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Arthur ShawcrossAmerican serial killer
Date of Birth: 06.06.1945
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Arthur Shawcross
- Early Life
- Military Service
- Early Crimes and Imprisonment
- Initial Murders and Imprisonment
- Second Spree of Murders and Conviction
- Life Imprisonment and Death
Biography of Arthur Shawcross
IntroductionArthur Shawcross, also known as the Genesee River Killer, was an American serial killer. He gained notoriety for committing 12 murders after being released from prison early for a previous conviction. This biography will provide an overview of Shawcross's life and crimes.
Early Life
Arthur Shawcross was born in Kittery, Maine and later moved with his family to Watertown, New York State. Despite having below-average intelligence, Shawcross performed well academically in the first two grades. However, he dropped out of school in 1960 and developed a reputation for being a troublemaker and a bully.
Military Service
In April 1967, Shawcross was drafted into the army. Despite concerns about his mental health, Shawcross passed the army's tests for intellectual disability. He married, became a father, and divorced during his time in the military, relinquishing all rights to his 18-month-old son. Shawcross served in Vietnam before returning to the United States and settling in Fort Sill, Lawton, Oklahoma, where he worked as an armorer. It was during this time that his disturbing behavior, such as setting objects on fire for sexual arousal, began to manifest.
Early Crimes and Imprisonment
Shawcross eventually moved from Oklahoma to Clayton, New York, where he divorced his second wife. His mental state continued to deteriorate, leading to a series of arsons and robberies that resulted in a 5-year prison sentence. However, Shawcross was released after only serving 22 months due to his actions in saving a guard's life during a prison riot. Upon returning to Watertown, Shawcross found new employment and married for the third time. It was in Watertown that he committed his first murders.
Initial Murders and Imprisonment
On May 7, 1972, Shawcross raped and killed 10-year-old Jack Owen Blake in a local forest. On September 2, 1972, he raped and killed 8-year-old Karen Ann Hill. Shawcross was arrested and confessed to both murders, leading investigators to the burial site of Blake's body. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison but was released after serving only 14.5 years.
Second Spree of Murders and Conviction
Upon his release, Shawcross faced difficulties finding housing and employment due to his criminal history. Eventually, he settled in Rochester, New York. In March 1988, Shawcross began a new killing spree, targeting prostitutes. Over the course of two years, he murdered 12 women. During his trial, Shawcross attempted to argue that he suffered from a mental illness, and psychiatrist Dorothy Lewis confirmed his psychological issues were present. However, further investigation revealed that many of Shawcross's claims, including incidents of childhood abuse and cannibalism in Vietnam, were fabricated.
Life Imprisonment and Death
Shawcross was sentenced to 250 years in prison, which was later modified to a life sentence. While in prison, he was visited by psychiatrists and reporters, who he willingly shared gruesome and often unbelievable stories about his past. On November 10, 2008, Shawcross complained of leg pain and was taken to a hospital, where he died of a heart attack. His body was cremated.
