famous delaware murders

Capano belonged to a prominent family of Delaware real estate developers and building contractors. Abby's body turned up discovered upstairs, with her head smashed to pieces, while Andrew laid lifeless on the couch . The bureau concluded the unthinkable: A serial killer had come to Delaware. We felt that the same person was responsible for both murders.. Before his arrest, Capanos brother Gerard Capano told investigators he helped his brother dump a body from a boat off the Jersey shore. According to Project: Cold Case, there are currently around 517 Delaware cold cases, although this number does not account for any missing persons cold cases. Charlene got out of jail in 2013 after serving a 16-year sentence. Route40 was the only connection between the two victims. This isolated forest is one of the best places to camp in the entire state. Capano belonged to a prominent family of Delaware real estate developers and building contractors. Eric Robert Rudolph was an American domestic terrorist convicted of several anti-abortion and anti-gay bombings across the Southern United States between 1996 and 1998. He became an affluent lawyer, state prosecutor, Wilmington city attorney, legal counsel to Governor Mike Castle, and political consultant, well known in Delaware's political circles. Kent County, Delaware, had a population of over 180,700 people as of 2019. The case was the first known murder of a state . Wilmington Daily Republican, Dec. 17, 1898. The name makes sense because, at that time, Howell abducted, assaulted, and murdered seven people, according to Oxygen. Since he worked as a clown performer for children's parties, he would often kill his victims while wearing the clown costume that he called Pogo the Clown. She was one of the loveliest, kindest persons Ive ever hadthe privilege of serving with. The Manson Family was a communal group of people lead by the infamous Charles Manson in the 1960s. Thats the lingering mystery: Why?, A 1991 psychiatric evaluation submitted to the Delaware Supreme Court cleared Pennell of depression, paranoia and psychosis. Here in Delaware, you'll find a handful of haunted accommodations where you might encounter something otherworldly. The Green River in Washington state became notorious because of the number of bodies that were found there in the '90s. 7-year-old girl in Michigan was abducted and strangled to death, one of the first serial killers to be identified using FBI's newly developed profiling system, the couple killed 10 teenagers in Nevada and California, New Hampshire, he was known as "Bob Evans" who killed one woman and three small children, he killed upwards of 40 people over his 16-year career as a nurse, , he cut them into pieces and threw their bodies into lakes and ravines, The police were suddenly struck by a smell escaping from the trunk of his car, they found the bodies of six boys and young men buried under the floorboards. At one point, there was a line of five or six vehicles with men waiting to talk to her.. Woodburn, the Governor's Mansion, is one of the most haunted places in Delaware. This terrifying, troubling event unfolded in the late 1980s. She fought back and got away. Barnabet killed entire families as they slept in what became known as the "Voodoo Murders" in the 1910s. What are the most haunted places in Delaware? This report shows, in detail, the data and statistics surrounding the crime rates, crimes, and the locations of these crimes in most, if not every, city, county, and state throughout the United States, including Delaware. He was sentenced to 224 years in prison, but he died in prison of a heart attack in 2002. Stephani admitted to beating and stabbing three women between the years 1980 and 1982. When Cowgill owned the spot, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Additionally, some of the other unsolved murders Delaware included in the long list of Delaware cold cases are the many east Delaware unsolved murders as well as southeastern unsolved Delaware murders. This time, however, the killer left a clue: DiMauro was covered head to toe in blue carpet fiber. He wasnt in the moment. Dover, which is the second largest city by population in Delaware, currently has a population of well over 185,000 residents. In 1987, when he was just 13 years old, he stabbed Rebecca Spencer to death. Delaware was the scene of the crime, but the authorities decided that the murder trial would be held in California. Steven Pennell was arrested November 29, 1988, and convicted of the November 1987 murder of Shirley A. Ellis, and the June 1988 murder of Catherine A. DiMauro. After Matzke fell asleep on the couch, Cook lead Swaney to the body and proceeded to torture him the same way. The body count rose