Donald Leroy Evans
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Gulfport, Mississippi
TIME PERIOD
1985-1991
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Donald Leroy Evans, an American serial killer, was active between 1985 and 1991, committing at least three confirmed murders, with claims of over 70 victims across more than twenty U.S. states. He was apprehended on August 5, 1991, in Gulfport, Mississippi, after the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of 10-year-old Beatrice Louise Routh, whose body he disposed of in a rural area. Following his conviction for capital murder and sexual battery in Mississippi, he was sentenced to death on August 19, 1993. While incarcerated, Evans confessed to numerous additional murders, with some details corroborating unsolved cases, leading to ongoing investigations into his claims until his death from stab wounds in prison on January 5, 1999.
Donald Leroy Evans is believed to have committed many more murders than the three he was convicted of, with estimates ranging from three to over seventy victims across multiple states. There is speculation that he may have targeted vulnerable individuals at parks and rest areas, leveraging their isolation to commit his crimes. Additionally, some investigators theorize that his criminal behavior escalated after his initial release from prison, indicating a pattern of increasing violence and risk-taking.
The Dark Journey of Donald Leroy Evans
The Beginning
Donald Leroy Evans was born on July 5, 1957, in Watervliet, Michigan. From an early age, his life seemed destined for infamy. By the time he had reached adulthood, Evans would embark on a chilling journey that would span years and states, leaving a trail of death and despair in his wake.
Crimes and Capture
Evans's criminal record began in earnest in 1986 when he was convicted of raping a woman in Galveston, Texas. Sentenced to fifteen years, he served only five before being released on parole in 1991. However, his attempt to reintegrate into society was short-lived. Evans, working as a desk clerk at a motel, was quickly dismissed when parole officials deemed the setting inappropriate for a convicted sex offender.
His criminal activities escalated when he was connected to the horrific murder of a 10-year-old girl. After a former girlfriend reported threats of violence to the authorities, Evans fled Galveston, stealing a car and making his way to Mississippi. It was here, in Gulfport, that he committed the crime that would ultimately lead to his downfall. On August 1, 1991, Evans abducted Beatrice Louise Routh, a homeless girl, from a park. He raped and strangled her, leaving her lifeless body in a rural area. A chilling testimony from the medical examiner would later reveal that Beatrice endured a harrowing day-long ordeal.
Evans's capture came swiftly after the murder. He confessed to kidnapping and was sent to a federal prison in Colorado to face charges. By August 16, 1993, a Mississippi jury had convicted him of sexual battery and murder, sentencing him to death just three days later.
The Confessions
While incarcerated, Evans's confessions painted a chilling picture of his past. He claimed responsibility for over 70 murders across 22 states, most occurring at rest stops and public parks. Initially skeptical, law enforcement officials found his detailed descriptions matched unsolved cases in Florida, lending credence to his claims. Among these was the 1985 strangulation of Ira Jean Smith, for which Evans pleaded guilty in 1995, securing a life sentence.
Escape and Death
Evans briefly tasted freedom in June 1993 when he escaped from the Harrison County Jail. His liberty was short-lived; authorities found him hiding in a shed and quickly recaptured him. His life came to a violent end on January 5, 1999, when fellow death row inmate Jimmie Mack stabbed him to death at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. Mack, initially sentenced to death for a 1990 murder, had his sentence commuted to life after being convicted of manslaughter for Evans's murder.
The Victims
The known victims of Evans's murderous spree are a tragic testament to his brutality:
- Ira Jean Smith, aged 38, murdered on March 7, 1985.
- Janet Movich, aged 38, murdered on April 14, 1985.
- Beatrice Louise Routh, aged 10, murdered on August 1, 1991.
The Legacy
Donald Leroy Evans's tale is a harrowing reminder of the dark corridors of the human psyche. His life and crimes continue to be a subject of interest, reflecting the chilling reality of serial killers in the United States.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times, "Death Row Inmate Is Fatally Stabbed," January 5, 1999
- [Galveston Daily News, "Former Isle resident Evans gets death sentence in Miss," September 19, 1993]
- [Sun Sentinel, "SUPREMACIST PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER," July 29, 1995]
- [Deseret News, "News capsules," January 5, 1999]
- [Florida Department of Corrections, "Inmate Details: Jimmy Mack"]
For further reading, you can explore the original Wikipedia article on Donald Leroy Evans here.
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First Known Murder
Ira Jean Smith is murdered by Donald Leroy Evans.
Second Known Murder
Janet Movich is murdered by Donald Leroy Evans.
First Conviction
Evans is convicted of rape in Galveston, Texas.
Murder of Beatrice Routh
Evans kidnaps, rapes, and murders 10-year-old Beatrice Louise Routh.
Arrest
Donald Leroy Evans is arrested for the murder of Beatrice Routh.
Conviction for Murder
Evans is convicted of sexual battery and murder in Mississippi.
Guilty Plea
Evans pleads guilty to the 1985 murder of Ira Jean Smith.
Escape from Jail
Evans escapes from Harrison County Jail but is recaptured.
