The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (131 page)

VICTIMS: Two

MO: Mutilation-slayer of random victims, mostly MO: Stabbed/strangled female guest and maid at local women

hotels

DISPOSITION: 12 years for manslaughter in ax mur-DISPOSITION: Convicted on one murder count, June der of a salesman, 1947; life for nine rape-murders, 4, 2001; convicted on second count, June 2002; life 1950; suicide by hanging in prison, Feb. 1958

terms imposed in both cases

ACCOMPLICES: Karl Hoffman (1914– ) sentenced

to life on six counts, 1950; Konrad Schuessler
Piper, Thomas W.
(1849–76) AKA: Boston Belfry (1928– ) sentenced to life for two murders and one Murderer

attempted murder

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

DATE(S): 1873–76 VENUE: Boston, Mass. VIC-

Poehlke, Norbert Hans
(d. 1985)

TIMS: Four confessed

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

MO: Rape-slayer of young girls, one in the church DATE(S): 1984–85 VENUE: Germany/Italy VIC-where he served as sexton

TIMS: Six

DISPOSITION: Hanged, 1876

MO: Police inspector who shot men age 36–47, using their stolen cars in robberies; also shot his wife and
Pirrera, Samuel
(1967– )

two sons

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

DISPOSITION: Suicide by gunshot, Oct. 23, 1985

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The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers

Pomeroy, Jesse Harding
(1860–1932)

MO: Paroled pedophile; linked to death/disappearance SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC/Sad.

of three named teenagers and 12 unspecified victims; DATE(S): 1870s–80s VENUE: Boston, Mass. VIC-one skeleton found on his property in Ala.

TIMS: 20+ alleged

DISPOSITION: Life term with 25-year minimum for MO: Sadistic slayer of street children; set prison fire Fla. sex crimes, 1994; indicted on one murder count that killed three fellow inmates

in Ala.

DISPOSITION: Condemned on two counts, 1876

(commuted to life, 1878); spent 41 years in solitary;
Pough, James Edward
(1948–90) AKA: Pops died in prison, 1932

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-nonspe-

cific

Pommerais, Dr. Edmund de la
(1836–63)

DATE(S): 1971/90 VENUE: Jacksonville, Fla. VICSEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE

TIMS: 11

DATE(S): 1862–63 VENUE: France VICTIMS: Two

MO: Shot male friend (1971); shot strangers at random MO: Compulsive gambler; poisoned female victims for (1990)

insurance

DISPOSITION: 1971 murder charge reduced to aggra-DISPOSITION: Guillotined, 1863

vated assault (five years probation); suicide by gunshot, June 18, 1990

Pommerenke, Heinrich
(1937– ) AKA: Beast of the Black Forest

Powers, Harry F.
(1889–32) AKA: Mail-order Blue-SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

beard

DATE(S): 1959–60 VENUE: Germany VICTIMS:

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

DATE(S): 1920s–31 VENUE: Quiet Dell, W. Va.

10 confessed

VICTIMS: 50 alleged

MO: Religious fanatic rape-slayer of women

MO: Profit-motivated “Bluebeard” slayer of prospec-DISPOSITION: Six life terms with 140-year minimum, tive fiancées lured with lonely-hearts ads

1960

DISPOSITION: Confessed five murders; hanged for one on Mar. 19, 1932

Pool, Dave
(?–?)

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

Poyner, Syvasky L.
(d. 1993)

DATE(S): 1861–65 VENUE: Kans./Mo. VICTIMS:

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

“Numerous”

DATE(S): 1984 VENUE: Hampton/Newport News,

MO: Notorious member of “QUANTRILL’S RAIDERS”

Va. VICTIMS: Five

DISPOSITION: Surrendered May 22, 1865; no prose-MO: Shot female robbery victims, stripping one body cution

DISPOSITION: Executed Mar. 18, 1993

Popova, Madame
(d. 1909)

Prada, Hernando Arturo
(1973–2000)

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

SEX: M RACE: H TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony

DATE(S): 1880s–1900s VENUE: Samara, Russia

DATE(S): 1990s VENUE: Colombia VICTIMS: 10

VICTIMS: 300 confessed

MO: Bandit imprisoned for murders of robbery victims MO: Poisoner for hire, specializing in abusive husbands DISPOSITION: Received a 60-year sentence; escaped DISPOSITION: Executed in Mar. 1909

during a prison transfer in February 2000; captured and executed by vigilante death squad on Feb. 22

Porter, Ronald Elliot
(1947– )

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

Prejean, Dalton
(d. 1990)

DATE(S): 1984–85 VENUE: San Diego, Calif. VIC-

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

TIMS: 14 alleged

DATE(S): 1974/77 VENUE: La. VICTIMS: Two

MO: Rape-slayer of women

MO: Robbed/killed taxi driver; shot policeman

DISPOSITION: 15 years on one count, with eight years DISPOSITION: Imprisoned, 1974 (paroled 1978); exe-consecutive for sex offenses, 1993

cuted May 18, 1990

Potts, Frank
(1944– )

Presenti, Valentino
(?– ) AKA: Monster of Genoa SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex.

