Arnold Sodeman Australian serial killer Date of Birth: 12.12.1899 Country: Germany

Biography of Arnold Sodeman

Arnold Karl Sodeman was born in 1899 in Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia. He came from a troubled family background, as both his grandfather and father passed away in psychiatric institutions, and his mother suffered from memory loss. At the age of 18, Sodeman began his first prison sentence of one year for fraud. However, his freedom was short-lived as he quickly found himself on the wrong side of the law again, this time sentenced to three years for armed robbery. After attempting an unsuccessful escape during his sentence, he was given an additional year, making him a fully-formed repeat offender by the time he was released.

Sodeman married Bernice Pope and they had a daughter in 1928. The family seemed relatively happy, aside from occasional bouts of depression and mandatory drinking. Sodeman appeared to live a decent life and was known by those who knew him as a kind, generous, and hardworking young man. At least, that was the case until 1930. In November of that year, Sodeman kidnapped 12-year-old schoolgirl Mena Griffiths after tricking other children at a playground by giving them money and sending them to a store. Mena's body was found two days later in an abandoned building, and it was determined that she had been strangled. In early 1931, Sodeman committed a similar act with 16-year-old Hazel Wilson, whose body was found nearby the first victim. On January 1st, 1931, he murdered 12-year-old Ethel Belshaw by strangling her in the seaside town of Inverloch.

In late 1935, Sodeman attacked 6-year-old June Rushmer, whose body was also found with signs of strangulation. He was ultimately apprehended due to a colleague jokingly mentioning seeing Sodeman on his bicycle near the crime scene during a morning tea break at work. Sodeman's intense reaction to the joke raised suspicion, leading the workers to report him to the police. After being captured, the criminal confessed to all his heinous acts. Initially skeptical, the authorities eventually believed his confession, which ultimately led to his death sentence. The trial lasted two days, and Sodeman was sentenced to death by hanging.

On June 1st, 1936, at Pentridge Prison in Coburg, Sodeman's death sentence was executed. Prior to his execution, he declined to make any final statements, politely responding to the sheriff's question with, "Nothing, sir." He never contested his sentence or requested any appeals or delays, fearing that if he remained alive, he would commit another terrible crime. During his time in prison, he played checkers with fellow death row inmate Edward Cornelius. His final words on the evening before his execution were, "I am glad it will all be over soon." Arnold Sodeman, known as the Schoolgirl Strangler, claimed the lives of four girls aged 6 to 16. He was the second of eleven individuals to be hanged at Pentridge Prison.