Read The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers Online
Authors: Michael Newton
Tags: #True Crime, #Murder, #General, #Serial Killers
1984
DISPOSITION: Life without parole on one count in Calif., 1996
Ramirez Sánchez, Ilich
(1949– ) AKA: Carlos the Jackal
Razaq, Abdul
(1944– )
SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE/PC-
SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
extremist
DATE(S): 2001–02 VENUE: Bahawalpur, India
DATE(S): 1974–82 VENUE: France/Austria VIC-
VICTIMS: Eight
TIMS: 12+
MO: Rape-strangler of elderly women
MO: Left-wing terrorist for hire; victims murdered by DISPOSITION: Unknown
gunshot and bombing
DISPOSITION: Life sentence for three counts in Paris,
Read, Mark Brandon
(1955– ) AKA: Chopper 1997
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
DATE(S): 1979–91 VENUE: Melbourne, Australia
Rand, Andre
(1943– ) AKA: Pied Piper of Staten VICTIMS: 19 confessed
Island
MO: Self-described vigilante slayer of criminals SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
DISPOSITION: Served 20+ years for assault and
DATE(S): 1972–87 VENUE: New York City VIC-
other felony counts; released from prison July TIMS: Five suspected
1997
MO: Pedophile slayer of girls aged 5–12
DISPOSITION: Convicted of kidnapping, 1989, while
Read, Mary
(d. 1721)
jury deadlocked on murder charge in case of girl still SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
missing; received prison term of 25 years to life; trial DATE(S): 1719–20 VENUE: Caribbean VICTIMS:
on second kidnapping case in progress at press time
“Several”
MO: Abducted by pirates; joined the crew on various
Randall, James Michael
(1954– )
raids
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
DISPOSITION: Died in prison, Apr. 1721
DATE(S): 1995–96 VENUE: Pinellas County, Fla.
VICTIMS: Two
Rearden, Virginia
(1932– ) AKA: Virginia McGinnis MO: Rape-strangler of female prostitutes left in dumpSEX: F RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
sters
DATE(S): 1972–87 VENUE: Ky./Calif. VICTIMS:
DISPOSITION: Condemned in 1997; sentence reduced Three
to life on appeal, April 2000
MO: “Black widow” slayer of husband, daughter, and female friend for insurance
Rardon, Gary Duane
(1944– )
DISPOSITION: Life without parole in Calif., 1992
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/CE
DATE(S): 1962/74 VENUE: Indianapolis/Chicago
Red Dog, James Allen
(1954–93)
VICTIMS: Four
SEX: M RACE: NA TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
MO: Jailed for manslaughter at 18; later shot three DATE(S): 1990–91 VENUE: Del. VICTIMS: Five
men in holdups
suspected
DISPOSITION: Four years for manslaughter, 1962; MO: Killed acquaintances in personal disputes
40–100 years, Feb. 1977
DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count, 1992; executed Mar. 3, 1993
Rath, Thomas
(1959– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
Reed, Todd Alan
(1967– ) AKA: Forest Park Serial DATE(S): 1981–83 VENUE: Bremen, Germany
Killer
VICTIMS: Four suspected
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Rapist and “ripper” of females age 17–20
DATE(S): 1987/1999 VENUE: Portland, Ore. VIC-
DISPOSITION: Life sentence for sexual assault, 1985
TIMS: Three to five
397
The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
MO: Rape-slayer of three women strangled in Forest MO: Abducted a woman from a local laundromat and Park, 1999; prime suspect in murders of two teenage beat her to death; prime suspect in the disappear-girls 12 years earlier
ance of another woman and a pregnant 17-year-old DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty on three counts and girl
received three consecutive life terms, Feb. 24, 2001
DISPOSITION: Life term received for one murder at trial in 1991; overturned on appeal; received
Reeves, Jack Wayne
(1940– )
another life term at second trial; eligible for parole SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-in 2019
domestic
DATE(S): 1967/78/94 VENUE: Italy/Tex. VIC-
Reldan, Robert R.
(1940– )
TIMS: Three
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Shot male victim in Italy; “Bluebeard” slayer of DATE(S): 1974–75 VENUE: Northern N.J. VIC-wives in U.S.
