Jerome “Jerry” Brudos
Jerry Brudos was an American serial killer and necrophiliac who was active during the late 1960s. His crimes horrified the nation, and his bizarre fetish for women’s shoes became a hallmark of his twisted psyche.
Early Life
Born in 1939 in South Dakota, Brudos showed signs of trouble from an early age. His fascination with women’s shoes began when he was a child, and he was sent to a mental institution as a teenager for behavioral issues.
Crimes
Brudos’s criminal career escalated from burglary and assault to murder. He killed at least four women, beginning in 1968. His modus operandi included abducting women, then killing them and keeping their shoes or other personal items as trophies.
Jerry Brudos’s Crimes and Victims
1. Linda Slawson (1968)
Linda Slawson, a 19-year-old encyclopedia saleswoman, was Brudos’s first known victim. He lured her to his garage under the pretense of buying an encyclopedia for his children. He strangled her and then severed her left foot, which he kept in the freezer. He later disposed of her body in the Willamette River.
2. Jan Whitney (1968)
Jan Whitney, 23, was abducted by Brudos when her car broke down on the Interstate. He strangled her in the car, took her body home, and hung her from the pulley in his garage. He dressed the body in lingerie and high heels and took photos. Brudos later disposed of her body in the Long Tom River.
3. Karen Sprinker (1969)
Karen Sprinker, an 18-year-old college student, was abducted by Brudos at gunpoint from a shopping mall’s parking lot. He forced her to pose in female undergarments and then strangled her with a rope. He later severed her breasts to make plastic molds. Her body was thrown into the Long Tom River.
4. Sharon Wood (1969) – Survived
Sharon Wood, 24, was attacked by Brudos in a parking garage. Brudos attempted to force her into his car, but she fought back and managed to escape. Her description of the attacker later helped authorities in Brudos’s capture.
5. Linda Salee (1969)
Linda Salee, 22, was Brudos’s final known murder victim. He abducted her from a shopping mall, raped and strangled her, and disposed of her body in the Willamette River alongside Linda Slawson’s remains.
Modus Operandi
Brudos’s pattern of behavior included abducting women from public places, taking them to his home, and then sexually assaulting and murdering them. His fascination with women’s shoes and clothing played a central role in his crimes, and he would often dress his victims in specific garments before killing them.
Evidence and Trophies
Brudos’s compulsion to keep trophies from his victims eventually led to his downfall. The police discovered photographs, clothing, and the molds he had made from his victims’ body parts.
Jerry Brudos’s crimes shocked the nation, and his case continues to be studied as an example of a sexually motivated serial killer. His twisted desires and lack of remorse make his story one of the most disturbing in the annals of American crime. If you’d like to delve further into any aspects of these cases, just let me know!
Capture and Conviction
Brudos’s downfall came when a survivor provided crucial information that led to his capture. He was arrested in 1969 and later confessed to his crimes. He was convicted of three murders and sentenced to three consecutive life terms.
Life in Prison and Death
Brudos’s time in prison was marked by refusal to admit guilt and manipulation of the system. He died in prison in 2006 from liver cancer.
Psychological Analysis
Brudos’s crimes have been analyzed by various criminal profilers and psychologists, who point to his troubled childhood, his mother’s domination, and his sexual fetishes as key factors in his deviant behavior. His case continues to be studied as an example of the complex interplay between mental illness, sexual pathology, and violence.
Legacy
Jerry Brudos’s crimes continue to both repulse and fascinate criminologists, psychologists, and the public at large. His story has been told in books, documentaries, and crime shows, often as a cautionary tale about the hidden darkness that can lurk beneath an ordinary facade.
Jerry Brudos’s case is indeed a chilling example of how deep-seated psychological issues can manifest in heinous acts. If you want to explore any specific aspects of Brudos’s life, crimes, or the impact he left behind, feel free to ask!