Read The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers Online
Authors: Michael Newton
Tags: #True Crime, #Murder, #General, #Serial Killers
separate incidents
DATE(S): 2003–04 VENUE: Zhengshou, China
DISPOSITION: 10 years for involuntary manslaughter, VICTIMS: Six
1971 (paroled in 1974); 40 years for murder, July MO: Police officer who raped, robbed, and murdered 1980
women
DISPOSITION: Condemned on six counts, Oct. 1, 2004
Washington, Annette
(1958– )
SEX: F RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
Wardell, Gordon
(1952– )
DATE(S): 1986 VENUE: New York City VICTIMS:
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-domes-
Two
tic/Sex.
MO:Health-care worker; robbed/stabbed elderly
DATE(S): 1991–94 VENUE: West Midlands, England women in homes
VICTIMS: Three+ suspect
DISPOSITION: 50 years to life, 1987
MO: Killed wife; prime suspect in deaths of several prostitutes
Waters, David Roland
(1947–2003)
DISPOSITION: Life term for wife’s murder, 1995
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/CE
DATE(S): 1964–95 VENUE: Ill./Tex. VICTIMS: Six
Warder, Dr. Alfred William
(d. 1866)
suspected
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC/CE
MO: Killed a teenage acquaintance in 1964; murdered DATE(S) 1820–66 VENUE: England VICTIMS:
another male acquaintance in 1984; participated in Three
a triple kidnap-murder in Texas, 1995; prime sus-MO: Bluebeard physician who poisoned successive pect in a sixth killing, also in Texas
wives
DISPOSITION: Convicted of murder at age 18;
DISPOSITION: Charged with third wife’s death in 1866; committed suicide during trial
received a prison term of 30–60 years; received 20-year term in Texas, April 2, 2001; died in prison,
Wardrip, Faryion Edward
(1959– )
Jan. 31, 2003
SEX: M RACE: Unk. TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
DATE(S): 1985–86 VENUE: North Texas VIC-
Waters, Margaret
(1835–70)
TIMS: Five
SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
MO: Rape-slayer of women in their 20s
DATE(S): 1866–70 VENUE: Brixton, England VIC-
DISPOSITION: Confessed one count in 1986 and
TIMS: 19+
served 11 years in prison, paroled 1997; condemned MO: “Baby farmer”; drugged/starved infants
on second count, November 1999
DISPOSITION: Hanged, Oct. 11, 1870
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Appendix A: Solo Killers
Watson, James B.
(1870–1939)
Webster, Robert
(1922– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
domestic
DATE(S): 1946/63 VENUE: Northern Calif. VIC-
DATE(S): 1918–20 VENUE: Idaho/Wash./Calif.
TIMS: Two
VICTIMS: 25+ alleged
MO: Rape-slayer of women age 19 (1946) and 38
MO: Hermaphrodite “Bluebeard” slayer of wives
(1963)
DISPOSITION: Life term on confession of seven
DISPOSITION: 1946 life term (paroled 1954); second counts, 1920; died in prison Oct. 15, 1939
life term, 1963
Weeks, Robert
(1929– )
Weaver, Steven
(1955– ) AKA: Weed
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE/PC
domestic
DATE(S): 1987 VENUE: Indianapolis, Ind. VIC-
DATE(S): 1968/80–81 VENUE: Nev./Calif. VIC-
TIMS: Four confessed
TIMS: Three
MO: Outlaw biker, killed fellow gang members
MO: “Bluebeard” slayer of wife and fiancées who left DISPOSITION: 135-year sentence for two murders and him
one attempted
DISPOSITION: Life without parole on two counts in Nev., 1988
Weaver, Ward
(1963– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
Weidenbroeker, Helmut
(1965– )
DATE(S): 2002 VENUE: Oregon City, Ore. VIC-
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
TIMS: Two
DATE(S): 1982–86 VENUE: Aachen, Germany
MO: Raped and murdered two female neighbors aged VICTIMS: Three to five
12 and 13 and hid their bodies at his home; also MO: Lust murders of women
raped his son’s girlfriend, who escaped alive
DISPOSITION: Life sentence on one murder count, DISPOSITION: Pled guilty on two murder counts and 1987
five lesser felonies, with a “no contest” plea on 10
additional charges; received two consecutive life
Weidmann, Eugen
(1915–39)
terms without parole, Sept. 23, 2004
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
DATE(S): 1935–37 VENUE: France VICTIMS: Six
Webb, Dennis Duane
(1952– )
confessed
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE:
MO: German immigrant; killed victims in robberies PC/Sex./CE
and ransom kidnappings
DATE(S): 1973–1987 VENUE: Tex./Calif. VIC-
DISPOSITION: Guillotined May 18, 1939
TIMS: Eight+ confessed
MO: Outlaw biker; killed robbery victims, also blacks
Weinberg, Abraham
(d. 1935) AKA: Bo
and gays from personal spite; contract killer; raped SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
DATE(S): 1920s–35 VENUE: N.Y./N.J. VICTIMS:
victims of both sexes
“Numerous”
DISPOSITION: Condemned in Calif., 1988
MO: Chief contract killer of ARTHUR FLEGENHEIMER
gang
Weber, Jeanne
(1875–1910)
DISPOSITION: Murdered by Flegenheimer, Aug. 1935
SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sad.
DATE(S): 1905–08 VENUE: Northern France VIC-
Weiss, Emmanuel
(d. 1944)
TIMS: 10
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
MO: Strangled young children for the thrill of killing; DATE(S): 1931–40 VENUE: N.Y./N.J. VICTIMS:
victims included three of her own children, two
“Numerous”
nephews, a niece, and four children left in her care MO: Contract killer for “MURDER, INC.”
by friends of employers
DISPOSITION: Executed at Sing Sing, Mar. 2, 1944
DISPOSITION: Acquitted at first murder trial, Feb. 6, 1906; released in second case for lack of evidence,
Wenzinger, Gerd
(1944–97)
December 1907; ruled insane on third charge and SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sad.
committed to asylum, May 1908; suicide by manual DATE(S): 1990s VENUE: Germany/Brazil VIC-strangulation in 1910
TIMS: 17
429
The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
MO: “Torture doctor” who dissected women on two additional felony counts were dismissed in that deal, continents; at least one murder videotaped
with murder charges waived in Costilla and Otero DISPOSITION: Suicide by hanging in Brazil, June 16, Counties; White also directed police to bodies of 1997
three additional victims
West, Ronald Glenn
(1947– )
White, Robert Excell
(1938–99) AKA: Excell the ExeSEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
cutioner
DATE(S): 1970 VENUE: Toronto, Canada VIC-
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-felony
TIMS: More than two
DATE(S): 1974 VENUE: Waco, Tex. VICTIMS:
MO: Policeman who raped and shot two nurses in sep-Four
arate attacks; prime suspect in eight robbery-slay-MO: Stabbed gun collector and stole weapons; used ings, including the Ottawa Valley Killer’s crimes stolen guns to kill three men in a commercial robbery (1975–87) and a 1991 double murder near Sault Ste.
DISPOSITION: Condemned on three counts, August Marie
1974; sentence overturned on appeal, 1997; con-DISPOSITION: Pled guilty on two counts and received demned at second trial, June 1997; executed March a life sentence, Aug. 7, 2001
30, 1999
Wheat, Clarence
(d. 1980)
White, Ronald Lee
(1956– )
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: S MOTIVE: PC
SEX: M RACE: Unk. TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC
DATE(S): 1979–80 VENUE: Miss. VICTIMS: Three
DATE(S): 1987–88 VENUE: Southern Colorado
MO: Killed policeman in domestic dispute; pardoned VICTIMS: Three
eight months later due to terminal cancer; killed MO: Killed two men in personal disputes, at Pueblo wife, son, and self
and Colorado Springs; later shot his roommate, dis-DISPOSITION: Suicide by gunshot, June 1980
membering the body to delay identification
DISPOSITION: Life sentence imposed on two counts,
Whisenhant, Thomas
(?– )
1990; condemned for roommate’s murder, 1991;
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./CE
death sentence overturned on appeal, 1998; received DATE(S): 1963–76 VENUE: Mobile, Ala. VIC-life term at new trial, Aug. 27, 2001
TIMS: Four
MO: Shot women in robberies; one raped, two muti-White Shirley (1932– )
lated postmortem
SEX: F RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count, 1997; life DATE(S): 1971–92 VENUE: Kinston, N.C. VIC-terms on two counts
TIMS: Three suspected
MO: “Black widow” slayer of husbands and stepchild
White, Nathaniel
(1960– )
DISPOSITION: Life term on one count, 1992
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.
DATE(S): 1991–92 VENUE: Orange County, N.Y.
Whiteway, Alfred C.
