Carlton Gary
Serial Killer of Elderly Women
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Columbus, Georgia
TIME PERIOD
1975-1978
VICTIMS
7 confirmed
Carlton Michael Gary, an American serial killer known as the "Stocking Strangler," was responsible for the murders of at least four elderly women in Columbus, Georgia, and Syracuse, New York, between 1975 and 1978. His criminal activities began with the murder of Marion Brewer on February 12, 1970, followed by the killing of Nellie M. Farmer on April 14, 1970. Gary was arrested in December 1978 for armed robbery, later escaping custody in 1983 but was recaptured in 1984, at which point evidence linked him to the earlier murders. He was convicted of rape and murder in August 1986 and sentenced to death, ultimately executed by lethal injection on March 15, 2018. Significant evidence included DNA and witness testimonies that connected him to the crime scenes, solidifying his status as a notorious serial killer.
Carlton Gary is believed to have committed additional murders beyond the four for which he was convicted, with speculation suggesting he may have been involved in as many as eight killings. Some theorize that his troubled childhood and experiences with elderly women may have influenced his choice of victims. Additionally, there are theories regarding his potential connections to other unsolved cases in different states, indicating a broader pattern of violence.
The Chilling Tale of Carlton Gary: The Stocking Strangler
The Man Behind the Murders
Carlton Michael Gary, born on September 24, 1950, in Columbus, Georgia, would grow up to be known as the "Stocking Strangler." A troubled childhood marked by poverty and familial neglect set the stage for a criminal life. Gary's father, a construction worker, refused any involvement in his life, leaving Gary to be raised by a mother who struggled to make ends meet. Frequently moving and often hungry, Gary spent significant time with relatives who worked as maids for wealthy elderly women. A serious head injury in elementary school and an adolescence steeped in drug use and petty crime paved his way to a dark path.
In his teenage years, Gary married Sheila and fathered two children, all while continuing his criminal activities. In 1970, he moved to Albany, New York, dreaming of a singing career, but his ambitions were overshadowed by a series of crimes.
A Series of Grisly Murders
The nightmare began on February 12, 1970, when 62-year-old Marion Brewer was found strangled in an Albany hotel room. Her lifeless body lay on the bed, signs of rape apparent, with a pocketbook emptied of cash near her. This gruesome scene repeated on April 14, 1970, when 85-year-old Nellie M. Farmer was discovered dead in her hotel room, partially clothed with strangulation marks, and a piece of fabric ominously close to her neck.
Gary's criminal footprint expanded when he was arrested after an attempted assault on another elderly woman. His fingerprints linked him to Farmer's murder, leading to a confession of involvement in the robbery, but he claimed John Lee Mitchell was the killer. Despite a lack of evidence against Mitchell, Gary's testimony resulted in Mitchell's conviction, while Gary served a sentence for robbery.
After his parole in 1975, Gary moved to Syracuse, New York, where he attacked more elderly women. Within days, two more assaults occurred, one resulting in death. The survivors couldn't positively identify him due to darkness, though one mentioned a mustachioed black male. Yet, Gary eluded murder charges, returning to prison only for parole violations until he escaped in 1977.
Back in Columbus, Georgia, Gary resumed his terrifying spree. Between September and December 1977, he raped and murdered several women, including 60-year-old Ferne Jackson and 74-year-old Kathleen Woodruff, using their stockings as weapons. His killing streak continued until April 1978, culminating in the murder of Janet Cofer.
The Investigation
Law enforcement faced a formidable task. An African-American man was suspected, but the investigation took a twist when a man named William Henry Hance, calling himself the "Chairman of the Forces of Evil," threatened violence if the Stocking Strangler wasn't stopped. Hance was later arrested for unrelated murders, confirming he wasn't the Strangler.
The breakthrough came in December 1978, when Gary was caught for a robbery in South Carolina. Evidence, including a gun and fingerprint matches, linked him to the Columbus murders. Despite being incarcerated, Gary managed another escape in 1983 but was recaptured a year later.
