Bra Murders
Stamford Sex Worker Murders
CLASSIFICATION: Unsolved Homicide
LOCATION
Stamford, Connecticut
TIME PERIOD
1967-1971
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
The Bra Murders refer to a series of unsolved homicides involving five sex workers in Stamford, Connecticut, occurring between 1967 and 1971, where victims were strangled, often with their own bras. The case remains unresolved, with Benjamin Franklin Miller initially charged but later acquitted by reason of insanity, leaving the true perpetrator unidentified. Despite ongoing interest and investigation, the murders continue to be a cold case.
Theories surrounding the bra murders include speculation about the guilt of Benjamin Franklin Miller, who was charged but acquitted by reason of insanity; his involvement remains a topic of debate within the community. Additionally, the fact that the victims were primarily black sex workers raises questions about potential societal neglect and the motivations behind targeting vulnerable individuals. Some theories also suggest that the murders could be linked to a larger pattern of violence against marginalized groups during that era.
The Bra Murders
Overview
The Bra Murders refer to a harrowing series of unsolved killings involving five sex workers in Stamford, Connecticut, spanning from 1967 to 1971. The victims were predominantly black women or those battling addiction. Each victim met a gruesome fate, often strangled with their own bras, a detail that led to the case's macabre nickname.
Quick Facts
- Other Names: The Stamford Bra Murders, The Merritt Parkway Murders
- Victims: 5
- Crime Span: 1967–1971
- Country: United States
- State: Connecticut
Benjamin Franklin Miller: The Controversial Figure
The case took a dramatic turn with the involvement of Benjamin Franklin Miller, a self-styled preacher from Norwalk. In a twist of fate, he was charged with the murders but later acquitted by reason of insanity, spending 15 years in a mental institution before his release in 1988. To this day, his guilt remains a hotly debated topic among true crime enthusiasts and investigators alike.
Timeline of the Murders
The grim saga began on August 4, 1967, when 29-year-old Rose Ellen Pazda, known as "Sissi Rush," was reported missing. It wasn’t until April 4, 1969, that her skeletal remains were discovered, with decomposition rendering it impossible to determine her cause of death.
The next victim, 22-year-old Donna Roberts, was reported missing on May 2, 1968. Her body was found just a day later, and in an eerie twist, 21-year-old Gloria Conn was discovered on September 8, a mere 60 yards from where Roberts had been killed. Conn was notable for being the only victim not originally from Connecticut, hailing from Mount Vernon, New York.
The pattern continued with 19-year-old Gail Thompson, whose body was found strangled in an abandoned house on July 10, 1971. The case culminated with the discovery of 34-year-old Alma T. Henry on August 22, 1971, found in a trash can by unsuspecting motorists en route to a football game. Unlike the other victims, Henry was not known to be a sex worker or in active addiction; she was a mother of four living in a low-income housing project.
The investigators quickly noted that all five victims were located within a 400-meter stretch along the Merritt Parkway, and three of them had been strangled using their own bras, solidifying the case's grisly name.
The Investigation
In April 1969, a breakthrough came when Stamford police received a phone call from a man identifying himself as a preacher named James Miller, who claimed to know the location of Pazda's remains. This led investigators to compile a list of clergymen with the surname Miller, zeroing in on 42-year-old Benjamin Franklin Miller Jr., a white man from Norwalk.
Miller's backstory is equally compelling. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, he moved to Connecticut in 1948. He exhibited signs of mental illness early on, leading to repeated institutionalizations beginning in 1951. By 1962, he worked as a postal clerk, earning a reputation as a loner with a religious fixation. He spent much of his time distributing religious literature, particularly in Stamford's African-American community, and even claimed to be a preacher himself.
The investigation faced criticism from the local African-American community, which accused police of negligence, claiming the authorities were indifferent because the victims were impoverished black women.
Arrest and Prosecution of Miller
As Miller became a suspect, he was interrogated several times between late 1971 and early 1972. While he denied involvement, he admitted to having had sexual relations with Gail Thompson. Forensic examinations, however, found no biological traces or signs of intercourse on Thompson's body prior to her death. Suspicion grew when Miller revealed details about the crime that had not been made public, including an assertion that Thompson had been strangled with a handkerchief rather than a bra, contradicting media reports.
In late 1971, Miller agreed to take a polygraph test, but the results were deemed inconclusive due to his mental state. Following a psychiatric evaluation, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was committed to Fairfield Hills Hospital on February 17, 1972. During his time there, he displayed symptoms of hypochondria and delusions.
A shocking twist occurred when Miller confessed to the murders during a session with a psychiatrist, claiming he had killed seven women. He provided detailed accounts of Thompson's death and indicated where three other bodies had been dumped. On March 1, 1972, he recreated aspects of the crime scenes, leading to his arrest on March 18. However, skepticism arose within the Stamford community, particularly among black residents, who felt Miller was being scapegoated.
