List of serial killers in the United States, "Police officer suspected in New Orleans killings", "Exclusive: Detective Tries To Solve 25-Year-Old Serial Killer Cold Case. One of the people Collins gave a second chance to was Steven Wayne Turner, a Georgia police officer who had been fired for exposing his penis to a woman he had pulled over while working for the Lithonia Police Department. Ultimately found guiltyof the murder of Cheryl Lewis, Ellwood was thought to be responsible for as many as 15 murders in the New Orleans area, and many believe responsible for many more. To me, that's definitely a red flag as to what kind of guy we're talking about here. It was revealed that these phone calls were coming from Napa State Hospital and had been made by a young man named Eric Philips Weill. The penalty couldn't be upheld though, since Sowell died in prison in February 2021. During the conversation with host Howard Stern, which was broadcast live, "Clay" described details for more than 12 murders and gave some details about his background, indicating that he was a white resident of New Orleans. Camden later testified that Ellwood also confessed to him that he had killed a black girl, whose corpse he had dumped in the canal. Another girl, Navassa Richmond, a former stripper and prostitute, in turn testified that she had also been beaten and assaulted twice by a drug-crazed Ellwood, during which he also attempted to strangle her. They got him iirc. [2] The cause of her death was also declared as strangulation. "No. Except this time, no police trace reveals the caller to be a hoaxer in a mental institution. The key witness was supposed to be Robinson, but she was found dead on May 1, 1995. Three months later, in November 1996, Gant was arrested for battery after choking and threatening his new girlfriend, Karen Thibodeaux, inside her home. Was it real, or was this just another one of Stern'slowbrow stunts that he's famous for? [4] Her body had been covered with garbage, and an autopsy determined that she had been beaten and strangled. In 1998, RussellEllwood stood trial for the 1993 murders of Cheryl Lewis, 30, of Bridge City, and Deloras Mack, 40, of Metairie. Other true crime sleuths who have heard recordings of Ellwoods voice insist there are no sonic similarities between him and Clay. To some, these questions might seem like the kinds of things all of us might ask if given the opportunity to interview a serial killer, but Stern makes some key maneuvers less than a minute into this conversation. Or was something even stranger going on? Did a notorious-a possibly uncaught-serial killer call the most popular radio show in America? Again, we hear Stern trying to casually ascertain personal details about Clay that might aid in eventually identifying him. According to friends and acquaintances of the victims, Gant held a personal grudge against Ivester and had spoken negatively about her on multiple occasions. Gant also had a violent history of abusing Sharon, sometimes beating her so bad that she required hospitalization. She was an impoverished mother of three who engaged in prostitution and had several previous arrests. The Macdonald Triad has been criticized in recent years as an urban legend, as the three key factors cited in Macdonalds theory are more often linked to childhood abuse and neglect rather than some serial killer crystal ball, but nonetheless, but the time of this late-90s radio broadcast, the triad had become cemented as a key element of serial killer culture. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. and our [2] On October 19, the skeletal remains of a woman were found in a wooded area near a highway within the limits of Bridge City. Ed?". One year later, on August 26, 1996, Gant was fired from the police force as result of the four internal investigations opened against him, with his beating of Sharon Robinson in the months before her murder being a major contributing cause. Jaya's clients often characterize her as meticulous, proactive, and enjoyable to be around. Russell Ellwood went on trial in 1998 for the murders that he committed in 1993 of Cheryl Lewis, age 30, from Bridge City, and Deloras Mack, age 40 . 1. In 1997, 'Clay' called into the show to tell Stern and Quivers he had killed 12 sex workers. He began killing for unclear motives, taking the life of Cheryl Lewis, his first known victim, by drugging her and drowning her in a canal on February 1-3, 1993. Another of Collins hires, Carver College Police Captain Michael F. Nemard, had previously been forced out of his job as a lieutenant with the College Park Police Department after being arrested for beating his wife, and a subsequent investigation revealed that he had once shoved his gun into another ex-wifes mouth and cocked the hammer. On April 30, 1995, the body of 28-year-old Sharon Robinson was found face-down in a shallow body of water next to an I-55 off ramp in LaPlace, Louisiana, 25 miles west of New Orleans. [1] Through the course of the investigation, two separate suspects were considered, one of whom was convicted of one murder, leading investigators to believe that multiple killers are responsible. Ellwood's trial took place here in Lafayette, and the jury