Donald Beardslee
Serial Killer of Three Women
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Redwood City, California
TIME PERIOD
1969-1981
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Donald Jay Beardslee, an American serial killer, was responsible for the murders of three women between 1969 and 1981. The first victim, Laura Griffin, was killed in Missouri in 1969, where Beardslee choked, stabbed, and drowned her after meeting her at a bar; he was sentenced to 19 years but served only seven before being paroled in 1977. While still on parole, Beardslee was implicated in the drug-related homicides of Patty Geddling and Stacie Benjamin in Redwood City, California, on April 5, 1981, where he and an accomplice allegedly shot the victims following a drug deal gone wrong. Beardslee was sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison on January 19, 2005. Key evidence included witness testimonies and forensic links to the crime scenes, establishing his involvement in the latter murders.
Donald Beardslee is believed to have exhibited a pattern of violent behavior stemming from his troubled childhood and military experiences, which may have contributed to his criminal actions. Some speculate that his head injury from a falling tree while in a work farm could have affected his mental state, leading to his violent tendencies. Additionally, there are theories that his crimes were motivated by a need for control and dominance, as evidenced by the brutal nature of his murders.
The Tale of Donald Beardslee: A Journey from Military Service to Execution
Early Life and Background
On May 13, 1943, in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, Donald Jay Beardslee entered the world as the eldest of three siblings. His early life was marred by the loss of his father when he was just 11 years old. Seeking discipline and structure, his family sent him to Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois, at the age of 15. Beardslee's educational journey saw him graduating from Southwest High School in Saint Louis in June 1962.
Later that year, in August, Beardslee enlisted in the United States Air Force. For the next four years, he served as an aircraft mechanic. However, his time in the service wasn’t without incident. In 1965, Beardslee and a fellow airman found themselves in trouble after attempting to steal a vehicle. This act led to a sentence at a work farm in Minnesota, where an accident involving a falling tree left Beardslee with a severe head injury and a coma that lasted several days.
The Path of Crime Begins
Following his release from the Air Force, Beardslee's life took a darker turn. In 1969, in Missouri, he committed his first known murder. Laura Griffin, a woman he had met just hours earlier at a bar, became his victim. After an evening of drinking and dancing, Beardslee choked, stabbed, and drowned her. The reason behind this brutal act remains a mystery, as neither motive nor explanation was ever provided. He turned himself in, confessed, and was sentenced to 19 years for second-degree murder, serving seven years before being paroled in 1977.
A Double Murder in California
Beardslee's desire for a fresh start in California proved to be short-lived. Four years after his release, while still on parole, he became embroiled in the April 5, 1981, murders of Patty Geddling, 19, and Stacie Benjamin, 23, in Redwood City, California. The events leading up to these murders were rooted in a failed drug deal involving Beardslee's roommate and a $185 debt.
The plan, orchestrated by drug dealer Frank Rutherford, involved Beardslee's roommate, Ricarda Sue "Rickie" Soria, luring the young women to their apartment. Beardslee, according to prosecutors, instructed Soria to buy duct tape to restrain the victims. Once there, both Beardslee and another accomplice, Bill Forrester, shot Geddling. Later, Beardslee savagely slashed Benjamin's throat, ending her life.
Police quickly linked Beardslee to the crime when they discovered his phone number near Geddling's body. A phone call from authorities prompted his confession, and he led them to Benjamin's remains. Due to his prior conviction, Beardslee was eligible for the death penalty as a repeat offender.
Legal Proceedings and Trials
In the aftermath, Frank Rutherford received a life sentence without parole and died in prison in 2003. Ricarda Sue Soria, in exchange for her testimony, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 15 years to life, eventually being paroled in 2015. Bill Forrester was acquitted, and charges against another individual were dropped prior to trial.
Beardslee was convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances and sentenced to death. His defense team attempted appeals on grounds of inadequate representation and claimed a mental defect resulting from his head injury. However, prosecutors pointed out his above-average intelligence, despite family testimonies about his lifelong difficulty in expressing emotions. Prison records also indicated a schizophrenia diagnosis.
The Final Chapter: Execution
The execution of Donald Beardslee took place on January 19, 2005, making him the first person to be executed in California since Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger assumed office. Beardslee faced his death by lethal injection without offering any final words. Governor Schwarzenegger denied clemency, emphasizing the clarity of Beardslee's understanding of right and wrong despite his impairments.
Sources
- Petition for Executive Clemency: Donald Jay Beardslee
- SFGate
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Los Angeles Times
- NBC News
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
For a detailed account of Donald Beardslee's life and crimes, visit the original Wikipedia article.
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First Murder Committed
Donald Beardslee murders Laura Griffin in Missouri.
Released on Parole
Beardslee is released on parole after serving 7 years for the murder of Laura Griffin.
Double Homicide in California
Beardslee murders Patty Geddling and Stacie Benjamin in Redwood City.
Arrested for Murders
Beardslee is arrested for the murders of Geddling and Benjamin.