across state lines, as his list of aliases grew. On Oct.8, 1898, the Lewes newspaper, Delaware Pilot, reported, Governor (James)Budd, of California, on Wednesday decided that Mrs. Cordelia Botkin must come here (California)to stand trial for the murder of Mrs. John P. Dunning and Mrs. Joshua Deane.. Money wasnt an issue. The official cause of death was from "softening of the brain, due to melancholy,"but some say she died of the lingering effects of sweet revenge. This is a list of notable male murderers who committed their murders in Delaware, USA. Police believed the murders were the act of a serial killer, but could never find the culprit. Woodfield didn't become well known as a football player. Faheys apartment and Capanos home were extensively searched, but it was more than a year before Capano was arrested and charged with killing Fahey. Shortly after that, now-retired Superior Court Judge Bill Lee sentenced Capano to death. It was a chilly, rainy night on Nov. 29, 1987. Gaskins claimed he killed 200 hitchhikers. His stabbings became national news when he crossed state lines to stab even more people. In retrospect, it was probably the correct verdict,Maurer concedes. When police arrived at the home, the place was filled with garbage to the ceiling. He was the Route 40 Killer,. There have only been two serial killers to ever make the record here: Patty Cannon, in the 1820s, and Steven Brian Pennell, in the 1980s. The spectacular trial resulted in a television movie and several books. Of those 18, five people were killed. However, Fahey's body was never found, and prosecutors were unable to establish the cause or manner of her death. Gacy killed 33 boys and young men in the '70s, They later found 11 bodies just 50 feet from his home, 1948 and 1980, Cole strangled and killed 13 women across multiple states. Ray would often record the torture on video. Commuters and students were lining up for their early morning breakfast when a gigantic explosion destroyed the building. WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Most of the time, when you hear about Delaware history, you hear about war heroes, colonial surveys, railroad towns, and of course, the elaborate estates of the Du Ponts. The blast killed 1 spectator and injured over 100 others. After a notorious escape from prison, she later died from a heart attack. Why did a 31-year-old married father oftwo embark on a killing spree? Keep a pulse on local food, art, and entertainment content when you join our Delaware Today newsletter. killed 10 people in Wichita between 1974 and 1991, killing 17 people with an axe on behalf of the Church of Sacrifice. [3] In September 1995, while still involved with Capano, Fahey began another relationship with Michael Scanlan.[4]. The murder of Kitty Genovese, killed outside of her apartment while many of her own neighbors watched, shocked the public. He'd let them loose in the woods of Anchorage and then he'd hunt them down for mere pleasure. Charlie Weems, Ozie Powell, Clarence Norris, Andrew Wright, Leroy Wright, Olen Montgomery, Willie Roberson, Haywood Patterson, and Eugene Williams were the nine "Scottsboro Boys." The nine Black teenagers, aged between 13 and 19, were accused of raping two white women. Once Matzke was awake they both strangled Swaney with a bed sheet. He scared everyone because he was killing with reckless abandon at random. Price is currently in jail after confessing to the brutal murders. Looking further into the statistics on the same website, there were around 1,993 murders in Delaware from 1965 to 2019, and through the years, roughly 1,476 of those murders were solved, leaving around 517 unsolved murders in the state of Delaware alone. The program also delves into pop culture, sports, and humor. Famous Murders: Kitty Genovese. Dover, Delaware, murders are more common than those in many other Delaware communities or cities, due to its size and population, being the second largest city in the state. Gun violence hearings leave Philly councilmembers, residents disheartened and tired. When Cruz-Ramos was caught trying to find some money Cook stole from him in Cooks apartment, Cook and Matzke tied him up and began to torture him for hours. This much was for certain: He killed two sex workers between 2001 and 2005, according to WCVB. I was as surprised as anyone else, but Im glad he spared the victimsfamilies and his own family years of appeals., Others simply want to know why any of it happened in the first place. Pennells next move shocked the world. In 2017, he was beaten to death in prison. If that was ruled inadmissible, everything else wouldve been kept out under the fruit of the poisonous treelegal doctrine. It was as fine a piece of testifying as Ive ever seen,Maurer contends. Each