Bernard Giles
Florida Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Titusville, Florida
TIME PERIOD
September – November 1973
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
The case involves Bernard Eugene Giles, an American serial killer and rapist who murdered five young women and girls in Titusville, Florida, between September and November 1973. The crimes were characterized by the victims being lured, often hitchhiking, and subsequently found in remote areas, with evidence of sexual assault and gunshot wounds. Giles was apprehended on December 11, 1973, after two underage hitchhikers escaped from an attempted attack and provided police with a description of him and his vehicle. He confessed to the murders and was sentenced to multiple life imprisonment terms in 1974, currently serving his sentence at Tomoka Correctional Institution. Significant evidence includes the victims' bodies, which were discovered in various locations, and the testimonies of the surviving victims that led to Giles' arrest.
Bernard Giles is believed to have targeted young girls who were hitchhiking, leading to speculation that he may have had a specific method of selecting victims based on vulnerability. Some theorize that his background, including poor parenting and early academic struggles, contributed to his violent behavior. Additionally, there is speculation about whether Giles had any accomplices or if he acted alone during his crime spree.
The Grim Chronicles of Bernard Giles
In the quiet town of Titusville, Florida, the year 1973 unfolded with a series of grim events that would forever mark its history. Bernard Eugene Giles, born April 9, 1953, emerged as a notorious figure in this tale of terror. The young man, who once harbored dreams of artistic expression, would become an infamous serial killer and rapist, leaving a trail of tragedy in his wake. By December of that year, the law caught up with him, and in 1974, he was sentenced to multiple life terms for his heinous crimes.
The Early Days of Bernard Giles
Giles's beginnings were as ordinary as any other. Born into a Titusville family with three siblings, his parents, though law-abiding, struggled with effective parenting. Despite this, Giles's friends painted a picture of a likable young man. He attended Titusville High School, where he found an interest in visual arts. However, chronic absenteeism and poor performance forced him to abandon his studies at 16. He turned to the trade of electrician work, a path that seemed promising until darker urges took hold. In 1972, Giles married 17-year-old Leslie Jo Ann, and by July 1973, they welcomed a daughter into their lives.
A Series of Murders
In the autumn of 1973, the peaceful fabric of Brevard County was torn by a series of brutal murders. Giles targeted young girls, often hitchhikers, whose bodies were later discovered in secluded areas like orange groves and wooded expanses.
- Nancy Gerry, 18, vanished on September 26, 1973. Her lifeless body, fully clothed and shot in the head, was found in a palmetto thicket on December 10, 1973.
- Sharon Mary Wimer, a mere 14, disappeared on November 5, 1973. Her strangled body was found with only a St. Christopher's necklace, her clothing scattered nearby.
- Krista Jean Melton, 14, was reported missing on November 14, 1973. Her body, clothed and shot in the head, was discovered on January 31, 1974.
- Carolyn Jan Bennett, 17, disappeared on November 15, 1973. Her remains were found on Christmas Day, a bullet wound to the head revealing her fate.
- Paula Darlene Hamric, 22, went missing on November 17, 1973. Her nude, bound, and strangled body surfaced eight days later.
The Arrest
The turning point came on December 10, 1973. Giles, attempting to ensnare two underage hitchhikers, drove them into the woods. His plan to attack was thwarted by the girls' fierce resistance, and in a twist of fate, his gun misfired. They escaped and provided the police with a description of Giles and his car, even identifying him by name from a book they'd seen in his vehicle. Arrested the next day, Giles's car and .22-caliber pistol were seized, and he was charged with assault and attempted rape.
The Investigation and Trial
With Giles in custody, investigators connected him to the disappearances and murders of young women since August 1973. A forensic ballistic examination confirmed that his revolver had killed Nancy Gerry, leading to a murder charge. Despite Giles's insistence on his innocence, two independent forensic examinations in early 1974 declared him sane, setting the stage for his trial on April 29, 1974.
The Brevard County State Attorney's Office announced they would seek the death penalty. Faced with this, Giles struck a plea bargain. He confessed to Hamric's murder and, during the trial, pled guilty to the other murders and several non-lethal attacks. He revealed a disturbing penchant for violence, dating back to childhood games of pretend-strangulation. His testimony described a failed attempt to attack girls in 1969 after leaving school. The plea deal spared him the death penalty, and on August 13, 1974, he was sentenced to multiple life terms.
The Aftermath
Life behind bars at the Florida State Prison in Bradford County was not the end of Giles's story. In October 1979, he and two other inmates executed a daring escape using handmade smoke grenades and locksmith tools. Despite plans to kidnap his daughter, Giles was apprehended 26 hours later, just five miles from the prison, and sentenced to an additional 15 years for escape.
Over the years, Giles was transferred across various state penitentiaries. In 2019, he resurfaced in public consciousness when British journalist Piers Morgan interviewed him for a television segment, reigniting interest in his chilling crimes.
Sources
For further reading, visit the original Wikipedia source: Bernard Giles - Wikipedia
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First Victim Disappears
Nancy Gerry, 18, disappears while hitchhiking.
Second Victim Disappears
Sharon Mary Wimer, 14, goes missing.
Third Victim Disappears
Carolyn Jan Bennett, 17, is reported missing.
Fourth Victim Disappears
Paula Darlene Hamric, 22, goes missing.
Giles Arrested
Bernard Giles is arrested after attempting to attack two hitchhikers.
Fifth Victim Found
Krista Jean Melton, 14, is found murdered.
Trial Begins
Trial for Bernard Giles begins; he pleads guilty to multiple murders.
Sentenced to Life
Giles is sentenced to multiple life terms in prison.
