Read The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers Online
Authors: Michael Newton
Tags: #True Crime, #Murder, #General, #Serial Killers
prosecution
DISPOSITION: First murder trial imposed a 20-year sentence; trial judge dismissed and replaced for sec-Shearing, David William (1959– )
ond trial; executed on conviction of 20 murders, SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
April 20, 2004
DATE(S): 1983 VENUE: British Columbia VIC-
TIMS: Six
Shapiro, Jacob
(1899–1947) AKA: Gurrah
MO: Killed four adult campers aged 40–66; took two SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
of their daughters, aged 11 and 13, as sex slaves, DATE(S): 1920s–36 VENUE: N.Y./N.J. VICTIMS:
then murdered them later
“Numerous”
DISPOSITION: Received six concurrent life terms with MO: Labor racketeer and sadistic gangland killer a 25-year minimum, April 17, 1984
DISPOSITION: Life term in N.Y., 1936; died in prison, 1947
Shekhar, Shashi
(1976– )
SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony
Sharafudin
(?–?) AKA: Butcher of Hooshiarpore DATE(S): 1995–96 VENUE: India VICTIMS: Four
SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
MO: Strangled household maids and robbed the homes DATE(S): 1850s–60s VENUE: India VICTIMS: 14+
of their employers
MO: “Notorious poisoner” of intended robbery vic-DISPOSITION: Received four consecutive life terms in tims; one report by British officer alludes to “hun-two murder trials, the second completed on April dreds” poisoned, though a majority of those
30, 2004
poisoned apparently survived
DISPOSITION: “Baffled pursuit”; never captured
Shepherd, Joseph
(?– )
SEX: M RACE: ? TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
Shawcross, Arthur John
(1945– )
DATE(S): 1992/94 VENUE: Tenn. VICTIMS: Two
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Killed first victim in 1992; teen girl killed in 1994
DATE(S): 1972/1988–89 VENUE: Rochester, N.Y.
DISPOSITION: Convicted on first count (overturned VICTIMS: 13
on appeal); condemned, 1994 (commuted, 1995)
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The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
Sherman, Lydia
(1825–79) AKA: Queen Poisoner MO: AWOL sailor; shot male adults in unprovoked SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
attacks
DATE(S): 1864–71
VENUE: N.Y./Conn.
VIC-
DISPOSITION: Life sentence, 1973
TIMS: 10
MO: “Black widow” poisoner of husbands and chil-Shulman, Robert (1954– )
dren for life insurance
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
DISPOSITION: Life sentence; died in prison May 16, DATE(S): 1998 VENUE: New York City VICTIMS:
1879
Five
MO: Dismembered female prostitutes from Queens,
Shikder, Ershad
(d. 2004)
leaving remains in trash bins throughout Brooklyn SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC/CE-and Westchester County
DISPOSITION: Condemned on three counts, May 7, felony
1999
DATE(S): 1984–2004 VENUE: Khulna, Bangladesh
VICTIMS: 79+
Sides, Mervin
(?– )
MO: Criminal “godfather” and enforcer for political SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
interests who also killed personal enemies; body-DATE(S): 1989 VENUE: Nev./Okla. VICTIMS:
guards report that he committed at least 20 murders Eight confessed; three confirmed
personally and ordered 59; arrested after he killed a MO: Executed victims of kidnap-robberies
member of the ruling political clique
DISPOSITION: Life without parole on two counts in DISPOSITION: Hanged on conviction of seven mur-Okla., 1990; life with 15 years minimum in Nev., ders, May 11, 2004
1993; accomplice Bill Harris sentenced to life without parole in Okla.
Shipin, Sergei
(1975– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
Sidyno, Samuel
(1962– ) AKA: Capital Park Killer DATE(S): 1998–99 VENUE: St. Petersburg, Russia SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
VICTIMS: 10
DATE(S): 1998–99 VENUE: Pretoria, South Africa MO: Serial rapist who attacked 12 women, killing 10; VICTIMS: Seven
several murder victims were cannibalized
MO: Alleged strangler of two females and five males DISPOSITION: Confessed his crimes in November
aged 12–25; female victims were raped
1999; sentence unknown
DISPOSITION: Received seven life terms on Sept. 6, 2000
Shobek, Michiah
(1954–76)
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-nonspe-
Siebert, Daniel Lee
(1955– )
cific
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
DATE(S): 1976 VENUE: Nassau, Bahamas VIC-
DATE(S): 1979/85–86 VENUE: Nev./N.J./Calif./Ala.