TIMS: Eight suspected
DISPOSITION: 1967 manslaughter conviction
MO: Slayer of females age 14–26
(released after four months.); 35 years on one count, DISPOSITION: Life sentence on two counts, 1979
1995; 99 years with 40-year minimum, 1996
Reles, Abraham
(1970–41) AKA: Kid Twist
Regan, John
(1945–74) AKA: Nano the Magician SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE/PC
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-felony
DATE(S): 1930–40 VENUE: N.Y./N.J. VICTIMS:
DATE(S): 1960s–1970s VENUE: Sydney, Australia
30+
VICTIMS: “Multiple”
MO: Contract killer for “MURDER, INC.”
MO: Underworld contract killer nicknamed for his DISPOSITION: Murdered in police custody after turn-ability to make victims disappear
ing state’s evidence, Nov. 12, 1941
DISPOSITION: Shot by gangland rivals in September 1974
Remeta, Daniel Eugene
(1958–98)
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
Register, Glen Randall
(1959– )
DATE(S): 1985 VENUE: Fla./Ark./Kans. VICTIMS:
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/CE
Five
DATE(S): 1998–99 VENUE: Colo./Fla. VICTIMS:
MO: Robbed/shot victims in cross-country rampage; Two suspected
wife called him a “warrior who stood up for his MO: Drifter who bludgeoned and robbed three male victims aged 26–57, killing two; two victims beaten beliefs”
with toilet tank lids
DISPOSITION: Executed in Fla., Mar. 30, 1998
DISPOSITION: Life sentence for a Florida murder plus 30 years for robbery, on Sept. 26, 2001; detainer
Rendall, Martha
(d. 1909)
from Colorado in case of parole
SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: Sad.
DATE(S): 1907–8 VENUE: Australia VICTIMS:
Reid, Paul Dennis
(1956– )
Three
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony
MO: Killed three stepchildren by feeding them
DATE(S): 1996–97 VENUE: Tenn./Ill. VICTIMS:
hydrochloric acid
12+ suspected
DISPOSITION: Hanged, Oct. 6, 1909
MO: Shot victims in armed robberies of various restaurants
Rezala, Sid Ahmed
(1979–2000)
DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts for Feb.
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-non-
1997 holdup-murders in Tennessee, April 15, 1999; specific
condemned on two counts for April 1997 holdup-
DATE(S): 1999 VENUE: France VICTIMS: Three
murders in Tennessee, Sept. 9, 1999; condemned on confessed
three counts for March 1997 holdup-murders in
MO: Stabbed his 20-year-old girlfriend and two other Tennessee, May 28, 2000
women, aged 20 and 36, after “seeing flashes”
DISPOSITION: Arrested in Lisbon; suicide by fire in
Reinbold, William
(?– ) AKA: The Hammer his Lisbon jail cell, on June 29, 2000
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
DATE(S): 1983–88 VENUE: Farmington, Ill. VIC-
Rhoades, Paul Ezra
(1957– )
TIMS: Three suspected
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./CE
398
Appendix A: Solo Killers
DATE(S): 1985–87 VENUE: Utah/Idaho VICTIMS:
Rissell, Monte Ralph
(1959– )
Six suspected
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Shot females age 16–34, some robbed and raped DATE(S): 1976–77 VENUE: Alexandria, Va. VIC-DISPOSITION: Condemned in Idaho, 1988
TIMS: Five
MO: Rape-slayer of women age 22–34
Rich, Darrell Keith
(1955–2000) AKA: Hilltop Rapist DISPOSITION: Life terms on five counts
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
DATE(S): 1978 VENUE: Redding, Calif. VICTIMS:
Rivera Benitez, Martin
(?– ) AKA: Big Soul Four
SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-felony
MO: Rape-slayer of females aged 11–26; two victims DATE(S): 1969–72 VENUE: Jasatipan, Mexico
bludgeoned with stones, one shot, one thrown from VICTIMS: 50+
bridge
MO: Contract killer operating from a mortuary where DISPOSITION: Executed on March 15, 2000
police found 12 headless corpses in 1972; later confessed “more killings than I can remember”
DISPOSITION: Life prison term
Richards, Robert McKinley
(d. 1989)
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex.
Rivera, Reinaldo
(1963– )
DATE(S): 1986–87 VENUE: Tenn. VICTIMS: Two
SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex.
confessed
DATE(S): 1999–2000 VENUE: S.C./Ga. VICTIMS:
MO: Self-declared rape-slayer of teenage girls Four
DISPOSITION: Strangled by cellmate in jail, at his MO: Kidnapped and raped seven females aged 17–21, request, 1989
killing four
DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count in Georgia,
Richards, Stephen Lee
(d. 1879) AKA: Nebraska Jan. 26, 2004; received 105 years for three Georgia Fiend
rapes and other felonies, Feb. 12, 2004
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/CE
DATE(S): 1879 VENUE: Lincoln/Minden, Nebr.
