Read The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers Online
Authors: Michael Newton
Tags: #True Crime, #Murder, #General, #Serial Killers
MO: Stabbed an Oklahoma woman to death for her 21 confessed
credit cards; stabbed a man in Missouri while stealing
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The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
his car; killed the tow truck driver who stopped to MO: “Bluebeard” slayer of ex-wife and mother
help him when the stolen car ran out of gas
DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count + life terms DISPOSITION: Condemned in Oklahoma and Ten-for second count, burglary and kidnapping, 1994
nessee; life sentence in Missouri
Thompson, Ben
(1843–84)
Thanos, John Frederick
(1949–94)
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-felony
DATE(S): 1863–84 VENUE: La./Tex. VICTIMS:
DATE(S): 1990 VENUE: Md. VICTIMS: Three
Eight+
MO: Shot robbery victims age 14–18
MO: “Shootist” and occasional lawman; shot various DISPOSITION: Condemned on three counts; executed personal enemies, including a Union soldier
May 17, 1994
DISPOSITION: Killed in gunfight at San Antonio, Mar.
11, 1884
Theron, John
(?– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-
Thompson, Jerry K.
(1961– )
extremist
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
DATE(S): 1979–80 VENUE: Namibia VICTIMS:
DATE(S): 1991 VENUE: Indianapolis, Ind. VIC-
200 confessed
TIMS: Three
MO: South African special forces officer who murdered MO: Career criminal; shot two men and one woman in black prisoners of war by strangulation and lethal holdups
injection; also “experimented” on black taxi drivers DISPOSITION: Condemned
with poisoned beer
DISPOSITION: Absolved by South Africa’s Truth and
Thompson, Kelly Ray
(1968– )
Reconciliation Commission in return for confession SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex.
DATE(S): 1990s VENUE: Wash./Colo. VICTIMS:
Tholmer, Brandon
(1949– )
Eight confessed
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./CE
MO: Stabbed women in random attacks
DATE(S): 1981–84 VENUE: Los Angeles, Calif.
DISPOSITION: 31 years on one count in Wash., 1998
VICTIMS: 34 suspected
MO: Rape-slayer of elderly women; victims also
Thompson, Raymond Michael
(1930– )
robbed
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-felony
DISPOSITION: Four consecutive life terms, 1986
DATE(S): 1980–82 VENUE: Broward County, Fla.
VICTIMS: Two
Thomas, Ed Clifford
(1960– )
MO: Killed robbery/kidnap victims
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count + life for DATE(S): 1980 VENUE: Dade County, Fla. VIC-kidnapping, 1986; 17 years six months on second TIMS: Two
count, 1987
MO: Killed victims in personal disputes
DISPOSITION: Two life terms, 1981
Thompson, Robert J.
(1909– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./CE
Thomas, Renard Carlos
(1962– )
DATE(S): 1958 VENUE: Mexico VICTIMS: Two
SEX: M RACE: Unk. TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
MO:American expatriate; raped/robbed/bludgeoned DATE(S): 1981–98 VENUE: DeKalb County, Calif.
female tourists
VICTIMS: Three suspected
DISPOSITION: Life sentence, Nov. 1958
MO: Named as prime suspect in the murders of two wives and a girlfriend
Thompson, William
(1845–88?) AKA: Texas Billy DISPOSITION: Received life sentence on April 9, SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC
2003, for the 1998 murder of his second wife; iden-DATE(S): 1973 VENUE: Kans./Colo./Tex. VIC-
tified by prosecutors as the probable killer in two TIMS: “Several”
other cases
MO: Psychotic brother of BEN THOMPSON; victims included at least one lawman
Thomas, William Gregory
(1960– )
DISPOSITION: Reportedly killed in Laredo, Tex.
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
DATE(S): 1991/93 VENUE: Duval County, Fla.
Thompson, William Paul
(1937–89)
VICTIMS: Two
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE/PC
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Appendix A: Solo Killers
DATE(S): 1980s VENUE: N.Y./Kans./Calif./Nev.
