Honolulu Strangler
Hawaiian Serial Killer Investigation
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Hawaii, United States
TIME PERIOD
1985-1986
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
The Honolulu Strangler is an unidentified serial killer and rapist believed to have murdered five women in Hawaii between May 1985 and April 1986. The victims were found in various locations, primarily at Keehi Lagoon, with evidence indicating they were raped and strangled. The case remains unsolved, and the perpetrator has not been apprehended.
Theories surrounding the Honolulu Strangler include speculation about the killer's possible connection to the victims' backgrounds, particularly Vicki Gail Purdy's job at a video rental store that dealt with adult films, which her husband believed could be linked to her murder. Additionally, the pattern of the crimes, with victims being bound, raped, and strangled in similar locations, suggests a methodical approach by the perpetrator, raising theories about his familiarity with the area. Community discussions also hint at the possibility of the killer being someone local, given the specific targeting of women in public spaces.
Honolulu Strangler
Overview
The Honolulu Strangler, infamously dubbed "The Honolulu Rapist," is the chilling moniker assigned to an unidentified serial killer believed to have taken the lives of five women in Hawaii between 1985 and 1986. This case marks the emergence of the second known serial killer active in the state, following in the footsteps of Eugene Barrett. The investigation into these heinous crimes remains unsolved, leaving a dark shadow over the beautiful islands of Hawaii.
Quick Facts
- Alias: The Honolulu Strangler, The Honolulu Rapist
- Victims: 5 confirmed
- Crime Span: May 1985 – April 1986
- Country: United States
- State: Hawaii
- Date Apprehended: N/A
Victims
Vicki Gail Purdy
The tragedy began with Vicki Gail Purdy, a 25-year-old military spouse married to Gary Purdy, an army helicopter pilot. On the night of May 29, 1985, she ventured out for a night of clubbing in Waikīkī. However, she never met up with her friends. The last confirmed sighting of Vicki was by a taxi driver who dropped her off at the Shorebird Hotel around midnight, presumably to retrieve her car. Tragically, her vehicle was later found in the hotel parking lot.
The following morning, a grim discovery was made: Vicki’s body was located in an embankment at Keehi Lagoon, dressed in a yellow jumpsuit. The evidence was horrific; her hands were bound behind her back, and she had been raped and strangled. Vicki's husband shared his suspicion that her death might be connected to her job at a video rental store that had previously been the scene of two stabbings just a year before.
Regina Sakamoto
The second victim, Regina Sakamoto, was only 17 years old and a student at Leilehua High School. On January 14, 1986, she missed her bus to school and called her boyfriend at 7:15 a.m. to let him know she would be late. Sadly, on January 15, her lifeless body was discovered at Keehi Lagoon. Regina was found wearing a blue tank top and white sweatshirt, but her lower body was unclothed. Similar to Vicki, her hands were bound, and she had been raped and strangled. This eerie similarity in the modus operandi led investigators to suspect a single killer was responsible for both murders.
Denise Hughes
Next was Denise Hughes, a 21-year-old secretary at a telephone company who was active in her Christian church community. Denise failed to show up for work on January 30, 1986, prompting concern amongst her colleagues. On February 1, her decomposing body was discovered in Moanalua stream by a group of young fishermen. She was clothed in a blue dress and wrapped in a blue tarp, with her hands bound. Denise had also suffered sexual assault and strangulation. The mounting evidence prompted the Honolulu Police Department to establish a serial killer task force on February 5, 1986.
Louise Medeiros
The fourth victim, Louise Medeiros, age 25, had just returned to Oahu after attending her mother’s funeral in Kauai. On March 26, 1986, she took a late-night flight back to Oahu and informed her family that she would be taking a bus from the airport. When she didn’t arrive, her family grew worried. Tragically, her decomposing body was found on April 2 near Waikele stream by road workers. Louise was dressed in a blouse but lacked clothing on her lower body, and her hands were also bound behind her back. In the wake of her murder, police ramped up their efforts with sting operations involving female officers around Keehi Lagoon and Honolulu International Airport.
