Bruce Alan Davis
American Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Illinois, United States
TIME PERIOD
1971-1982
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Bruce Alan Davis, an American serial killer, was active from 1971 to 1982, committing confirmed murders in Illinois and the District of Columbia, with confessions to an additional thirty murders nationwide. He was arrested on October 31, 1982, following a series of investigations linking him to the murder of James Earl Hammer in Washington, D.C., and the murder of Reverend Carlo Barlassina in Chicago. Davis was convicted of two counts of murder in Illinois and involuntary manslaughter in D.C., receiving a life sentence in Illinois and a 5 to 15-year sentence in D.C. He died by suicide in prison on December 12, 1988, while serving his life term. Significant evidence included his confessions and forensic links to the confirmed murders, although many of his additional claims remain unverified.
Bruce Alan Davis is believed to have committed many more murders than the three for which he was convicted, with a total of thirty additional murders he confessed to, although most remain unconfirmed. Some speculate that his violent tendencies were fueled by his traumatic childhood experiences, particularly the sexual abuse he suffered, leading to his intense hatred toward certain groups. There are also theories that suggest his drifter lifestyle and lack of stability contributed to his criminal behavior and ability to evade capture for years.
The Grim Chronicles of Bruce Alan Davis
A Troubled Beginning
Bruce Alan Davis's story begins on September 3, 1948, in Toledo, Ohio. His early years were marked by a move to rural Fayette County, West Virginia, in the early 1950s. At the tender age of 13, Davis became a victim of sexual abuse, a traumatic experience that bred an intense hatred towards pedophiles and homosexuals. Despite this dark shadow, Davis found solace in music and singing, though his passion led him to neglect his studies. Eventually, he dropped out of school and moved to New York City, hoping to make a name for himself as a singer. Although he managed to graduate from Washington Irving High School, his dreams of musical stardom never materialized. Instead, he drifted through life, surviving on low-skilled labor, odd jobs, and petty thefts.
A Trail of Death
Bruce Davis's criminal saga began in February 1972 when he was arrested in Washington, D.C., for the murder of James Earl Hammer, a local businessman and friend. His attorneys successfully argued that the killing was not premeditated, leading to a conviction of involuntary manslaughter. Davis was sentenced to 15 years, with a chance of parole after five.
While serving time, Davis faced charges from Chicago prosecutors for the murder of Reverend Carlo Barlassina, who was killed in a hotel on June 29, 1971. Checks and $1,000 had been stolen from Barlassina, a Barnabite head preacher en route to San Diego. Davis, extradited to Illinois, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 to 45 years in prison. He served time in Terre Haute, Indiana, before being transferred to Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois, in 1979.
A Daring Escape
During his incarceration, Davis maintained a reputation as a model inmate, participating in rehabilitation programs that eventually reduced his sentence. This earned him the privilege of working on the prison farm, a low-security area. On October 24, 1982, taking advantage of this leniency, Davis escaped by cutting a hole in the prison fence. In his bid for freedom, he killed 52-year-old warden Joseph Cushman with an axe, stole his truck, and fled.
Confessions of a Serial Killer
Davis's brief time on the run ended on October 31, 1982, when he was caught attempting to steal a car in Smithers, West Virginia. During a two-week interrogation that followed, Davis confessed to an astonishing 33 murders across the country from 1969 to 1971. His claims were chilling in their detail and consistency, leading some investigators to take them seriously. He claimed to have killed 12 gay men in the District of Columbia, dumping their bodies into the C&O Canal. Additionally, he confessed to murders in New York City, Nevada, California, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, Kentucky, and New Hampshire.
Davis's confessions were met with skepticism due to inconsistencies and lack of evidence. However, New York City officials confirmed his involvement in five murders within their jurisdiction, though details remain undisclosed. One publicly linked case was the May 1970 murder of Eric Tcherkezian, a vocal teacher strangled in his Ansonia Hotel room.
The Final Judgment
Despite the multitude of confessions, Davis first faced trial for the murder of Joseph Cushman, a decision backed by U.S. Attorney General William French Smith. In July 1983, Davis entered an insanity plea, but a psychiatric evaluation deemed him capable of understanding right from wrong. Consequently, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, with no additional charges for the other alleged murders.
Following his conviction, Davis was transferred to Chester Mental Health Center, Illinois's only maximum-security psychiatric facility. Despite receiving treatment, his mental health deteriorated, and on December 12, 1988, Bruce Alan Davis was found dead in his cell, having hanged himself.
Sources
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 Confirmed Murder
Reverend Carlo Barlassina is murdered in Chicago.
Arrest for First Murder
Bruce Alan Davis is arrested for the murder of James Earl Hammer in Washington, D.C.
Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter
Davis is convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years.
Prison Escape and Murder
Davis escapes from Menard Correctional Center after killing Warden Joseph Cushman.
Final Arrest
Davis is arrested after attempting to steal a car in West Virginia.
Confession to Multiple Murders
Davis confesses to 33 murders across the U.S., claiming many in D.C. and New York.
Convicted of Murder
Davis is convicted of the murder of Joseph Cushman and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Death by Suicide
Bruce Alan Davis is found dead in his cell, having hanged himself.
Bruce Alan Davis, an American serial killer, was active from 1971 to 1982, committing confirmed murders in Illinois and the District of Columbia, with confessions to an additional thirty murders nationwide. He was arrested on October 31, 1982, following a series of investigations linking him to the murder of James Earl Hammer in Washington, D.C., and the murder of Reverend Carlo Barlassina in Chicago. Davis was convicted of two counts of murder in Illinois and involuntary manslaughter in D.C., receiving a life sentence in Illinois and a 5 to 15-year sentence in D.C. He died by suicide in prison on December 12, 1988, while serving his life term. Significant evidence included his confessions and forensic links to the confirmed murders, although many of his additional claims remain unverified.
Bruce Alan Davis is believed to have committed many more murders than the three for which he was convicted, with a total of thirty additional murders he confessed to, although most remain unconfirmed. Some speculate that his violent tendencies were fueled by his traumatic childhood experiences, particularly the sexual abuse he suffered, leading to his intense hatred toward certain groups. There are also theories that suggest his drifter lifestyle and lack of stability contributed to his criminal behavior and ability to evade capture for years.
The Grim Chronicles of Bruce Alan Davis
A Troubled Beginning
Bruce Alan Davis's story begins on September 3, 1948, in Toledo, Ohio. His early years were marked by a move to rural Fayette County, West Virginia, in the early 1950s. At the tender age of 13, Davis became a victim of sexual abuse, a traumatic experience that bred an intense hatred towards pedophiles and homosexuals. Despite this dark shadow, Davis found solace in music and singing, though his passion led him to neglect his studies. Eventually, he dropped out of school and moved to New York City, hoping to make a name for himself as a singer. Although he managed to graduate from Washington Irving High School, his dreams of musical stardom never materialized. Instead, he drifted through life, surviving on low-skilled labor, odd jobs, and petty thefts.
A Trail of Death
Bruce Davis's criminal saga began in February 1972 when he was arrested in Washington, D.C., for the murder of James Earl Hammer, a local businessman and friend. His attorneys successfully argued that the killing was not premeditated, leading to a conviction of involuntary manslaughter. Davis was sentenced to 15 years, with a chance of parole after five.
While serving time, Davis faced charges from Chicago prosecutors for the murder of Reverend Carlo Barlassina, who was killed in a hotel on June 29, 1971. Checks and $1,000 had been stolen from Barlassina, a Barnabite head preacher en route to San Diego. Davis, extradited to Illinois, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 to 45 years in prison. He served time in Terre Haute, Indiana, before being transferred to Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois, in 1979.
A Daring Escape
During his incarceration, Davis maintained a reputation as a model inmate, participating in rehabilitation programs that eventually reduced his sentence. This earned him the privilege of working on the prison farm, a low-security area. On October 24, 1982, taking advantage of this leniency, Davis escaped by cutting a hole in the prison fence. In his bid for freedom, he killed 52-year-old warden Joseph Cushman with an axe, stole his truck, and fled.
Confessions of a Serial Killer
Davis's brief time on the run ended on October 31, 1982, when he was caught attempting to steal a car in Smithers, West Virginia. During a two-week interrogation that followed, Davis confessed to an astonishing 33 murders across the country from 1969 to 1971. His claims were chilling in their detail and consistency, leading some investigators to take them seriously. He claimed to have killed 12 gay men in the District of Columbia, dumping their bodies into the C&O Canal. Additionally, he confessed to murders in New York City, Nevada, California, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, Kentucky, and New Hampshire.
Davis's confessions were met with skepticism due to inconsistencies and lack of evidence. However, New York City officials confirmed his involvement in five murders within their jurisdiction, though details remain undisclosed. One publicly linked case was the May 1970 murder of Eric Tcherkezian, a vocal teacher strangled in his Ansonia Hotel room.
The Final Judgment
Despite the multitude of confessions, Davis first faced trial for the murder of Joseph Cushman, a decision backed by U.S. Attorney General William French Smith. In July 1983, Davis entered an insanity plea, but a psychiatric evaluation deemed him capable of understanding right from wrong. Consequently, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, with no additional charges for the other alleged murders.
Following his conviction, Davis was transferred to Chester Mental Health Center, Illinois's only maximum-security psychiatric facility. Despite receiving treatment, his mental health deteriorated, and on December 12, 1988, Bruce Alan Davis was found dead in his cell, having hanged himself.
Sources
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 Confirmed Murder
Reverend Carlo Barlassina is murdered in Chicago.
Arrest for First Murder
Bruce Alan Davis is arrested for the murder of James Earl Hammer in Washington, D.C.
Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter
Davis is convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years.
Prison Escape and Murder
Davis escapes from Menard Correctional Center after killing Warden Joseph Cushman.
Final Arrest
Davis is arrested after attempting to steal a car in West Virginia.
Confession to Multiple Murders
Davis confesses to 33 murders across the U.S., claiming many in D.C. and New York.
Convicted of Murder
Davis is convicted of the murder of Joseph Cushman and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Death by Suicide
Bruce Alan Davis is found dead in his cell, having hanged himself.