Indicted on May 5, 1984, Gary faced trial for three murders. His fingerprints were discovered at multiple crime scenes. While one survivor identified him in court, her earlier statements contradicted her testimony, adding complexity to the case. Ultimately, Gary was convicted on August 26, 1986, and sentenced to death.
A Cloud of Controversy
Controversy shrouded Gary's conviction. Concerns arose over the lack of state funding for his defense and the questionable timing of fingerprint matches. The confession he supposedly gave was neither recorded nor signed, casting doubt on its authenticity. DNA tests later linked Gary to the murder of Jean Dimenstein but not to others, with evidence contamination further complicating matters. A bite mark cast didn't match Gary's dental pattern, but the prosecution withheld this potentially exonerating evidence.
Additionally, a witness initially unable to identify her attacker later implicated another man, and shoe print evidence, withheld for years, suggested someone with smaller feet was responsible. These discrepancies, along with allegations of racial bias, fueled debates over his guilt.
The Execution
The legal battle continued until December 1, 2009, when the U.S. Supreme Court refused Gary's appeal, paving the way for his execution. Delays persisted until March 15, 2018, when Carlton Gary was executed by lethal injection. He declined to make a final statement, leaving behind a legacy of horror and controversy.
Sources
For further reading, visit the Wikipedia page on Carlton Gary.
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First Murder
Marion Brewer, 62, found strangled in Albany hotel.
Second Murder
Nellie M. Farmer, 85, found dead, asphyxiated in Albany.
Final Murder
Janet Cofer, 61, murdered, marking the end of Gary's known killings.
Arrest for Robbery
Carlton Gary arrested for armed robbery in South Carolina.
Escape from Prison
Gary escapes from custody, evading capture for a year.
Indicted as Strangler
Gary indicted for the murders of three elderly women.
Sentenced to Death
Gary convicted and sentenced to death for multiple murders.
Execution
Carlton Gary executed by lethal injection.
Carlton Michael Gary, an American serial killer known as the "Stocking Strangler," was responsible for the murders of at least four elderly women in Columbus, Georgia, and Syracuse, New York, between 1975 and 1978. His criminal activities began with the murder of Marion Brewer on February 12, 1970, followed by the killing of Nellie M. Farmer on April 14, 1970. Gary was arrested in December 1978 for armed robbery, later escaping custody in 1983 but was recaptured in 1984, at which point evidence linked him to the earlier murders. He was convicted of rape and murder in August 1986 and sentenced to death, ultimately executed by lethal injection on March 15, 2018. Significant evidence included DNA and witness testimonies that connected him to the crime scenes, solidifying his status as a notorious serial killer.
Carlton Gary is believed to have committed additional murders beyond the four for which he was convicted, with speculation suggesting he may have been involved in as many as eight killings. Some theorize that his troubled childhood and experiences with elderly women may have influenced his choice of victims. Additionally, there are theories regarding his potential connections to other unsolved cases in different states, indicating a broader pattern of violence.
The Chilling Tale of Carlton Gary: The Stocking Strangler
The Man Behind the Murders
Carlton Michael Gary, born on September 24, 1950, in Columbus, Georgia, would grow up to be known as the "Stocking Strangler." A troubled childhood marked by poverty and familial neglect set the stage for a criminal life. Gary's father, a construction worker, refused any involvement in his life, leaving Gary to be raised by a mother who struggled to make ends meet. Frequently moving and often hungry, Gary spent significant time with relatives who worked as maids for wealthy elderly women. A serious head injury in elementary school and an adolescence steeped in drug use and petty crime paved his way to a dark path.
In his teenage years, Gary married Sheila and fathered two children, all while continuing his criminal activities. In 1970, he moved to Albany, New York, dreaming of a singing career, but his ambitions were overshadowed by a series of crimes.
