https://www.thoughtco.com/profile-of-serial-killer-arthur-shawcross-973145 (accessed March 4, 2023). The last victim, Elizabeth Gibson, had been killed in neighboring Wayne County. The serial killer, also known as the Monster of the Rivers, the Genesee River Strangler, and the Genesee River Killer, was not a small man. He weighed 300 pounds and stood six feet tall. Shawcross was born on June 6, 1945, and died on November 10, 2008, while serving a life sentence for the murder of 11 women. His apartment, 241 Alexander Street, is still there today. Police tried various tactics, including canvassing all the local bars, to no avail. Interviews with many of the Lyle prostitutes indicated that he was a regular and that he had the reputation of being violent. Inside The Mind Of Arthur Shawcross, The 300-Pound Genesee River Killer. When approached, Shawcross agreed to assist the police with their enquiries. He agreed to be interviewed for a 2003 documentary about cannibalism where he bragged about slicing out and eating the genitalia of three victims but refused to discuss the eating the genitals of his first victim, Jack Blake in 1972. Initially, upon his release, Shawcross moved to Binghamton, New York, then relocated to Delhi, New York to be with a woman named Rose who would eventually become his third wife. Shawcross killed most of his victims in 1988 and 1989 after being granted an early parole, which later led to controversy. He dropped out of high school in 1960. Meet Arthur Shawcross - a man responsible for at least 14 brutal murders. The physiological evidence about brain science and genetic factors was, at best, spurious and beyond the understanding of the jury. Hunting Down Shawcross' Car. (2021, September 8). He served two years in prison, was paroled to his respectable parents - and murdered a boy and a girl. She had been strangled, anally mutilated after death, had her labia removed, and was gutted from throat to crotch like a wild animal. The cases selected were chosen largely because of the amount of information available on the subjects. Police questioning elicited a confession to the murder of Karen Ann Hill and secured enough information to lead to the recovery of the remains of Jack Blake. In November 1990, Shawcross went on trial for the 10 murders that had occurred in Monroe County. He was born on June 6, 1945 in Kittery, Maine. 4. "Profile of Serial Killer Arthur Shawcross." [10] It was later determined that Shawcross had a cyst pressing on the temporal lobe of his brain, as well as scarring on his frontal lobes areas that are responsible for decision-making and self-control. John, who claims he had a "bond" with the late convicted serial killer Arthur Shawcross (also known as the Genesee River Killer) and wrote a book about his friendship with the deceased murderer, says he's curious as to whether Shawcross meant as much to his daughter, Maggie, as he meant to John. [3] On September 2, just prior to the body's discovery, Shawcross raped and killed eight-year-old Karen Ann Hill, who had been visiting Watertown with her mother for the Labor Day weekend. We only haunt the willing. 5. Arthur Shawcross. To get through the PTSD, I used therapy and microdosing 5-meo-DMT. [2] His second wife Linda experienced several aspects of his disturbing behavior, especially his penchant for starting fires; an Army psychiatrist told her that Shawcross derived sexual arousal from setting fires. Despite the warnings of prison psychiatrists, after less than 15 years behind bars, social workers and prison staff members incorrectly determined Shawcross was no longer dangerous and granted him early parole in April of 1987. Interview with a Serial Killer: Directed by Christopher Martin. He also claimed a "combat kill" total of 39 which, when investigated later, was also discounted as fabrication; authorities claim he killed no one on his tour of duty. Jack was never heard from again. #FatPantLoadWe are still trying to crack the code. From school records it can be independently verified that he was an inveterate truant, with a particularly low IQ, a tendency to bullying and violence and that he came under suspicion for a series of juvenile arson attacks as well as burglaries. We hear you like all things creepy we do too. Totem phase is the reliving of the crime through souvenirs in order to sustain the high. He was caught after neighbors witnessed the murderer with the girl near a bridge shortly before her death. He admitted to 11 murders (he was not officially charged with a 12th), and his confession was an astounding 80 pages long. [8] Lewis also claimed that Shawcross moved into a separate internal personality named "Bessie" when he killed, arguing for him to be institutionalized rather than being returned to the prisons system. The Genesee River Serial Killer was a man who had previously spent more than 14 years in prison for the murder of two children - and then was released to kill again. He dropped out of school after failing to pass the ninth grade, and the next few years were punctuated with violence and jail sentences. A portrait of the late Princess Diana was among 10 sketches and paintings by him that sold for as much as $540 a piece. He began biting her groin in retaliation before strangling her to death. His body was found a year later out in the woods. Shawcross was held at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in New York State until November 10, 2008, when he complained of pain in his leg. He says he also exhibited behavioral problems at an early age, including bed-wetting and bullying. Shawcrossdropped out of schoolafter failing to pass the ninth grade. 9. There were other murders of prostitutes in that time but, given the danger of the profession, nothing untoward was noticed that linked any of the cases. 2. Charles Montaldo. Born in 1945 in upstate New York, Shawcross was perceived as different even in childhood (his classmates dubbed him ``Oddie,'' and elementary school officials called for mental health evaluations). After a photo of Shawcross was confirmed to be Mitch and police threatened to implicate Clara in the murders (Shawcross had gifted her a piece of jewelry from one of the victims), he confessed to killing the women detailing the reasons why he was forced to do it. An autopsy revealed that Stott had been strangled to death. Shawcross and his girlfriend Clara Neal were brought to the police station for questioning. He preyed primarily upon prostitutes from Lyell Ave, raping and mutilating his victims before and after dumping their bodies in out of the way locations throughout the city.He had a penchant for securing their bodies by way of a . 2011719. Search Reddit posts and comments - see average sentiment, top terms, activity per day and more ThoughtCo. He claimed most of his victims after being paroled early following a conviction for murdering [sexual partner] and two children in 1972. He could overpower people with this strength which pretty much sums up his murder methods. Shawcross's first known murders took place in his hometown of Watertown, New York, where he killed a young boy and a girl. Arthur John Shawcross, a.k.a. beheading mama-sans and nailing their heads to trees as a warning to the Vietcong., The High Falls of The Genesee River (Ken Gallagher/Wikipedia), A Woman Went To A Funeral To Berate A Grieving Mother, It Turns Out Her Daughter Might Be TheMurderer, Watch Chris Watts Give A Chilling Speech About Relationship Deterioration. Her body, nude except for her boots,was discovered three days later dumped in the Genesee River Gorge. Thats why we started Creepy Catalog in 2015 as a place for creepy content and creepy people to congregate. It was also hindered by poor presentation on the part of the expert witnesses called to testify. Rather than claim insanity this time, he pleaded guilty and received a further life sentence. Dietz told the producers of "Crazy, Not Insane" that he believes multiple personality disorder, generally speaking, is "a hoax." It seemed as if each week another woman went missing and those found murdered were not close to being solved. She had been missing for nearly a month. 7. But death did not end the killer's cruelty. Later, when Shawcross served in Vietnam, he claimed, although he had never served in combat, that he had . Both marriages saw patterns of spousal abuse and violence perpetrated by Shawcross. 25. She died from having her neck broken. Elizabeth Gibson was merely waiting in Shawcrosss car to keep warm while Shawcross was getting a cup of coffee at a nearby diner. He was probably a local man familiar with the area, and he probably had a criminal record. They also began checking criminal records for offenders who might be living in the immediate area. This, along with the fact that she was not a prostitute or drug user, kept her disappearance separated from the serial killer investigation. It did not take long for himto become bored with his new menial life. Arthur John Shawcross (Kittery, Maine, 06 de junho de 1945 - Albany, Nova Iorque, 10 de novembro de 2008) foi um assassino em srie que matou ao menos 11 mulheres, quase todas prostitutas, em Rochester, Condado de Monroe, Nova Iorque, entre 1988 e 1990.Ele tambm conhecido como Genesee River Killer (Assassino do Rio Genesee) ou Rochester Strangler (Estrangulador de Rochester). When discussing the murders of the two children in 1972, he told the detectives that Jack Blake had been bothering him, so he hit him, killing him by mistake. Being out of prison was challenging for Shawcross once word would getout about his criminal past. His final victim was Felicia Stephens, another 19-year-old prostitute. Dont worry, you can unsubscribe any time you like. Her boots were found in another location after the patrol expanded thesearch. When Jacks body was eventually found (after Shawcrosss arrest months later) he had been suffocated, mutilated, and molested. In this week's episode Ellen talks about Arthur Shawcross; a serial killer from upstate New York, which happens to be Ellen's favorite place in the world. There is simply no remorse, no emotion, and no feeling behind Shawcross voice. Shawcross' defense team tried to build a case based on an insanity plea, citing various mitigating factors, such as his upbringing, post-traumatic stress as a result of military service, a cyst on the brain and a rare genetic defect. He received his first probationary sentence in December 1963 for smashing a shop window. Shawcross pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. One victim tried to steal his wallet, another wouldn't be quiet, another made fun of him, and yet another had nearly bitten off his penis. Arthur Shawcross was an American Postwar & Contemporary artist who was born in 1945. After his involvement in protecting a guard during a prison riot, he was granted an early release in October of 1971. [2], On May 7, 1972, he raped and