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

DATE(S): 1977–89 VENUE: Ala. VICTIMS: 15

DATE(S): 1976–91 VENUE: Genoa, Italy VIC-

alleged; one confessed

TIMS: Four+

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Appendix A: Solo Killers

MO: Lust killer of women

Prince, Walter
(1902–34)

DISPOSITION: Life sentence

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

DATE(S): 1928/34 VENUE: Manchester/Retford,

Presnell, Virgil Delano, Jr.
(1954– )

England VICTIMS: Two

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

MO: Murdered one man and one woman in personal DATE(S): 1976 VENUE: Atlanta, Ga. VICTIMS:

disputes

Two suspected

DISPOSITION: Hanged, 1934

MO: Pedophile slayer of preadolescent girls

DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1976

Pritchard, Dr. Edward William
(d. 1865) SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-domes-Price, Craig Chandler (1974– ) AKA: Iron Man tic

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC/Sad.

DATE(S): 1863–65 VENUE: Glasgow, Scotland

DATE(S): 1987/89 VENUE: Warwick, R.I. VIC-

VICTIMS: Four

TIMS: Four

MO: “Bluebeard” poisoner of wife, mother-in-law, and MO: Home invader; beat/stabbed females age eight to children

39

DISPOSITION: Hanged, July 28, 1865

DISPOSITION: Pled guilty in juvenile court; confined until age 21

Profit, Mark Antonio
(1964– )

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

Price, Ricky Lee
(?– )

DATE(S): 1996 VENUE: Minneapolis, Minn. VIC-

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

TIMS: Four suspected

DATE(S): 1980s VENUE: Va./N.C. VICTIMS: Two

MO: Slayer of female prostitutes in/around Wirth Park MO: Strangler of women

DISPOSITION: Two consecutive life terms, 1997, on DISPOSITION: Life term + 58 years in Va., 1985; con-one count of murder and two counts of rape

demned in N.C., 1987; died in prison on Nov. 23, 1998

Protopappas, Dr. Tony
(1945– )

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

Pries, Dieter
(1956– )

specific

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

DATE(S): 1982–83 VENUE: Costa Mesa, Calif.

DATE(S): 1974/84–97 VENUE: Germany VIC-

VICTIMS: Three

TIMS: Two+

MO: Dentist who deliberately overdosed three female MO: Robbed/killed grandmother (1974); rape slayer of patients, age 13–31, with anesthetic

women

DISPOSITION: three concurrent terms of 15 years to DISPOSITION: Eight years for murder as juvenile (con-life, 1984

fined to asylum); judged insane and committed, 1978

Prudom, Barry Peter
(1944–82) AKA: Cop Killer
Prince, Cleophus, Jr.
(1967– ) AKA: Clairemont Killer SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE-felony

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

DATE(S): 1982–83 VENUE: England VICTIMS:

DATE(S): 1990 VENUE: San Diego, Calif. VIC-

Three

TIMS: Six

MO: Fatally shot two policemen and a male robbery MO: Home-invading “ripper” of women age 18–42

victim

DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1993

DISPOSITION: Suicide during shoot-out with police, July 4, 1982

Prince, Hamisi
(1990– )

SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-nonspe-

Pruett, Marion Albert
(1949–99) AKA: Mad Dog cific

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

DATE(S): 1998–99 VENUE: Cyangusu Prefecture,

felony

Rwanda VICTIMS: More than three

DATE(S): 1981 VENUE: Ark./Colo./Miss./N. Mex.

