The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (136 page)

TIMS: 40 suspected

MO: Traveling fair worker who bludgeoned women in
Smith, John David
(1950– )

random attacks throughout England, Scotland,

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

Wales, and Ireland

410

Appendix A: Solo Killers

DISPOSITION: Received life prison term for murders MO: Killed a married couple and two women; female of three women at Birmingham, England, July 18, victims raped

2001

DISPOSITION: Life term on two counts, 1997

Smith, Stephen Richard
(?–86)

Snyder, David E., Jr.
(1963– )

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

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

DATE(S): 1982–86 VENUE: San Antonio, Tex.

DATE(S): 1982–84 VENUE: Fla./Md. VICTIMS:

VICTIMS: Three+ suspected

Four suspected

MO: Vigilante cop linked to shootings of suspected MO: Rape-slayer of girls age 14–17

criminals

DISPOSITION: Life sentence on one count in Md., DISPOSITION: Killed by fellow officer, Aug. 17, 1986

1985

Smith, William Scott
(?– )

Snyder, Leroy
(1931– )

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

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

DATE(S): 1981/84 VENUE: Idaho/Ore. VICTIMS:

DATE(S): 1969 VENUE: Camden, N.J. VICTIMS:

Three suspected

Seven confessed

MO: Lust killer of females age 14–21

MO: Robbed/beat/stabbed seven acquaintances, raping DISPOSITION: Life term with 40-year minimum on two of the females

two counts in Ore., 1984

DISPOSITION: three consecutive life terms, 1970

Smithers, Samuel Lee
(1953– )

Sobig, Klaus Peter
(1957– )

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

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE:

DATE(S): 1996 VENUE: Hillsborough Co., Fla.

Sex./Sad./CE

VICTIMS: Two

DATE(S): 1976/84 VENUE: Bielfeld, Germany VIC-

MO: Murders committed in personal altercations, 16

TIMS: Two

days apart

MO: Stabbed male robbery victim (1976); raped/stran-DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts, June 25, gled elderly woman during residential burglary 1999

(1984)

DISPOSITION: Nine and one-half years on one count,
Smyth, Evan
(1964– )

1977 (paroled 1983); life term, 1985

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

specific

Sodeman, Arnold Karl
(1900–36)

DATE(S): 2003 VENUE: Wheaton, Md. VICTIMS:

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

Four

DATE(S): 1930–35 VENUE: Victoria, Australia

MO: Over a two-week period, stabbed a 20-year-old VICTIMS: Four

man, shot a 21-year-old man, then beat and stran-MO: Alcoholic strangler of girls age six to 16

gled a 17-year-old girl in her home; flesh found at DISPOSITION: Hanged, June 1936

the third crime scene matched DNA of a 43-year-old man still missing.

Sokichi Furuya
(1914–85)

DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty on four counts and SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE

received four consecutive life terms, July 2004

DATE(S): 1965 VENUE: Japan VICTIMS: 10

MO: Robbed/killed elderly victims in their homes
Snell, Richard Wayne
(1930–95)

DISPOSITION: Hanged, May 31, 1985

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

extremist

Sokolowski, David Allen
(1957– )

DATE(S): 1994 VENUE: Ark. VICTIMS: Two

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

MO: Neo-Nazi; shot black policeman and pawnbroker DATE(S): 1992 VENUE: Schley, N.C. VICTIMS:

thought to be Jewish

Two

DISPOSITION: Executed Apr. 19, 1995

MO: Dismembered female lover and male friend at his home

Snow, David Alexander
(1955– )

DISPOSITION: Life term with 20-year minimum, 1994

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

DATE(S): 1991–92 VENUE: Ontario, Canada VIC-

Solomon, Morris, Jr.
(1944– )

TIMS: Four suspected

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

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The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers

DATE(S): 1986–87 VENUE: Sacramento, Calif.

