The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (133 page)

TIMS: Three

MO: Rape-slayer of females age 13–47

Rode, Adolph James
[
See
BARONE, CESAR]

DISPOSITION: Three death sentences + 157 years for rape

Rodrigues de Brito, Francisco das Chagas
(?– ) SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.

Robinson, Maxine
(1968– )

DATE(S): 1980s–1990s VENUE: Northern Brazil

SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: PC-nonspe-

VICTIMS: 38

cific

MO: Mutilation-slayer of young boys who castrated DATE(s): 1989/1993 VENUE: Chester-le-Street, En-his victims; arrested in March 2004, with remains of gland VICTIMS: Three

two victims found in his home at São Luiz; con-MO: Mother who killed her children, ages nine months fessed 14 murders in Pará State during the 1980s to five years

and 24 in Maranhão State since 1991

DISPOSITION: Convicted of killing her 19-month old DISPOSITION: Unknown

daughter and 5-year-old son, 1995; received life prison term; pleaded guilty to murdering her nine-Rodriguez, Robert Neal (1950–92)

month-old daughter, April 22, 2004; received conSEX: M RACE: H TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

secutive life sentences

DATE(S): 1984/92 VENUE: Tallahassee, Fla. VIC-

TIMS: Three

Robinson, Sarah Jane
(d. 1905)

MO: Shot females age 16–22, when rape plans went awry SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: CE

DISPOSITION: Suicide by cyanide to avoid arrest, DATE(S): 1880s VENUE: Boston, Mass. VICTIMS:

May 15, 1992

Six

MO: “Black widow” poisoner of relatives/friends for
Roeder, Michaela
(1950– ) AKA: Angel of Death insurance

SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: PC-“mercy”

400

Appendix A: Solo Killers

DATE(S): 1980s VENUE: Wuppertal-Barmen, Ger-

Rogers, Kenneth Paul
(1943– )

many VICTIMS: 10–17

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

MO: Hospital nurse who killed intensive-care patients DATE(S): 1969 VENUE: Ill. VICTIMS: Three

DISPOSITION: Confessed 10 murders; life sentence, MO: Rape-strangler of females, including his wife 1989

DISPOSITION: Two concurrent 75–100-year terms, 1969; third concurrent 75–100-year term, 1970

Rogers, Bob
(1873–95)

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

Rogers, Ramon Jay
(1959– )

DATE(S): 1892–95 VENUE: Okla. Territory VIC-

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

TIMS: Two

DATE(S): 1977/1993–94 VENUE: Idaho/Calif.

MO: Outlaw “wanna-be”; stabbed/shot peace officers VICTIMS: Four suspected

DISPOSITION: Killed resisting arrest, Mar. 13, 1895

MO: Suspected of wife’s murder (1977); dismembered a male friend and two women

Rogers, David Keith
(1947– )

DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count in Calif., SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

1996

DATE(S): 1986 VENUE: Kern County, Calif. VIC-

TIMS: Three suspected

MO: Sheriff’s deputy who shot prostitutes age 15 and
Rollack, Peter
(1974– )

21

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

DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1987

DATE(S): 1990s VENUE: New York City VIC-

TIMS: Eight

Rogers, Dayton Leroy
(1953– ) AKA: Molalla For-MO: Leader of gang called Sex, Money, and Murder; est Killer

ordered and participated in eight murders and one SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.

attempted murder related to drug trafficking

DATE(S): 1987 VENUE: Portland, Ore. VICTIMS:

DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty on all counts in January Eight

2000, accepting a sentence of life without parole in MO: Torture-slayer and “ripper” of female prostitutes solitary confinement

DISPOSITION: Life with 20-year minimum on one

count, 1988; condemned on seven counts, 1989;

Rolle, Randal
(1918–49)

sentence reversed again, May 4, 2000

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

specific

Rogers, George White
(1898–1958)

DATE(S): 1940s VENUE: Miss. VICTIMS: “At

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

least nine”

DATE(S): 1934/1953 VENUE: Atlantic Ocean/N.J.

