Arthur Gary Bishop
Child Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Salt Lake City, Utah
TIME PERIOD
1979-1983
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
Arthur Gary Bishop, an American serial killer and sex offender, abducted and murdered five young boys in Salt Lake City, Utah, between October 14, 1979, and July 14, 1983. He was apprehended on July 24, 1983, after voluntarily leading police to the burial sites of his victims during questioning about several child disappearances. Bishop, who had previously been involved in the Big Brothers program, was described as manipulative and cunning, ultimately confessing that he killed the boys to conceal his sexual abuse of them. Convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, he was sentenced to death in 1984 and executed by lethal injection on June 10, 1988, at the age of 35. Significant evidence included his confession and the locations of the victims' remains, which he disclosed to investigators.
Arthur Gary Bishop's confession revealed that he killed his victims to cover up the sexual abuse he inflicted upon them, which has led to speculation about whether he had additional undiscovered victims. Some believe that his background as a devout Latter-day Saint and an Eagle Scout may have contributed to his ability to gain the trust of families and children, allowing him to commit his crimes undetected for several years. There are also theories regarding potential accomplices or other individuals who may have been aware of his actions but chose to remain silent.
The Sinister Story of Arthur Gary Bishop
A Devastating Timeline of Tragedy
Arthur Gary Bishop, born on September 29, 1952, in Hinckley, Utah, would become one of the most chilling figures in American true crime history. Between 1979 and 1983, under the guise of aliases like Lynn Jones and Roger W. Downs, Bishop abducted and murdered five young boys in Salt Lake City, Utah. His horrific spree ended only with his arrest on July 24, 1983, and subsequent confession, leading to his execution by lethal injection on June 10, 1988, at Utah State Prison.
Early Life of Deception
Bishop was the eldest of six boys born to Eugene and Carol Bishop, descendants of long-standing Hinckley families. Although a quiet and solitary child, he displayed intelligence and excelled academically, particularly in business courses. His achievements included being an Eagle Scout and a devout member of the Latter-day Saints. He graduated as an honors student from Delta High School in 1970, and later from Stevens-Henager College with a 3.7 GPA, majoring in accounting and business administration.
In 1971, Bishop served as a missionary in the Philippines, but his life took a dark turn upon his return. Employed as a bookkeeper at a Ford dealership in 1978, he was arrested for embezzlement and received a suspended five-year sentence. Fleeing his parole, he moved to Salt Lake City and adopted the alias "Roger Downs." His excommunication from the LDS Church in 1979 was a prelude to his descent into criminality.
The Murders Begin
The Tragedy of Alonzo Daniels
On October 14, 1979, Bishop's first known victim, four-year-old Alonzo Daniels, was lured to Bishop's apartment with the promise of candy. Once there, Bishop attempted to sexually assault the boy before bludgeoning him with a hammer and drowning him in the bathtub. Daniels’ body was buried in Cedar Valley, marking the beginning of Bishop's deadly pattern.
The Fate of Kim Peterson
Bishop's next murder occurred on November 8, 1980. Eleven-year-old Kim Petersen, introduced to Bishop by a boy known as "John," was enticed to join Bishop for a rabbit hunt. Under the pretense of taking photographs, Bishop shot Petersen in the back with a .38 caliber revolver, then twice more in the head. After sexually assaulting and mutilating the boy, Bishop buried him near Daniels' grave.
The Grief of Danny Davis
Nearly a year later, on October 20, 1981, Bishop abducted four-year-old Danny Davis from a local supermarket. After suffocating him to stifle his cries, Bishop disposed of Davis’s body in Cedar Valley. Davis's disappearance sparked a massive search effort in Salt Lake County, involving hypnosis sessions, FBI involvement, and a $20,000 reward, but no trace of the boy was found.
The Misfortune of Troy Ward
Despite vowing to end his spree, Bishop abducted six-year-old Troy Ward on June 22, 1983, as the boy awaited his mother’s return from a store trip. Bishop took Ward to his home, beat him with a rubber mallet, and disposed of his body in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The Deception of Graeme Cunningham
Bishop's final victim, 13-year-old Graeme Cunningham, was killed on July 14, 1983. Lured under the guise of a trip to California, Cunningham was taken to Bishop's home, struck with a hammer, and drowned. His body was discarded similarly to Ward's.