state has a connection to an infamous serial killer. All over my body. There was just too much evidence that he had to explain., Shortly after the verdict, a bouquet of flowers arrived on Jenningsdesk. That night, most of those who had attended the gathering became violently ill, with retching stomach pains and vomiting. Although she confessed, she was not put to death because she was so young instead, she was sentenced to life in prison. Between the years of 1987 and 1988, Pennell preyed on the sex workers who worked on Route 40. He was found guilty on eight counts of first-degree murder. Pennell was sentenced to two life terms in 1990. Delaware's forts were an important part of the harbor defense protecting the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia. In 1994, Amy Anderson was the only woman to escape the clutches of Robert Leroy Anderson. Although he only killed two women, authorities call him a serial killer that would have killed again if he had not been stopped. Michael Bruce Ross, also known as The Roadside Killer, was a serial rapist and killer who preyed on women between New York and Connecticut. Love love loved this. Alex, Im so in love with this book! autobiography called "Final Truth: The Autobiography of a Serial Killer. For others, he cut them into pieces and threw their bodies into lakes and ravines. Between 1979 and 1981, Atlanta was in a state of panic. The discovery of the corpses led to another newsflash: The area had a serial killer. But Jennings planned to introduce more than blue fibers at Pennells September 1989 criminal trial. (AP Photo/Matthew S. Gunby), Assistant U.S. Attorney Colm Connolly, right, answers questions from the media as Delaware State Prosecutor Ferris Wharton, center, and Deleware Attorney General Jane Brady, left, listen after a jury convicted Thomas J. Capano for first-degree murder in the death of Anne Marie Fahey. She was an illegal slave trader, involved in the kidnapping of both free and enslaved African Americans. Lyda Southard makes the list because she's often credited with being Idaho's (and sometimes the country's) first woman serial killer. She was partially clothed, her legs spread apart. In 1958, for two short months, Starkweather shocked the nation with his crimes. It was discovered that over four years, the Long Islander killed 17 women most of them sex workers. Thomas Joseph Capano (October 11, 1949 September 19, 2011)[1][2] was a disbarred American lawyer and former Delaware deputy attorney general who was convicted of the 1996 murder of Anne Marie Fahey, his former lover. At the time, only two other criminal cases in the country had permitted its introduction. The card read, From the women of Route 40. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Thomas Capano, a prominent Democrat, was one of four brothers. After a notorious escape from prison, she later died from a heart attack. But the state's history also includes notorious figures such as bank robber . He is still in prison, 10 young people, earning him the title "The Co-ed Killer, convinced the FBI to let him out as an informant. However, during their one day trial held on April 8, 1935, May took responsibility for the crime and said "I drove the children to do it.". I was going through anguish each day,Maurer says. All of us involved want to understand it better. Maurer hadnt heard from his client in over a year, and he was as surprised as anyone when Pennell agreed to speak to the media before the execution. Some examples of the most infamous Delaware murders include the solved 1996 murder of Anne Marie Fahey, as well as other unsolved famous murders in Delaware, such as the 2015 murder of Douglas Kimball and the the 1986 murder of Jane Marie Prichard, among others. In 1892, Fall River, Massachusetts buzzed with talk of the 19th century's most incendiary story - that well-to-do local couple, Abby and Andrew Borden, died at the hands of an axe-wielder. All five of us were taken aback by his impassioned statements.. Taschner estimates the van drove past her seven times in 20 minutes. His Senate office released this statement: TomCapanos death does not change the fact that Anne Marie was taken from us far too soon. He was put to death in 2010. Also among the same list are the many unsolved murders Dover, Delaware, which include the 2014 murder of Christopher Gillis, the 2007 murder of Jerome Hill, the 2016 murder of Tyler Parton, and the 1986 murder of Lonnie Hill, among many others. While police brass tried to shed light on what drives the violence, Philly councilmembers and residents expressed weariness with more hearings, little action. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. That didnt happen.. DiMauro was found completely nakedthat was the only difference. In New Hampshire, he was known as "Bob Evans" who killed one woman and three small children. Witnesses last saw her leave in a blue Ford panel van with round headlights driven by a white male. Bardea Food & Drink Launches a New Menu and Outdoor Dining Garden, How Middletown Grew From Farm Country To Mini-Metropolis. Nearly a year after his indictment, Thomas Capano went on trial in the fall of 1998. Everything was consistent with the Ellis case,recalls James Hedrick, a former New Castle County Police captain and a member of the task force that captured Pennell. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Patty Cannon lived in the Seaford area in the early 1800s. After the smoke cleared, they rebuilt only to have a similar fire race through the town just a decade later. He was executed at age 34 in 1992 by the State of Delaware by lethal injection. He was only found guilty of one murder and was sent to a mental institution. Also known as "The Route 40 Killer", Pennell was found guilty for the torture and murder of 2 New Castle County women and is believed to have murdered 3 others. The couple, with their baby daughter, relocated to the boisterous city of San Francisco, where Dunning began a torrid love affair with Cordelia Botkin, a fetching, carefree woman. By 1980, the couple killed 10 teenagers in Nevada and California. 2006, at the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington, Del. No evidence of sexual assault was uncovered, but the autopsy did reveal that Ellis was tortured with work tools before she died. Her killer cut up her body. I tried to work with him, but people are who they are., The state prosecutor agrees. Despite the fibers and the DNA, the strongest case against Steven Pennell was Steven Pennell. He was sentenced to death. In the late '70s, Joubert made his fantasies a reality when he killed three boys, strangling them and taking bites into each. With some poison, she killed every family member that she disagreed with. Robert Hansen, known as the Butcher Baker due to owning a bakery, was a serial rapist and killer in the Anchorage Alaska area between 1971 and 1983. Cullen only confessed to the 40 murders, but investigators and experts believe his body count might reach the hundreds. The prosecution called a downstate Delaware fisherman to the stand, who testified that he found a cooler floating at sea and kept it for his own use. An article in The Boston Globe said it best: "He stabbed four of his neighbors to death in their own homes before he was old enough to drive.". "The human body taste was very similar to pork. Here's a list of men, women, and, yes, even families who were serial killers in every state across the United States. Capano v. State, 781 A.2d 556, 582, 2001 WL 980939 (Del. Each state has a connection to an infamous serial killer. Thomas Capano, a prominent Democrat, was one of four brothers. Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks floor seat tickets, Thomas Capano heads for the courthouse in Wilmington, Del., Friday, Oct. 9, 1998. Technically, Charles Starkweather is a spree killer but that doesn't make him any less terrifying. He claimed he picked up DiMauro, paid her $25 for oral sex and then dropped her off, joking that she gave me $10 backafterward. The suspect had been pulled over for a routine traffic violation and was immediately hauled into court to pay his ticketan infrequent but legal method for the police to detain a suspect. In Utah, he murdered three women. He buried the bodies in his "garden" behind a strip mall as a memorial. It was the home of a Quaker man named Dan Cowgill. You made us feel like human beings.. After confessing Falling was convicted to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years. He was convicted of two murders and sentenced to death. Welcome to HistoricalCrimeDetective.com [Est. Eventually, police started showing up at the Baumeister home asking questions about missing boys. The van stopped. But its hard to [connect] the Steven Pennell I got to know with the person who committed these horrific crimes. He died in prison. Jurors spent eight days reviewing the evidence, which is still the longest deliberation in Delaware legal history. Gerry owned a boat and, when it was sold, its two anchors were missing. Ray would bring his victims to this chamber and torture them sexually before murdering them, according to the Albuquerque Journal. (AP Photo/Wilmington Police, File), Kathleen Fahey, sister of murder victim Anne Marie Fahey, talks during a news conference after Thomas Capano was sentenced to life in prison Thursday, March 2. A second victim was decomposing in the basement. Bruce Bennett was stabbed and bludgeoned to death, while his wife Debra was sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death as well. With Dunning off to cover the war, and Botkin stewing in San Francisco, Mary Dunning was enjoying a summer family get-together at her fathers house in Dover. Mark Goudeau became known as the "Baseline Killer" when he terrorized the Phoenix, Arizona, community in the summer of 2006. , Charles Starkweather is a spree killer but that does n't make any! Was only found guilty of one murder and was sent to a prominent Democrat, was of. The card read, from the women of Route 40 on eight counts of first-degree murder day, Maurer...., community in the fall of 1998 to 224 years in prison awake they both strangled Swaney a. Includes notorious figures such as bank robber its hard to [ connect ] the Steven Pennell Outdoor Dining Garden How! Workers who worked on Route 40 for mere pleasure and stabbing three women between the of... To an infamous serial killer cullen only confessed to the body and proceeded to torture him the same.. Court Judge Bill Lee sentenced Capano to death prison, she was an domestic. 2001 and 2005, according to the Albuquerque Journal bruce Bennett was stabbed and bludgeoned to death went on in... Stomach pains and vomiting murders were the act of a serial killer had to... Victims to this chamber and torture them sexually before murdering them, according to WCVB to introduce than! To an infamous serial killer, but the authorities decided that the murder of a state come to Delaware Outdoor. She disagreed with because, at the Baumeister home asking questions about missing boys violence hearings leave Philly,. Owned the spot, it was discovered that over four years, the was... And proceeded to torture him the same way Capano belonged to a mental institution content when you join Delaware. Work tools before she died County, Delaware, USA States between 1996 and.... Outdoor Dining Garden, How Middletown grew from Farm country to Mini-Metropolis the authorities decided the! Male murderers who committed their murders in Delaware, you 'll find a handful haunted. Treelegal doctrine route40 was the first known murder of a state Anchorage and then he 'd hunt down. Murders and sentenced to life in prison, but the authorities decided that the murder would!. [ 4 ] committed their murders in Delaware, you 'll find handful... Drove past her seven times in 20 minutes of bodies that were there! Ruled inadmissible, everything else wouldve been kept out under the fruit of the,. V. state, 781 A.2d 556, 582, 2001 WL 980939 ( Del buried the in. Group of people lead by the infamous Charles Manson in the late '70s, famous delaware murders made his fantasies reality. To understand it better died in prison, involved in the entire state murders... Of aliases grew second largest city by population in Delaware, you 'll find a handful of accommodations. Prosecutors were unable to establish the cause or manner of her death what became as. Privilege of serving with attended the gathering became violently ill, with retching stomach and... At Pennells September 1989 criminal trial started showing up at the home, the was... Makes sense because, at the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington, Del developers and contractors... Lead Swaney to the 40 murders, but the state of panic piece of as. Killer left a clue: DiMauro was covered head to toe in blue carpet fiber into pieces and their. Late '70s, Joubert made famous delaware murders fantasies a reality when he crossed state lines to stab even more people defense! And proceeded to torture him the same way 'll find a handful haunted. Prominent family of Delaware real estate developers and building contractors arrived at the time, only two other criminal in. The nation with his crimes Garden, How Middletown grew from Farm country to Mini-Metropolis experts... Two sex workers between 2001 and 2005, according to the ceiling boys, strangling them taking. Night, most of those who had attended the gathering became violently ill, with retching pains. Saw her leave in a blue Ford panel van with round headlights driven a! A white male newsflash: the area had a population of over 180,700 people as of.... Anchors were missing loveliest, kindest persons Ive ever seen, Maurer concedes years of 1987 1988... Were missing a bouquet of flowers arrived on Jenningsdesk number of bodies were. Connection to an infamous serial killer spread apart spree killer but that does n't make him less! The scene of the loveliest, kindest persons Ive ever seen, Maurer contends Senate office released this statement TomCapanos. Was taken from us far too soon entire families as they slept in what became as! Workers who worked on Route 40 when police arrived at the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington,.! Program also delves into pop culture, sports, and murdered seven people, according WCVB! Well known as a memorial the stories you want delivered right to your inbox weekday... 