MO: Skeletal remains found at home after suicide VICTIMS: 135 suspected

DISPOSITION: Suicide by gunshot, Oct. 14, 1949

MO: Radio operator aboard the cruise ship
Morro
Castle,
now prime suspect in the shipboard fire that
Rolling, Danny Harold
(1954– ) AKA: Gainesville killed 133 passengers and crew on Sept. 8, 1934

Ripper

(possibly set to conceal one homicide aboard)

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

DISPOSITION: Imprisoned for attempted murder

DATE(S): 1989–90 VENUE: La./Fla. VICTIMS:

while serving as a policeman in Bayonne, N.J.; after Eight confessed

parole, killed two robbery victims and received a life MO: Mutilation slayer of victims in random home term; died in prison, 1958

invasions

Rogers, Glen Edward
(1962–

) AKA: Cross-Coun-

DISPOSITION: Condemned in Fla., 1994

try Killer

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

Ronghi, Frank
(1965– )

DATE(S): 1992–96 VENUE: United States VIC-

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

TIMS: 70+ confessed

DATE(S): 1991/2000 VENUE: Iraq/Yugoslavia

MO: Transient rape-mutilation slayer of women in var-VICTIMS: More than two confessed

ious states; confessed 70+ murders to relatives MO: U.S. soldier and rape-slayer of an 11-year-old DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count in Florida, Albanian girl in Kosovo; boasted of killing other vic-July 11, 1997; condemned on one count in Califor-tims “in the desert,” presumably a reference to the nia, June 21, 1999

first Gulf War

401

The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers

DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty to murder and forcible MO: “Werewolf” cannibal-slayer of victims slain at sodomy, receiving a term of life imprisonment with-random

out parole, Aug. 1, 2000

DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1598; later committed to asylum as insane

Ronning, Michael
(?– )

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

Rowland, Walter Graham
(d. 1947)

DATE(S): 1982–86 VENUE: Miss./Ark./Tex. VIC-

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

TIMS: Six confessed

DATE(S): 1930s–46 VENUE: Manchester, England

MO: Rape slayer of females aged 17–20

VICTIMS: Two

DISPOSITION: Convicted on one count and sentenced MO: Killed a child and a 40-year-old woman

to life in Arkansas, 1986; confessed additional mur-DISPOSITION: Imprisoned on first counts; hanged on ders in Michigan, 1992; passed polygraph on one second count, Feb. 27, 1947

Michigan case for which another man is imprisoned, 1996; plea bargain on three Michigan murders

Rowles, “Snowy”
(d. 1932) AKA: John Thomas Smith rejected, 1997

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

DATE(S): 1929–30 VENUE: Australia VICTIMS:

Rooyen, Gert van
(d. 1990)

Two+

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

MO: Robbed/murdered male acquaintances in Aus-

DATE(S): 1988–89 VENUE: South Africa VIC-

tralian desert

TIMS: Seven

DISPOSITION: Hanged June 13, 1932

MO: Pedophile slayer of young girls; also shot his adult female lover

Rowntree, Mark
(1957– )

DISPOSITION: Suicide by gunshot to avoid arrest, SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-non-1990

specific

DATE(S): 1976 VENUE: Leeds, England VICTIMS:

Rosenfeld, Brian Kevin
(1958– )

Four

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

MO: Stabbed strangers age three to 85 in random

“mercy”

attacks, directed by “voices”

DATE(S): 1990 VENUE: Pinellas County, Fla. VIC-DISPOSITION: Ruled insane; indefinite committal to TIMS: 23 confessed

asylum, 1976

MO: Nurse who murdered elderly rest home patients DISPOSITION: Three life terms with 25 years mini-Rozier, Robert (1956– )

mum, 1992

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/Cult

DATE(S): 1981–86 VENUE: Fla./Mo./N.J./N.Y.

Rosenkrantz, Bernard
(d. 1935) AKA: Lulu VICTIMS: More than seven

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

MO: Enforcer for the Hebrew Israelite cult; killed cult DATE(S): 1920s–35 VENUE: N.Y./N.J. VICTIMS:

defectors and opponents; at least one victim killed

“Numerous”

from personal spite

MO: Contract killer for ARTHUR FLEGENHEIMER gang DISPOSITION: 22-year prison term in Florida, 1987; DISPOSITION: Murdered with Flegenheimer, Oct. 23, later turned state’s evidence against cult leader Yah-1935

weh Ben Yahweh and entered witness protection

program as “Robert Ramses”; convicted in July

Roth, Randolph Gordon
(1954– )

2000 of check fraud in California; charges dismissed SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE

in a New Jersey cult murder, September 2000

DATE(S): 1981/90 VENUE: Seattle, Wash., area

VICTIMS: Two

Rudabaugh, Dave
(1841–86)

MO: “Bluebeard” slayer of wives for insurance

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

DISPOSITION: 50 years on one count, 1992

DATE(S): 1876–86 VENUE: Tex./N. Mex./Mexico

VICTIMS: “Several”

Roulet, Jacques
(?–?)