Tipton, John Calvin
(1936–58)
VICTIMS: Six confessed
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Shot men in personal conflicts and contract mur-DATE(S): 1956 VENUE: Orange County, Calif.
ders
VICTIMS: Two
DISPOSITION: Convicted on two counts in Calif.; exe-MO: Home-invader; stabbed 18-year-old girls in breasts cuted in Nev. on one count, June 19, 1989
DISPOSITION: Executed on one count, Sept. 27, 1958
Thorpe, Scott Harlan
(1960– )
Tipton, Richard
(1971– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-drugs
DATE(S): 2001 VENUE: Nevada City, Calif. VIC-
DATE(S): 1992 VENUE: Richmond, Va. VICTIMS:
TIMS: Three
11
MO: Delusional paranoid who shot five victims, killing MO: Led drug gang in series of murders
three
DISPOSITION: Condemned under federal law
DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty to three murder counts, March 24, 2003; found to be insane and committed
Todd, George
(1841–64)
to an asylum for life
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/CE
DATE(S): 1861–64 VENUE: Kans./Mo. VICTIMS:
Threinen, David
(1947– )
“Numerous”
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Member of “QUANTRILL’S RAIDERS”
DATE(S): 1975 VENUE: Saskatoon, Canada VIC-
DISPOSITION: Killed by Union sniper, Oct. 22, 1864
TIMS: Four
MO: Pedophile slayer of two boys aged nine and 12,
Todd, Sweeney
(1756–1802) AKA: Human Ghoul and two girls aged seven and eight
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: CE
DISPOSITION: Pled guilty on four counts and received DATE(S): 1784–1801 VENUE: London, England
life term, 1975; rejected all further parole bids, VICTIMS: 160 alleged
August 2000
MO: Real-life “demon barber of Fleet Street” who robbed/killed patrons of both sexes; flesh of victims
Thwala, Sipho Agmatir
(1967– ) AKA: Phoenix processed and sold as “veal pies” by lover/accom-Strangler
plice Margery Lovett
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
DISPOSITION: Hanged on one count, Jan. 25, 1802; DATE(S): 1994–98 VENUE: Phoenix, South Africa
Lovett committed suicide in prison after confessing, VICTIMS: 16–19
Dec. 1801
MO: Rape-slayer of black women aged 20–30, strangled with their own underwear
Toffania
(1653–1723)
DISPOSITION: Acquitted of a rape-murder in 1994; SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE/Sad.
received 506-year sentence on March 31, 1999 for DATE(S): 1670–1719 VENUE: Naples, Italy VIC-16 murders and various lesser felonies
TIMS: 600 estimated
MO: Extreme feminist; poisoner-for-hire of unwanted
Tilley, Joe Vance
(1974– )
husbands
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sad.
DISPOSITION: Executed by garrote, 1723
DATE(S): 1990 VENUE: Johnson/Marshall counties, Okla. VICTIMS: Three
Tolerton, Kenyon
(?– )
MO: Thrill-killer of elderly man and two 15-year-old SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex.
girls
DATE(S): 1976–80 VENUE: Colo. VICTIMS: Four
DISPOSITION: Life without parole on one count, suspected
1993; condemned on second count
MO: Sex slayer of petite white females aged 14–21; victims stabbed
Tingler, Richard Lee, Jr.
(1940– )
DISPOSITION: Life without parole plus 48 years on SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony
two counts, 1993; new DNA evidence under investi-DATE(S): 1968 VENUE: Cleveland/Columbus, Ohio
gation in two more cases
VICTIMS: Six
MO: Executed victims of both sexes during robberies
Toppan, Jane
(1854–1938)
DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1969 (sentence com-
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-non-
muted to life, 1972)
specific
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The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
DATE(S): 1880–1901 VENUE: New England VIC-
DATE(S): 1897–1902 VENUE: Colo./Wyo./Utah
TIMS: 70–100 suspected
VICTIMS: “Several”
MO: Live-in “nurse” who poisoned patients and their MO: “Wild Bunch” outlaw known for his murderous relatives
temper
DISPOSITION: Confessed 31 counts, 1901; confined DISPOSITION: Suicide by gunshot to avoid arrest, to insane asylum where she died, in Aug. 1938
Aug. 6, 1902
Torres, Leslie
(1971– )
Traore, Mamadou
(1973– )
SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
DATE(S): 1988 VENUE: New York City VICTIMS:
DATE(S): 1997 VENUE: Paris, France VICTIMS:
Five
Two
MO: Victims shot in robberies staged to support drug MO: Senegal native who blamed demonic possession addiction
for violent assaults on six women, including two DISPOSITION: Life term with 60-year minimum, Apr.
