Most intriguing unsolved non-JtR serial killer cases

[sdreid]

In my view, De Salvo was probably responsible for Mary Mullen's death but that was much more like reckless homicide than murder.

That was the one he actually brought up.

[sdreid]

According to accounts of the murders, Kate was the bait.

[sdreid]

The Benders killed at least 10 men and one girl in 1872-73. There were rumored sightings for years after they vanished; mostly of Kate, the reportedly comely daughter.

[sdreid]

Of course, maybe someone did tell and that's how we know about it. The only other explanation is that somebody just made the tale up.

[sdreid]

That's a big case Mack and one of the few that were officially unsolved and pre-Ripper. There is the rumor that the posse caught up to the brood and lynched them. It's a little hard for me to believe that all the band could take that to their graves without telling a sole though.

[macknnc]

I would vote for "The Bloody Benders" of roughly Civil War Era Kansas. Though there was no doubte the Bender family killed several people, none of them were ever captured or tried...

[sdreid]

Stan, the "Grim Sleeper" is very interesting case. It seems to add further weight that debunks the myth the serial killers must continue killing until there are caught, dead, or incarcerated. Not only does the Grim Sleeper appear to have stopped killing women for a gap of 14 years, but he also fits the profile of the anonymous "local" guy theory that many of us believe is the likely scenario with JTR. The guy appears to have never even left the area during the entire time of the killings.

Yes Pinkerton, another of many nails in the coffin of that flawed tenet.

[sdreid]

Susan Kelly has a pretty good book on the Strangler case and I believe she thinks that the older group may have been slain by one killer but that the younger victims were likely one-offs. I'm not in total agreement with her but she could be right. In my view, De Salvo was probably responsible for Mary Mullen's death but that was much more like reckless homicide than murder.

[belinda]

Sorry, I cannot agree with this. I think the confession was bogus and I am entirely unconvinced that de Salvo was the Strangler. Actually I doubt if de Salvo ever murdered anyone, altho he did commit other crimes.

DNA has pretty much cleared him of the last "Strangler" murder (that of Mary Sullivan), and I'm beginning to agree with some researchers who think that in fact there was more than one "Boston Strangler".

I also find it extremely suspicious that de Salvo was murdered in prison (the murder is still unsolved, BTW!!) shortly before he was allegedly going to "spill the beans" to the press.

I think someone wanted de Salvo to keep his mouth shut, and that someone may well have been a Mr. George Nassar. (Wanna sue me, George? Please do...I could use the money lol!)

I agree. I think there were at least two probably three Boston Stranglers and De Salvo wasn't any of them.

I'd put money on Nasser being one.He had a lot of contact with De Salvo in Gaol.

[Pinkerton]

interesting case

Stan, the "Grim Sleeper" is very interesting case. It seems to add further weight that debunks the myth the serial killers must continue killing until there are caught, dead, or incarcerated. Not only does the Grim Sleeper appear to have stopped killing women for a gap of 14 years, but he also fits the profile of the anonymous "local" guy theory that many of us believe is the likely scenario with JTR. The guy appears to have never even left the area during the entire time of the killings.

[Mrs. Fiddymont]

Just popped in for a second. Interesting thread. If you rely on television documentaries to provide all the facts in a case, don't. They usually have biased premise that almost always attacks the historic, and accepted, view. It's a one-sided presentation, like a jury hearing only from the defendant's attorney. The case of the Boston Strangler is a case in point. No one who has studied the complete history of the case, reviewed the police reports and - most importantly - read the complete transcript of DeSalvo's confessions, can ever doubt that he and he alone committed all of the murders attributed to the Strangler. Since the case was solved by DeSalvo's confessions, it certainly cannot compare with JTR.

Sorry, I cannot agree with this. I think the confession was bogus and I am entirely unconvinced that de Salvo was the Strangler. Actually I doubt if de Salvo ever murdered anyone, altho he did commit other crimes.

DNA has pretty much cleared him of the last "Strangler" murder (that of Mary Sullivan), and I'm beginning to agree with some researchers who think that in fact there was more than one "Boston Strangler".

I also find it extremely suspicious that de Salvo was murdered in prison (the murder is still unsolved, BTW!!) shortly before he was allegedly going to "spill the beans" to the press.

I think someone wanted de Salvo to keep his mouth shut, and that someone may well have been a Mr. George Nassar. (Wanna sue me, George? Please do...I could use the money lol!)

[sdreid]

Mr. Newton said in his email to me that the chance of a Third Edition of ESK is still up in the air.

[sdreid]

Was this case kept under wraps for a while? The reason I ask is because I don't see it in The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. Perhaps they just missed it.

I submitted Maskenmann to ESK so it should be in there if there's ever a Third Edition.

[sdreid]

It appears that the so-called Grim Sleeper Case has finally been solved.

Or at least, Lonnie David Franklin Jr. has been arrested in connection with the crimes.

[sdreid]

It appears that the so-called Grim Sleeper Case has finally been solved.