MO: Violent drug addict who confessed seven murders VICTIMS: Seven

after police found effects of a missing 74-year-old MO: Rape-slayer of women in his neighborhood

woman in his home; other victims, of both sexes, DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1988

ranged in age from 16 to 60; one victim mutilated with hands severed

Somkid, Pumpuang

DISPOSITION: Unknown

SEX: M TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex

DATE(S): 2005 VENUE: Thailand VICTIMS: 4–5

Spanbauer, David F.
(1940–2002)

MO: Rape-strangler of female prostitutes

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

DISPOSITION: Arrested June 29, 2005; found with DATE(S): 1994 VENUE: Wisc. VICTIMS: Three

items stolen from various victims and confessed in MO:Rape-slayer of females age 10–21

custody to four murders. Police claim a fifth victim, DISPOSITION: 403 years on three counts, 1994; died whom Somkid denied killing. Trial pending at press in prison, July 29, 2002

time.

Spangler, Robert M.
(1933–2001)

Sommer, Fred, Jr.
(?– )

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

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

specific

DATE(S): 1957 VENUE: Cameron Mills, N.Y. VIC-

DATE(S): 1978–94 VENUE: Colo./Ariz. VICTIMS:

TIMS: Two

Five

MO: Killed motorists to use cars in armed robberies MO: Bluebeard killer of wives and children; shot first DISPOSITION: Life sentence, 1958

wife and two children in 1978, staging the scene as a murder-suicide by wife; pushed second wife into
Sonner, Michael H.
(1968– )

Grand Canyon, 1992; third wife died of drug overSEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony

dose, 1994

DATE(S): 1993 VENUE: Tex./Nev. VICTIMS:

DISPOSITION: Confessed four murders (excluding Three

third wife) after diagnosis of cancer in 2000; died MO: Shot two robbery victims (Tex.) and police officer with trial pending, 2001

(Nev.)

DISPOSITION: Condemned in Nev., 1994

Spara, Hieronyma
(d. 1659)

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

Sorenson, Della
(1897–?)

DATE(S): 1650s

VENUE: Italy

VICTIMS:

SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-domes-

“Numerous”

tic

MO: “Witch” and poisoner-for-hire of husbands

DATE(S): 1918–25 VENUE: Nebr. VICTIMS: Seven

DISPOSITION: Hanged with one accomplice and three MO: “Black widow” poisoner of family members “to clients, 1659

get even”

DISPOSITION: Ruled insane and committed to asy-Spaziano, Joseph Robert (1944– ) AKA: Crazy Joe lum, 1925

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

DATE(S): 1973 VENUE: Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Soulakiotis, Mariam
(1900–?)

VICTIMS: Two suspected

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

MO: Outlaw biker; alleged rape-slayer of young DATE(S): 1940–50 VENUE: Keratea, Greece VIC-women left in dumpsters

TIMS: 177

DISPOSITION: Life + five years for rape/assault, 1975

MO: Calendarist cult leader whose followers died from (victim blinded with a knife); condemned on one beatings, torture, and starvation

count, 1976 (death sentence overturned on appeal, DISPOSITION: Two years for illegally detaining a new trial pending)

child, 1951; 14 years for additional felonies, 1953; no murder charges

Speck, Richard Franklin
(1941–91)

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

Sovdat, Matija
(1975– )

DATE(S): 1966 VENUE: Ind./Ill. VICTIMS: 12 susSEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-non-

pected

specific

MO: Linked to four random murders of women before DATE(S): 1994–96 VENUE: Stockholm, Sweden

he massacred eight student nurses in their Chicago VICTIMS: Seven confessed

rooming house

412

Appendix A: Solo Killers

DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1966 (commuted 1972);

DATE(S): 1995 VENUE: Pa. VICTIMS: Four

died in prison Dec. 5, 1991

MO: Shot brother and three women age 41–71, in four-county rampage

Spencer, Anthony
(1947– )

DISPOSITION: 17–30 years for manslaughter on one SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

count; condemned on three others

DATE(S): 1964 VENUE: New York City VICTIMS:

Two

Spraggins, Jerry Jerome
(1955– )

MO: Serial rapist; killed two of 14 known victims SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: CE/Sex.