Linda Pesce
The last known victim, Linda Pesce, was 36 years old. According to her roommate, she left home on the morning of April 29 for a work meeting that evening. When Linda didn’t return home and her car was found parked on the side of the Nimitz-H1 viaduct the next morning, alarm bells rang. A man named Howard Gay claimed that a psychic told him a body would be found at Sand Island. Following this lead, police searched the island and found Linda’s body, nude and with her hands bound behind her back.
Investigation
In response to the escalating crisis, the Honolulu Police Department established a 27-man serial killer task force on February 5, 1986, collaborating with the FBI and the Green River task force. Investigators crafted a profile of the killer as an opportunist who preyed on vulnerable women, targeting them at bus stops rather than stalking them. They speculated that the perpetrator likely resided or worked in the areas where the attacks occurred, specifically Waipahu or Sand Island.
Following Linda Pesce’s murder, police set up roadblocks to question frequent commuters. Witnesses reported seeing a light-colored van and a Caucasian or mixed-race man near the scene with Linda’s vehicle.
On May 9, 1986, authorities arrested Howard Gay as the primary suspect. His ex-wife and girlfriend described him as a smooth talker, but what truly raised eyebrows was their revelation about his penchant for bondage. Both women recalled engaging in bondage activities with him, allowing him to tie them up during intimate moments. Intriguingly, they noted that nights after fighting with him often corresponded with the dates of the murders. Howard lived in Ewa Beach and worked as a mechanic at an air freight company along Lagoon Drive. He was interrogated between 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. but failed a polygraph test and was subsequently released.
Despite the setback, police continued to track Howard Gay and announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Two months after his arrest, a woman bravely came forward, claiming to have seen a man with one of the victims on the night of her murder. She identified Gay in a photo lineup but hesitated to testify, fearing he had seen her as well.
Howard Gay passed away in 2003, leaving the case shrouded in mystery.
Media Coverage
The haunting story of the Honolulu Strangler has captured the public's imagination and has been covered by several media outlets, including:
- Casefile True Crime Podcast (October 7, 2017)
- Investigation Discovery (ID) Channel Program, Breaking Homicide (May 13, 2018)
- My Favorite Murder Podcast (July 12, 2018)
- Ghostlore of Hawaii Podcast (July 8, 2022)
- Crime Junkie Podcast (July 3, 2023)
Related Cases
- Kauai Serial Killer
- Eugene Barrett
- List of fugitives from justice who disappeared
- List of serial killers in the United States
Sources
- Daias, Gary; Dingeman, Robbie (2003). Honolulu Homicide. Bess Press. ISBN 1-57306-156-5.
- "Detectives Hope DNA Can Link Man To Oahu's Serial Killings". KITV, May 2005.
- Mary Adamski and Lee Catterall. "Police Release Man Arrested in Pesce Probe". Honolulu Star Bulletin, May 10, 1986.
- Newton, Michael (2010). The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. Facts on File crime library. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-1914-4.
- Shute, Megan (2017-09-09). "The Mystery Of Hawaii's Honolulu Strangler Still Baffles People Today". OnlyInYourState.
For the original Wikipedia article, visit Honolulu Strangler.
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First Victim Found
Vicki Gail Purdy, 25, is found murdered at Keehi Lagoon.
Second Victim Discovered
Regina Sakamoto, 17, is found dead at Keehi Lagoon.
Third Victim Found
Denise Hughes, 21, is discovered dead in Moanalua stream.
Taskforce Established
A 27-man serial killer taskforce is formed with FBI assistance.
Fourth Victim Discovered
Louise Medeiros, 25, is found dead near Waikele stream.
Fifth Victim Found
Linda Pesce, 36, is discovered dead after a search at Sand Island.
Primary Suspect Arrested
Howard Gay is arrested as the primary suspect in the murders.
Witness Identifies Suspect
A woman identifies Howard Gay in a photo lineup related to the case.