unanimously found him guilty of 2nd-degree murder. During interrogation, Ellwood initially denied making any such statements to the inmates, but after an audio tape of Hill's testimony was played, he admitted that he had indeed boasted to Hill. Sentenced to life in prison August 17, 1999. After his disciplinary hearing, Gant complained to the press, saying, A lot of other people who have been charged worse than that are still on the job. When Sharons sister, Teri, and a group of supporters arrived at the scene to confront Gant, he spit tobacco juice at them before walking off. You can read the details Ellwood's trial over at lobservateur.com. Wesley Brownlee is suspected of killing six men and wounding a woman in the string of shootings. She then identified Ellwood as the driver. Russell Ellwoodis the man many believe to be "Clay the Serial Killer", the man who called The Howard Stern Show in 1997 and confessed to killing 12 women. 6". [12] A deputy who worked in the department later attempted to sue them for allegedly firing him for revealing that Rushing had destroyed crucial evidence, but his appeal was rejected due to lack of evidence. Acting fast, the police arranged for Jim Dunbar, the host of KGO-TVs, AM San Francisco, to have Melvin Belli join him on the air that morning, as Bailey was 3,000 miles away in Boston at the time. Cookie Notice Stokes stated Ellwood bought her lunch and treated her nicely before driving her to his home, where he suggested that they use cocaine. Realizing the call could be real, that the man on the phone could actually be a dangerous serial killer, Stern and Robin began carefully grilling Clay in hopes of getting a few solid leads for authorities. She recounted an incident in which Ellwood forced her into his car at gunpoint, then drove her to an underpass where he beat, raped and robbed, threatening to kill her during the ordeal. On August 4, 1997, just days after the interrogations were completed, Ellwood was arrested for buying cocaine from an undercover police officer at his home in Sebring. Numerous articles from several national publications name Ganta black police officeras a suspect in the New Orleans serial murders a full two years before Clays phone call, and television news segments chronicling Gants activities were aired on CBS and ABC in late 1995. Russell Ellwood was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, probation, or a sentence suspension on August 17, 1999. If youll recall from earlier in this episode, Clay the Serial Killer called into Sterns show on August 13, 1997over one week after Ellwood was jailed. - The victims were mostly African Americans. Before hanging up, the self-professed Zodiac said he would settle for Melvin Belli if Bailey could not be reached. One month later, in June 1995, investigators obtained a warrant asking for hair and saliva samples from Victor Gant. His unemotional attitude while describing how he kills these girls with a hammer in parking garages & swamps. Each time 'Clay' answered a question he responded in a calm, matter-of-fact manner. The interview's tone slowly took a turn after Clay's response. Cheryl Lewis died from drowning, while Delores Mack died from being strangled. On January 16, he was stopped by traffic cops for speeding and was scheduled to appear in court, but failed to appear on time and was subsequently arrested for contempt of court. While on probation, Ellwood relocated to Canton, Ohio, where he started working for his brother. The guy identified himself as Clay, mentioned if he killed himself he would miss the Batman movie, says he kills with a hammer, talks about comic books. Due to extreme decompisition, she too remains unidentified, and is named "Jane Doe No. After his release, Ellwood returned to Canton to live with his brother, who offered him a high-paying job. [2], On November 21, the body of 37-year-old Regina Oko was discovered. 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show. The victim is referred to as "Jane Doe No. [8] Ultimately, the murder charge for Delores Mack was dropped,[11] but on the basis of very circumstantial evidence and unreliable testimony, Ellwood was found guilty of killing Cheryl Lewis and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on August 17, 1999. The phone call starts out a bit rocky as Stern goes to the phone call and asks "Is this Ed? In 1995 New Orleans Police Officer Victor Gant was listed as the prime suspect in the murders of his girlfriend Sharon Robinson, a New Orleans casino employee, and her friend Karen Iverster, allegedly a prostitute. Will Clay Jensen get arrested at the start of 13 Reasons Why season 3 for his involvement with Tyler's deadly plan? Three other sheriffs from the now-disbanded task force told the same reporter that at least four other suspects were on their radar. He later. A mother of three, she had a criminal record for drug possession. [13], As of November 2021, all of the murders, aside from that of Cheryl Lewis, remain unsolved. Of course, this does not immediately eliminate Clay as a legitimate suspect, but it does prove that he could have learned about Gant being under suspicion merely from picking up a newspaper or watching TV. This was refuted by Ellwood's