Convicted of Murder
Beardslee is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Executed
Donald Beardslee is executed by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison.
Donald Jay Beardslee, an American serial killer, was responsible for the murders of three women between 1969 and 1981. The first victim, Laura Griffin, was killed in Missouri in 1969, where Beardslee choked, stabbed, and drowned her after meeting her at a bar; he was sentenced to 19 years but served only seven before being paroled in 1977. While still on parole, Beardslee was implicated in the drug-related homicides of Patty Geddling and Stacie Benjamin in Redwood City, California, on April 5, 1981, where he and an accomplice allegedly shot the victims following a drug deal gone wrong. Beardslee was sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison on January 19, 2005. Key evidence included witness testimonies and forensic links to the crime scenes, establishing his involvement in the latter murders.
Donald Beardslee is believed to have exhibited a pattern of violent behavior stemming from his troubled childhood and military experiences, which may have contributed to his criminal actions. Some speculate that his head injury from a falling tree while in a work farm could have affected his mental state, leading to his violent tendencies. Additionally, there are theories that his crimes were motivated by a need for control and dominance, as evidenced by the brutal nature of his murders.
The Tale of Donald Beardslee: A Journey from Military Service to Execution
Early Life and Background
On May 13, 1943, in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, Donald Jay Beardslee entered the world as the eldest of three siblings. His early life was marred by the loss of his father when he was just 11 years old. Seeking discipline and structure, his family sent him to Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois, at the age of 15. Beardslee's educational journey saw him graduating from Southwest High School in Saint Louis in June 1962.
Later that year, in August, Beardslee enlisted in the United States Air Force. For the next four years, he served as an aircraft mechanic. However, his time in the service wasn’t without incident. In 1965, Beardslee and a fellow airman found themselves in trouble after attempting to steal a vehicle. This act led to a sentence at a work farm in Minnesota, where an accident involving a falling tree left Beardslee with a severe head injury and a coma that lasted several days.
The Path of Crime Begins
Following his release from the Air Force, Beardslee's life took a darker turn. In 1969, in Missouri, he committed his first known murder. Laura Griffin, a woman he had met just hours earlier at a bar, became his victim. After an evening of drinking and dancing, Beardslee choked, stabbed, and drowned her. The reason behind this brutal act remains a mystery, as neither motive nor explanation was ever provided. He turned himself in, confessed, and was sentenced to 19 years for second-degree murder, serving seven years before being paroled in 1977.
A Double Murder in California
Beardslee's desire for a fresh start in California proved to be short-lived. Four years after his release, while still on parole, he became embroiled in the April 5, 1981, murders of Patty Geddling, 19, and Stacie Benjamin, 23, in Redwood City, California. The events leading up to these murders were rooted in a failed drug deal involving Beardslee's roommate and a $185 debt.
The plan, orchestrated by drug dealer Frank Rutherford, involved Beardslee's roommate, Ricarda Sue "Rickie" Soria, luring the young women to their apartment. Beardslee, according to prosecutors, instructed Soria to buy duct tape to restrain the victims. Once there, both Beardslee and another accomplice, Bill Forrester, shot Geddling. Later, Beardslee savagely slashed Benjamin's throat, ending her life.
Police quickly linked Beardslee to the crime when they discovered his phone number near Geddling's body. A phone call from authorities prompted his confession, and he led them to Benjamin's remains. Due to his prior conviction, Beardslee was eligible for the death penalty as a repeat offender.
Legal Proceedings and Trials
In the aftermath, Frank Rutherford received a life sentence without parole and died in prison in 2003. Ricarda Sue Soria, in exchange for her testimony, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 15 years to life, eventually being paroled in 2015. Bill Forrester was acquitted, and charges against another individual were dropped prior to trial.
Beardslee was convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances and sentenced to death. His defense team attempted appeals on grounds of inadequate representation and claimed a mental defect resulting from his head injury. However, prosecutors pointed out his above-average intelligence, despite family testimonies about his lifelong difficulty in expressing emotions. Prison records also indicated a schizophrenia diagnosis.
The Final Chapter: Execution
The execution of Donald Beardslee took place on January 19, 2005, making him the first person to be executed in California since Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger assumed office. Beardslee faced his death by lethal injection without offering any final words. Governor Schwarzenegger denied clemency, emphasizing the clarity of Beardslee's understanding of right and wrong despite his impairments.
Sources
- Petition for Executive Clemency: Donald Jay Beardslee
- SFGate
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Los Angeles Times
- NBC News
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
For a detailed account of Donald Beardslee's life and crimes, visit the original Wikipedia article.
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 Committed
Donald Beardslee murders Laura Griffin in Missouri.
Released on Parole
Beardslee is released on parole after serving 7 years for the murder of Laura Griffin.
Double Homicide in California
Beardslee murders Patty Geddling and Stacie Benjamin in Redwood City.
Arrested for Murders
Beardslee is arrested for the murders of Geddling and Benjamin.
Convicted of Murder
Beardslee is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Executed
Donald Beardslee is executed by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison.