Eugene Britt
Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Gary, Indiana
TIME PERIOD
May – September 1995
VICTIMS
7 confirmed
Eugene Victor Britt, a convicted serial killer and rapist, committed at least seven murders of girls and women in Gary and Portage, Indiana, between May and September 1995. He was apprehended on November 3, 1995, following the discovery of 8-year-old Sarah Lynn Paulsen's body, which led investigators to link him to the crime through fibers found at the scene that matched his work uniform. Britt confessed to the murder of Paulsen and claimed responsibility for nine additional homicides during an extensive interrogation. He was subsequently convicted of seven counts of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment plus additional years for other charges. Britt is currently incarcerated at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana.
Eugene Britt is believed to have committed at least ten murders, with some speculation suggesting that his violent tendencies may have originated from his traumatic childhood and experiences with abuse. There are theories that his time spent in homeless shelters and his subsequent injuries from being hit by a train may have contributed to his criminal behavior and the escalation of his violent acts. Some community members speculate that his history of sexual assault and the patterns of his crimes reflect a deeper psychological issue stemming from his early life challenges.
The Grim Tale of Eugene Britt: A Serial Killer's Reign of Terror
A Troubled Beginning
Eugene Victor Britt was born into hardship on November 4, 1957, in Gary, Indiana. His early life was marred by the chaos of a large, impoverished family, where both parents were gripped by alcoholism. Domestic violence filled his home, with his father frequently assaulting his mother. At the tender age of 14, Eugene fled, choosing life on the streets over the turmoil at home. It was during these formative years that signs of an intellectual disability began to surface. His escape led him to substance abuse, a path that would foreshadow darker deeds.
In April 1978, a 17-year-old girl became the victim of Eugene's burgeoning criminal mind. He attacked her on her way home from Roosevelt High School, robbing and raping her. This brutal act led to his arrest and a 30-year prison sentence in December of that year. After serving half his term, Eugene was paroled in August 1993. He returned to Gary, but financial struggles confined him to homeless shelters. He stayed with one of his sisters, drifting through various low-skilled jobs. His solace was found in riding his bicycle around the city. However, in early autumn 1995, a train accident left him severely injured and dependent on a wheelchair for weeks.
The Murders Begin
Eugene Britt's return to Gary marked the beginning of a killing spree that would horrify Indiana. Between May and September 1995, he committed at least seven murders, targeting girls and women in Gary and Portage. On November 3, 1995, his reign of terror came to a halt when police arrested him for the murder of 8-year-old Sarah Lynn Paulsen. Her body was discovered near her home in Portage on August 22, and the investigation found fibers matching uniforms from the Hardee's restaurant chain, where Eugene worked. This critical evidence led officers to seize his uniform for examination.
Confession and Investigation
Three days after his arrest, Eugene confessed to Clyde Smith, the head of the homeless shelter where he had been living, admitting not only to Sarah's murder but also to nine others. Smith persuaded him to surrender to authorities. During an intense 8-hour interrogation, Eugene detailed his gruesome acts, claiming he killed ten people, including Sarah Paulsen, between May 9 and September 12. He described how he dumped their bodies around Gary. Startlingly, seven of these deaths had been previously deemed non-homicidal.
Eugene's victims were mostly young girls and women, the youngest being 8 and the oldest 51. One victim was a prostitute. He confessed that voices in his head compelled him to attack, often from behind, in secluded areas where he would rape and strangle them. The murder of a man differed in circumstance; Eugene claimed self-defense when two men tried to steal his bicycle. His immense size intimidated them, but he later found one of them, whom he beat and strangled. Eugene also revealed that his train accident injuries were a suicide attempt.
Police, guided by Eugene's confessions, uncovered some remains, including those of 24-year-old Tonya Dunlap, identified through dental records. Despite Eugene's claim of ten victims, only seven were positively identified.
The Trial and Sentencing
Eugene Britt's legal journey began with his indictment in Porter County for Sarah Paulsen's murder. In May 1996, a plea bargain, considering his intellectual disabilities, spared him the death penalty. Instead, he was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 100 years. Transferred to Lake County Jail, further investigations led to additional charges in February 2000 for six more murders and the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
As 2000 progressed, his defense claimed Eugene's mental state had deteriorated, rendering him criminally insane. However, a forensic psychiatric examination affirmed his competence to stand trial. Delays ensued, but finally, in 2006, Eugene pleaded guilty to the murders of Nakita Moore, Tonya Dunlap, Maxine Walker, Betty Askew, Michelle Burns, Debra McHenry, and the sexual assault of the teenager. A subsequent psychological evaluation confirmed his intellectual disability, prompting the court to impose a further 245-year sentence. In a rare moment of emotion, Eugene wept, seeking forgiveness from the victims' families.
Eugene Britt's story concluded with his transfer to Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, where he remains incarcerated. As of February 2025, he continues to serve his sentence under prisoner number "963641."
Sources
For further reading and details, you can visit the original Wikipedia article: Eugene Britt.
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First Murder Suspected
Eugene Britt begins a series of murders in Indiana.
Body Found
The body of 8-year-old Sarah Lynn Paulsen is discovered.
Britt Arrested
Eugene Britt is arrested on suspicion of murdering Sarah Paulsen.
Confession to Murders
Britt confesses to killing Sarah Paulsen and nine other victims.
Victim Identified
Dental analysis identifies victim Tonya Dunlap from Britt's confessions.
Indictment
Britt is indicted for the murder of Sarah Paulsen.
Additional Charges
Britt is charged with six more murders and the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
Guilty Plea
Britt pleads guilty to multiple murders and rapes.
Sentencing
Britt is sentenced to an additional 245 years in prison.
Eugene Victor Britt, a convicted serial killer and rapist, committed at least seven murders of girls and women in Gary and Portage, Indiana, between May and September 1995. He was apprehended on November 3, 1995, following the discovery of 8-year-old Sarah Lynn Paulsen's body, which led investigators to link him to the crime through fibers found at the scene that matched his work uniform. Britt confessed to the murder of Paulsen and claimed responsibility for nine additional homicides during an extensive interrogation. He was subsequently convicted of seven counts of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment plus additional years for other charges. Britt is currently incarcerated at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana.
Eugene Britt is believed to have committed at least ten murders, with some speculation suggesting that his violent tendencies may have originated from his traumatic childhood and experiences with abuse. There are theories that his time spent in homeless shelters and his subsequent injuries from being hit by a train may have contributed to his criminal behavior and the escalation of his violent acts. Some community members speculate that his history of sexual assault and the patterns of his crimes reflect a deeper psychological issue stemming from his early life challenges.
The Grim Tale of Eugene Britt: A Serial Killer's Reign of Terror
A Troubled Beginning
Eugene Victor Britt was born into hardship on November 4, 1957, in Gary, Indiana. His early life was marred by the chaos of a large, impoverished family, where both parents were gripped by alcoholism. Domestic violence filled his home, with his father frequently assaulting his mother. At the tender age of 14, Eugene fled, choosing life on the streets over the turmoil at home. It was during these formative years that signs of an intellectual disability began to surface. His escape led him to substance abuse, a path that would foreshadow darker deeds.
In April 1978, a 17-year-old girl became the victim of Eugene's burgeoning criminal mind. He attacked her on her way home from Roosevelt High School, robbing and raping her. This brutal act led to his arrest and a 30-year prison sentence in December of that year. After serving half his term, Eugene was paroled in August 1993. He returned to Gary, but financial struggles confined him to homeless shelters. He stayed with one of his sisters, drifting through various low-skilled jobs. His solace was found in riding his bicycle around the city. However, in early autumn 1995, a train accident left him severely injured and dependent on a wheelchair for weeks.
The Murders Begin
Eugene Britt's return to Gary marked the beginning of a killing spree that would horrify Indiana. Between May and September 1995, he committed at least seven murders, targeting girls and women in Gary and Portage. On November 3, 1995, his reign of terror came to a halt when police arrested him for the murder of 8-year-old Sarah Lynn Paulsen. Her body was discovered near her home in Portage on August 22, and the investigation found fibers matching uniforms from the Hardee's restaurant chain, where Eugene worked. This critical evidence led officers to seize his uniform for examination.
Confession and Investigation
Three days after his arrest, Eugene confessed to Clyde Smith, the head of the homeless shelter where he had been living, admitting not only to Sarah's murder but also to nine others. Smith persuaded him to surrender to authorities. During an intense 8-hour interrogation, Eugene detailed his gruesome acts, claiming he killed ten people, including Sarah Paulsen, between May 9 and September 12. He described how he dumped their bodies around Gary. Startlingly, seven of these deaths had been previously deemed non-homicidal.
Eugene's victims were mostly young girls and women, the youngest being 8 and the oldest 51. One victim was a prostitute. He confessed that voices in his head compelled him to attack, often from behind, in secluded areas where he would rape and strangle them. The murder of a man differed in circumstance; Eugene claimed self-defense when two men tried to steal his bicycle. His immense size intimidated them, but he later found one of them, whom he beat and strangled. Eugene also revealed that his train accident injuries were a suicide attempt.
Police, guided by Eugene's confessions, uncovered some remains, including those of 24-year-old Tonya Dunlap, identified through dental records. Despite Eugene's claim of ten victims, only seven were positively identified.
The Trial and Sentencing
Eugene Britt's legal journey began with his indictment in Porter County for Sarah Paulsen's murder. In May 1996, a plea bargain, considering his intellectual disabilities, spared him the death penalty. Instead, he was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 100 years. Transferred to Lake County Jail, further investigations led to additional charges in February 2000 for six more murders and the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
As 2000 progressed, his defense claimed Eugene's mental state had deteriorated, rendering him criminally insane. However, a forensic psychiatric examination affirmed his competence to stand trial. Delays ensued, but finally, in 2006, Eugene pleaded guilty to the murders of Nakita Moore, Tonya Dunlap, Maxine Walker, Betty Askew, Michelle Burns, Debra McHenry, and the sexual assault of the teenager. A subsequent psychological evaluation confirmed his intellectual disability, prompting the court to impose a further 245-year sentence. In a rare moment of emotion, Eugene wept, seeking forgiveness from the victims' families.
Eugene Britt's story concluded with his transfer to Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, where he remains incarcerated. As of February 2025, he continues to serve his sentence under prisoner number "963641."
Sources
For further reading and details, you can visit the original Wikipedia article: Eugene Britt.
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 Suspected
Eugene Britt begins a series of murders in Indiana.
Body Found
The body of 8-year-old Sarah Lynn Paulsen is discovered.
Britt Arrested
Eugene Britt is arrested on suspicion of murdering Sarah Paulsen.
Confession to Murders
Britt confesses to killing Sarah Paulsen and nine other victims.
Victim Identified
Dental analysis identifies victim Tonya Dunlap from Britt's confessions.
Indictment
Britt is indicted for the murder of Sarah Paulsen.
Additional Charges
Britt is charged with six more murders and the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
Guilty Plea
Britt pleads guilty to multiple murders and rapes.
Sentencing
Britt is sentenced to an additional 245 years in prison.