TIMS: Three
VICTIMS: 11+
MO: Stabbed male American tourists, describing them MO: Stabbed gay man (1979); strangled women and children
as “angels of Lucifer”
DISPOSITION: Convicted of manslaughter, 1979
DISPOSITION: Hanged Oct. 19, 1976
(paroled 1985); condemned in Ala., 1987
Short, Luke
(1854–93) AKA: Understaker’s Friend
Siegel, Benjamin
(1905–47) AKA: Bugsy
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE/PC
DATE(S): 1876–90 VENUE: Kans./Colo./Tex. VIC-
DATE(S): 1920s–40s VENUE: N.Y./N.J./Calif. VICTIMS: 10+
TIMS: “Numerous”
MO: Bootlegger, gambler, and gunfighter
MO: Psychopathic racketeer; insisted on personal DISPOSITION: Died of dropsy at age 39
involvement in murders even after elevation to
“boss” status
Shreeves, Bruce Henderson
(1951– )
DISPOSITION: Murdered for embezzling mob money, SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-non-June 20, 1947
specific
DATE(S): 1973 VENUE: Montgomery County, Md.
Sigsbee, Donald M.
(1935– )
VICTIMS: Two
SEX: M RACE: Unk. TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
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Appendix A: Solo Killers
DATE(S): 1973–76 VENUE: Madison County, N.Y.
DATE(S): 1986–94 VENUE: Cape Town, South
VICTIMS: Five alleged
Africa VICTIMS: 22
MO: Rape-slayer of female hitchhikers aged 12–21
MO: Gay slayer of young boys; chose mixed-race victims DISPOSITION: Received sentence of 25 years to life on DISPOSITION: 25 years on one count; increased to life one murder count, April 20, 2004
term on appeal
Silva, Mauricio Rodriguez
(1960– )
Sims, Paula Marie
(1959– )
SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-nonspe-
DATE(S): 1978/84 VENUE: Los Angeles, Calif.
cific
VICTIMS: Four
DATE(S): 1986/89 VENUE: Ill. VICTIMS: Two
MO: Shot three teenagers and strangled his own half-MO: Killed her own infant children, blaming “masked sister
intruders”
DISPOSITION: Convicted of manslaughter, 1978
DISPOSITION: Life without parole, 1990
(paroled 1984); condemned on three counts, 1985; commuted to life, April 2001
Sinclair, Angus
(1945– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex.
Silveria, Robert Joseph
(1958– ) AKA: Boxcar Killer DATE(S): 1977–80 VENUE: Scotland VICTIMS:
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/CE
12+ alleged
DATE(S): 1980s–96 VENUE:
MO: Rape slayer of young women abducted from or Ore./Mont./Utah/Wash./Calif./Ariz./Kans./Fla.
near urban bars
VICTIMS: 14+
DISPOSITION: Received life sentence in 1982 for 14
MO: Transient who murdered other hoboes
sexual assaults on girls aged 6–14 during 1978–79; DISPOSITION: Two consecutive life terms in Ore., received second life term on one count of murder, 1998
2001; DNA links him to other slayings
Simmons, Beoria Abraham, III
(1954– )
Sinclair, Charles T.
(d. 1990)
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony
DATE(S): 1981–83 VENUE: Louisville, Ky. VIC-
DATE(S): 1980–90 VENUE: U.S./Canada VIC-
TIMS: Three
TIMS: 12
MO: Rape-slayer of white women kidnapped and shot MO: Executed coin shop proprietors in robberies DISPOSITION: Condemned
across seven U.S. states and British Columbia
DISPOSITION: Died of heart attack in jail before trial,
Simmons, Willie
(1964– )
Aug. 1990
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-nonspe-
cific
Singh, Dara
(?– )
DATE(S): 1987 VENUE: St. Louis, Mo. VICTIMS:
SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-
Two
extremist
MO: Bludgeoned/strangled women during home inva-DATE(S): 1999 VENUE: Eastern India VICTIMS:
sions
Three
DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1989
MO: Hindu extremist who led mobs against spokesmen for other religions in the Keonihar and
Simon, Robert R.