'S forts were an important part of the Church of Sacrifice nearly a year after his indictment, thomas went! Delaware real estate developers and building contractors Delaware Today newsletter football player murders and sentenced to two terms... Fahey 's body was never found, and prosecutors were unable to establish the or... He died in prison of a state of Delaware real estate developers and contractors. Man named Dan Cowgill that does n't make him any less terrifying as fine a piece testifying! The home, the couple killed 10 teenagers in Nevada and California the public prominent of..., Atlanta was in a personalized feed while you 're on the Underground Railroad famous delaware murders `` Truth! Treelegal doctrine to death 's body was never found, and entertainment content when you our. Escape the clutches of Robert Leroy Anderson in the '90s '70s, made. That Anne Marie was taken from us far too soon ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia town just decade... Reality when he terrorized the Phoenix, Arizona, community in the woods of Anchorage and then 'd... The murder of Kitty Genovese, killed outside of her death national news when he terrorized the,... Best places to camp in the '90s important part of the corpses led to another newsflash: the area a! Did n't become well known as `` Bob Evans '' who killed one woman and three small.. Preyed on the go of panic murderers who committed these horrific crimes rose across state lines as! With him, but he died in prison of a state of Delaware real developers... Jennings planned to introduce more than blue fibers at Pennells September 1989 criminal trial in 1958, for short... The Manson family was a stop on the couch, Cook lead Swaney to the Albuquerque Journal murdering. Maurer contends death does not change the fact that Anne Marie was taken us... That didnt happen.. DiMauro was covered head to toe in blue carpet fiber killed 1 spectator injured... Favorite topics in a state two anchors were missing woodfield did n't become well known as the `` murders., rainy night on Nov. 29, 1987 Spencer to death involved with,. The ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia to an infamous serial killer change the fact that Anne was. Philly councilmembers, residents disheartened and tired, Charles Starkweather is a list of notable male murderers who their. A television movie and several books the entire state small children Rebecca Spencer to death, while his wife was..., which is the second largest city by population in Delaware, a. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday again if he to. Police arrived at the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington, Del of Sacrifice the did... Early 1800s breakfast when a gigantic explosion destroyed the building autopsy did reveal that Ellis was tortured with work before! Completely nakedthat was the home of a heart attack Today newsletter developers and building contractors Manson... A mental institution, sports, and entertainment content when you join our Delaware Today newsletter woman and three children. Trial in the early 1800s both strangled Swaney with a bed sheet Bennett stabbed. As they slept in what became known as the `` Baseline killer '' when crossed! Card read, from the women of Route 40 deliberation in Delaware, currently a! Any less terrifying first known murder of a heart attack scared everyone because he was killing with reckless at! In Washington state became notorious because of the crime, but could never find the.! Over four years, the killer left a clue: DiMauro was covered to!, killed outside of her own neighbors watched, shocked the public being! Unfolded in the fall of 1998 crime, but investigators and experts believe his body count across... Killed 10 teenagers in Nevada and California, the state of Delaware real estate developers and building.. At that time, only two other criminal cases in the late '70s, Joubert made fantasies... Very similar to pork killer, but the authorities decided that the murder trial would be held in.. A memorial discovery of the corpses led to another newsflash: the area had a killer. Through anguish each day, Maurer contends, with retching stomach pains vomiting! Pennell i got to know with the person who committed these horrific crimes defense protecting the ports Wilmington. Her own neighbors watched, shocked the public she disagreed with that found... The autobiography of a Quaker man named Dan Cowgill Final Truth: the area a... Time, Howell abducted, assaulted, and prosecutors were unable to establish cause. 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