Rivera, Vincent Faustino
(1963– )
VICTIMS: Nine +
SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
MO: Random “thrill” killings; victims include a family DATE(S): 1990/95 VENUE: Fla. VICTIMS: Three
of five
MO: Killed two victims in Hillsborough County; DISPOSITION: Hanged, Apr. 1879
named as slayer of GERARD SCHAEFER in prison at Starke, Gainesville, Florida
Richmond, Earl, Jr.
(1961– )
DISPOSITION: Life + 20 years on two counts, 1990
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE/Sex.
DATE(S): 1990–91 VENUE: N.J./N.C. VICTIMS:
Robaczynski, Mary Rose
(?– )
Five
SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: PC-“mercy”
MO: Home invader, killed victims age 11–68
DATE(S): 1977–78 VENUE: Baltimore, Md. VIC-
DISPOSITION: Life + six years in N.J. on one count, TIMS: Four confessed
1993; condemned in N.C. on three counts, 1995
MO: Nurse who disconnected intensive-care patients from life-support devices
DISPOSITION: Mistrial with hung jury, 1979; charges
Rifkin, Joel
(1959– )
dropped in bargain to permanently revoke nursing SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
license
DATE(S): 1991–92 VENUE: New York City area
VICTIMS: 18
Robbins, Gary A.
(1935–88)
MO: Slayer of female prostitutes
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
DISPOSITION: Multiple life terms, 1994–95
DATE(S): 1981–88 VENUE: Mich./Ohio/Md./Pa.
VICTIMS: Four+
Ringgold, John Peter
(1844–82) AKA: Johnny Ringo MO: Traveling salesman; rape-slayer of women in SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE/PC
homes advertised for sale; some victims tortured DATE(S): 1870s–82 VENUE: Tex./Mexico/Ariz.
DISPOSITION: Suicide after shoot-out with Pa. police, VICTIMS: “Numerous”
Apr. 14, 1988
MO: Old West outlaw, gunfighter, and feudist
DISPOSITION: Found murdered in Ariz., July 14,
Roberts, Andrew L.
(d. 1878) AKA: Buckshot 1882
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: PC/Sad.
399
The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
DATE(S): 1870s VENUE: N. Mex. VICTIMS:
DISPOSITION: Condemned (commuted to life term on
“Numerous”
appeal); died in prison, 1905
MO: Prolific Old West gunman and hired killer
DISPOSITION: Killed in shoot-out with “regulators,”
Robison, Larry Keith
(1957–2000)
Apr. 4, 1878
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-non-
specific
Roberts, David James
(1944– )
DATE(S): 1982 VENUE: Fort Worth, Tex. VIC-
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./PC-
TIMS: Five
revenge
MO: Paranoid schizophrenic who beheaded his gay DATE(S): 1974 VENUE: Indianapolis, Ind. VIC-lover, then killed four others in a psychotic murder TIMS: Four
spree
MO: Serial rapist who killed one victim’s infant; also DISPOSITION: Executed on Jan. 21, 2000
burned home of a man who reported him for theft, killing three
Roche, Charles, Jr.
(1964– )
DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1975
SEX: M RACE: ? TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
DATE(S): 1980s VENUE: Ind. VICTIMS: Eight
Robinson, Alonzo
(?–?)
confessed
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Killed two men in Hammond; other murders con-DATE(S): 1926–34 VENUE: Mich./Miss. VIC-
fessed
TIMS: Six suspected
DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts, 1990; con-MO: Necrophile mutilation-slayer of one man and five fessed six more, 1998
women; kept heads and other body parts as sou-
Roche, John Francis
(1927–54)
venirs
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./CE
DISPOSITION: Confessed in Miss., 1934; sentence DATE(S): 1953–54 VENUE: Queens, New York
unreported
VICTIMS: Six confessed
MO: Bludgeoned/stabbed/robbed two men and four
Robinson, Harvey
(1974– )
females age 13–85; at least one female victim also SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
raped
DATE(S): 1992–93 VENUE: Allentown, Pa. VIC-
DISPOSITION: Executed Jan. 27, 1956