killed his first known victim, 10-year-old Jack Owen Blake, after luring the boy into a wooded area in Watertown. People like Arthur Shawcross, the Rochester, NY based killer who killed 12 women . In this study, five serial murderers were identified as having engaged in childhood animal cruelty. The interrogation tactics Shawcross employed with his Vietnamese captive are very similar to those used in the Phoenix Program, which was a . On the first episode of this two-part series, we explore the grim origins of brutal serial killer Arthur Shawcross, from his incestuous childhood to his time in 'Nam to his inexplicably numerous marriages. In Rochester, Shawcross took on a succession of menial jobs. From earlyon,Shawcross was socially challenged and spent much of his time alone. [2], In March 1988, Shawcross began murdering again, primarily targeting sex workers in the Rochester area, before his capture less than two years later. Arthur Shawcross' parents dispute his claims that he was molested as a child, but it's clear that he was troubled. Life for Shawcross and Rose became routine. Arthur Shawcross believed that the spirit of a thirteenth-century cannibal called "Ariemes," possessed his body and drove him to rape, murder and cannibalism. It was the second time that the man with the same physical description, named Mike or Mitch, had been mentioned in reference to the murders. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Felicia went missing December 26, 1989, and a few days later on the 31st, a pair of hikers found some jeans with her ID in the pocket. Arthur John Shawcross (June 6, 1945 - November 10, 2008), also known as the Genesee River Killer, was an American serial killer. In 1972 he confessed to the sexual assault and murders of two children. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. He was sentenced to 250 years to life in prison, where he remained until he died of a cardiac arrest in 2008, aged 63. She died of asphyxia, and her body had been dumped in a similar manner to Blackburn's corpse. She had also been mutilated post-mortem, as well as sawn practically in half. He would often miss classes, and when he was there, he regularlymisbehaved and had the reputation of being a bully and picking fights with other students. The arrest marked an end to a 21-month killing spree that turned up 12 bodies. ThoughtCo, Sep. 8, 2021, thoughtco.com/profile-of-serial-killer-arthur-shawcross-973145. Shawcross married first wife, Sarah, in September 1964. Interview with a Serial Killer is a powerful, no-frills documentary that consists largely of what the title advertises- a lengthy interview with Arthur Shawcross, also known as the Genesee River . With nothing to hold him onthe police had to let him go, but not before taking his picture. He was cremated. A cyst found on Shawcross' right temporal lobe was said to have caused him to have behavioral seizures where he would display animalistic behavior, such as eating the body parts of his victims. The judge sentenced him to 25 years for each count, a total of 250 years imprisonment. She was the only victim where he went to Wayne County to dispose of the body because he could sense that police were catching up to him and wanted to throw them off the trail. The case studies selected were those of Carroll Edward Cole, Jeffery Lionel Dahmer, Edmund Emil Kemper III, Henry Lee Lucas, and Arthur Shawcross. He murdered two kids and never disclosed the reason. Profile of Serial Killer Arthur Shawcross. The press also grew interested in the murders and dubbed the killer as the "Genesee River Killer," and the "Rochester Strangler.". He also claimed that an aunt sexually molested him when he was 9 years old and that he acted out by sexually molesting his younger sister. The Most Notorious Serial Killers in History. It was discovered that Shawcross had an extra Y chromosomewhich somehave suggested (although there is no proof) makes the person more violent. manner of death. On November 10, 2008, Shawcross died of cardiac arrest after being transferred from the Sullivan Correction Facility to an Albany, New York hospital. . 479 Words2 Pages. His formal confession was nearly 80 pages long. One particular murder stood out to investigators who gave interviews after Shawcross went to jail. Arthur Shawcross was blinking in . Dr. Michael H. Stone, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and an authority on violent behavior, identified Shawcross as "one of the most egregious examples of the unwarranted release of a prisoner" in his book The Anatomy of Evil. 21. Abstract. After hours of interrogation, Shawcross still maintained that he had nothing to do with any Rochester murders. Shawcross is in part responsible for the 2001 ban of prisoners being able to sell artwork they create while incarcerated. He was transferred to a hospital where he died later that day of cardiac arrest. Arthur Shawcross. The jury in the Arthur Shawcross trial was unpersuaded by Lewis's diagnosis of DID and duly convicted Shawcross of murder after just half-an-hour's deliberation. Also, based on the lack of semen found on his victims, he was sexually dysfunctional and found gratification after his victims were dead. In the end, it came down to what the jury believed, and they weren't fooled for a moment. (33.02 x 25.4 cm) Frame Size: 14.75 x 11.25 inches . With little evidence, and no public impetus to solve the murder of a prostitute, her case languished for