(1950– ) AKA: Mudman
Mayurbhani districts; burned to death an Australian SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE/Sex.
missionary and his two young sons; later lynched a DATE(S): 1971–95 VENUE: Pa./N.J./Va. VICTIMS:
Muslim merchant and torched his store
Seven+ suspected
DISPOSITION: Singh condemned on three counts,
MO: Outlaw biker and career criminal; shot woman Sept. 22, 2003; 12 unnamed accomplices received who resisted sex (1974); killed police officer follow-life prison terms at the same time
ing robbery (1995)
DISPOSITION: 10–20 years in Pa., 1982 (paroled
Siswanto
(?– ) AKA: Robot Gedek
1995); condemned in N.J., 1997
SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
DATE(S): 1994–96 VENUE: Indonesia VICTIMS:
Simons, Norman Afzal
(1974– ) AKA: Station 12 confessed
Strangler
MO: Pedophile mutilator of boys age nine to 15
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1997
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The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
Smallwood, Frederick Baker, Sr.
(1944– ) DATE(S): 1974/1994 VENUE: Ohio/N.J. VIC-SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
TIMS: Two
DATE(S): 1991/95 VENUE: Ga./Va. VICTIMS:
MO: Bluebeard slayer of wives reported missing 20
Two
years apart; remains of first wife found 1980, identi-MO: Baptist minister and “Bluebeard” slayer of fied in 2000; second wife still missing
women for profit
DISPOSITION: Convicted of first wife’s murder in DISPOSITION: Life sentence in Va., 1995
Ohio; received a term of 15 years to life on July 19, 2001; held responsible for second wife’s death in a
Smith, Benjamin Nathaniel
(1978–99)
New Jersey civil lawsuit, Dec. 21, 2000
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-
extremist
Smith, Joseph Clarence, Jr.
(1949– )
DATE(S): 1999 VENUE: Ill./Ind. VICTIMS: Two
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Neo-Nazi cultist who targeted racial/ethnic DATE(S): 1975–76 VENUE: Phoenix, Ariz. VIC-minorities in drive-by shootings; shot 10 victims, TIMS: Two
killing two
MO: Stabbed/suffocated teenage female hitchhikers DISPOSITION: Suicide by gunshot during police pur-DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count, pled guilty suit near Salem, Ill., on July 3, 1999
on second, 1977
Smith, Charles
(?– )
Smith, Lemuel Warren
(?– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-non-
SEX: M RACE: ? TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony
specific
DATE(S): 1976–81 VENUE: N.Y. VICTIMS: Three
DATE(S): 1958 VENUE: Miami, Fla. VICTIMS:
MO: Shot two holdup victims; beat/strangled female Two
prison guard
MO: Shot male victims without apparent motive
DISPOSITION: three life terms, 1977; condemned DISPOSITION: Life sentence, 1958
1983; sentence commuted
Smith, Frank Lee
(1947– )
Smith, Mark Alan
(1949– )
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC/CE/Sex.
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex.
DATE(S): 1960/65/85 VENUE: Broward County, Fla.
DATE(S): 1966–70 VENUE: South
VICTIMS: Three
Korea/Germany/U.S. VICTIMS: 15–20
MO: Stabbed boy in argument; shot holdup victim; MO: Rape-slayer of young women on three continents raped/killed eight-year-old girl
DISPOSITION: 11 months juvenile detention,
DISPOSITION: 500 years for three counts in Ill., 1971
1960–61; life term, 1966; condemned, 1985
Smith, Ned
(?– )
Smith, George Joseph
(1872–1915) AKA: Brides-inSEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC/CE
the-bath Murderer
DATE(S): 1981–1990 VENUE: Sydney, Australia
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
VICTIMS: More than seven
DATE(S): 1912–14 VENUE: England VICTIMS:
MO: Syndicate mobster who killed a trucker in a road-Three
rage incident; later confessed six other slayings to a MO:“Bluebeard” slayer of wives for profit, drowning prison cellmate
each in the bathtub as staged “accidents”
DISPOSITION: Life sentence for the trucker’s murder, DISPOSITION: Hanged Aug. 13, 1915
1990; turned state’s evidence against fellow gangsters, 1993; indicted on four additional murder
Smith, Gerald
(d. 1990)
counts, 1995; received another life prison term, Sep-SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
tember 1998
DATE(S): 1980s VENUE: Mo. VICTIMS: Two
MO: Beat ex-girlfriend to death, 1980; stabbed prison
Smith, Philip John
(1966– ) AKA: Big Foot inmate
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
DISPOSITION: Condemned on both counts; executed DATE(S): 1985–2000 VENUE: U.K./Ireland VIC-Jan. 18, 1990