Suspect Dies
Howard Gay, the primary suspect, dies without being charged.
The Honolulu Strangler is an unidentified serial killer and rapist believed to have murdered five women in Hawaii between May 1985 and April 1986. The victims were found in various locations, primarily at Keehi Lagoon, with evidence indicating they were raped and strangled. The case remains unsolved, and the perpetrator has not been apprehended.
Theories surrounding the Honolulu Strangler include speculation about the killer's possible connection to the victims' backgrounds, particularly Vicki Gail Purdy's job at a video rental store that dealt with adult films, which her husband believed could be linked to her murder. Additionally, the pattern of the crimes, with victims being bound, raped, and strangled in similar locations, suggests a methodical approach by the perpetrator, raising theories about his familiarity with the area. Community discussions also hint at the possibility of the killer being someone local, given the specific targeting of women in public spaces.
Honolulu Strangler
Overview
The Honolulu Strangler, infamously dubbed "The Honolulu Rapist," is the chilling moniker assigned to an unidentified serial killer believed to have taken the lives of five women in Hawaii between 1985 and 1986. This case marks the emergence of the second known serial killer active in the state, following in the footsteps of Eugene Barrett. The investigation into these heinous crimes remains unsolved, leaving a dark shadow over the beautiful islands of Hawaii.
Quick Facts
- Alias: The Honolulu Strangler, The Honolulu Rapist
- Victims: 5 confirmed
- Crime Span: May 1985 – April 1986
- Country: United States
- State: Hawaii
- Date Apprehended: N/A
Victims
Vicki Gail Purdy
The tragedy began with Vicki Gail Purdy, a 25-year-old military spouse married to Gary Purdy, an army helicopter pilot. On the night of May 29, 1985, she ventured out for a night of clubbing in Waikīkī. However, she never met up with her friends. The last confirmed sighting of Vicki was by a taxi driver who dropped her off at the Shorebird Hotel around midnight, presumably to retrieve her car. Tragically, her vehicle was later found in the hotel parking lot.
The following morning, a grim discovery was made: Vicki’s body was located in an embankment at Keehi Lagoon, dressed in a yellow jumpsuit. The evidence was horrific; her hands were bound behind her back, and she had been raped and strangled. Vicki's husband shared his suspicion that her death might be connected to her job at a video rental store that had previously been the scene of two stabbings just a year before.
Regina Sakamoto
The second victim, Regina Sakamoto, was only 17 years old and a student at Leilehua High School. On January 14, 1986, she missed her bus to school and called her boyfriend at 7:15 a.m. to let him know she would be late. Sadly, on January 15, her lifeless body was discovered at Keehi Lagoon. Regina was found wearing a blue tank top and white sweatshirt, but her lower body was unclothed. Similar to Vicki, her hands were bound, and she had been raped and strangled. This eerie similarity in the modus operandi led investigators to suspect a single killer was responsible for both murders.
Denise Hughes
Next was Denise Hughes, a 21-year-old secretary at a telephone company who was active in her Christian church community. Denise failed to show up for work on January 30, 1986, prompting concern amongst her colleagues. On February 1, her decomposing body was discovered in Moanalua stream by a group of young fishermen. She was clothed in a blue dress and wrapped in a blue tarp, with her hands bound. Denise had also suffered sexual assault and strangulation. The mounting evidence prompted the Honolulu Police Department to establish a serial killer task force on February 5, 1986.
Louise Medeiros
The fourth victim, Louise Medeiros, age 25, had just returned to Oahu after attending her mother’s funeral in Kauai. On March 26, 1986, she took a late-night flight back to Oahu and informed her family that she would be taking a bus from the airport. When she didn’t arrive, her family grew worried. Tragically, her decomposing body was found on April 2 near Waikele stream by road workers. Louise was dressed in a blouse but lacked clothing on her lower body, and her hands were also bound behind her back. In the wake of her murder, police ramped up their efforts with sting operations involving female officers around Keehi Lagoon and Honolulu International Airport.
