Elroy Chester
Texas Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Port Arthur, Texas
TIME PERIOD
1997-1998
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
Elroy Chester, an American serial killer, committed five murders, along with multiple home invasions and sexual assaults, in Port Arthur, Texas, between August 3, 1997, and February 6, 1998. Chester, born on June 14, 1969, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death on September 26, 1998, for one of the killings, which were motivated by anti-white racism. He was executed by lethal injection on June 12, 2013, despite claims from his family and defense that he was intellectually disabled, which raised questions regarding his eligibility for the death penalty under Atkins v. Virginia. Significant evidence included the use of a Lorcin .380 Auto pistol and a .22 caliber pistol in the commission of the crimes, which resulted in five murders, five injuries, and five rapes during the six-month crime spree.
Elroy Chester's actions have led to speculation that his violent crimes were motivated by anti-white racism, as indicated by the nature of his attacks. Additionally, there is ongoing debate about his intellectual capacity, with claims that he was intellectually disabled and should have been ineligible for the death penalty, raising questions about the fairness of his execution. Some believe that his troubled upbringing and educational struggles contributed to his criminal behavior.
The Dark Path of Elroy Chester: A True Crime Story
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
Elroy Chester entered the world on June 14, 1969, in Port Arthur, Texas. His childhood was marked by struggles in education, as he never advanced beyond a third-grade level and was placed in special education classes until he was 16. His intellectual capabilities were often questioned, with four out of five IQ tests showing scores of 70 or lower. The lowest of these scores was a mere 57, recorded when he was 18 years old.
Despite these challenges, Chester managed to graduate from Abraham Lincoln High School and worked sporadically as a general laborer. His employment history included a brief stint at a Luby's cafeteria, but his life was frequently interrupted by brushes with the law.
Escalating Criminal Activity
Chester's criminal record began in earnest in 1987 when he committed a home robbery on February 20. Arrested five days later, he faced trial, but after posting bail, he graduated from high school in May. His criminal activities continued as he burglarized another home, leading to another arrest and a sentence of 10 years probation. He served six months in a Texas Department of Corrections facility as part of a shock probation program.
Upon his release in 1988, Chester continued his pattern of burglaries, leading to a 13-year imprisonment sentence in December of that year. Although released on parole in 1990, his criminal behavior persisted, with arrests for theft and other charges that were often dismissed due to insufficient evidence. By 1997, after serving four years in prison, Chester was released under mandatory supervision.
A Reign of Terror
Five months after his release, Port Arthur, Texas, became the backdrop for a series of heinous crimes committed by Chester. Between August 1997 and February 1998, he was responsible for at least 25 burglaries, five sexual assaults, and ten shootings. Chester's sinister spree culminated in five murders and four non-fatal shootings, with most of the victims meeting their fate in their homes during the dead of night.
In these invasions, Chester displayed chilling forethought—disabling telephone landlines, unscrewing security lights, and concealing his identity with masks. The night of August 3, 1997, marked the beginning of his murderous rampage when he stole a .380 semi-automatic pistol from Kenneth Risinger's home. This weapon would later become a tool of death.
The Murders
Chester's first known murder occurred on September 20, 1997, when he shot 78-year-old John Henry Sepeda during a nighttime burglary. Chester continued his killing spree, claiming the life of 87-year-old Etta Mae Stallings on November 15, after stealing a .22 caliber gun from her home. That same night, he fired shots into a nearby house, injuring two women and fatally wounding a pet dog.
On November 20, Chester attacked his former co-worker, Cheryl DeLeon, outside her home. He had been stalking her with the intent of robbery and ended her life with a pistol shot to the throat. December 21 saw the discovery of Albert Bolden Jr.'s body, a man Chester shot out of vengeance.
The horror peaked on February 6, 1998, when Chester invaded the Ryman DeLeon household. There, he brutalized Erin DeLeon and her sister Claire, forcing them to undress and assaulting them. 38-year-old Willie "Billy" Ryman III, a firefighter and the girls' uncle, interrupted the scene and was fatally shot by Chester.
Arrest and Confession
Chester's reign of terror ended on February 8, 1998, when he was arrested for violating a city ordinance. While in custody, police connected him to a series of burglaries. In an unprompted confession, Chester admitted to murdering the firefighter, Billy Ryman. A search of his home revealed stolen items and masks linked to the crimes. DNA evidence further tied Chester to multiple rapes.