MO: Old West outlaw and gunman; victims included SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.

one lawman

DATE(S): 1590s VENUE: France VICTIMS:

DISPOSITION: Beheaded by friends of his last two vic-

“Many” confessed

tims, in Mexico, Feb. 1886

402

Appendix A: Solo Killers

Rudloff, Fritz
(1904–54)

Ruzicka, James
(1950– )

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

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

DATE(S): 1954 VENUE: Walterhausen, East Ger-

DATE(S): 1973 VENUE: Seattle, Wash. VICTIMS:

many VICTIMS: Three

Two

MO:Hospital nurse who killed three patients to spite MO: Serial rapist who killed girls age 14 and 16

their doctor, a personal enemy

DISPOSITION: Two consecutive life terms, 1974

DISPOSITION: Executed, 1954

Ryakhovsky, Sergei
(1963– ) AKA: The Hippopota-Rulloffson, Edward Howard (d. 1871) AKA: Edward mus

Ruloff

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

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

DATE(S): 1991–93 VENUE: Moscow, Russia VIC-

DATE(S): 1870–71 VENUE: N.Y. VICTIMS: Four+

TIMS: 19

MO: “Herb healer” who killed patients (including his MO: Obese necrophile; victims raped/mutilated after wife and daughter), selling bodies for dissection; death

also killed male burglary victim

DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1995

DISPOSITION: Hanged on one count, May 1871

Saietta, Ignazio
(1877–1944) AKA:Lupo the Wolf
Runge, Paul Frederick
(1970– )

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

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

DATE(S): 1899–1920 VENUE: New York City

DATE(S): 1995–97 VENUE: Chicago, Ill. VIC-

VICTIMS: 60+

TIMS: Eight confessed

MO: “Black Hand” extortionist and killer; victims MO: Rape-slayer of female victims aged 10–43; con-slaughtered at “murder stable” in Italian Harlem DISPOSITION: Served prison terms for extortion and fessed murders on video tape; additional DNA links counterfeiting

found to several victims

DISPOSITION: Confessed in custody, then pleaded not
Saldivar, Efren
(1970– ) AKA: Angel of Death guilty; received 90-year prison term for an October SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: S MOTIVE: PC-“mercy”

2000 jailbreak, July 25, 2002; murder trial pending DATE(S): 1989–97 VENUE: Glendale, Calif. VIC-at press time

TIMS: 60+ confessed

MO: Respiratory therapist at Glendale Adventist Med-Rush, James Blomfield (d. 1849)

ical Center who killed patients by suffocation and SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC

injection; confessed 60 murders through 1994 but DATE(S): 1848 VENUE: Norwich, England VIC-

“lost count” over the next three years

TIMS: Three alleged

DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty on six counts and

MO: Tried for murdering his landlord in a personal received life prison term without parole, March 12, dispute; also accused of killing his own parents 2002

DISPOSITION: Hanged on April 21, 1849

Sampson, Gary Lee
(1960– )

Rust, Mark Erin
(1965– )

SEX: M RACE: Unk. TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-

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

felony

DATE(S): 1999 VENUE: South Australia VICTIMS:

DATE(S): 2001 VENUE: Mass./N.H. VICTIMS:

Two

Three

MO: Rape slayer of women in their 20s and 30s

MO: Hitchhiker who murdered those who offered

DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty on one count in Decem-rides and stole their cars

ber 2002; pleaded guilty on second count in April DISPOSITION: Condemned under federal carjacking 2003; received life term without parole, April 2004

statute, Dec. 27, 2003

Russell, George Waterfield
(1958– )

Samuels, Mary Ellen
(1948– )

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

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

DATE(S): 1990 VENUE: Seattle, Wash. VICTIMS:

DATE(S): 1988–89 VENUE: Southern California

Three

VICTIMS: Two

MO: Raped/bludgeoned/strangled women age 24–36