Death in Prison
Donald Leroy Evans is stabbed to death by a fellow inmate.
Donald Leroy Evans, an American serial killer, was active between 1985 and 1991, committing at least three confirmed murders, with claims of over 70 victims across more than twenty U.S. states. He was apprehended on August 5, 1991, in Gulfport, Mississippi, after the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of 10-year-old Beatrice Louise Routh, whose body he disposed of in a rural area. Following his conviction for capital murder and sexual battery in Mississippi, he was sentenced to death on August 19, 1993. While incarcerated, Evans confessed to numerous additional murders, with some details corroborating unsolved cases, leading to ongoing investigations into his claims until his death from stab wounds in prison on January 5, 1999.
Donald Leroy Evans is believed to have committed many more murders than the three he was convicted of, with estimates ranging from three to over seventy victims across multiple states. There is speculation that he may have targeted vulnerable individuals at parks and rest areas, leveraging their isolation to commit his crimes. Additionally, some investigators theorize that his criminal behavior escalated after his initial release from prison, indicating a pattern of increasing violence and risk-taking.
The Dark Journey of Donald Leroy Evans
The Beginning
Donald Leroy Evans was born on July 5, 1957, in Watervliet, Michigan. From an early age, his life seemed destined for infamy. By the time he had reached adulthood, Evans would embark on a chilling journey that would span years and states, leaving a trail of death and despair in his wake.
Crimes and Capture
Evans's criminal record began in earnest in 1986 when he was convicted of raping a woman in Galveston, Texas. Sentenced to fifteen years, he served only five before being released on parole in 1991. However, his attempt to reintegrate into society was short-lived. Evans, working as a desk clerk at a motel, was quickly dismissed when parole officials deemed the setting inappropriate for a convicted sex offender.
His criminal activities escalated when he was connected to the horrific murder of a 10-year-old girl. After a former girlfriend reported threats of violence to the authorities, Evans fled Galveston, stealing a car and making his way to Mississippi. It was here, in Gulfport, that he committed the crime that would ultimately lead to his downfall. On August 1, 1991, Evans abducted Beatrice Louise Routh, a homeless girl, from a park. He raped and strangled her, leaving her lifeless body in a rural area. A chilling testimony from the medical examiner would later reveal that Beatrice endured a harrowing day-long ordeal.
Evans's capture came swiftly after the murder. He confessed to kidnapping and was sent to a federal prison in Colorado to face charges. By August 16, 1993, a Mississippi jury had convicted him of sexual battery and murder, sentencing him to death just three days later.
The Confessions
While incarcerated, Evans's confessions painted a chilling picture of his past. He claimed responsibility for over 70 murders across 22 states, most occurring at rest stops and public parks. Initially skeptical, law enforcement officials found his detailed descriptions matched unsolved cases in Florida, lending credence to his claims. Among these was the 1985 strangulation of Ira Jean Smith, for which Evans pleaded guilty in 1995, securing a life sentence.
Escape and Death
Evans briefly tasted freedom in June 1993 when he escaped from the Harrison County Jail. His liberty was short-lived; authorities found him hiding in a shed and quickly recaptured him. His life came to a violent end on January 5, 1999, when fellow death row inmate Jimmie Mack stabbed him to death at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. Mack, initially sentenced to death for a 1990 murder, had his sentence commuted to life after being convicted of manslaughter for Evans's murder.
The Victims
The known victims of Evans's murderous spree are a tragic testament to his brutality:
- Ira Jean Smith, aged 38, murdered on March 7, 1985.
- Janet Movich, aged 38, murdered on April 14, 1985.
- Beatrice Louise Routh, aged 10, murdered on August 1, 1991.
The Legacy
Donald Leroy Evans's tale is a harrowing reminder of the dark corridors of the human psyche. His life and crimes continue to be a subject of interest, reflecting the chilling reality of serial killers in the United States.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times, "Death Row Inmate Is Fatally Stabbed," January 5, 1999
- [Galveston Daily News, "Former Isle resident Evans gets death sentence in Miss," September 19, 1993]
- [Sun Sentinel, "SUPREMACIST PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER," July 29, 1995]
- [Deseret News, "News capsules," January 5, 1999]
- [Florida Department of Corrections, "Inmate Details: Jimmy Mack"]
For further reading, you can explore the original Wikipedia article on Donald Leroy Evans here.
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 Known Murder
Ira Jean Smith is murdered by Donald Leroy Evans.
Second Known Murder
Janet Movich is murdered by Donald Leroy Evans.
First Conviction
Evans is convicted of rape in Galveston, Texas.
Murder of Beatrice Routh
Evans kidnaps, rapes, and murders 10-year-old Beatrice Louise Routh.
Arrest
Donald Leroy Evans is arrested for the murder of Beatrice Routh.
Conviction for Murder
Evans is convicted of sexual battery and murder in Mississippi.
Guilty Plea
Evans pleads guilty to the 1985 murder of Ira Jean Smith.
Escape from Jail
Evans escapes from Harrison County Jail but is recaptured.
Death in Prison
Donald Leroy Evans is stabbed to death by a fellow inmate.