(1931–54)
VICTIMS: Six
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Women raped/stabbed by paroled rapist
DATE(S): 1953 VENUE: London, England VIC-
DISPOSITION: 150 years in prison on six counts TIMS: Two
MO: Lust killer of teenage girls bludgeoned in parks
White, Richard Paul
(1965– )
DISPOSITION: Hanged, 1954
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./PC
DATE(S): 2002–03 VENUE: Col. VICTIMS: Six
Whitney, Dennis
(1943– )
confessed
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony
MO: Kidnapped and raped eight women, killing five, DATE(S): 1960 VENUE: Calif./Ariz./Fla. VICTIMS: in three counties; also murdered a 27-year-old male Seven
coworker in a fourth county
MO: Shot robbery victims; kidnapped and bludgeoned DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty to coworker’s murder in one woman
Arapahoe County and received a life term without DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts in Fla.,
parole, Sept. 7, 2004; pled guilty on two murder 1960; commuted, 1972
counts and charges of using weapons to sexually assault three other women in Jefferson County,
Whitt, Jimmy Earl
(1971–94)
receiving another life term on Sept. 16, 2004; 28
SEX: M RACE: ? TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony
430
Appendix A: Solo Killers
DATE(S): 1994 VENUE: Ala./Miss. VICTIMS: Four
Williams, Henry Robert
(?– )
MO: Killed one holdup victim and three policemen in SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
three-week rampage
DATE(S): 1972–73 VENUE: Mississauga, Ontario
DISPOSITION: Suicide to avoid arrest, June 28, 1994
VICTIMS: Two
MO: Rape-slayer of girls age 16 and 19
Wilcox, Donald
(1968–2003)
DISPOSITION: Life term on one count; chose volun-SEX: M RACE: Unk. TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-
tary castration in lieu of additional prison time, felony
upon second conviction
DATE(S): 2003 VENUE: Nueces County, Tex. VIC-
TIMS: Three
Williams, John
(d. 1811) AKA: Ratcliff Highway MO: Killed a married couple, aged 79 and 77, with Demon
their own pistol during a home-invasion robbery; SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
later killed a 61-year-old man with same gun
DATE(S): 1811 VENUE: London, England VIC-
DISPOSITION: Suicide by gunshot after wounded in a TIMS: Five
shootout with police, Feb. 13, 2003
MO: Home invader who slashed/bludgeoned robbery victims
Wilken, Stewart
(1964– ) AKA: Bootie Boer DISPOSITION: Suicide by hanging prior to trial, 1811
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
DATE(S): 1990–97 VENUE: Port Elizabeth, South
Williams, John, Jr.
(1961– )
Africa VICTIMS: 11+
SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.
MO: Sex slayer and cannibal; victims included prosti-DATE(S): 1996–97 VENUE: Raleigh, N.C. VIC-
tutes, young boys, and his own daughter
TIMS: Five suspected
DISPOSITION: Seven life terms, 1998
MO: Rape-slayer of black women chosen at random DISPOSITION: Condemned on two murder counts,
Wille, John Francis
(1964– )
March 1998
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE:
PC/Sex./Sad.
Williams, John S.
(1863–1932)
DATE(S): 1980–85 VENUE: La./Fla./Tex./Ala. VICSEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE
TIMS: Six suspected
DATE(S): c. 1910–21 VENUE: Jasper County, Ga.
MO: Drifter linked to murders of four men (including VICTIMS: 18 suspected
one sexually mutilated) and two females (an elderly MO: Enslaved blacks, killing those who fled or woman burned in her home; an eight-year-old girl raped/strangled)
“caused trouble”
DISPOSITION: Life term with 25-year minimum in DISPOSITION: Life term on one count, 1921; life term Fla., 1985; later condemned in La.
on second count, 1922; killed in prison, Jan. 26, 1932
Williams, Dorothy
(1952– )
SEX: F RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-felony
Williams, Kenneth D.
(1979– )
DATE(S): 1989 VENUE: Chicago, Ill. VICTIMS:
SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
Three confessed
DATE(S): 1998–99 VENUE: Ark. VICTIMS: Two
MO: Strangled/robbed elderly shut-ins to support her MO: Robbed/killed a 19-year-old woman at Pine Bluff; drug habit
later shot a 57-year-old man after a prison break DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count, with two
DISPOSITION: Life term for first murder, September life terms for other slayings; death sentence com-1999; escaped from prison in October 1999; recap-muted to life imprisonment, 2003