Hubert Geralds
Chicago Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Englewood, Chicago, Illinois
TIME PERIOD
1994-1995
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
Hubert Geralds Jr., known as the Englewood Strangler, is an American serial killer responsible for the murders of five women in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago between December 22, 1994, and June 17, 1995. He was apprehended on June 18, 1995, and subsequently convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, with additional charges for attempted murder and residential burglary. Geralds, who was 30 years old at the time of the murders, targeted drug-addicted female sex workers, luring them with crack cocaine before using a chokehold technique to strangle them. He is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at Menard Correctional Center, having been admitted on January 16, 1998. Significant evidence from the case included witness testimonies and forensic analysis linking him to the crime scenes, as well as his known interactions with the victims prior to their deaths.
Hubert Geralds is believed to have targeted vulnerable women, specifically sex workers, during his killing spree in Chicago, which has led some to speculate that his crimes were motivated by a desire to exert power and control over marginalized individuals. There is also speculation that his troubled childhood, marked by abandonment and abuse, may have contributed to his violent behavior. Investigators have theorized that Geralds may have had accomplices or that he was part of a larger network exploiting vulnerable women, although no evidence has confirmed this.
The Grim Tale of Hubert Geralds: The Englewood Strangler
The Birth of a Killer
Hubert Geralds Jr., born on November 13, 1964, in the United States, would later become infamous as the "Englewood Strangler." His childhood was marred by abandonment and abuse. His father, whom he was named after, left him at an early age, and his mother's boyfriend subjected him to mistreatment. Little else is known about his youth, but these early experiences likely set the stage for the darkness that would follow.
Geralds spent some time in New York before his murderous spree, though his employment history remains a mystery. The only record of his presence in New York is an incarceration record. After being paroled from a New York prison on June 19, 1992, he resurfaced in Chicago on November 21, 1992, when he was charged with residential burglary, serving five years for this crime.
The Murders
Between December 22, 1994, and June 17, 1995, Hubert Geralds terrorized the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, a place notorious for its high crime rates and low socioeconomic status. Over these months, Geralds murdered five female sex workers and attempted to murder and sexually assault another. His victims were vulnerable, often drug-addicted prostitutes whom he lured with crack cocaine. Once he had them isolated, he employed a chilling method known as the "Guardian Angel Chokehold" to strangle them.
The victims of Geralds' brutal spree were:
- Doretha Withers, aged 37, found deceased on December 22, 1994
- Alonda Tart, aged 23, found on March 14, 1995
- Joyce Wilson, aged 28, found on March 26, 1995
- Millicent "Peanut" Jones, aged 25, found on June 12, 1995
- Mary Blackman, aged 42, discovered on June 17, 1995
His surviving victim, Clenshaw Hopes, narrowly escaped death after Geralds attempted to strangle her. She would later testify against him in court.
The Arrest and Investigation
On June 18, 1995, just a day after Mary Blackman's body was discovered in a trash bin at a home shared with the Geralds family on South May Street, Hubert Geralds was apprehended. Blackman was a close friend of Geralds' sister, Angela, who had found her body and reported it to the police. Angela described Geralds as a violent drug abuser, suspecting his involvement in Blackman's death.
Detectives Sergeant Jack Ridges and Chief of Detectives Michael J. Malone led the investigation. Geralds had previously contacted the police in March regarding Joyce Wilson's death, which added to their suspicions.
The Trial
Following his arrest, Geralds was charged on June 18, 1995, with the murder of six women and the attempted murder of one. His confessions included the murder of Rhonda King, but later evidence, including DNA, would reveal another story. On November 13, 1997, coinciding with his 33rd birthday, a jury found him guilty on all counts.
Defense attorney Allen Sincox argued for Geralds' insanity, citing mental retardation, brain damage, and a disorder called "paraphilia," which supposedly drove his compulsive sexual behavior. Testimonies about Geralds' troubled childhood supported this defense, but the prosecution, led by Assistant State's Attorney Nick Ford and Jeanne Bischoff, painted him as a manipulative malingerer and a societal threat.
Despite his defense, on January 9, 1998, Judge Michael P. Toomin sentenced Geralds to death. Geralds, however, maintained that the deaths resulted from drug-related disputes, not premeditated murder.
The Andre Crawford Revelation
The case against Geralds took a dramatic turn on January 28, 2000, when Andre Crawford was arrested for the murders of 11 women in the same neighborhood. Crawford confessed to killing Rhonda King, a murder previously attributed to Geralds. His confession, supported by DNA evidence, led to the vacating of Geralds' conviction for King's murder on February 10, 2000.
Geralds was retried for the remaining five murders and one attempted murder. His defense reiterated claims of mental illness and coerced confessions, but these arguments failed again. Despite the controversies, Geralds remained on death row for the five confirmed murders.
The Vacating of the Death Sentence
In a significant turn of events, Governor George Ryan declared a moratorium on Illinois' capital punishment laws in 2000. Consequently, on January 11, 2003, Ryan commuted the death sentences of 167 prisoners, including Geralds', to life imprisonment without parole. Geralds continues to serve his sentence at Menard Correctional Center under identification number B39967.
Clenshaw Hopes: The Survivor
Clenshaw Hopes, the intended sixth victim, survived to tell her harrowing tale. On the night of April 14, 1995, she and Geralds smoked crack cocaine and marijuana at her apartment in Englewood. They parted ways to procure more drugs when Geralds attacked her, lifting her off the ground and attempting to strangle her. She awoke to find herself being raped in a van but managed to escape by breaking through a wooden barrier.