As the trial commenced, Miller recanted his confession, claiming coercive interrogation tactics had influenced him. His father testified on his behalf, stating that Miller had expressed feelings of insanity and that police had manipulated him into confessing. The defense argued that Miller was unable to recall the details of the crimes accurately.
In February 1973, the prosecutor's office dropped two of the murder charges against Miller. Ultimately, he was acquitted by reason of insanity for the remaining three and sentenced to 25 years in a psychiatric facility.
The Alternative Suspect: Robert Lupinacci
After Miller's trial, his family hired legal representation, which unearthed information about another potential suspect: Robert Lupinacci, a Stamford resident. In July 1972, he was arrested for attempting to strangle a black sex worker in the same area where the Bra Murders occurred. Investigators discovered that Lupinacci, who had a known history of violence and racism, frequently frequented the local red-light districts.
Notably, the bodies of the three women supposedly killed by Miller were found within thirty meters of Lupinacci's arrest site. His car was also seen near the crime scenes multiple times. In 1967, he was reported to have been in bars frequented by one of the victims, and in 1971, he worked at the same motel that Gail Thompson was known to have stayed at.
Upon arrest, police found a deck of pornographic cards in Lupinacci's trunk, with the queen of hearts missing—eerily similar to a card found near Thompson's body. Witnesses claimed to have seen a car matching Lupinacci's near the area where Thompson's remains were discovered. Furthermore, several strands of female hair, identified as belonging to a black woman, were also found in his trunk.
The Second Trial and Aftermath
Fast forward to 1988, when the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ordered a new trial for Miller, acknowledging the use of coercive tactics during his interrogation. The judge ruled the confession invalid, stating it likely resulted from a miscarriage of justice. Taking into account Miller's mental health, the dubious credibility of his confession, and the evidence pointing towards Lupinacci, all charges against Miller were dropped.
After his release, Miller struggled to reintegrate into society, living in a homeless shelter for the mentally ill until his death in February 2010 at the age of 80.
Meanwhile, Lupinacci, who was never charged in connection to the murders, denied any involvement in a 2011 interview but admitted to assaulting the prostitute in 1972. Following his release, he married, had children, and worked as an electrician, seemingly leaving his criminal past behind until his death in February 2013.
George Mayer, the lead investigator in the case, staunchly believed Miller was the true killer, a conviction he held until his own passing in 2013. As it stands, the true identity of the Bra Murders perpetrator remains a chilling mystery, with all five cases officially unsolved.
In the Media
The Bra Murders were briefly acknowledged in popular culture, with Miller making a cameo in the crime thriller television series Mindhunter, where an attempt to interview him by FBI agent Holden Ford is turned down.
Sources
- Angela Carella (February 21, 2011). "Angela Carella: Doubts outlive key figure in Stamford's notorious killings". Stamford Advocate. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- M. Cordell Thompson (April 6, 1972). "Police Arrest White Preacher In Bizarre Conn. Murder Cases". Jet – via Google Books.
- "Lay Preacher Is Charged With Five Slayings". Ludington Daily News. March 18, 1972. p. 1 – via Google News.
- "Woman Strangled at Stamford; 5th Victim There in 3½ Years". The New York Times. August 24, 1971. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- Linda Greenhouse (August 29, 1971). "Police Seek Clue to Stamford Murders". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- Martin Arnold (March 18, 1972). "A 'Minister' Is Seized in 5 Connecticut Stranglings". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- "Accused Slayer Of 3 Women Innocent; Insanity Is Cited". Jet. February 22, 1973 – via Google Books.
- Angela Carella (July 9, 2013). "Angela Carella: Will truth ever come out in 'bra murders' case?". Stamford Advocate. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- "Suspect in bra murders ordered freed". The Day. May 26, 1988 – via Google Books.
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 Reported Missing
Rose Ellen Pazda, known as 'Sissi Rush', is reported missing from Stamford.
Second Victim Found
Donna Roberts is reported missing and found dead the next day, becoming the second victim.
First Victim Found
The remains of Rose Ellen Pazda are discovered, marking the first confirmed murder in the series.
Fifth Victim Found
Alma T. Henry is discovered in a trash can, marking the last of the confirmed victims.
Miller Arrested
Benjamin Franklin Miller is arrested and charged with the five murders after confessing to a psychiatrist.
Miller Acquitted
Miller is acquitted by reason of insanity and ordered to spend 25 years in a psychiatric facility.
Miller Released
Miller is released after a new trial finds his confession invalid due to coercive police tactics.
Lupinacci Denies Responsibility
Robert Lupinacci, a potential suspect, denies involvement in the murders during an interview.
