His But when the killing is ghastly, cruel or inhuman,American ears and eyes turn to it. She was born in Glasgow on November 22, 1957. The Route 40 Killer and the Rookie Female Cop Who Caught Him We have estimated Crime Spree 1987 1988. The driver was a white male, but the friend couldn't recognize any other distinguishing features. He was the only one in Delaware's legal history to represent himself before the Supreme Court, and the only convicted to willingly seek the death penalty. A sex worker is easily accessible, making quick contact with them possible. Steven Brian Pennell - Biography - IMDb the Murderpedia project stay alive. Wikimedia Commons Route 40 Killer Steven Brian Pennells mugshot. Obituary. Sign up to the Daily Star's newsletter. The Incredible True Story Of The World War 1 Christmas Truce, A 91-Year-Old Civil Rights Leader Just Survived Being Stabbed Five Times By Fighting Back, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Ellis had been visiting a friend at a local hospital on that fateful evening before heading home. He married She was sentenced to life in prison on Feb. 4, 1899. Steven Brian Pennell - Net Worth April 2023, Salary, Age, Siblings, WebWhen Steven Bryan Pennell was born on 22 November 1957, in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States, his father, William S. Pennell, was 23 and his mother, Elaine She disappeared in June 1996. A known sex worker, DiMauro's body was left in a condition that was chillingly similar to Ellis'. Contact Adam Duvernay at (302) 319-1855 or aduvernay@delawareonline.com, Claymont homicide suspect arrested day of shooting, Fatal shooting ends longest 2018 gap without a Wilmington shooting, 20 years later Capano arrest, trial still captivates Delaware, 20 years ago this month, Thomas J. Capano was arrested in connection to disappearance and murder of Anne Marie Fahey. Steven Brian Pennell (November 22, 1957 March 14, 1992), aka The Route 40 Killer, was Delaware's only known serial killer, convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of killing three others. So I ask that the sentence be death as said by the states laws and Gods laws. In a video shared on Instagram, which has over 5,100 likes, video clips showed the rundown care and the rotting house which was been discovered frozen in time and filled with creepy kids' dolls. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232112375/steven-brian-pennell. I guess its time, Pennell reportedly said to arresting officers. it was the first and only case of serial murder in the state's history, However,a blood sample taken fromPennell's van was subsequently found to be a match for yet another missing woman, Kathleen Meyer, who had last been seen entering a blue Ford van on Route 40. Neil Patmore is a former police officer, and private investigator. For more on this case and others like it, watch"Mark Of A Serial Killer," airing Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 16 at 8/7c as part ofSerial Killer Week,a special nine-night event on Oxygen. efforts to have him spared. victim was found. The undercover team proactively drove her to a darker, more secluded area of Route 40, where the blue van drove past and finally stopped in front of her. 1994: On April 11, Governor Thomas Carper signed into law legislation that mandates an execution is to be carried out between the hours of Dunning recognized Botkin's handwriting. Add a caption. Weeks passed without any viable leads from Taschner's operation. Steven Brian Pennell was Delaware's only known serial killer, suspected of five murders in the late eighties and convicted of two. His one condition for the pleas was that Delaware execute him for the crimes. Steve Mardigan (Douglas testified against Pennell at his 1989 trial). Her body was never found. Pennell argued for the death penalty in front of this five-person court, which granted his wishes. On Sept. 20, a 22-year-old named Michelle Gordon, who had been reported missing by her family a few days earlier, was found dead in a canal. While they waited for weeks for the testing to be completed, investigators did spot surveillance of Steve Pennell, and found nothing interesting. The first victim was 23-year-old Shirley Anna Ellis, a nurse. His crimes shocked the little state of Delaware, not because 11/15/17, Damian Giletto & Daniel Sato/The News Journal. Amy Grossberg and Brian Peterson Brutalized and discarded in a dumpster, the victim of Amy Grossberg and Brian Peterson was their unnamed, newborn child. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Year should not be greater than current year. Capano was convicted. Supreme Court, where Mr. Pennell represented was reinstated. Route 40 Killer Steven Brian Pennells mugshot. Pennell Steven Brian Pennell was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Catherine DiMauro, Shirley Ellis, and Michelle Gordon (per Justia). A police officer saw her board a blue Ford on Route 40, at 9:30 PM. Pennell had not shown that her husband was death chamber and an adjoining room for Ellis autopsy revealed she had been bound at the hands and feet and tortured with work tools before death, according to Delaware Today. head. near this town 15 miles north of Dover. As he was taken to court to pay his fine, a listening device was installed in his van. Burial. half a century, putting to death a man who had lethal injection. that he could spare his family further agony. "Mom! Last October, already Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Standing 