Robert Garrow
USA- Biography of Robert Francis Garrow
- Isolation and Farm Work
- Army Service and Criminal Activities
- Criminal Convictions and Escape
- Life After Prison
Biography of Robert Francis Garrow
Early Life and ChildhoodRobert Francis Garrow, also known as "Predator", was born on March 4, 1936, to French-Canadian parents near the village of Dannemora in the rural areas of New York State. He grew up in a family with five siblings, one of whom died at a young age. Garrow's oldest brother was given away at birth, and his fate was of no concern to anyone. His father, a miner and an alcoholic, took out his anger on his son. His mother, Margaret Garrow, was known for her hostile and harsh character, which greatly affected Robert's development. She was a strong, merciless woman who physically abused her children and showed no compassion or care towards any of them.
Isolation and Farm Work
Without a formal education and friends, Robert was left to fend for himself. He had no friends and received no supervision from adults. At the age of 7, he was sent to work on a neighbor's farm, and all the wages were taken by his mother. Throughout his childhood, whenever he was home, Robert endured frequent beatings from both his mother and father. He spent most of his days and nights taking care of livestock and doing household chores assigned to him. Robert was isolated, and perhaps due to this isolation, he began engaging in sexual acts with animals on the farm. These actions started when he was just 10 years old and continued for many years.
Army Service and Criminal Activities
At the age of 15, Garrow attended a state school to escape his father's fists. After graduating, he joined the United States Air Force, where he faced relentless mockery due to his nocturnal enuresis, a lifelong habit he had kept in secret until then. Later, he was sentenced to six months in a military prison in Florida for stealing money from his sergeant. Garrow escaped from custody but was captured a few days later. He was then sentenced to a year in a military prison in Georgia. After serving his sentence, he was released and discharged from the army.
Criminal Convictions and Escape
Returning to his hometown in New York State, Garrow struggled to find stable employment. In June 1957, he married a local girl named Edith in Adirondack Lowville, about 20 miles south of Watertown. This was his first sexual encounter with a woman. However, their marriage was short-lived as Garrow was soon arrested for attempting to steal from a warehouse. In 1961, at the age of 25, he was arrested and charged with raping a teenage girl, whom he had incapacitated with a pellet gun. After a high-speed chase, Garrow was apprehended by the police. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and sent to the notorious Dannemora State Prison.
Life After Prison
Garrow spent almost eight years in prison before being released in 1968. He tried to lead a quiet existence, working in a bakery and avoiding trouble. However, in 1972, he was arrested again in Syracuse, New York, for unlawful imprisonment and drug possession. Garrow had kidnapped two college students, but later they dropped their charges. In 1973, he was accused of sexually assaulting two young girls in Geddes. After being released on bail, Garrow disappeared and failed to show up in court. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he became an official fugitive.