MO: Nine-year-old son of man imprisoned for geno-VICTIMS: Five

cide; arrested for beating a three-year-old girl to MO: Serving time for a Georgia bank robbery when he death, whereupon he confessed killing “many chil-killed his cellmate, framing another inmate for the dren in the past”

crime; testimony in that case earned him release in DISPOSITION: Sent to a reeducation camp, Nov. 11, 1979, with placement in the witness protection pro-1999

gram; Pruett soon developed a $4,000-per-week

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The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers

drug habit and turned to violence; bludgeoned his DATE(S): 1960 VENUE: Tenn. VICTIMS: Two

common-law wife with a hammer and burned her

MO: Career criminal; shot holdup victim and police-body, then embarked on an interstate crime spree, man

shooting three male victims in armed robberies DISPOSITION: Killed in escape attempt, Oct. 24, 1960

DISPOSITION: Received life terms for three murders in Colorado, Mississippi, and New Mexico; exe-Rachals, Terri Eden Maples (1962– )

cuted in Arkansas, April 13, 1999

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

cific

Pruett, Mark David
(1949–93)

DATE(S): 1985 VENUE: Albany, Ga. VICTIMS: Six

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

confessed

DATE(S): 1975–85 VENUE: Va. VICTIMS: Five+

MO: Hospital nurse who poisoned intensive-care MO: Rape-slayer of women

patients

DISPOSITION: Executed on two counts, Dec. 16,

DISPOSITION: Found guilty but mentally ill on one 1993

count aggravated assault; 17-year prison term plus three years probation; released April 2003

Puente, Dorothea Helen
(1929– )

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

Racine, Steven
(1964– )

DATE(S): 1982–88 VENUE: Sacramento, Calif.

SEX: M RACE: Unk. TYPE: T MOTIVE: CE-

VICTIMS: Nine

felony

MO: “Black widow” landlady; poisoned tenants for DATE(S): 1990–2001 VENUE: Montreal, Quebec

pension checks

VICTIMS: Six

DISPOSITION: Life without parole on three counts, MO: Career criminal who bound and strangled victims 1993

in drug-related killings

DISPOSITION: Pleaded guilty to all counts on Sept.

Putt, George Howard
(1946– )

25, 2002, receiving a life prison term with a 25-year SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: Sex./Sad.

minimum

DATE(S): 1969 VENUE: Miss./Tenn. VICTIMS:

Five

Rahman, Yusef Abdullah
(1968– )

MO: Home-invading mutilation-slayer of men and SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: N MOTIVE: PC-non-women

specific

DISPOSITION: Condemned, 1970 (sentence com-

DATE(S): 1987–88 VENUE: Kans./N.Y. VICTIMS:

muted to 99 years, 1972)

Four confessed

MO: Shot men in random sniping attacks

Quansah, Charles Papa Kwabena Ebo
(1964– ) DISPOSITION: 42 years to life on one count, 1990; SEX: M RACE: B TYPE: T MOTIVE: Sex.

concurrent life term on second count, 1992

DATE(S): 1999–2000 VENUE: Accra, Ghana VIC-

TIMS: 34 confessed

Raies, Jean
(?–?)

MO: Rape slayer of women

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

DISPOSITION: Confessed, then recanted; condemned DATE(S): 1880 VENUE: Geneva, Switzerland VIC-at trial, July 2002

TIMS: 12

MO: Nurse who killed patients to collect “bounty”

Quantrill, William Clarke
(1837–65)

offered by local mortician for new clients

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

DISPOSITION: Life sentence; died in prison

DATE(S): 1855–65 VENUE: Ill./Mo./Kans./Tex./Ky.

VICTIMS: “Numerous”

Raj, Subbah
(1949– )

MO: Psychopathic career criminal; leader of outlaw SEX: M RACE: A TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-nonspe-

“QUANTRILL’S RAIDERS” during Civil War; ordered cific

hundreds of murders besides those committed per-DATE(S): 2002 VENUE: Kamakshipuram, India

sonally

VICTIMS: Eight

DISPOSITION: Shot by Union soldiers, May 10, 1865; MO: Thrill-killer of beggars, slain by stones dropped died June 6

on heads as they slept; captured in attack on decoy mannequins; confessed to police that he “found hap-Raby, Clarence Leon (1933–60)

piness in killing stranded persons”

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

DISPOSITION: Unknown

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Appendix A: Solo Killers

Ralston, Larry
(1949– )

Rathbun, Charles Edgar
(1957– )

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

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

DATE(S): 1975–77 VENUE: Clermont/Clinton Coun-

DATE(S): 1989–95 VENUE: Mich./Ohio/Calif.

ties, Ohio VICTIMS: Five

VICTIMS: Six suspected

MO: Rape-slayer of females aged 15–23

MO: Convicted rapist; photographer and lust-killer of DISPOSITION: Four life terms, 1978; fifth life term, women