Chester later justified his crimes as manifestations of his hatred for white people, stemming from a past altercation with a white employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. His victims, however, were of diverse racial backgrounds, reflecting the demographics of Port Arthur.
Trial and Execution
Chester's trial began in August 1998. He pleaded guilty but exhibited no remorse, instead making threats against jurors and court officials. His lack of contrition and violent outbursts led to a swift death sentence for the murder of Willie Ryman III and the assault on his nieces.
Despite arguments from his defense about his intellectual disability, the Texas court deemed Chester competent for execution. His ability to plan and execute complex crimes evidenced a level of forethought inconsistent with claims of mental incompetence.
After numerous appeals were rejected, Chester was executed on June 12, 2013, at the Huntsville Unit in Texas. His final words expressed a plea for forgiveness from the victims' families and an acknowledgment of his crimes.
In Media
Elroy Chester's life and crimes have been the subject of media attention, including a 2013 documentary, "Killing Time," and an episode of the Investigation Discovery series "Murder by Numbers," titled "Clown Mask Murders."
Sources
For further reading, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Elroy Chester: Wikipedia URL.
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First Burglary
Chester burglarizes Kenneth Risinger's home, stealing a .380 pistol.
First Murder
Chester murders 78-year-old John Henry Sepeda during a burglary.
Second Murder
Chester fatally shoots 87-year-old Etta Mae Stallings during a burglary.
Third Murder
Chester kills 40-year-old Cheryl DeLeon after stalking her.
Fourth Murder
Chester murders his brother-in-law, Albert Bolden Jr., out of vengeance.
Fifth Murder
Chester kills firefighter Willie Ryman III during a home invasion.
Arrest
Chester is arrested for an unrelated ordinance violation; later charged with multiple crimes.
Trial Begins
Chester's trial starts; he pleads guilty and threatens court officials.
Sentenced to Death
Chester is sentenced to death for the murder of Willie Ryman III.
Execution
Chester is executed by lethal injection at Huntsville Unit.
Elroy Chester, an American serial killer, committed five murders, along with multiple home invasions and sexual assaults, in Port Arthur, Texas, between August 3, 1997, and February 6, 1998. Chester, born on June 14, 1969, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death on September 26, 1998, for one of the killings, which were motivated by anti-white racism. He was executed by lethal injection on June 12, 2013, despite claims from his family and defense that he was intellectually disabled, which raised questions regarding his eligibility for the death penalty under Atkins v. Virginia. Significant evidence included the use of a Lorcin .380 Auto pistol and a .22 caliber pistol in the commission of the crimes, which resulted in five murders, five injuries, and five rapes during the six-month crime spree.
Elroy Chester's actions have led to speculation that his violent crimes were motivated by anti-white racism, as indicated by the nature of his attacks. Additionally, there is ongoing debate about his intellectual capacity, with claims that he was intellectually disabled and should have been ineligible for the death penalty, raising questions about the fairness of his execution. Some believe that his troubled upbringing and educational struggles contributed to his criminal behavior.
The Dark Path of Elroy Chester: A True Crime Story
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
Elroy Chester entered the world on June 14, 1969, in Port Arthur, Texas. His childhood was marked by struggles in education, as he never advanced beyond a third-grade level and was placed in special education classes until he was 16. His intellectual capabilities were often questioned, with four out of five IQ tests showing scores of 70 or lower. The lowest of these scores was a mere 57, recorded when he was 18 years old.
Despite these challenges, Chester managed to graduate from Abraham Lincoln High School and worked sporadically as a general laborer. His employment history included a brief stint at a Luby's cafeteria, but his life was frequently interrupted by brushes with the law.
Escalating Criminal Activity
Chester's criminal record began in earnest in 1987 when he committed a home robbery on February 20. Arrested five days later, he faced trial, but after posting bail, he graduated from high school in May. His criminal activities continued as he burglarized another home, leading to another arrest and a sentence of 10 years probation. He served six months in a Texas Department of Corrections facility as part of a shock probation program.
