Donald Henry Gaskins
South Carolina Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Prospect, South Carolina
TIME PERIOD
1953-1982
VICTIMS
15 confirmed
Donald Henry Gaskins, an American serial killer and rapist, was active from 1953 to 1982, primarily in South Carolina. He was apprehended on November 14, 1975, following the disappearance of 13-year-old Kim Gehlken, leading to the discovery of eight bodies buried near his home in Prospect, South Carolina. Gaskins was convicted of murdering 15 individuals, including Dennis Bellamy, for which he received a death sentence in 1976; however, this was later overturned, and he ultimately pleaded guilty to multiple murders, resulting in 10 concurrent life sentences. Gaskins later killed a fellow inmate using explosives while incarcerated, earning a second death sentence, which was carried out by electrocution on September 6, 1991. Despite his claims of killing up to 110 people, most of these assertions have been discredited, with confirmed murders totaling 15, predominantly involving young victims.
Donald Henry Gaskins is believed to have killed many more victims than the 15 confirmed, with claims reaching up to 110 individuals. Some speculate that his criminal activities were driven by a desire for notoriety, as he was known to boast about his crimes. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that Gaskins may have had accomplices in some of his murders, given the sheer number of victims and the methods employed.
The Grim Legacy of Donald Henry Gaskins
The Making of a Monster
Born on March 13, 1933, in Florence County, South Carolina, Donald Henry Gaskins was destined for a life that would etch his name in the annals of American crime history. Known by various monikers such as "The Meanest Man in America," "The Redneck Charles Manson," and "The Hitchhiker's Killer," Gaskins grew up in a turbulent environment. As the last of Eulea Parrott’s illegitimate children, he was neglected and abused. The abuse continued into his childhood, leaving him with a twisted sense of morality and a thirst for violence.
From an early age, Gaskins, nicknamed "Pee Wee" due to his diminutive stature, exhibited signs of a troubled psyche. By the age of one, he had ingested kerosene, leading to convulsions that plagued him until he was three. His adolescence saw him involved with a gang that engaged in burglaries and assaults. At thirteen, he was sentenced to a reform school for assaulting a young girl with an axe. His time there was brutal, filled with abuse that only hardened him further.
A Criminal Path
Gaskins’ criminal career escalated over the years. After escaping reform school, marrying, and voluntarily returning to complete his sentence, he was released in 1951. However, his freedom was short-lived. In 1953, he was imprisoned for attacking a teenage girl and earned respect in prison by killing a fellow inmate, Hazel Brazell, in what he claimed was self-defense. This act added three more years to his sentence. By 1961, Gaskins was paroled and resumed a life of crime, which included burglary and statutory rape. His freedom was again cut short in 1963 when he was arrested for raping a twelve-year-old girl, only to escape while awaiting sentencing. He was eventually captured in Georgia and imprisoned until 1968.
The Murders Begin
Upon his release, Gaskins’ crimes took a darker turn. He began what he called "coastal kills," a spree of murders involving hitchhikers he picked up along the highways of the South. His first known victim was a blonde hitchhiker in 1969, whom he tortured and killed, sinking her body in a swamp. These victims, both men and women, were subjected to horrific deaths involving stabbing, suffocation, mutilation, and even cannibalism. Gaskins claimed to have killed dozens in this manner, though his confessions remain uncorroborated.
The Known Victims
Between 1970 and 1975, Gaskins committed a series of confirmed murders, starting with his niece, Janice Kirby, and her friend Patricia Ann Alsbrook. Both teenagers were beaten to death in Sumter, South Carolina. In a chilling pattern, Gaskins continued to eliminate those he perceived as threats or nuisances. He poisoned Martha Ann Dicks, drowned Doreen Hope Dempsey and her toddler Robin, and murdered Johnny Sellers and his ex-girlfriend Jessie Ruth Judy over fears they might expose his criminal activities.
Perhaps the most calculated was the murder-for-hire of Silas Barnwell Yates in February 1975, orchestrated by Suzanne Kipper Owens and her husband. Gaskins slit Yates’ throat in exchange for $1,500. The spree continued with the brutal deaths of Dianne Bellamy Neeley, Avery Leroy Howard, Kim Gehlken, and half-brothers Dennis Bellamy and John Henry Knight, each murder an attempt to silence potential informants.