Miller Passes Away
Benjamin Franklin Miller dies in a homeless shelter, leaving the case officially unsolved.
The Bra Murders refer to a series of unsolved homicides involving five sex workers in Stamford, Connecticut, occurring between 1967 and 1971, where victims were strangled, often with their own bras. The case remains unresolved, with Benjamin Franklin Miller initially charged but later acquitted by reason of insanity, leaving the true perpetrator unidentified. Despite ongoing interest and investigation, the murders continue to be a cold case.
Theories surrounding the bra murders include speculation about the guilt of Benjamin Franklin Miller, who was charged but acquitted by reason of insanity; his involvement remains a topic of debate within the community. Additionally, the fact that the victims were primarily black sex workers raises questions about potential societal neglect and the motivations behind targeting vulnerable individuals. Some theories also suggest that the murders could be linked to a larger pattern of violence against marginalized groups during that era.
The Bra Murders
Overview
The Bra Murders refer to a harrowing series of unsolved killings involving five sex workers in Stamford, Connecticut, spanning from 1967 to 1971. The victims were predominantly black women or those battling addiction. Each victim met a gruesome fate, often strangled with their own bras, a detail that led to the case's macabre nickname.
Quick Facts
- Other Names: The Stamford Bra Murders, The Merritt Parkway Murders
- Victims: 5
- Crime Span: 1967–1971
- Country: United States
- State: Connecticut
Benjamin Franklin Miller: The Controversial Figure
The case took a dramatic turn with the involvement of Benjamin Franklin Miller, a self-styled preacher from Norwalk. In a twist of fate, he was charged with the murders but later acquitted by reason of insanity, spending 15 years in a mental institution before his release in 1988. To this day, his guilt remains a hotly debated topic among true crime enthusiasts and investigators alike.
Timeline of the Murders
The grim saga began on August 4, 1967, when 29-year-old Rose Ellen Pazda, known as "Sissi Rush," was reported missing. It wasn’t until April 4, 1969, that her skeletal remains were discovered, with decomposition rendering it impossible to determine her cause of death.
The next victim, 22-year-old Donna Roberts, was reported missing on May 2, 1968. Her body was found just a day later, and in an eerie twist, 21-year-old Gloria Conn was discovered on September 8, a mere 60 yards from where Roberts had been killed. Conn was notable for being the only victim not originally from Connecticut, hailing from Mount Vernon, New York.
The pattern continued with 19-year-old Gail Thompson, whose body was found strangled in an abandoned house on July 10, 1971. The case culminated with the discovery of 34-year-old Alma T. Henry on August 22, 1971, found in a trash can by unsuspecting motorists en route to a football game. Unlike the other victims, Henry was not known to be a sex worker or in active addiction; she was a mother of four living in a low-income housing project.
The investigators quickly noted that all five victims were located within a 400-meter stretch along the Merritt Parkway, and three of them had been strangled using their own bras, solidifying the case's grisly name.
The Investigation
In April 1969, a breakthrough came when Stamford police received a phone call from a man identifying himself as a preacher named James Miller, who claimed to know the location of Pazda's remains. This led investigators to compile a list of clergymen with the surname Miller, zeroing in on 42-year-old Benjamin Franklin Miller Jr., a white man from Norwalk.
Miller's backstory is equally compelling. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, he moved to Connecticut in 1948. He exhibited signs of mental illness early on, leading to repeated institutionalizations beginning in 1951. By 1962, he worked as a postal clerk, earning a reputation as a loner with a religious fixation. He spent much of his time distributing religious literature, particularly in Stamford's African-American community, and even claimed to be a preacher himself.
The investigation faced criticism from the local African-American community, which accused police of negligence, claiming the authorities were indifferent because the victims were impoverished black women.
Arrest and Prosecution of Miller
As Miller became a suspect, he was interrogated several times between late 1971 and early 1972. While he denied involvement, he admitted to having had sexual relations with Gail Thompson. Forensic examinations, however, found no biological traces or signs of intercourse on Thompson's body prior to her death. Suspicion grew when Miller revealed details about the crime that had not been made public, including an assertion that Thompson had been strangled with a handkerchief rather than a bra, contradicting media reports.
In late 1971, Miller agreed to take a polygraph test, but the results were deemed inconclusive due to his mental state. Following a psychiatric evaluation, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was committed to Fairfield Hills Hospital on February 17, 1972. During his time there, he displayed symptoms of hypochondria and delusions.
A shocking twist occurred when Miller confessed to the murders during a session with a psychiatrist, claiming he had killed seven women. He provided detailed accounts of Thompson's death and indicated where three other bodies had been dumped. On March 1, 1972, he recreated aspects of the crime scenes, leading to his arrest on March 18. However, skepticism arose within the Stamford community, particularly among black residents, who felt Miller was being scapegoated.