receipts, which show a puzzling two-week break in February. Sometime in the early 2000s, Gant left Louisiana and moved to Georgia. He immediately asks if Clay has sex with his victims before killing them. Even though he was always a suspect, he said he would move to Louisiana's New Orleans in January to clear his name and solve his cases. (1:00 mark in audio) You might notice a pattern emerging here. - The majority of known victims were sex workers. In another blow to Gants credibility, the serial murders of female prostitutes in the Treme and Algiers came to an abrupt stop in the wake of his questioning by police. Three witnesses testified that they had seen the defendant with Cheryl Lewis shortly before her disappearance. [2] On December 14, skeletal remains were found in a ditch near a highway. Later, Ellwood received $15,000 from his mother, but he invested it all in penny stocks and lost it all. GG.exe Kylo was here Sep 6, 2005 139,195 89,282 AFL Club While prisoners in the United States do retain some telephone privileges, it is highly unlikely that Ellwood would have been able to call the Howard Stern Show from prison and remain on the line for that long. [8] Ellwood's attorneys then filed a motion for a polygraph test to be performed on Sue Rushing, then-head of the task force, which was granted. Clay quickly, and almost with a sense of pride, callously answers "Twelve". By August 1995, word had leaked to the press that Gant was a suspect in the murders of Sharon Robinson and Karen Ivester, and possibly as many as 22 other murders in the area. *alleged killer calls himself clay *claims to have killed 12 women, first when he was 16 *used hammer or strangulation *killed in New Orleans and Mississippi area *says he's white, has kids never been married *seems to say most victims or at least half were black and they always approached him According tocriminalminds.fandom.com Ellwood would live in his car from time to time when he couldn't afford to live anywhere else. He indicated that he had "dreamed" of the moment that he was questioned by a task force looking into serial killers. Russell Ellwoods preferred MO was drugging his victims to the point of overdose and then dumping them in shallow bodies of water to drown. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. First, youll notice Stern is continuing his line of questioning by leading the conversation with suggestions in the hopes that Clay will impulsively give in to correcting him with accurate information due to his narcissistic desire to control the narrative. [7] The interview with the potential serial killer caused a massive media publicity, thanks to which FBI agents allegedly went to the studio and seized audio recordings of the call to establish the caller's location and possible identity. Getting word from the call screener there was a listener on hold named Ed who claims to kill prostitutes, Stern immediately puts him on air. There were a few things Clay said, or the way he said them, that made me think he was making stuff up on the fly. Internal investigations were launched, and Gant was taken off his patrol beat and place on desk duty. called and asked for tape of that call.". The details are given below, whether Russel was the culprit or not. In 1993 he reportedly began killing "claiming the life of his first confirmed victim, Cheryl Lewis, by drugging her and then drowning her in a canal on February 1-3 of 93" according to criminalminds.fandom.com. On August 13, 1997, The Howard Stern Show received a call from a man who identified himself as "Clay". Howard Stern then asks Clay how many prostitutes he's killed. He was one of the two main suspects in a series of murders of women in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gant was cooperative with the investigators questions but refused a lie detector test. Policemen later interviewed her friends and acquaintances, who stated that she had been cohabiting with a white male who vanished shortly after Porter went missing. Stern and Quivers asked him questions related about why he did it. 30-year-old Karen Ivester had been strangled and her nude body was left in a swamp under I-55. Gant complied, and the samples were sent to a police lab for testing against the wad of chewing tobacco found near Karen Ivesters body. In 1991, a serial killer began claiming numerous victims in the Algiers and Treme neighborhoods of New Orleans, eventually credited with 24 murders throughout the 1990s. Many people believe that Russell Ellwood is "Clay the Serial Killer," the man who contacted The Howard Stern Show in 1997 and confessed to killing women in a call that was broadcast on the show. serial murder, also called serial killing, the unlawful homicide of at least two people carried out by the same person (or persons) in separate events occurring at different times. Allegedly the day after this aired on B97 during the station's brief stint as a "Hot Talk" radio format, the FBIshowed up at Stern's studios and collected the audio as evidence. At this point, nothing has been disclosed of Gant's fate afterward; whether or not there was a DNA match to the two aforementioned murders and/or the other 22 victims of the serial killer is unknown. Jaya