengwa, David
(?– )

unknown

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-felony

DATE(S): 1991/1996 VENUE: Pietersburg, South

Mirabella, John
(1905–55)

Africa VICTIMS: Eight

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE

MO: Armed robber who preyed on couples making

DATES(S): 1920s–40s VENUE: Mich./Ohio VIC-

love in wooded areas outside town

TIMS: “Numerous”

DISPOSITION: Convicted of culpable homicide,

MO: Alcoholic Mafia hit man

December 1991; served four years of a six-year DISPOSITION: Died of cirrhosis, 1955

term; on Aug. 2, 2001 received seven life terms for murder plus 46 years on various lesser charges
Mirshekari, Yaghoub Ali
(1957–2005) AKA: Yellow Scorpion

Modeno, Mariano
(d. 1878)

SEX: M TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-felony

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC

DATE(S): 2003–04 VENUE: Zahedan, Iran VIC-

DATES(S): 1830s–78 VENUE: Rocky Mountains

TIMS: 10

VICTIMS: 100+

MO: Shot and stabbed truck drivers, then stole and MO: “Mountain man” and “endless killer” of Indians sold their trucks

DISPOSITION: Died of natural causes, 1878

DISPOSITION: Hanged on June 12, 2005; five accomplices, all members of his immediate family, were
Modzieliewski, Stanislav
(?– )

sentenced to prison for lesser offenses

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

DATES(S): 1960s VENUE: Lødz, Poland VICTIMS:

Mitchell, Jason
(1972– )

Seven

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-non-

MO: “Vampire” slayer of women; six other victims specific

survived

DATE(S): 1995 VENUE: Bramford, England VIC-

DISPOSITION: Convicted of seven murders and six TIMS: Three

attempted murders, 1969

382

Appendix A: Solo Killers

Moffett, Jessie Ray
(1959–98)

DISPOSITION: Received life terms without parole on SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./CE

two counts, April 2001; Donald Moody received a DATES(S): 1979/87 VENUE: San Diego, Calif.

life term on one count, plus five years as an acces-VICTIMS: Two

sory on a second count

MO: Bludgeoned young woman (1979); shot security guard in holdup

Moody, Robert Joe
(1959– )

DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1992; died in prison May SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE

2, 1998

DATE(S): 1993 VENUE: Tucson, Ariz. VICTIMS:

Two

Mofokeng, Sylvester
(1972– )

MO: Killed and robbed women during home invasions, SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE

to support drug habit

DATES(S): 1990s VENUE: Johannesburg, South

DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts, June 1995; Africa VICTIMS: 13

retried with same result, May 2001; sentence comMO: Escaped inmate with prior murder conviction; muted on appeal, Aug. 9, 2004

killed 12 more victims during home invasions while at large

Moody, Walter Leroy, Jr.
(1945– )

DISPOSITION: Life + 70 years for first murder; 10 life SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-terms + 145 years, 1997

extremist

DATES(S): 1989 VENUE: Ala./Ga. VICTIMS: Two

Molinari, Robert Joseph
(1958– )

MO: Racist mail bomber; killed a judge and an attorney SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC