Charlie Chop-off: The Shadow of a Serial Killer

Charlie Chop-off—a name that sends chills down the spine of those familiar with the haunting history of crime in Manhattan. This pseudonym belongs to an unidentified American serial killer responsible for the brutal murders of four children between 1972 and 1973, leaving a community in terror and a case that remains unsolved to this day.

Quick Facts

• Other Names: Charlie Chop-off, The Mad Barber, The Pied Piper of Manhattan
• Conviction: Never convicted
• Criminal Penalty: Never sentenced
• Victims: 4 killed; 1 survived
• Span of Crimes: March 9, 1972 – August 17, 1973
• Country: United States
• State: New York

The Gruesome Pattern

All of Charlie Chop-off's victims were boys, and shockingly, each attack involved horrific genital mutilation or attempted mutilation. The brutality of these crimes left a permanent mark on the psyche of the city.

The Murders

The terror began on March 9, 1972, when eight-year-old Douglas Owens was discovered, his small body stabbed 38 times. The attack was especially brutal; his genitals had been cut but not severed.

Just over a month later, on April 20, another black youth suffered a similar fate, repeatedly stabbed, but miraculously survived despite the severe mutilation.

The horror escalated on October 23, when Wendell Hubbard, just nine years old, was found stabbed to death on the rooftop of an East Harlem tenement. His body bore the same marks of cruelty—his penis severed from his body.

Then, on March 6, 1973, tragedy struck again with the murder of Luis Ortiz, a nine-year-old Puerto Rican boy. He too was stabbed 38 times and subjected to the same grotesque mutilation.

The final known victim was Steven Cropper, an eight-year-old who met his end on August 17, 1973. He was brutally slashed with a razor on the rooftop of a tenement block, ultimately succumbing to his injuries, though this time, he was left intact below the waist.

The Suspect: Ernesto "Erno" Soto

The case took a turn with the arrest of Ernesto Soto on May 15, 1974, following a botched abduction attempt of another Puerto Rican boy. At the time of his arrest, Soto, 33, was in a fragile mental state, having been an intermittent patient at the Manhattan State Hospital since 1968, and was described as an unemployed former drug addict.

Soto confessed to the slaying of Cropper, but there was a pivotal catch—his only surviving victim hesitated to identify him, a chilling moment that left investigators on edge. Hospital officials claimed Soto was in custody during the time of the murders, but they later acknowledged that he may have escaped confinement, raising further questions about his involvement.

Despite the lack of solid evidence, detectives held onto the theory that Soto could be the killer. The murders had mysteriously ceased after his arrest, and an anonymous source linked him to the first killing. However, his severe mental instability led to doubts about his fitness for trial.

In 1993, Soto's lawyers sought his release from the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center, advocating for placement in a "non-secure hospital." This plea came despite his ongoing violent tendencies and unsettling claims of needing to "sacrifice someone to God."

A Name Misattributed: "Miguel Rivera"

In the annals of this chilling case, the name Miguel Rivera emerged, introduced by author Barbara Gelb in her 1975 book On the Track of Murder. This pseudonym was later mistakenly cited by various authors, including notable crime writers Peter Vronsky and others, leading to confusion surrounding the true identity of the killer.

Conclusion

The story of Charlie Chop-off is one of fear, brutality, and unanswered questions. As the case remains open, the specter of this unidentified killer continues to haunt the streets of Manhattan, a grim reminder of the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of urban life.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Charlie Chop-off
• The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
• The New York Times articles from August 20, 1973, and other newspapers
• Various criminal psychology texts and articles