When somebody is delivering pain that far exceeds what is necessary to kill the person, theyre getting pleasured based on the pain inand of itself. Learn more about merges. according to a 2020 Delaware Today article. "The Route 40 Killer" Steven Brian Pennell Pennell pleaded guilty to killing two of the women and pleaded no contest in two other cases. The house of horrors in Des Plaines, Illinois, was torn down in 1979 and now an entirely new home stands in its stead. Following this, officers raided his home and further searched his van. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Brutalized and discarded in a dumpster, the victim ofAmy Grossberg and Brian Peterson was their unnamed, newborn child. They found a young woman dead with her pants pulled down and her bra cut open to expose her breasts. How Delaware's Only Known Serial Killer Was Finally Caught, New Castle County Department of Public Safety. Once engaging in a conversation with a local rather high figure for an execution. Pennell was found guilty of two murders, with the jury unable to find guilt for the third, and received two life sentences. He was observed frequently driving back and forth on the same stretch of Route 40 that Taschner had met him on. Asked by the acting However, her case was slightly different. "We noticed there was mutilation in the breastarea partial nipple removal.". A jury found Rivers guiltyof two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, first-degree conspiracy and first-degree criminal solicitation after a three-week trial. He testified against his co-defendants. death. a whip, handcuffs, needles, knives, and other types of restraints. Joseph and Olga Connell died in front of theirPaladin Club condominium in the Fox Point area on Sept. 22, 2013. death chamber and an adjoining room for To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Her body was discovered partially clothed with remnants of duct tape in her hair. Sometimes he would simply bind his victim by the hands and ankles while As he was taken to court to pay his fine, a listening device was installed in his van. Blue fiber evidence in the Steven Pennell case. Though married with two children and a seemingly normal electrician by day, Pennell drove Delawares Route 40 by night, torturing and killing five women throughout the late 1980s. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 11/15/17, Damian Giletto & Daniel Sato/The News Journal. Pennell was pulled over for a routine traffic violation on September 30. I guess its time, Pennell reportedly said to arresting officers. based on information from your browser. Route 40 Serial Killer Remains an Enigma After Convicted 30 Years Ago, 'Every Woman's Worst Nightmare': Serial Killer Stalks Delaware Highway And Mutilates His Victims For Pleasure, Death Row killer Steven Brian Pennell's sick torture kit used to kill sex workers, Steven Brian Pennell: The Route 40 Killer, 2022 by True Crime Archive. Birth. Eventually he would show mercy You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Meyer once DNA evidence linked him to the case. The cooler was pitched into the ocean and shot to sink it, but it remained afloat. "Then, as I was leaving the neighbour and local sheriff came over and said that this was once the house of Steven Pennell. His request was granted. He confirmed polices worst fears, Delaware had its first serial killer. hooker, Pennell would coerce the unsuspecting woman into his van and Explore Steven Brian Pennell net worth, bio, age, height, family, wiki, birthday, career, salary [Last Update 2021]! had a prisoner like Mr. Pennell. Authorities quickly realized they were dealing with a serial killer. Thomas Capano was a well-known political operative, Fahey's lover and the primary suspect in her disappearance. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Finally to help, mostly aided by the efforts of special agents John Douglas and "We observed cylindrical blows to the head, there was evidence she had been bound at the wristsand ankles." Plain But Friday night and early today, state and The 23-year-old cop "worked" as a sex worker along Route 40 in hopes that she could make contact with the person responsible for the recent murders in the area (per Delaware Today). She was used to hitchhiking, though, and herfamily believed that's how she met her killer. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Mom! Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. After his attorney filed for an appeal, Delaware Today reports that prosecutors charged Pennell with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Gordon (citing new evidence) and a fourth woman, Kathleen Meyer. Add to your scrapbook. The first victim was 23-year-old Shirley Anna Ellis, a nurse. One was one of Mr. Pennell's victims, Michelle Gordon, About two months later, Cohen was arrested in a suburb of New Orleans and charged with mugging an elderly woman and cheating a cab driver out of a fare. Finally, the bodies would be dumped along Nicknames or Aliases: The Route 40 Killer, MO: Abduction, strangulation, beating to death, Sentence: sentenced to death by lethal injection, convicted of 2 counts of first-degree murder, Number of Victims: 5, suspected of 2 additional murders. She wasable to pluck some of the blue carpet fibers during their conversation, though, which was the evidence policeneeded. Police extracted red fibers from her face and blue fibers from her body, clues that would eventually help lead to the arrest of her killer. Fearing a pattern, police consulted the FBIs Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) with John E. Douglas creating a profile of the killer. Delaware Department Of JusticeBlue fiber evidence in the Steven Pennell case. Dunning recognized Botkin's handwriting. The driver asked her to come with him, but she feigned a bad headache. They executed a search warrant on his home and car and found hair, blood, and skin belonging to some of the victims in there. She was sentenced to life in prison on Feb. 4, 1899. The wallpaper has begun peeling away from the wall from mould as rubbish has been left all over the floor. Showing all 0 items Jump to: Certification; Certification. That is sexual sadism," Joni E.Johnston, a forensic psychologist, explained to producers. more. Her bravery and guile resulted in a prime suspect in the killings, as well as an eventual arrest and conviction. He was executed on March 14, 1992. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. wooded areas next to highways 40 and 13. Thinking on her feet, Lano ran her hands along the passenger side doorjamb subtly grabbing a handful of blue fibers. plans and enthusiasm Two days later, on September 20, Gordons nude, mutilated, and beaten body was discovered washed up on the rocks of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. She was a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Wired for evidential audio, the officers had instructions not to enter any vehicles stopping for them. On Sept. 20, a 22-year-old named Michelle Gordon, who had been reported missing by her family a few days earlier, was found dead in a canal. Renee Taschner and other undercover officers had begun working an operation along Route 40 shortly after the discovery of DiMauro's body. Wikimedia CommonsRoute 40 entering Glasgow, Delaware. He married Wikimedia Commons Route 40 Killer Steven Brian Pennells mugshot. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Gordon and Meyer killings and was sentenced to The medical examiner did, however, state that it was a homicide. Though53 homicides were recorded across the state in 2018, it's Delaware's most notorious killers and murders who keep us enthralled. No one ever foundAnne Marie Fahey's body. He favored routes along Routes 40 and 13, and returning home, he often crashed out on the couch, awoke in the early hours, and went out again. execution. victims). The news comes after the home of serial killer John Wayne Gacy was shown in the new Netflix documentary Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes. Several women in the late '80sShirley Ellis, Catherine DiMauro, Michele Gordon and Kathleen Anne Meyer then were abducted, tortured and killed. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. A friend hadlast seen her get into a blue Ford van. In a video shared on Instagram, which has over 5,100 likes, video clips showed the rundown care and the rotting house which was been discovered frozen in time and filled with creepy kids' dolls. Finner had been last seen getting into a blue Ford van. death chamber and, over an intercom, announced who had disappeared 10 days earlier but whose They decided to create a trap: They hadRenee Taschner, an officer with theNew Castle County Police Department, go undercover, wear a wire, and wander along Route 40 to see if the killer would stop for her. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Standing 65 and weighing around 300 pounds, Pennell appeared intimidating, but a former customer of his once said it was facade: He just didnt command respect.. Shirley Ellis and Catherine DiMauro were both strangled and bludgeoned to death with a Pennell broke his wifes arm once, which was never reported to the police. Their disappearances are also less likely to be immediately noticed. When police arrived, they realized the case bore similarities to the Ellis murder. Murder reveals the darkest part of our imaginations. Sorry! Most disturbing, though, was what had happened to her chest. Pretending to have a headache, the undercover cop successfully refused. Executed by Lethal Injection in 1992 at James T. Vaughn Correctional Institution, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 34 years old. body was never found. Death. Steven Brian Pennell was born on Nov. 22, 1957, in Wilmington, Delaware. According to our Database, She has no children. beginning of the strange and terrible tale of Steven Brian Pennell's executed at age 34 in 1992 by the State of Delaware by Edit. Instead, it was the beaten and mutilated body of Shirley A. Ellis. curtain, and a Roman Catholic priest standing At 9 o'clock Capano brought Fahey to his home and shot her with a gun purchased by another of his mistresses, Deborah MacIntyre, whom Capano later would blame for Fahey's murder. A video has emerged showing inside a house of horrors which was once owned by one of the most notorious serial killers in America. executed for his crimes in 1992. His crimes shocked the little state of Delaware, not because Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 35 years old? To keep creating 'Route 40 Killer' Steven Brian Pennell Murders Woman Off Del In this article, we covered Steven Brian Pennell's net "Apparently it's been left like this for many years. Pennell (1957 or 1958 March years old. "The Route 40 Killer" Steven Brian Pennell Pt. She was carrying a Thanksgiving food package for a patient staying there. Most, not a scintilla of evidence that Pennell is Investigators knew they needed to find their culprit before he struck again. Shirley Ellis and Catherine DiMauro were both strangled and bludgeoned to death with a hammer to the head. Steven Brian Pennells income source is mostly from being a successful Killer. by strangling them to death, then bashing in their skulls with a blunt The explorer, who posts as @places_forgotten said: "I do a lot of photography of abandoned houses in the States. View more cases in this series here. The results were a perfect match and Pennell was soon arrested. Try again later. They sent the fibers to the lab to see if they were a match to the ones found on DiMauro. Steven Pennell was Three Like Ellis, she was killed by hammer blows and strangulation, but unlike the first murder, DiMauro's body was covered in blue fibers. Federal courts turned her down. In November of 1987, Steven Pennell began what was to become the most appalling case of murder in the history of Small Wonder Steven Brian Pennell - a married electrician and dad-of-two - became notorious in the 1980s for prowling the Route 40 highway in Delaware for someone to murder, using a twisted torture kit he'd keep in the boot of his car. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. GREAT NEWS! The trial still captivates Delawareans. Please try again later. execution in Delaware. "The boyfriend was driving. She is not dating anyone. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. But according toDelaware Today, their attention was captured by the discovery of what would later be referred to as a "torture kit," containing "pliers, a whip, handcuffs, needles, knives and restraints." His wife tried to prevent that fate but failed to sway a court. There were ligature marks on her and a bloody wound on her head. On November 29, 1987, she left Wilmington Hospital around 6 PM, where she was aiding an AIDS patient, catching a lift on her way home on Route 40. incompetent.". But his conviction doesn't end here. He was brought back to Delaware where the 54-year-old remains in prison. An autopsy revealed no signs of sexual assault, surprising investigators. testing (blue fibers from an automobile had been found on one of the Patricia was born in Perkins Camp, WV on March 16, 1951 to the late Ernest and Mildred Rippeth. So I ask that the sentence be death as said by the states laws and Gods laws. issued the final rejection of her petition. His first victim was 23-year-old Shirley Ellis, a former sex worker who was, according to her family, out of the business and now studying to become a nurse (via Oxygen). As a freelance writer, he spends his time writing about true crime. Pennells career as an electrician was a dud, and he couldnt hold down a job for very long. Search above to list available cemeteries. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. The Delaware State Attorney General objected to the death penalty, but the judges sentenced Pennell to death anyway. Cohen admitted killing Lutzbecause he said the man made sexual advances toward him. he raped them and beat their buttocks with his whip, other times he Weeks passed without any viable leads from Taschner's operation. Though her body had similar injuries as the ones found on Catherine DiMauro and Shirley Ellis, a cause of death couldn't be determined as she was found submerged in the water. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Her death was ruled a homicide. It was the first state execution in 45 years. Employees at a construction site Route 40found a naked young woman dead along a dirt road. Authorities ran the plate number, and learned their suspect was Steven Brian Pennell, a married man with two children and no real criminal history. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. woman, whose body was found so decomposed that Investigators then finally got the break they needed the fibers from Pennell's car were indeed the ones found on DiMaruo. van with a promise of money for sex. A woman's broken body in a cooler thrown into the ocean, a newlywed couple gunned down by mercenaries, chocolates mailed to Dover with deadly intent in Delaware the most violent killings have remained the most memorable. himself and urged the court to hasten his Yet it's never quite been able to shake off its macabre past. near this town 15 miles north of Dover. WebAnother Documentary on The Ominous Files, Subscribe and enjoy this morning, the United States Supreme Court Then, learn about the mysterious Chicago Strangler., The Disturbing Crimes Of Steven Brian Pennell, The Only Serial Killer In Delaware History. On Halloween 1991, the court sentenced Pennell to death. Something went wrong, please try again later. Pennell finally went back home, and when investigators observed the lights going out, they departed, thinking their suspect had gone to bed. Discover Steven Brian Pennell's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Also, Cohen said, he saw the murder of his parents profiled on the television show America's Most Wanted and feared Lutz would recognize him. "Come up quick come up and look!". Once inside, Mary Elizabeth's sister, Ida Deane, died two days later. his new captive to unspeakable amounts of torture and rape. Stay in the loop with all the latest Daily Star news by signing up to one of our free newsletters here. Now married with two sons and a daughter from his wifes previous marriage, they lived in a Glasgow trailer home near Route 40. found. he cried. Police had little to go on, and the case went nowhere until June 29, 1988. Steven Brian Pennell abducted most of his victims off Route 40 in Delaware. At 35 years old, Steven Brian Pennell height not available right now. Top Podcasts Episodes Thank you very much in advance. For more on this case and others like it, watch"Mark Of A Serial Killer," airing Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 16 at 8/7c as part ofSerial Killer Week,a special nine-night event on Oxygen. The couple called 911 and police arrived on the scene. then drive to an isolated spot where he would then procede to subject Originally published 10/10/14. criminology, having completed several semesters at the University of Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Bey admitted he'd been the middleman in the plot. Her death was caused by a combination of strangulation and blunt force trauma after being hit in the head repeatedly by a hammer-like instrument (via Justia). After learning about Steven Pennell, read about Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen. The driver appeared sullen, un-talkative, and very different from the drivers she had previously encountered. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! maintaining that he was determined to be If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. However,a blood sample taken fromPennell's van was subsequently found to be a match for yet another missing woman, Kathleen Meyer, who had last been seen entering a blue Ford van on Route 40. victim was found. I'd never really seen that type ofdamage to a victim," Swiski told producers. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. mutilated. Under the Delaware State Constitution, every death penalty judgment requires further hearing from the Supreme Court, and on February 11, 1992, Pennell appeared before them, demanding that he be sentenced to death. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. police department. maintained innocence to the end, he fought his Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. She went to a more isolated area, and the vehicle stopped next to her. Re-indicted in 1991, for the murders of Gordon and Meyer, Pennell himself requested that he be executed, and eventually pleaded no contest to the murders. Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA. Ms. Gordon, 22, whose body was found on Sept. and opponents gathered on the prison grounds. The violent murder of Shirley Ellis on November 29, 1987, marked the Once again there was no evidence of sexual assault; her body had been tortured and bludgeoned with work tools, and there was evidence of strangulation by ligature. Want to more about Her? A peek inside a serial killer's house left untouched after the murderer was caught shows creepy dolls lining the walls. mentally impaired, and later in the day the Ultimately, a jury convicted him for killing Ellis and DiMauro but acquitted him for Gordon's murder for lack of evidence. The body of a fifth woman has never been In Delaware, the law sends all death sentences to be reviewed by the state Supreme Court. committed. She said she was pleased by the execution. Menu. Memorial ID You have chosen this person to be their own family member. He had no final words and left no answers for the chaos he induced. "The medical examiner indicated that the actual acts of violence and torture literally frightened her death," Jennings explained. The death of that Mr. Pennell was dead. The usually sedate state of Delaware was experiencing its first active serial killer. half a century, putting to death a man who had There was a problem getting your location. Drag images here or select from your computer for Steven Brian Pennell memorial. Steven Pennells blue van, in which he tortured and killed his victims. He fled the state in the family's 1983 Ford LTD, ending up in San Francisco, where in February 1989 he was taken in by a 51-year-old banker named Conrad Lutz. "She, like the others,had been brutally tortured while she was bound," Kathy Jennings, from the Delaware Attorney General's Office, told producers. We have largely lost our ability to be appalled, an experton America's true crime and celebrity killer obsessions, University at Buffalo associate professor David Schmid, told The Atlantic in 2014. next to the body was administering last rites. The Incredible True Story Of The World War 1 Christmas Truce, A 91-Year-Old Civil Rights Leader Just Survived Being Stabbed Five Times By Fighting Back, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Steven Brian Pennell was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Catherine DiMauro, Shirley Ellis, and Michelle Gordon (per Justia). Steven Brian Pennellwas charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths ofCatherine DiMauro, Shirley Ellis, andMichelle Gordon (per Justia). He was the last known person to see Fahey alive. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232112375/steven-brian-pennell. On Nov. 29, 1987, a young couple looking for some privacy drove to a construction site off Route 40. On March 14, 1992, the state of Delaware killedSteven Brian Pennell. Halloween of 1991, Steven Brian Pennell was sentenced to die by lethal I think it's been left alone because people don't want to think about history. All Saints Cemetery. WebSteven Brian Pennell was born on 22 November, 1957 in Glasgow, Delaware, United States, is an American serial killer. According to anAmerican Journal of Public Healthstudy published in 2014 that claimed sex workers have a 45 to 75% chance of being a victim of violence on the job. In the late 1980s, New Castle County, Delawares residents came face-to-face with evil when someone began murdering women in their small county. amazingly accurate psychological profile of Delaware's serial killer. When his case reached the superior court, Pennell requested that he be allowed to defend himself, which was allowed. They've spawned books, made-for-TV movies and, in one case, even a walking tour through parts of Dover. Tragically, yet another victimthen turned up in the meantime. Mrs. C.. The undercover team proactively drove her to a darker, more secluded area of Route 40, where the blue van drove past and finally stopped in front of her. Pennell was arrested on November 29, 1988, a year after he murdered the first victim, and was charged with killing three - Ellis, DiMauro and Gordon. In the meantime, another woman,Margaret Lynn Finner, a 27-year-old mom trying to secretly make ends meet with sex work, also vanished off Route 40. Inside the Afterward, heslit Martin Cohen's throat. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Seven months later, workers at a different construction site off Route 40 found the body of 31-year-old Catherine DiMauro (via Justia).