The Heinous Act in Prison
The notorious acts of Gaskins did not cease even after his incarceration. While serving his sentence at the Central Correctional Institution, he was contracted by Tony Cimo to kill fellow inmate Rudolph Tyner. Tyner, on death row for a double murder, was killed by Gaskins using an improvised explosive device. This audacious act added another death sentence to Gaskins’ name, solidifying his reputation as "The Meanest Man in America."
Capture and Execution
Gaskins’ reign of terror ended when his associate, Walter Neeley, confessed to the police, revealing the burial sites of several victims. On December 4, 1975, authorities uncovered eight bodies near Gaskins' home in Prospect, South Carolina. Convicted in May 1976 for the murder of Dennis Bellamy, Gaskins initially received a death sentence that was later commuted to life imprisonment.
However, the murder of Tyner led to another trial and a renewed death sentence. On September 6, 1991, Gaskins was executed by electrocution at the Broad River Correctional Institution. In his final moments, he claimed to have killed 110 people, a figure disputed by law enforcement and journalists.
Legacy of Horror
Donald Henry Gaskins’ life was a study in violence and manipulation, leaving a trail of broken lives and unanswered questions. Despite his claims, the confirmed murders stand as a testament to his brutal nature, and his story serves as a grim reminder of the depths of human depravity.
Sources
For detailed references and further exploration of Donald Henry Gaskins' life and crimes, visit the Wikipedia page.
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First Confirmed Murder
Donald Gaskins murders a blonde female hitchhiker, marking the start of his killing spree.
Murders of Janice Kirby and Patricia Alsbrook
Gaskins beats his niece and her friend to death, his first confirmed victims.
Murder of Dennis and John Henry Bellamy
Gaskins shoots both brothers in the back of the head to silence them about his crimes.
Gaskins Arrested
Gaskins is arrested after an associate confesses to police about his involvement in multiple murders.
Gaskins Convicted
A jury finds Gaskins guilty of the murder of Dennis Bellamy, sentencing him to death.
Murder of Rudolph Tyner
Gaskins kills fellow inmate Tyner using C4 explosives, earning a second death sentence.
Execution
Donald Gaskins is executed by electric chair after multiple death sentences.
Donald Henry Gaskins, an American serial killer and rapist, was active from 1953 to 1982, primarily in South Carolina. He was apprehended on November 14, 1975, following the disappearance of 13-year-old Kim Gehlken, leading to the discovery of eight bodies buried near his home in Prospect, South Carolina. Gaskins was convicted of murdering 15 individuals, including Dennis Bellamy, for which he received a death sentence in 1976; however, this was later overturned, and he ultimately pleaded guilty to multiple murders, resulting in 10 concurrent life sentences. Gaskins later killed a fellow inmate using explosives while incarcerated, earning a second death sentence, which was carried out by electrocution on September 6, 1991. Despite his claims of killing up to 110 people, most of these assertions have been discredited, with confirmed murders totaling 15, predominantly involving young victims.
Donald Henry Gaskins is believed to have killed many more victims than the 15 confirmed, with claims reaching up to 110 individuals. Some speculate that his criminal activities were driven by a desire for notoriety, as he was known to boast about his crimes. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that Gaskins may have had accomplices in some of his murders, given the sheer number of victims and the methods employed.
The Grim Legacy of Donald Henry Gaskins
The Making of a Monster
Born on March 13, 1933, in Florence County, South Carolina, Donald Henry Gaskins was destined for a life that would etch his name in the annals of American crime history. Known by various monikers such as "The Meanest Man in America," "The Redneck Charles Manson," and "The Hitchhiker's Killer," Gaskins grew up in a turbulent environment. As the last of Eulea Parrott’s illegitimate children, he was neglected and abused. The abuse continued into his childhood, leaving him with a twisted sense of morality and a thirst for violence.
From an early age, Gaskins, nicknamed "Pee Wee" due to his diminutive stature, exhibited signs of a troubled psyche. By the age of one, he had ingested kerosene, leading to convulsions that plagued him until he was three. His adolescence saw him involved with a gang that engaged in burglaries and assaults. At thirteen, he was sentenced to a reform school for assaulting a young girl with an axe. His time there was brutal, filled with abuse that only hardened him further.