over a year. Arthur Shawcross with his daughter (left) and granddaughter at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in 2002. From his birthplace of Kittery, Maine, his family moved to . languages spoken, written or signed. When it came time to discuss June Stott, Shawcross appeared to become melancholy. Shawcross was arrested on October 3, 1972, Shawcross stalled for two weeks before confessing both murders. cause of death. Could it be that Rochester was being stalked by two serial killers? While in Vietnam, along with killing 39 menduring combat (which was a proven lie) Shawcross also used the venue to describe in grotesque detailshow he murdered, then cooked and ate, two Vietnam women. He was placed on probation in 1963 for breaking the window of a store. Shawcross took him fishing just a few days before he disappeared, but denied any knowledge of the disappearance. English. Arthur Shawcross. Hunters discovered his next victim, 27-year-old prostitute Dorothy Blackburn, on March 24, 1988. For detectives, June Stott's murder sent the investigation into a tailspin. He received a 25-year jail sentence, and third wife Penny divorced him shortly thereafter. [2] He first moved to Binghamton, New York, then relocated to Delhi with a girlfriend, Rose Marie Walley. Partly told through the letters of Arthur Shawcross, The Shawcross Letters is the tale of one of America's most notorious serial killers and his relationship with his would-be biographer, John Paul Fay. Signing up helps us (not Zuckerberg) stay in direct contact with you and create the best horror website possible. Arthur Shawcross was skilled in having conversation with the prosititues about buying sex. The corpse was then anally mutilated, and the body was cut opened from the throat down to the crotch. Our newsletter keeps our core readers connected. When a pair of discarded jeans was discovered near the river on December 31, 1989, containing an ID card for a girl named Felicia Stephens, police began an aerial search of the surrounding area. She too was never seen alive again. At around the same time, the Genesee River Killer murdered eight-year-old Karen Ann Hill. He was never a good student failingboth behaviorally and academically during his short time at school. Her body was found in the Genesee River, dumped there following a vicious attack, which included bite marks in the groin area and strangulation. [11], Shawcross was held at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York, where he was held until his death. There are several different accounts of what his IQ actually wassome records show it as 86 or below average while other accounts report him testing slightly above average at 105 and 107. He bragged about slicing out and eating the vulvae of three victims, but refused to discuss his earlier claim of eating the genitals of his first victim, Jack Blake.[2]. The serial killer recounts Stotts murder as if hes reciting instructions on how to bake a cake. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The judicial system then thought it was wise to seal Shawcross records to prevent panic wherever he lived. They finally tracked down Shawcross via the car's registration, which was in the name of his girlfriend Clara Neal. imported from Wikimedia project. While serving his five-year prison sentence for arson, Arthur Shawcross went against his violent instincts and saved the life of a prison On his return from military duty in 1968, he landed in trouble yet again when he was caught and convicted for an arson attack. Moreover, he tricked the prostitutes thinking it was a safe date because he was a regular customer. Shawcross has claimed that his mother and an aunt repeatedly molested him as a child and that in junior high he had a sexual relationship with his younger sister as well as a cousin. His second marriage, following drafting into the Army in April 1967, was also tainted by violence and was equally short-lived. Authorities didnt find Jacks body for five months, but analysis showed the boy suffered from a sexual assault before his death. Edit: Since it came up in comments. Eventually, Shawcrosss parole officer settled them in Rochester without properly notifying authorities. Three women disappeared, one right after the other: In an effort to find the missing women, police organizedan air search of the Genesee River Gorge. She divorced him shortly afterward citing abuse and his propensity to being apyromaniacas her reasons. He dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, and enlisted in the . When he was unable to get an erection, Anna began to make fun of him. Male interviewers often had to listen to his conquests in Vietnam. She had been raped and murdered. Arthur John Shawcross, handwritten account, 1990. On March 18, 1998, Blackburn was reported missing by her sister. and he murdered 12 more women. Authorities ran criminal background checks on possible suspects, but sealing Shawcross previous records meant they didnt show up in any checks. Shawcross' family members strongly denied that he was abused and described his childhood as normal. Frances "Franny" Brown, age 22, was last seen alive leaving Lyell Avenue on November 11, with a client known by some of the prostitutes as Mike or Mitch. Arthur Shawcross: Vile cannibal who loved to eat women. Serial killer Arthur Shawcross murdered 11 women from 1988 to 1990 in upstate New York, earning the nickname "Genesee River Killer. Shawcross