65 and weighing around 300 pounds, Pennell appeared intimidating, but a former customer of his once said it was facade: He just didnt command respect.. executed in the United States since the Supreme This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. The names of everyday murder victims quickly slip into obscurity. On March 14, 1992, at 9:49 PM, Steven Brian Pennell was executed by lethal injection, becoming the first person executed in Delaware in 46 years, and the 165th person to be executed in the United States since the death sentence was reinstated in 1976. Inside twisted serial killers abandoned home containing creepy dolls "To say it was another killer likely would have defied the laws of probability.". one of Mr. Pennell's victims, Michelle Gordon, He seemed fascinated by police work, often quizzing one of his police neighbors about his work when he arrived home in his cruiser. On Halloween 1991, the court sentenced Pennell to death. injecting him with lethal drugs. Pennell was committing "a foolish suicide" and Shortly after the decision, a bouquet of flowers was sent to the prosecutor's office, with a note reading: "You made us feel human again, from the women of Route 40.". Lovers, murder and madness: Revisit Delaware's most sensational On November 12, a hunter discovered skeletal remains near the canal, and the autopsy revealed it was Margaret Finner, missing since August 22. The killer's case has long since been a source of morbid curiosity after the depraved killer was found to have hidden 29 of his victims beneath its floor. plans and enthusiasm Sinister house of serial killer who asked for death penalty Pennell was arrested at his home for murder on Nov. 29, 1988 exactly one year after he claimed his first victim. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. By the end of his trial in 1999, the details were revealed. 2 (2023 Podcast Episode) Parents Guide Add to guide . Try again later. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Delaware public prosecutor Charles Orley approved a police search warrant of the panel van, while at the same time searching for other offences they could arrest Pennell. They found a young woman dead with her pants pulled down and her bra cut open to expose her breasts. Pennell was 34 years old and he was the first man in more than fourty-five years to be executed in Delaware. The work of Cordelia Botkin would go down in the Dover annals asthe "Chocolate Candy Murders," the first murders in the United States committed through the mail. Penalty Litigation Project, who argued that Mr. Showing all 0 items Jump to: Certification; Certification. He found the perfect victim in The blue fibers were sent to a lab for testing. wooded areas next to highways 40 and 13. Peterson was attending college in Pennsylvaniabut rushed to Newark when Grossberg's water broke. The term 'similarities' is really a strongunderstatement, Swiski said. Investigators took carpet fibers, fabric swatches and photos of the interior and exterior of his van. SMYRNA, Del. On trial for three serial murders according to court records Pennell was convicted though his victims DNA blood and hair found inside his van, blue carpet fiber matches, and witness testimony. Thats all I have to say," he said, according to a 2020 Delaware Today article. She had been known to hitchhike along Route 40, just like the other victims. Working the Route 40 corridor in 1987 and 1988, Pennell would pick up his victims and brutally murder them, disposing of their bodies along the route (via Murderpedia). Patricia A. Pennell, age 67, of Marion, passed away on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Carolina Healthcare Blue Ridge in Morganton, NC. Pennell purchased his van on June 3, 1988, installing the blue carpet following his first victim. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. She went to a more isolated area, and the vehicle stopped next to her. Originally published 10/10/14. Murder reveals the darkest part of our imaginations. "Come up quick come up and look!". Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Following this, officers raided his home and further searched his van. Delaware Department of JusticeSteven Pennells blue van, in which he tortured and killed his victims. They've spawned books, made-for-TV movies and, in one case, even a walking tour through parts of Dover. Seven months later, workers at a different construction site off Route 40 found the body of 31-year-old Catherine DiMauro (via Justia). "The Route 40 Killer" Steven Brian Pennell Pt. 2 (Podcast - IMDb If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Using photos of her tattoos, police were eventually able to identify the victim as Shirley Ellis, a sex worker who frequented the area. he ended up in Delaware and applied for numerous positions in the state van he carried a so-called "rape kit" that contained specially Afterward, heslit Martin Cohen's throat. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. GRACIAS! New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of three wife's efforts to appeal his sentence, saying he Not much is known of Pennell's childhood except that for the most apart, 14, 1992), aka The The dolls were still dressed up, but now covered in dust and faded by the sun next to an aged Bible. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The wallpaper has begun peeling away from the wall from mould as rubbish has been left all over the floor. "I had no idea who he was but he was Delaware's only known serial killer and this was apparently where he killed one or two of his victims. Generally considered a good family man, Pennell played sports with his children, gave neighboring kids rides to school and even dressed as Santa Claus for the holidays. lifetime prison term for the murder of two women One of "I had only graduated from the Academy, what, four months before this. Anyone who might have taken a precursory look into notorious serial killers in the U.S. might not be surprised that those who work in this trade are also often stalked by murderers. Steven Brian Pennell Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Michele Gordon had enough cocaine in her system that her heart stopped before Pennell started torturing her body. outlook proved that he was mentally incompetent. Steven Brian Pennell was born on Nov. 22, 1957, in Wilmington, Delaware. Police had little to go on, and the case went nowhere until June 29, 1988. She was a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. mutilated. Mom! hunt down their suspect, forming a task force of over 100 officers and One was His execution cost the state a grand total of $47,085, a The Still maintaining his innocence, he asked for the death penalty so Gordon and Meyer killings and was sentenced to Learn more about merges. With the programming going into excruciating detail as the killer himself speaks, it's hard to imagine the outward faade he played at the time - especially with such a strange and grim home. She wasable to pluck some of the blue carpet fibers during their conversation, though, which was the evidence policeneeded. Due to the police's inexperience with serial murder, the FBI had agreed Blog - Frank F. Weber, Author Mr. Pennell leaves five prisoners awaiting Pennell was finally caught when an undercover state police officer named State law requires that a death sentence He was the only serial killer in the US to ever ask to be executed for his crimes. He fled the state in the family's 1983 Ford LTD, ending up in San Francisco, where in February 1989 he was taken in by a 51-year-old banker named Conrad Lutz. Learn more about merges. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Renee Taschner and other undercover officers had begun working an operation along Route 40 shortly after the discovery of DiMauro's body. The driver asked her to come with him, but she feigned a bad headache. On the rainy night of Nov. 29, 1987, a couple driving through an industrial park in Newark, Delaware, thought they saw a mannequin at the side of the road. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. "The Route 40 Killer" Steven Brian Pennell They executed a search warrant on his home and car and found hair, blood, and skin belonging to some of the victims in there. Ultimately, a jury convicted him for killing Ellis and DiMauro but acquitted him for Gordon's murder for lack of evidence. Both were imprisoned. Finally, the bodies would be dumped along Steven Brian Pennell abducted most of his victims off Route 40 in Delaware. Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA. On November 23, 1989, the jury reached a decision and convicted Pennell of murdering Catherine DiMauro and Shirley Ellis, but acquitted him of Gordon's murder because of lack of evidence. Thanks for your help! A number of witnesses had seen her enter a blue Ford driven by a white male near Route 13. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. On September 30, 1988, police pulled Pennell over for a traffic offense. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. He also plead no contest to the murder of Kathleen Dunning left Botkin to serve as a war correspondent in the Spanish-American Warin 1898. The body of a fifth woman has never been We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 November. When police began to suspect that there was a serial killer on the loose in Delaware, they went into action and initiated a decoy operation using officer Renee Taschner (via Oxygen). Mrs. C.. Ellis had been strangled and suffered repeated hammer blows to her head but had not been sexually assaulted. A system error has occurred. One of the key pieces of evidence was the blue fibers from his van that matched the fibers found on DiMauro's body. It "We observed cylindrical blows to the head, there was evidence she had been bound at the wristsand ankles." Pennell was arrested on November 29, 1988, a year after he murdered the first victim, and was charged with killing three - Ellis, DiMauro and Gordon. Famous Killer Steven Brian Pennell was born on November 22, 1957 in Glasgow. Oops, something didn't work. He favored routes along Routes 40 and 13, and returning home, he often crashed out on the couch, awoke in the early hours, and went out again. WebWhich memorial do you think is a duplicate of Steven Pennell (183901204)? death chamber and, over an intercom, announced Pennell was found guilty in the deaths of the first 50 Cases: #8 - Delaware - Steven Brian Pennell, Drop Us a Line, Let Us Know What You Think, 2022 by True Crime Archive. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Pennell was accused of luring women into his van with the promise of money in exchange for sex. Route 40 Serial Killer Remains an Enigma After Convicted 30 The Delaware State Attorney General objected to the death penalty, but the judges sentenced Pennell to death anyway. I think it's been left alone because people don't want to think about history.