A Criminal Path
Gaskins’ criminal career escalated over the years. After escaping reform school, marrying, and voluntarily returning to complete his sentence, he was released in 1951. However, his freedom was short-lived. In 1953, he was imprisoned for attacking a teenage girl and earned respect in prison by killing a fellow inmate, Hazel Brazell, in what he claimed was self-defense. This act added three more years to his sentence. By 1961, Gaskins was paroled and resumed a life of crime, which included burglary and statutory rape. His freedom was again cut short in 1963 when he was arrested for raping a twelve-year-old girl, only to escape while awaiting sentencing. He was eventually captured in Georgia and imprisoned until 1968.
The Murders Begin
Upon his release, Gaskins’ crimes took a darker turn. He began what he called "coastal kills," a spree of murders involving hitchhikers he picked up along the highways of the South. His first known victim was a blonde hitchhiker in 1969, whom he tortured and killed, sinking her body in a swamp. These victims, both men and women, were subjected to horrific deaths involving stabbing, suffocation, mutilation, and even cannibalism. Gaskins claimed to have killed dozens in this manner, though his confessions remain uncorroborated.
The Known Victims
Between 1970 and 1975, Gaskins committed a series of confirmed murders, starting with his niece, Janice Kirby, and her friend Patricia Ann Alsbrook. Both teenagers were beaten to death in Sumter, South Carolina. In a chilling pattern, Gaskins continued to eliminate those he perceived as threats or nuisances. He poisoned Martha Ann Dicks, drowned Doreen Hope Dempsey and her toddler Robin, and murdered Johnny Sellers and his ex-girlfriend Jessie Ruth Judy over fears they might expose his criminal activities.
Perhaps the most calculated was the murder-for-hire of Silas Barnwell Yates in February 1975, orchestrated by Suzanne Kipper Owens and her husband. Gaskins slit Yates’ throat in exchange for $1,500. The spree continued with the brutal deaths of Dianne Bellamy Neeley, Avery Leroy Howard, Kim Gehlken, and half-brothers Dennis Bellamy and John Henry Knight, each murder an attempt to silence potential informants.
The Heinous Act in Prison
The notorious acts of Gaskins did not cease even after his incarceration. While serving his sentence at the Central Correctional Institution, he was contracted by Tony Cimo to kill fellow inmate Rudolph Tyner. Tyner, on death row for a double murder, was killed by Gaskins using an improvised explosive device. This audacious act added another death sentence to Gaskins’ name, solidifying his reputation as "The Meanest Man in America."
Capture and Execution
Gaskins’ reign of terror ended when his associate, Walter Neeley, confessed to the police, revealing the burial sites of several victims. On December 4, 1975, authorities uncovered eight bodies near Gaskins' home in Prospect, South Carolina. Convicted in May 1976 for the murder of Dennis Bellamy, Gaskins initially received a death sentence that was later commuted to life imprisonment.
However, the murder of Tyner led to another trial and a renewed death sentence. On September 6, 1991, Gaskins was executed by electrocution at the Broad River Correctional Institution. In his final moments, he claimed to have killed 110 people, a figure disputed by law enforcement and journalists.
Legacy of Horror
Donald Henry Gaskins’ life was a study in violence and manipulation, leaving a trail of broken lives and unanswered questions. Despite his claims, the confirmed murders stand as a testament to his brutal nature, and his story serves as a grim reminder of the depths of human depravity.
Sources
For detailed references and further exploration of Donald Henry Gaskins' life and crimes, visit the Wikipedia page.
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
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First Confirmed Murder
Donald Gaskins murders a blonde female hitchhiker, marking the start of his killing spree.
Murders of Janice Kirby and Patricia Alsbrook
Gaskins beats his niece and her friend to death, his first confirmed victims.
Murder of Dennis and John Henry Bellamy
Gaskins shoots both brothers in the back of the head to silence them about his crimes.
Gaskins Arrested
Gaskins is arrested after an associate confesses to police about his involvement in multiple murders.
Gaskins Convicted
A jury finds Gaskins guilty of the murder of Dennis Bellamy, sentencing him to death.
Murder of Rudolph Tyner
Gaskins kills fellow inmate Tyner using C4 explosives, earning a second death sentence.
Execution
Donald Gaskins is executed by electric chair after multiple death sentences.