Prison Escape
Giles escapes from prison but is recaptured 26 hours later.
The case involves Bernard Eugene Giles, an American serial killer and rapist who murdered five young women and girls in Titusville, Florida, between September and November 1973. The crimes were characterized by the victims being lured, often hitchhiking, and subsequently found in remote areas, with evidence of sexual assault and gunshot wounds. Giles was apprehended on December 11, 1973, after two underage hitchhikers escaped from an attempted attack and provided police with a description of him and his vehicle. He confessed to the murders and was sentenced to multiple life imprisonment terms in 1974, currently serving his sentence at Tomoka Correctional Institution. Significant evidence includes the victims' bodies, which were discovered in various locations, and the testimonies of the surviving victims that led to Giles' arrest.
Bernard Giles is believed to have targeted young girls who were hitchhiking, leading to speculation that he may have had a specific method of selecting victims based on vulnerability. Some theorize that his background, including poor parenting and early academic struggles, contributed to his violent behavior. Additionally, there is speculation about whether Giles had any accomplices or if he acted alone during his crime spree.
The Grim Chronicles of Bernard Giles
In the quiet town of Titusville, Florida, the year 1973 unfolded with a series of grim events that would forever mark its history. Bernard Eugene Giles, born April 9, 1953, emerged as a notorious figure in this tale of terror. The young man, who once harbored dreams of artistic expression, would become an infamous serial killer and rapist, leaving a trail of tragedy in his wake. By December of that year, the law caught up with him, and in 1974, he was sentenced to multiple life terms for his heinous crimes.
The Early Days of Bernard Giles
Giles's beginnings were as ordinary as any other. Born into a Titusville family with three siblings, his parents, though law-abiding, struggled with effective parenting. Despite this, Giles's friends painted a picture of a likable young man. He attended Titusville High School, where he found an interest in visual arts. However, chronic absenteeism and poor performance forced him to abandon his studies at 16. He turned to the trade of electrician work, a path that seemed promising until darker urges took hold. In 1972, Giles married 17-year-old Leslie Jo Ann, and by July 1973, they welcomed a daughter into their lives.
A Series of Murders
In the autumn of 1973, the peaceful fabric of Brevard County was torn by a series of brutal murders. Giles targeted young girls, often hitchhikers, whose bodies were later discovered in secluded areas like orange groves and wooded expanses.
- Nancy Gerry, 18, vanished on September 26, 1973. Her lifeless body, fully clothed and shot in the head, was found in a palmetto thicket on December 10, 1973.
- Sharon Mary Wimer, a mere 14, disappeared on November 5, 1973. Her strangled body was found with only a St. Christopher's necklace, her clothing scattered nearby.
- Krista Jean Melton, 14, was reported missing on November 14, 1973. Her body, clothed and shot in the head, was discovered on January 31, 1974.
- Carolyn Jan Bennett, 17, disappeared on November 15, 1973. Her remains were found on Christmas Day, a bullet wound to the head revealing her fate.
- Paula Darlene Hamric, 22, went missing on November 17, 1973. Her nude, bound, and strangled body surfaced eight days later.
The Arrest
The turning point came on December 10, 1973. Giles, attempting to ensnare two underage hitchhikers, drove them into the woods. His plan to attack was thwarted by the girls' fierce resistance, and in a twist of fate, his gun misfired. They escaped and provided the police with a description of Giles and his car, even identifying him by name from a book they'd seen in his vehicle. Arrested the next day, Giles's car and .22-caliber pistol were seized, and he was charged with assault and attempted rape.
The Investigation and Trial
With Giles in custody, investigators connected him to the disappearances and murders of young women since August 1973. A forensic ballistic examination confirmed that his revolver had killed Nancy Gerry, leading to a murder charge. Despite Giles's insistence on his innocence, two independent forensic examinations in early 1974 declared him sane, setting the stage for his trial on April 29, 1974.
The Brevard County State Attorney's Office announced they would seek the death penalty. Faced with this, Giles struck a plea bargain. He confessed to Hamric's murder and, during the trial, pled guilty to the other murders and several non-lethal attacks. He revealed a disturbing penchant for violence, dating back to childhood games of pretend-strangulation. His testimony described a failed attempt to attack girls in 1969 after leaving school. The plea deal spared him the death penalty, and on August 13, 1974, he was sentenced to multiple life terms.
The Aftermath
Life behind bars at the Florida State Prison in Bradford County was not the end of Giles's story. In October 1979, he and two other inmates executed a daring escape using handmade smoke grenades and locksmith tools. Despite plans to kidnap his daughter, Giles was apprehended 26 hours later, just five miles from the prison, and sentenced to an additional 15 years for escape.
Over the years, Giles was transferred across various state penitentiaries. In 2019, he resurfaced in public consciousness when British journalist Piers Morgan interviewed him for a television segment, reigniting interest in his chilling crimes.
Sources
For further reading, visit the original Wikipedia source: Bernard Giles - Wikipedia
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 Victim Disappears
Nancy Gerry, 18, disappears while hitchhiking.
Second Victim Disappears
Sharon Mary Wimer, 14, goes missing.
Third Victim Disappears
Carolyn Jan Bennett, 17, is reported missing.
Fourth Victim Disappears
Paula Darlene Hamric, 22, goes missing.
Giles Arrested
Bernard Giles is arrested after attempting to attack two hitchhikers.
Fifth Victim Found
Krista Jean Melton, 14, is found murdered.
Trial Begins
Trial for Bernard Giles begins; he pleads guilty to multiple murders.
Sentenced to Life
Giles is sentenced to multiple life terms in prison.
Prison Escape
Giles escapes from prison but is recaptured 26 hours later.