Linda Pesce
The last known victim, Linda Pesce, was 36 years old. According to her roommate, she left home on the morning of April 29 for a work meeting that evening. When Linda didn’t return home and her car was found parked on the side of the Nimitz-H1 viaduct the next morning, alarm bells rang. A man named Howard Gay claimed that a psychic told him a body would be found at Sand Island. Following this lead, police searched the island and found Linda’s body, nude and with her hands bound behind her back.
Investigation
In response to the escalating crisis, the Honolulu Police Department established a 27-man serial killer task force on February 5, 1986, collaborating with the FBI and the Green River task force. Investigators crafted a profile of the killer as an opportunist who preyed on vulnerable women, targeting them at bus stops rather than stalking them. They speculated that the perpetrator likely resided or worked in the areas where the attacks occurred, specifically Waipahu or Sand Island.
Following Linda Pesce’s murder, police set up roadblocks to question frequent commuters. Witnesses reported seeing a light-colored van and a Caucasian or mixed-race man near the scene with Linda’s vehicle.
On May 9, 1986, authorities arrested Howard Gay as the primary suspect. His ex-wife and girlfriend described him as a smooth talker, but what truly raised eyebrows was their revelation about his penchant for bondage. Both women recalled engaging in bondage activities with him, allowing him to tie them up during intimate moments. Intriguingly, they noted that nights after fighting with him often corresponded with the dates of the murders. Howard lived in Ewa Beach and worked as a mechanic at an air freight company along Lagoon Drive. He was interrogated between 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. but failed a polygraph test and was subsequently released.
Despite the setback, police continued to track Howard Gay and announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Two months after his arrest, a woman bravely came forward, claiming to have seen a man with one of the victims on the night of her murder. She identified Gay in a photo lineup but hesitated to testify, fearing he had seen her as well.
Howard Gay passed away in 2003, leaving the case shrouded in mystery.
Media Coverage
The haunting story of the Honolulu Strangler has captured the public's imagination and has been covered by several media outlets, including:
- Casefile True Crime Podcast (October 7, 2017)
- Investigation Discovery (ID) Channel Program, Breaking Homicide (May 13, 2018)
- My Favorite Murder Podcast (July 12, 2018)
- Ghostlore of Hawaii Podcast (July 8, 2022)
- Crime Junkie Podcast (July 3, 2023)
Related Cases
- Kauai Serial Killer
- Eugene Barrett
- List of fugitives from justice who disappeared
- List of serial killers in the United States
Sources
- Daias, Gary; Dingeman, Robbie (2003). Honolulu Homicide. Bess Press. ISBN 1-57306-156-5.
- "Detectives Hope DNA Can Link Man To Oahu's Serial Killings". KITV, May 2005.
- Mary Adamski and Lee Catterall. "Police Release Man Arrested in Pesce Probe". Honolulu Star Bulletin, May 10, 1986.
- Newton, Michael (2010). The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. Facts on File crime library. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-1914-4.
- Shute, Megan (2017-09-09). "The Mystery Of Hawaii's Honolulu Strangler Still Baffles People Today". OnlyInYourState.
For the original Wikipedia article, visit Honolulu Strangler.
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 Victim Found
Vicki Gail Purdy, 25, is found murdered at Keehi Lagoon.
Second Victim Discovered
Regina Sakamoto, 17, is found dead at Keehi Lagoon.
Third Victim Found
Denise Hughes, 21, is discovered dead in Moanalua stream.
Taskforce Established
A 27-man serial killer taskforce is formed with FBI assistance.
Fourth Victim Discovered
Louise Medeiros, 25, is found dead near Waikele stream.
Fifth Victim Found
Linda Pesce, 36, is discovered dead after a search at Sand Island.
Primary Suspect Arrested
Howard Gay is arrested as the primary suspect in the murders.
Witness Identifies Suspect
A woman identifies Howard Gay in a photo lineup related to the case.
Suspect Dies
Howard Gay, the primary suspect, dies without being charged.