was born on June 6, 1945, in Kittery, Maine . Years later, while serving in Vietnam, Arthur John Shawcross wrote bloodcurdling letters about his battlefield ordeals, then returned to Watertown to commit a string of arsons and burglaries. So He Killed Her And Threw Her Body Out Of APlane. The big problem with this defense was that there was no one who backed up his stories. After his release on parole in April of 1987, Shawcross simply could not stop his murderous tendencies. July 21, 2017. [5], After fourteen years' imprisonment, inexperienced prison staff and social workers concluded that Shawcross was "no longer dangerous", disregarding the warnings of psychiatrists who had assessed Shawcross as a "schizoid psychopath." Apparently, Stott was a friend and had been a guest in his home. The F.B.I agents strongly suggested that when the next body was found, that investigators wait and watch to see if thekiller returned to the body. The family relocated to Watertown, New York, a few years later. Arthur John Shawcross, a serial killer who terrorized the Rochester, N.Y., area from 1988 to 1990, died on Nov. 10 of a heart attack.He was 63. 1 reference. By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Statement. The body, which was surrounded by fresh footprints in the snow, was that of June Cicero. Years later, while serving in Vietnam, Arthur John Shawcross wrote bloodcurdling letters about his battlefield ordeals, then returned to Watertown to commit a string of arsons and burglaries. Shawcross was born in Kittery, Maine in 1945, the oldest of four children. He appeared to be either masturbating or urinating. 17. He was taken to the Albany Medical Center where he went into cardiac arrest and died that night. On October 23, June Stott, 30, was reported missing by her boyfriend. He also was spending a lot of timewith prostitutes. When police threatened to implicate her in the killings, Shawcross capitulated and admitted to most of the murders, giving detailed excuses about why he had been "forced" to kill each one. 8. But from 1988 to 1990, Shawcross killed 11 women in upstate New York, earning the nickname "Genesee River Killer." Women said this particular john was prone to violence. [2] He served one tour of duty with the 4th Supply and Transport Company of the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. In September, six months after Blackburn's body was found, the bones from another missing Lyell Avenue prostitute, Anna Marie Steffen, was found by a man who was collecting bottles to sell for cash. The subject of Interview with a Serial Killer streaming on Netflix nowspeaks out in his own chilling words. He was the first of four children born to Arthur Roy Shawcross and Bessie 'Betty' Yerakes Shawcross. The post-mortem injury inflicted on June Stott, and not on any other victim, indicated that the killer was becoming more comfortable around corpses, probably returning to the crime scene again later to relive the attack. He hid Patricias body under scraps of construction material, Francess down a nearby embankment and dumped Maria into roadside bushes. Cause of Death: Asphyxiation. 12. In October of 1989, Rochester, N.Y., police had uncovered the bodies of three women and believed them all to be the work of the same twisted serial killer. He was a pathological liar and it was difficult to determine what was truth and what was not. Arthur Shawcross, AKA The Genesee River Killer, murdered at least 14 people. All Rights Reserved. Kimberly Logan, 30, another Lyell Avenue prostitute, was found dead on November 15, 1989. In 2000, Margaret Demming discovered that Arthur Shawcross was her biological father.She forged a relationship with him and allowed him to meet her seven children. Her body was found under a bridge. The serial killer agreed to cooperate with police. A photo taken of him during the initial questioning soon confirmed his identity as "Mitch," and official enquiries unearthed the reason for Shawcross' sealed record, which prevented the police from tracking him down sooner. After being arrested for the both childrens murder, Shawcross confessed and agreed to reveal the location of Jacks body which was still missing in order to have his charges dropped from homicide to manslaughter. Shawcross paintings in prison bring new meaning to the phrase still waters run deep. If Arthur Shawcross developed a love of art earlier on instead of killing, perhaps his paintings of rivers and lakes would have been a healthier outlet for his emotions. This was not the first time that he killed. Nicknames like The Genesee River Killer, The Monster of the Rivers, and The Rochester Strangler began popping up. Shawcross had served 12 years, roughly half of his sentence when inexperienced staff and social workers made the call to grant him parole stating he was no longer dangerous despite numerous psychiatrists warning that he was a schizoid psychopath. located in the administrative territorial entity. Every Friday, we send out an email with the scariest horror movies and TV shows streaming that weekend along with creepy news, updates from the horror movie pipeline, and links to the best scary content on the web. A decision was made to seal his records from public view, and he was moved one final time. After Vietnam, he was stationed in Oklahoma where he remarried (Shawcross was already once divorced and had given up parental rights to a child who he never saw again) and worked as an armorer.