Mckeown - Jaya moved to Boston from New York to pursue a master's degree in corporate communications at Emerson College. [2], On July 3, the body of 32-year-old Michelle Foster, who had gone missing in New Orleans just days prior, was found. Click here to subscribe to Be. Instead of firing Turner, Collins allowed him to quietly resign. [2], The perpetrator(s) mainly targeted girls and women of African-American descent, aged between 17 and 42, as victims. This experience, combined with her undergraduate degree in psychology and teaching, has equipped her with valuable skills that she employs on a daily basis in real estate negotiations, homebuyer and seller education, and successful promotion of the team's listings. Cheryl Lewis' mother, in turn, admitted that her daughter was a drug addict and a prostitute, but said that she had never seen Ellwood with her daughter before. [2] Her estimated age was between 25 and 35. He was a cab driver in Nola that raped & killed prostitutes. He then dumped her dead next to Louisiana's Highway LA 3160 in Hahnville. She too had been strangled, but was had no known history with either drugs or prostitution. I'll look it up later. EDIT: Glad to see this post has stirred interest in possibly unraveling a case or debunking one! Despite having a defining characteristic - namely strongly protruding front teeth - she was not identified. In 1998, Russell Ellwood stood trial for the 1993 murders of Cheryl Lewis, 30, of Bridge City, and Deloras Mack, 40, of Metairie. She testified that in 1992, during a date, Ellwood, while under the influence of drugs, assaulted, beat and strangled her into unconsciousness. Most were forcibly drowned or strangled. Antoinette Rainey, who worked as a drug dealer in New Orleans, also appeared as a witness for the prosecution, testifying that Ellwood was a regular customer. No further information about him is available. [8] Based on Hill's testimony, the task force tracked him down and re-interviewed in the presence of Ron Camden, a 27-year veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department's Homicide Unit. She described him as a muscular, well-dressed, middle-aged black male who drove a dark-colored vehicle, possibly a Buick Regal or Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Little is known about Ellwood's early life other than the fact that he might have been born in Massillon, Ohio, and that he served time for drug offenses and probation violations in Florida and Ohio. On January 25, the remains of 25-year-old Henry Calvin, who had gone missing months earlier from New Orleans, were found. He reportedly submitted blood and tissue samples for the investigation, but nothing more is really known. Stern goes on to ask questions about Clay's motives behind why he kills, his methods of murder and even asks if he has any tattoos, but the caller was very cunning and careful to not incriminate himself. The charges were only dropped after a series of behind-closed-doors meetings with lawyers. Scan this QR code to download the app now. [5], Once located, Ellwood was informed of his rights, and within three days gave several statements recorded on tape. When the task force talked to him again, he admitted to dumping the body of a black woman in the water next to a country road. 3". .zklaml-1whqzut{display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;line-height:100%;top:2px;position:relative;}.zklaml-1whqzut svg{fill:#000;}.zklaml-1mmyqhz{padding:0 8px;top:4px;position:relative;}.zklaml-1mmyqhz svg{fill:#626262;}.zklaml-pr0334{font-family:adobe-garamond-pro,serif;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant-numeric:lining-nums;line-height:1.45;overflow-wrap:break-word;color:black;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline-block;cursor:pointer;font-variant:all-small-caps;color:#626262;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:16px;}.zklaml-pr0334:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.zklaml-pr0334:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;color:#000;}OthersSociety. He dumped her body in Behrman Park, within one mile of the spot where Danielle was found. The second witness, Antoinette Holmes, who lived near Lewis, testified to seeing her at the Time Saver restaurant in Bridge City two weeks before she was reported missing, standing between two parked cars and talking to a cab driver. This guy is either the dumbest serial killer or this was just a jokester with a really bad sense of humor seeking attention. His m.o. [2] On February 5, 1994, skeletal remains were found in St. John the Baptist Parish, later determined to be a young woman between the ages of 25 and 35. Ellwood later claimed that a mental illness had caused him to boast, demanding that the interrogations cease and he be allowed to return to New Orleans to see his attorney and be provided with treatment. [8] Officers found none of the items required for the fixes, not even a flashlight, which would be necessary to perform such repairs in an unlit area at night. According to her, Lewis had told Henry that she and Ellwood were on their way to a suburb of New Orleans, where her body was later found.
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