Upon his release in 1988, Chester continued his pattern of burglaries, leading to a 13-year imprisonment sentence in December of that year. Although released on parole in 1990, his criminal behavior persisted, with arrests for theft and other charges that were often dismissed due to insufficient evidence. By 1997, after serving four years in prison, Chester was released under mandatory supervision.
A Reign of Terror
Five months after his release, Port Arthur, Texas, became the backdrop for a series of heinous crimes committed by Chester. Between August 1997 and February 1998, he was responsible for at least 25 burglaries, five sexual assaults, and ten shootings. Chester's sinister spree culminated in five murders and four non-fatal shootings, with most of the victims meeting their fate in their homes during the dead of night.
In these invasions, Chester displayed chilling forethought—disabling telephone landlines, unscrewing security lights, and concealing his identity with masks. The night of August 3, 1997, marked the beginning of his murderous rampage when he stole a .380 semi-automatic pistol from Kenneth Risinger's home. This weapon would later become a tool of death.
The Murders
Chester's first known murder occurred on September 20, 1997, when he shot 78-year-old John Henry Sepeda during a nighttime burglary. Chester continued his killing spree, claiming the life of 87-year-old Etta Mae Stallings on November 15, after stealing a .22 caliber gun from her home. That same night, he fired shots into a nearby house, injuring two women and fatally wounding a pet dog.
On November 20, Chester attacked his former co-worker, Cheryl DeLeon, outside her home. He had been stalking her with the intent of robbery and ended her life with a pistol shot to the throat. December 21 saw the discovery of Albert Bolden Jr.'s body, a man Chester shot out of vengeance.
The horror peaked on February 6, 1998, when Chester invaded the Ryman DeLeon household. There, he brutalized Erin DeLeon and her sister Claire, forcing them to undress and assaulting them. 38-year-old Willie "Billy" Ryman III, a firefighter and the girls' uncle, interrupted the scene and was fatally shot by Chester.
Arrest and Confession
Chester's reign of terror ended on February 8, 1998, when he was arrested for violating a city ordinance. While in custody, police connected him to a series of burglaries. In an unprompted confession, Chester admitted to murdering the firefighter, Billy Ryman. A search of his home revealed stolen items and masks linked to the crimes. DNA evidence further tied Chester to multiple rapes.
Chester later justified his crimes as manifestations of his hatred for white people, stemming from a past altercation with a white employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. His victims, however, were of diverse racial backgrounds, reflecting the demographics of Port Arthur.
Trial and Execution
Chester's trial began in August 1998. He pleaded guilty but exhibited no remorse, instead making threats against jurors and court officials. His lack of contrition and violent outbursts led to a swift death sentence for the murder of Willie Ryman III and the assault on his nieces.
Despite arguments from his defense about his intellectual disability, the Texas court deemed Chester competent for execution. His ability to plan and execute complex crimes evidenced a level of forethought inconsistent with claims of mental incompetence.
After numerous appeals were rejected, Chester was executed on June 12, 2013, at the Huntsville Unit in Texas. His final words expressed a plea for forgiveness from the victims' families and an acknowledgment of his crimes.
In Media
Elroy Chester's life and crimes have been the subject of media attention, including a 2013 documentary, "Killing Time," and an episode of the Investigation Discovery series "Murder by Numbers," titled "Clown Mask Murders."
Sources
For further reading, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Elroy Chester: Wikipedia URL.
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 Burglary
Chester burglarizes Kenneth Risinger's home, stealing a .380 pistol.
First Murder
Chester murders 78-year-old John Henry Sepeda during a burglary.
Second Murder
Chester fatally shoots 87-year-old Etta Mae Stallings during a burglary.
Third Murder
Chester kills 40-year-old Cheryl DeLeon after stalking her.
Fourth Murder
Chester murders his brother-in-law, Albert Bolden Jr., out of vengeance.
Fifth Murder
Chester kills firefighter Willie Ryman III during a home invasion.
Arrest
Chester is arrested for an unrelated ordinance violation; later charged with multiple crimes.
Trial Begins
Chester's trial starts; he pleads guilty and threatens court officials.
Sentenced to Death
Chester is sentenced to death for the murder of Willie Ryman III.
Execution
Chester is executed by lethal injection at Huntsville Unit.