Anthony Wimberly: A Chilling True Crime Tale

Overview

Anthony Rene Wimberly (originally named Anthony Rene Lee), born on October 26, 1962, in Antioch, California, is an infamous American criminal and serial killer. Between December 1984 and January 1985, Wimberly committed a series of heinous crimes in Oakland, including the murders of three women and the rape of a 12-year-old girl. After his arrest, he confessed to his gruesome acts and ultimately received three life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Quick Facts

• Born: October 26, 1962 (age 62)
• Birthplace: Antioch, California, U.S.
• Conviction: Murder x3
• Criminal Penalty: Life sentences without the possibility of parole
• Victims: 3
• Crimes Span: 1984–1985
• Country: United States
• State: California
• Date Apprehended: February 5, 1985
• Imprisoned at: Mule Creek State Prison, Ione, California

Early Life and Criminal Beginnings

Wimberly's life was marked by instability from the start. Born to Ray Lee, who worked for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and Gwendolyn Williams, who struggled with unemployment and welfare, his childhood was tumultuous. When Wimberly was just a year old, his mother remarried A.D. Wimberly, but the marriage dissolved when Anthony was still very young. His mother then took him away to work at nursing homes in Tacoma, Washington, and Minnesota before returning to Oakland when he was nine years old.

His criminal behavior began early. At the tender age of 14, Wimberly was arrested for assault and subsequently placed in a group home in Oroville for nine months. After his release, he continued down a path of crime, getting arrested for robbery and sent to the California Youth Authority’s closed facility in Stockton for another 11 months. Released in 1978, he was soon back in trouble, returning to custody for burglary just six months later.

By January 1980, Wimberly was paroled again, but his criminal record continued to grow. He attended Castlemont High School in East Oakland, but his academic performance was dismal—he only passed two classes. On November 4, 1980, he broke into an East Oakland home, tied up a 12-year-old boy, and attempted to ransack the place. He found a shotgun but panicked when the boy's mother returned home. He was arrested shortly after but managed to bail out.

After bouncing around various schemes and failing to attend school despite registering at an adult day program, Wimberly continued his life of crime. On June 12, 1981, he stole a brand new Lincoln Continental from a garage, but within days, he was caught while burglarizing another home. This led to a guilty plea for robbery and burglary, resulting in a three-year prison sentence at Solano State Prison. Paroled in May 1983, he violated parole conditions and landed in San Quentin State Prison by September. Finally, on September 3, 1984, he was released yet again and returned to live with his mother in the Acorn Projects.

The Murders

What happens next is a descent into darkness that shocked the community. Just months after his release, Wimberly launched into a crime spree that began with the brutal rape and shooting of a 12-year-old girl on November 8, 1984, in West Oakland. This horrific act set the stage for what would follow.

On December 23, 1984, Wimberly broke into the home of 24-year-old Anna Arevalo, a secretary. In a calculated act of violence, he raped her and then shot her multiple times. He stuffed her corpse into a closet, leaving her twin baby daughters crying in the adjacent room, yet miraculously unharmed. This chilling detail underscores the brutality of his actions.

Then, on January 24, 1985, Wimberly entered a beauty parlor in West Oakland, where he demanded money from two employees: Vicky J. Russo and Marilyn A. Moore, both 35 years old. When they informed him they had no cash, he coldly shot both women multiple times, killing Moore and severely injuring Russo. He then stole Russo's van and fled the scene, but the chaos didn't end there. The shooting sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, prompting quick police response. Officers found Russo barely clinging to life in a pool of blood, and she was rushed to the hospital.

Just 45 minutes after the shooting, Wimberly's van was spotted. He abandoned it and fled on foot into the Acorn Projects, evading capture for the moment. But his luck was about to run out. On January 31, 1985, he broke into the home of 62-year-old Doris Wong Lee, attempting to burglarize her residence. In a violent turn, he killed her before fleeing the scene.

Arrest, Trial, and Imprisonment

The walls began to close in on Wimberly just six days after the murder of Doris Wong Lee. He was arrested on February 5, 1985, and charged with three murders along with the rape of the young girl, among 16 other felonies. The police had gathered evidence that linked him to the crime scenes, painting a damning picture of his violent outburst following his parole.

What’s truly fascinating is the comparison investigators made between Wimberly and another notorious murderer, Raymond George, who had been released around the same time but had not reverted to violence. Wimberly later confessed to the murders of Anna Arevalo and Marilyn Moore, as well as the rape of the 12-year-old girl. However, he denied the murder of Doris Wong Lee, claiming that two other men had committed that act and he had merely stumbled upon her body. Despite his claims, the evidence was overwhelmingly against him.

In a courtroom filled with tension, Wimberly was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to three life imprisonment terms. He now resides at Mule Creek State Prison, forever marked by the crimes that transpired in those harrowing months of 1984 and 1985.

Conclusion

The story of Anthony Wimberly is a stark reminder of the complexities behind criminal behavior and the tragic consequences that can arise from a life steeped in violence. His case remains one that captivates true crime enthusiasts, revealing the chilling realities that can emerge from a troubled past.

Sources

• "National News Briefs." UPI Archives. February 7, 1985.
• Edvins Beitiks. "Why did quiet auto thief turn violent as a parolee?" The San Francisco Examiner. February 7, 1985.
• "Suspect arrested in Oakland slayings." Santa Cruz Sentinel. February 6, 1985.
• "Mom shot by burglar." Times-Standard. December 24, 1984.
• Don Martinez. "Frustrated bandit executes woman in beauty parlor." San Francisco Examiner. January 25, 1985.
• Edvins Beitiks. "A 'quiet' car thief turns violent as a parolee." The San Francisco Examiner. February 7, 1985.

Wikipedia Article