A Series of Grisly Murders
The nightmare began on February 12, 1970, when 62-year-old Marion Brewer was found strangled in an Albany hotel room. Her lifeless body lay on the bed, signs of rape apparent, with a pocketbook emptied of cash near her. This gruesome scene repeated on April 14, 1970, when 85-year-old Nellie M. Farmer was discovered dead in her hotel room, partially clothed with strangulation marks, and a piece of fabric ominously close to her neck.
Gary's criminal footprint expanded when he was arrested after an attempted assault on another elderly woman. His fingerprints linked him to Farmer's murder, leading to a confession of involvement in the robbery, but he claimed John Lee Mitchell was the killer. Despite a lack of evidence against Mitchell, Gary's testimony resulted in Mitchell's conviction, while Gary served a sentence for robbery.
After his parole in 1975, Gary moved to Syracuse, New York, where he attacked more elderly women. Within days, two more assaults occurred, one resulting in death. The survivors couldn't positively identify him due to darkness, though one mentioned a mustachioed black male. Yet, Gary eluded murder charges, returning to prison only for parole violations until he escaped in 1977.
Back in Columbus, Georgia, Gary resumed his terrifying spree. Between September and December 1977, he raped and murdered several women, including 60-year-old Ferne Jackson and 74-year-old Kathleen Woodruff, using their stockings as weapons. His killing streak continued until April 1978, culminating in the murder of Janet Cofer.
The Investigation
Law enforcement faced a formidable task. An African-American man was suspected, but the investigation took a twist when a man named William Henry Hance, calling himself the "Chairman of the Forces of Evil," threatened violence if the Stocking Strangler wasn't stopped. Hance was later arrested for unrelated murders, confirming he wasn't the Strangler.
The breakthrough came in December 1978, when Gary was caught for a robbery in South Carolina. Evidence, including a gun and fingerprint matches, linked him to the Columbus murders. Despite being incarcerated, Gary managed another escape in 1983 but was recaptured a year later.
Indicted on May 5, 1984, Gary faced trial for three murders. His fingerprints were discovered at multiple crime scenes. While one survivor identified him in court, her earlier statements contradicted her testimony, adding complexity to the case. Ultimately, Gary was convicted on August 26, 1986, and sentenced to death.
A Cloud of Controversy
Controversy shrouded Gary's conviction. Concerns arose over the lack of state funding for his defense and the questionable timing of fingerprint matches. The confession he supposedly gave was neither recorded nor signed, casting doubt on its authenticity. DNA tests later linked Gary to the murder of Jean Dimenstein but not to others, with evidence contamination further complicating matters. A bite mark cast didn't match Gary's dental pattern, but the prosecution withheld this potentially exonerating evidence.
Additionally, a witness initially unable to identify her attacker later implicated another man, and shoe print evidence, withheld for years, suggested someone with smaller feet was responsible. These discrepancies, along with allegations of racial bias, fueled debates over his guilt.
The Execution
The legal battle continued until December 1, 2009, when the U.S. Supreme Court refused Gary's appeal, paving the way for his execution. Delays persisted until March 15, 2018, when Carlton Gary was executed by lethal injection. He declined to make a final statement, leaving behind a legacy of horror and controversy.
Sources
For further reading, visit the Wikipedia page on Carlton Gary.
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
Marion Brewer, 62, found strangled in Albany hotel.
Second Murder
Nellie M. Farmer, 85, found dead, asphyxiated in Albany.
Final Murder
Janet Cofer, 61, murdered, marking the end of Gary's known killings.
Arrest for Robbery
Carlton Gary arrested for armed robbery in South Carolina.
Escape from Prison
Gary escapes from custody, evading capture for a year.
Indicted as Strangler
Gary indicted for the murders of three elderly women.
Sentenced to Death
Gary convicted and sentenced to death for multiple murders.
Execution
Carlton Gary executed by lethal injection.