Walter E. Ellis American serial killer Country: USA

1. Biography of Walter E. Ellis
2. The Investigation by Detective Steven Spingola
3. Arrest and Prosecution
4. The Alias 'Milwaukee's North Side Strangler'

Biography of Walter E. Ellis

Walter E. Ellis, an American serial killer, was responsible for the rape and strangulation of seven women in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, between 1986 and 2007. His victims were African-American women ranging in age from 19 to 34 years old.

The Investigation by Detective Steven Spingola

Detective Steven Spingola from the Milwaukee Police Department authored an article titled 'The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler' in an online magazine. This article described his investigation into the murders of Sheila Farrior and Florence McCormick. With his experience in analyzing evidence, Spingola also provided a detailed profile of the killer, which was praised as "eerily accurate" by Jeff Wagner, former Assistant United States Attorney and radio talk show host.

However, Spingola retired before detectives Gilbert Hernandez and Kathy Hein from the Milwaukee Police Department's Cold Case Review Unit reopened the case and reexamined the DNA evidence associated with a suspect in the murders.

Arrest and Prosecution

On September 7, 2009, 49-year-old Walter E. Ellis was arrested under suspicion of the notorious murder series. Between 1981 and 1998, Ellis had been arrested 12 times and had been sentenced to five years in prison for a reckless threat. Initially, he faced two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. A bail amount of $1 million was set for his release.

Later, Ellis was charged with five additional murders, including three counts of intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree murder. From the beginning, his lawyer, Russell Jones, asserted his client's innocence, and Ellis was determined to prove it. Eventually, Jones withdrew from the case, and on February 18, 2010, Ellis pleaded not guilty to the charges. Despite his claims, he was found guilty.

On February 24, 2011, Walter Ellis received seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

The Alias 'Milwaukee's North Side Strangler'

The nickname 'Milwaukee's North Side Strangler' was attributed to local news organization WTMJ from Channel 4, which was the primary source using this unofficial name. However, this moniker was also adopted by bloggers and British media. The use of such a nickname, however, faced criticism from other media outlets in Milwaukee.