DISPOSITION: Life sentence, 1965

DATE(S): 1981–83 VENUE: Montclair, N.J. VIC-

TIMS: Three suspected

Spencer, Diane
(1968– )

MO: Burglar-rapist linked to deaths of three women in SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-nonspe-the same apartment over two-year period

cific

DISPOSITION: 30-year sentence on one count, 1985

DATE(S): 1983–90 VENUE: Mich./Pa. VICTIMS:

Three suspected

Stafford, Roger Dale
(1951–95)

MO: Suffocated her young children, blaming SIDS

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

DISPOSITION: Life term on one count in Mich., 1992

DATE(S): 1978 VENUE: Okla. VICTIMS: Nine

suspected

Spencer, Timothy Wilson
(1962–94)

MO: Murdered a family of three in June 1978; shot six SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.

victims in a restaurant holdup three weeks later DATE(S): 1987 VENUE: Arlington County, Va.

DISPOSITION: Executed July 1, 1995

VICTIMS: Four

MO: Serial rapist who tortured his victims, killing some
Stager, Barbara
(1948– )

DISPOSITION: Executed Apr. 27, 1994

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

DATE(S): 1977/96 VENUE: Monroe County, Ohio

Spillman, Jack Owen, III
(?– )

VICTIMS: Two

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

MO: “Black widow” slayer of husbands for insurance, DATE(S): 1994–95 VENUE: Okanogan County,

in staged firearms “accidents”

Wash. VICTIMS: Three

DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count, 1989 (com-MO: Rape-mutilation slayer of female victims, one muted on appeal)

nine years old; aspired to be the “world’s greatest serial killer”

Stapleburg, Marthinus Jakobus
(1974– )

DISPOSITION: Confessed three counts to avoid death SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-sentence; received life prison term, 1996

extremist/CE

DATE(S): 1995–96 VENUE: South Africa VIC-

Spilotro, Anthony
(1938–86) AKA: Tony the Ant TIMS: Five

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

MO: Racist gunman; shot blacks, robbing several victims DATE(S): 1960s–86 VENUE: Ill./Nev./Calif. VIC-DISPOSITION: Life term, 1997

TIMS: 16–18 personal

MO: Mafia “enforcer” and hit man; ordered various
Starrett, Richard Daniel
(1960– )

murders aside from those committed personally

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

DISPOSITION: Murdered by gangland rivals in Ind., DATE(S): 1988–89 VENUE: S.C./Ga. VICTIMS:

June 1986

Two

MO: Rapist/slayer of girls and young women met
Spisak, Frank G., Jr.
(1950– )

through newspaper classified ads

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

DISPOSITION: Five life terms in S.C., 1991; five life DATE(S): 1982 VENUE: Cleveland, Ohio VIC-terms in Ga., 1993

TIMS: Four

MO: Transvestite Nazi; shot blacks and suspected Jews
Stefano, Raffaele de
(?– ) AKA: Vampire of Aversa DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1983

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

DATE(S): 1992 VENUE: Aversa, Italy VICTIMS:

Spotz, Mark Newton
(1972– )

Two

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

MO: Victims gassed and stabbed to death

specific

DISPOSITION: Life sentence

413

The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers

Stephani, Paul Michael
(1944– ) AKA:Weepy-MO: Shot male victims during a month-long murder voiced killer

spree

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

DISPOSITION: Executed on three counts in Illinois, specific

Sept. 16, 1986

DATE(S): 1981–82 VENUE: Minneapolis/St. Paul

VICTIMS: Three

Stiles, Billie
(d. 1908)

MO: Stabbed women age 18–33 in random attacks

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

DISPOSITION: 40 years on one count, 1982; con-

DATE(S): 1880s–1908 VENUE: Ariz./Nev. VIC-

fessed two more from prison, 1997

TIMS: “Several”

MO: Outlaw and occasional lawman; killed own father
Stevanin, Gianfranco
(?– )

at age 12

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

DISPOSITION: Shot from ambush by 12-year-old son DATE(S): 1990s VENUE: Verona, Italy

of last victim, Jan. 1908

VICTIMS:Six

MO: Farmworker; raped/mutilated women

Stokes, Winford Lavern
(1951–90)

DISPOSITION: Life sentence, 1998

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-non-

specific

Stevens, Alan Michael
(1942– ) AKA: Buzzard DATE(S): 1969–78 VENUE: Mo. VICTIMS: Three

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

MO: Psychotic slayer of women

DATE(S): 1985–90 VENUE: San Diego, Ca. VIC-

DISPOSITION: Ruled insane on two counts; escaped TIMS: Three to four suspected