fatalities
1989
DISPOSITION: Life sentence with 22-year minimum, February 2000
Torres Hernandez, Ramon
(1971– ) AKA: The Razor
Trapishkin, Nicholas
(d. 1926)
SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
DATE(S): 1991 VENUE: San Antonio, Tex. VIC-
DATE(S): 1920-26 VENUE: Russia VICTIMS: 100
TIMS: Five alleged
alleged
MO: Rape-slayer of young women, sometimes operat-MO: Apparent outlaw; several robbery charges also ing with accomplices
included
DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count, Oct. 2002; DISPOSITION: Executed, 1926
named as prime suspect in four additional rape-murders
Travis, Maury Troy
(1966–2002)
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
Toshihiko Haseqawa
(1951–2001)
DATE(S): 2001–02 VENUE: St. Louis, Mo. VIC-
SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony
TIMS: 10–20 alleged
DATE(S): 1979–83 VENUE: Japan VICTIMS:
MO: Black female prostitutes beaten and strangled Three
DISPOSITION: Arrested June 7, 2002; suicide by MO: Killed two men, aged 20 and 30, for insurance hanging in his cell, June 10
payments; murdered a 39-year-old money broker
during robbery
Trawick, Jack Harrison
(1946– )
DISPOSITION: Hanged on Dec. 27, 2001
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
DATE(S): 1972–92 VENUE: Ala./Ore./at sea VIC-
Totia, Hiralal
(?– )
TIMS: Five confessed
SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
MO: Rape-strangler of women, including one thrown DATE(S): 2004 VENUE: Shankarpur, India VIC-overboard on cruise ship sailing from Seattle to Alaska TIMS: Three
DISPOSITION: Condemned in Ala., 1994
MO: Vampire killer of a policeman, a cab driver, and a woman; drank blood of victims to prevent their spir-Trillo, Martin (?– )
its from haunting him
SEX: M RACE: ? TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
DISPOSITION: Unknown
DATE(S): 1981 VENUE: Sacramento, Calif. VIC-
TIMS: Two
Townser, Anthony
(1975– )
MO: Lust strangler of women
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
DISPOSITION: Two life terms without parole, 1984
DATE(S): 1993 VENUE: Ill./Mo. VICTIMS: Three
suspected
Troppmann, Jean-Baptiste
(1848–70) AKA: Human MO: Home invader; killed/robbed elderly whites Tiger
DISPOSITION: 75-year term on one count, 1995
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
DATE(S): 1869 VENUE: France VICTIMS: Eight
Tracy, Harry
(1876–1902)
MO: Murdered entire family during prolonged swindle SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
DISPOSITION: Guillotined Jan. 19, 1870
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Appendix A: Solo Killers
Troyer, Daniel Ray
(1960– )
MO: Shot women aged 54 and 21, during residential SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./CE-burglaries; formerly served 17 years for rape in Utah felony
DISPOSITION: Executed on May 28, 2004
DATE(S): 1985–88 VENUE: Salt Lake City, Utah
VICTIMS: 13 suspected
Tuggle, Lem Davis, Jr.
(d. 1996)
MO: Robbed, beat and sexually assaulted women, SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
aged 69–88, in their homes
DATE(S): 1971/83 VENUE: Smyth County, Va.
DISPOSITION: Received sentence of 1–15 years for VICTIMS: Two
attacking a 71-year-old paraplegic in 1978; paroled MO: Rape-slayer of women
1982; received 15 years for a 1982 burglary; paroled DISPOSITION: Life term, 1971 (paroled 1983); exe-in 1985; 1988 murder charge dismissed on technical cuted Dec. 12, 1996
grounds; pled guilty on two murder counts and
received consecutive life terms (one without parole),
Tullis, Patrick
(1959– )
June 1999; confessed three more murders with pros-SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
ecution waived, October 1999
DATE(S): 1987 VENUE: Chicago, Ill. VICTIMS:
Two
Trueblood, Lydia
(?–?)
MO: Homophobic slayer of gay men; victims
SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-inheri-
stabbed/strangled
tance
DISPOSITION: 60 years on two counts, 1989
DATE(S): 1915–19 VENUE: Mo./Mont./Idaho
VICTIMS: Five
Ture, Joseph Donald, Jr.
(1950– )
MO: “Black widow” poisoner of husbands and a