The Capture and Confession
Bishop's downfall began when police investigations linked him to the vicinity of the abductions. Under intense questioning, Bishop confessed to the murders and led law enforcement to the boys’ burial sites in Cedar Valley. Over 300 photos of young boys were found in his possession, confirming the extent of his predatory behavior.
Trial and Execution
Bishop faced trial on February 27, 1984, where he claimed that an addiction to child pornography fueled his violent impulses. Despite this defense, he was found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder, five counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of sexual abuse of a minor. He was sentenced to death on March 19, 1984, and later executed via lethal injection.
In a letter penned post-conviction, Bishop admitted his compulsion, attributing his crimes to a desensitized conscience and uncontrollable sexual urges. Before his execution, he expressed remorse and apologized to the victims’ families, acknowledging the devastation he caused.
The Legacy of Horror
Bishop's case is a stark reminder of the sinister potential hidden beneath an unassuming exterior. His heinous acts left an indelible mark on Utah's history, underscoring the profound impact of his crimes on the victims' families and the community.
Sources
To explore more about Arthur Gary Bishop, visit the full Wikipedia article.
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First Murder: Alonzo Daniels
Arthur Gary Bishop abducts and murders 4-year-old Alonzo Daniels, marking the start of his killing spree.
Second Murder: Kim Peterson
Bishop murders 11-year-old Kim Peterson after luring him under the pretense of buying roller skates.
Third Murder: Danny Davis
Bishop lures 4-year-old Danny Davis to his home and suffocates him, marking his third victim.
Fourth Murder: Troy Ward
Bishop abducts and murders 6-year-old Troy Ward on his birthday, using the alias Roger Downs.
Fifth Murder: Graeme Cunningham
Bishop murders 13-year-old Graeme Cunningham, his last known victim, before his arrest.
Arrest of Arthur Gary Bishop
Bishop is apprehended after police connect him to the abductions and he confesses to the murders.
Trial Begins
The trial of Arthur Gary Bishop begins, where he faces multiple charges including first-degree murder.
Conviction
Bishop is found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Execution
Arthur Gary Bishop is executed by lethal injection at Utah State Prison.
Arthur Gary Bishop, an American serial killer and sex offender, abducted and murdered five young boys in Salt Lake City, Utah, between October 14, 1979, and July 14, 1983. He was apprehended on July 24, 1983, after voluntarily leading police to the burial sites of his victims during questioning about several child disappearances. Bishop, who had previously been involved in the Big Brothers program, was described as manipulative and cunning, ultimately confessing that he killed the boys to conceal his sexual abuse of them. Convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, he was sentenced to death in 1984 and executed by lethal injection on June 10, 1988, at the age of 35. Significant evidence included his confession and the locations of the victims' remains, which he disclosed to investigators.
Arthur Gary Bishop's confession revealed that he killed his victims to cover up the sexual abuse he inflicted upon them, which has led to speculation about whether he had additional undiscovered victims. Some believe that his background as a devout Latter-day Saint and an Eagle Scout may have contributed to his ability to gain the trust of families and children, allowing him to commit his crimes undetected for several years. There are also theories regarding potential accomplices or other individuals who may have been aware of his actions but chose to remain silent.
The Sinister Story of Arthur Gary Bishop
A Devastating Timeline of Tragedy
Arthur Gary Bishop, born on September 29, 1952, in Hinckley, Utah, would become one of the most chilling figures in American true crime history. Between 1979 and 1983, under the guise of aliases like Lynn Jones and Roger W. Downs, Bishop abducted and murdered five young boys in Salt Lake City, Utah. His horrific spree ended only with his arrest on July 24, 1983, and subsequent confession, leading to his execution by lethal injection on June 10, 1988, at Utah State Prison.
Early Life of Deception
Bishop was the eldest of six boys born to Eugene and Carol Bishop, descendants of long-standing Hinckley families. Although a quiet and solitary child, he displayed intelligence and excelled academically, particularly in business courses. His achievements included being an Eagle Scout and a devout member of the Latter-day Saints. He graduated as an honors student from Delta High School in 1970, and later from Stevens-Henager College with a 3.7 GPA, majoring in accounting and business administration.