As the trial commenced, Miller recanted his confession, claiming coercive interrogation tactics had influenced him. His father testified on his behalf, stating that Miller had expressed feelings of insanity and that police had manipulated him into confessing. The defense argued that Miller was unable to recall the details of the crimes accurately.
In February 1973, the prosecutor's office dropped two of the murder charges against Miller. Ultimately, he was acquitted by reason of insanity for the remaining three and sentenced to 25 years in a psychiatric facility.
The Alternative Suspect: Robert Lupinacci
After Miller's trial, his family hired legal representation, which unearthed information about another potential suspect: Robert Lupinacci, a Stamford resident. In July 1972, he was arrested for attempting to strangle a black sex worker in the same area where the Bra Murders occurred. Investigators discovered that Lupinacci, who had a known history of violence and racism, frequently frequented the local red-light districts.
Notably, the bodies of the three women supposedly killed by Miller were found within thirty meters of Lupinacci's arrest site. His car was also seen near the crime scenes multiple times. In 1967, he was reported to have been in bars frequented by one of the victims, and in 1971, he worked at the same motel that Gail Thompson was known to have stayed at.
Upon arrest, police found a deck of pornographic cards in Lupinacci's trunk, with the queen of hearts missing—eerily similar to a card found near Thompson's body. Witnesses claimed to have seen a car matching Lupinacci's near the area where Thompson's remains were discovered. Furthermore, several strands of female hair, identified as belonging to a black woman, were also found in his trunk.
The Second Trial and Aftermath
Fast forward to 1988, when the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ordered a new trial for Miller, acknowledging the use of coercive tactics during his interrogation. The judge ruled the confession invalid, stating it likely resulted from a miscarriage of justice. Taking into account Miller's mental health, the dubious credibility of his confession, and the evidence pointing towards Lupinacci, all charges against Miller were dropped.
After his release, Miller struggled to reintegrate into society, living in a homeless shelter for the mentally ill until his death in February 2010 at the age of 80.
Meanwhile, Lupinacci, who was never charged in connection to the murders, denied any involvement in a 2011 interview but admitted to assaulting the prostitute in 1972. Following his release, he married, had children, and worked as an electrician, seemingly leaving his criminal past behind until his death in February 2013.
George Mayer, the lead investigator in the case, staunchly believed Miller was the true killer, a conviction he held until his own passing in 2013. As it stands, the true identity of the Bra Murders perpetrator remains a chilling mystery, with all five cases officially unsolved.
In the Media
The Bra Murders were briefly acknowledged in popular culture, with Miller making a cameo in the crime thriller television series Mindhunter, where an attempt to interview him by FBI agent Holden Ford is turned down.
Sources
- Angela Carella (February 21, 2011). "Angela Carella: Doubts outlive key figure in Stamford's notorious killings". Stamford Advocate. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- M. Cordell Thompson (April 6, 1972). "Police Arrest White Preacher In Bizarre Conn. Murder Cases". Jet – via Google Books.
- "Lay Preacher Is Charged With Five Slayings". Ludington Daily News. March 18, 1972. p. 1 – via Google News.
- "Woman Strangled at Stamford; 5th Victim There in 3½ Years". The New York Times. August 24, 1971. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- Linda Greenhouse (August 29, 1971). "Police Seek Clue to Stamford Murders". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- Martin Arnold (March 18, 1972). "A 'Minister' Is Seized in 5 Connecticut Stranglings". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- "Accused Slayer Of 3 Women Innocent; Insanity Is Cited". Jet. February 22, 1973 – via Google Books.
- Angela Carella (July 9, 2013). "Angela Carella: Will truth ever come out in 'bra murders' case?". Stamford Advocate. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022.
- "Suspect in bra murders ordered freed". The Day. May 26, 1988 – via Google Books.
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 Reported Missing
Rose Ellen Pazda, known as 'Sissi Rush', is reported missing from Stamford.
Second Victim Found
Donna Roberts is reported missing and found dead the next day, becoming the second victim.
First Victim Found
The remains of Rose Ellen Pazda are discovered, marking the first confirmed murder in the series.
Fifth Victim Found
Alma T. Henry is discovered in a trash can, marking the last of the confirmed victims.
Miller Arrested
Benjamin Franklin Miller is arrested and charged with the five murders after confessing to a psychiatrist.
Miller Acquitted
Miller is acquitted by reason of insanity and ordered to spend 25 years in a psychiatric facility.
Miller Released
Miller is released after a new trial finds his confession invalid due to coercive police tactics.
Lupinacci Denies Responsibility
Robert Lupinacci, a potential suspect, denies involvement in the murders during an interview.
Miller Passes Away
Benjamin Franklin Miller dies in a homeless shelter, leaving the case officially unsolved.