Arthur Shawcross, also known as the Genesee River Killer, was a serial killer who committed multiple heinous crimes. Born in 1945, Arthur had a troubled childhood, with a history of bedwetting, arson, and head injuries. He claimed to have been sexually abused by his mother and aunt, but his family denied these allegations.
Arthur's killing spree began in 1972, when he abducted and murdered a 10-year-old boy. He was later linked to the murder of an 8-year-old girl. Despite confessing to these crimes, Arthur's lawyers were able to plea bargain, and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for manslaughter.
However, Arthur only served 15 years due to good behavior. After his release, his criminal record was sealed, allowing him to move to a new location without being recognized as a convicted felon. Unfortunately, this led to a new killing spree, targeting sex workers in the Rochester area.
Arthur's modus operandi included strangling and mutilating his victims, often returning to the crime scenes to relive the attacks. He was eventually caught in 1990, after a helicopter spotted him masturbating near a bridge where one of his victims' bodies was found.
During his trial, Arthur confessed to 11 murders and provided gruesome details about his crimes. He blamed his mother and a supposed spirit for his actions, but was ultimately found sane and guilty of second-degree murder. Arthur was sentenced to 250 years in prison and died in 2008 from cardiac arrest.
The case highlights the failures of the justice system, including the sealing of Arthur's criminal record, which allowed him to continue his killing spree. The case also raises questions about the effectiveness of the insanity plea and the need for stricter laws to prevent serial killers from being released back into society.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Arthur Shawcross was born on June 6th, 1945, in Maine.
2. He was the oldest of four children.
3. Arthur's family moved to Watertown, New York, when he was young.
4. He was a shy and awkward child who struggled to make friends.
5. Arthur had a low IQ and dropped out of school.
6. He enlisted in the US Army at the age of 19 and was drafted to Vietnam.
7. Arthur claimed to have raped and killed two Vietnamese girls during his time in Vietnam, but there is no evidence to support this.
8. He was married four times and had children, but all of his marriages ended in divorce due to his anger issues.
9. In 1972, Arthur abducted and murdered a 10-year-old boy in New York.
10. He was arrested and confessed to the crime, but his lawyers were able to plea bargain the case down to manslaughter.
11. Arthur was sentenced to 25 years in prison but only served 15 years due to good behavior.
12. After his release from prison, Arthur's criminal record was sealed, and he was relocated to Rochester, New York.
13. He began frequenting sex workers in the area and eventually started killing them.
14. Between 1989 and 1990, Arthur murdered at least 11 sex workers in the Rochester area.
15. He was arrested in December 1989 after a helicopter spotted him masturbating near a crime scene.
16. Arthur confessed to the murders and was later found guilty of 10 instances of second-degree murder.
17. He was sentenced to 250 years in prison and died of cardiac arrest in 2008.