In 1971, Bishop served as a missionary in the Philippines, but his life took a dark turn upon his return. Employed as a bookkeeper at a Ford dealership in 1978, he was arrested for embezzlement and received a suspended five-year sentence. Fleeing his parole, he moved to Salt Lake City and adopted the alias "Roger Downs." His excommunication from the LDS Church in 1979 was a prelude to his descent into criminality.
The Murders Begin
The Tragedy of Alonzo Daniels
On October 14, 1979, Bishop's first known victim, four-year-old Alonzo Daniels, was lured to Bishop's apartment with the promise of candy. Once there, Bishop attempted to sexually assault the boy before bludgeoning him with a hammer and drowning him in the bathtub. Daniels’ body was buried in Cedar Valley, marking the beginning of Bishop's deadly pattern.
The Fate of Kim Peterson
Bishop's next murder occurred on November 8, 1980. Eleven-year-old Kim Petersen, introduced to Bishop by a boy known as "John," was enticed to join Bishop for a rabbit hunt. Under the pretense of taking photographs, Bishop shot Petersen in the back with a .38 caliber revolver, then twice more in the head. After sexually assaulting and mutilating the boy, Bishop buried him near Daniels' grave.
The Grief of Danny Davis
Nearly a year later, on October 20, 1981, Bishop abducted four-year-old Danny Davis from a local supermarket. After suffocating him to stifle his cries, Bishop disposed of Davis’s body in Cedar Valley. Davis's disappearance sparked a massive search effort in Salt Lake County, involving hypnosis sessions, FBI involvement, and a $20,000 reward, but no trace of the boy was found.
The Misfortune of Troy Ward
Despite vowing to end his spree, Bishop abducted six-year-old Troy Ward on June 22, 1983, as the boy awaited his mother’s return from a store trip. Bishop took Ward to his home, beat him with a rubber mallet, and disposed of his body in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The Deception of Graeme Cunningham
Bishop's final victim, 13-year-old Graeme Cunningham, was killed on July 14, 1983. Lured under the guise of a trip to California, Cunningham was taken to Bishop's home, struck with a hammer, and drowned. His body was discarded similarly to Ward's.
The Capture and Confession
Bishop's downfall began when police investigations linked him to the vicinity of the abductions. Under intense questioning, Bishop confessed to the murders and led law enforcement to the boys’ burial sites in Cedar Valley. Over 300 photos of young boys were found in his possession, confirming the extent of his predatory behavior.
Trial and Execution
Bishop faced trial on February 27, 1984, where he claimed that an addiction to child pornography fueled his violent impulses. Despite this defense, he was found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder, five counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of sexual abuse of a minor. He was sentenced to death on March 19, 1984, and later executed via lethal injection.
In a letter penned post-conviction, Bishop admitted his compulsion, attributing his crimes to a desensitized conscience and uncontrollable sexual urges. Before his execution, he expressed remorse and apologized to the victims’ families, acknowledging the devastation he caused.
The Legacy of Horror
Bishop's case is a stark reminder of the sinister potential hidden beneath an unassuming exterior. His heinous acts left an indelible mark on Utah's history, underscoring the profound impact of his crimes on the victims' families and the community.
Sources
To explore more about Arthur Gary Bishop, visit the full Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder: Alonzo Daniels
Arthur Gary Bishop abducts and murders 4-year-old Alonzo Daniels, marking the start of his killing spree.
Second Murder: Kim Peterson
Bishop murders 11-year-old Kim Peterson after luring him under the pretense of buying roller skates.
Third Murder: Danny Davis
Bishop lures 4-year-old Danny Davis to his home and suffocates him, marking his third victim.
Fourth Murder: Troy Ward
Bishop abducts and murders 6-year-old Troy Ward on his birthday, using the alias Roger Downs.
Fifth Murder: Graeme Cunningham
Bishop murders 13-year-old Graeme Cunningham, his last known victim, before his arrest.
Arrest of Arthur Gary Bishop
Bishop is apprehended after police connect him to the abductions and he confesses to the murders.
Trial Begins
The trial of Arthur Gary Bishop begins, where he faces multiple charges including first-degree murder.
Conviction
Bishop is found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Execution
Arthur Gary Bishop is executed by lethal injection at Utah State Prison.