Hopes identified Geralds as her assailant, though the defense challenged her credibility due to inconsistencies in her account. She explained these variations as attempts to conceal her drug use from her family and avoid legal trouble. Her testimony, however, remained pivotal in sealing Geralds' fate.
Sources
- "Hubert Geralds, Jr. - National Registry of Exonerations"
- "Offender Search"
- Peres, Judy. "Trial Begins for Geralds in Englewood Slayings". Chicago Tribune.
- Possley, Maurice. "JURY CHOOSES DEATH FOR KILLER OF 6 WOMEN". Chicago Tribune.
- Mills, Steve; Wilson, Terry; Osnos, Evan. "STATE SAYS IT CONVICTED THE WRONG SERIAL KILLER". Chicago Tribune.
For more detailed information, visit the Wikipedia page on Hubert Geralds.
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First Murder Committed
Doretha Withers, the first victim, is murdered by Hubert Geralds.
Second Murder Committed
Alonda Tart is murdered, marking the second victim in Geralds' killing spree.
Third Murder Committed
Joyce Wilson becomes the third victim of Hubert Geralds.
Fourth Murder Committed
Millicent 'Peanut' Jones is murdered, adding to Geralds' list of victims.
Fifth Murder Committed
Mary Blackman, the fifth victim, is found dead, leading to Geralds' arrest.
Arrest of Hubert Geralds
Hubert Geralds is arrested following the discovery of Mary Blackman's body.
Conviction and Sentencing
Geralds is convicted of five murders and sentenced to death.
Conviction Vacated
Prosecutors vacate Geralds' conviction for the murder of Rhonda King after new evidence.
Life Sentence Imposed
Geralds is sentenced to life in prison without parole after the death penalty moratorium.
Hubert Geralds Jr., known as the Englewood Strangler, is an American serial killer responsible for the murders of five women in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago between December 22, 1994, and June 17, 1995. He was apprehended on June 18, 1995, and subsequently convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, with additional charges for attempted murder and residential burglary. Geralds, who was 30 years old at the time of the murders, targeted drug-addicted female sex workers, luring them with crack cocaine before using a chokehold technique to strangle them. He is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at Menard Correctional Center, having been admitted on January 16, 1998. Significant evidence from the case included witness testimonies and forensic analysis linking him to the crime scenes, as well as his known interactions with the victims prior to their deaths.
Hubert Geralds is believed to have targeted vulnerable women, specifically sex workers, during his killing spree in Chicago, which has led some to speculate that his crimes were motivated by a desire to exert power and control over marginalized individuals. There is also speculation that his troubled childhood, marked by abandonment and abuse, may have contributed to his violent behavior. Investigators have theorized that Geralds may have had accomplices or that he was part of a larger network exploiting vulnerable women, although no evidence has confirmed this.
The Grim Tale of Hubert Geralds: The Englewood Strangler
The Birth of a Killer
Hubert Geralds Jr., born on November 13, 1964, in the United States, would later become infamous as the "Englewood Strangler." His childhood was marred by abandonment and abuse. His father, whom he was named after, left him at an early age, and his mother's boyfriend subjected him to mistreatment. Little else is known about his youth, but these early experiences likely set the stage for the darkness that would follow.
Geralds spent some time in New York before his murderous spree, though his employment history remains a mystery. The only record of his presence in New York is an incarceration record. After being paroled from a New York prison on June 19, 1992, he resurfaced in Chicago on November 21, 1992, when he was charged with residential burglary, serving five years for this crime.
The Murders
Between December 22, 1994, and June 17, 1995, Hubert Geralds terrorized the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, a place notorious for its high crime rates and low socioeconomic status. Over these months, Geralds murdered five female sex workers and attempted to murder and sexually assault another. His victims were vulnerable, often drug-addicted prostitutes whom he lured with crack cocaine. Once he had them isolated, he employed a chilling method known as the "Guardian Angel Chokehold" to strangle them.
The victims of Geralds' brutal spree were:
- Doretha Withers, aged 37, found deceased on December 22, 1994
- Alonda Tart, aged 23, found on March 14, 1995
- Joyce Wilson, aged 28, found on March 26, 1995
- Millicent "Peanut" Jones, aged 25, found on June 12, 1995
- Mary Blackman, aged 42, discovered on June 17, 1995
His surviving victim, Clenshaw Hopes, narrowly escaped death after Geralds attempted to strangle her. She would later testify against him in court.
The Arrest and Investigation
On June 18, 1995, just a day after Mary Blackman's body was discovered in a trash bin at a home shared with the Geralds family on South May Street, Hubert Geralds was apprehended. Blackman was a close friend of Geralds' sister, Angela, who had found her body and reported it to the police. Angela described Geralds as a violent drug abuser, suspecting his involvement in Blackman's death.
Detectives Sergeant Jack Ridges and Chief of Detectives Michael J. Malone led the investigation. Geralds had previously contacted the police in March regarding Joyce Wilson's death, which added to their suspicions.
The Trial
Following his arrest, Geralds was charged on June 18, 1995, with the murder of six women and the attempted murder of one. His confessions included the murder of Rhonda King, but later evidence, including DNA, would reveal another story. On November 13, 1997, coinciding with his 33rd birthday, a jury found him guilty on all counts.
Defense attorney Allen Sincox argued for Geralds' insanity, citing mental retardation, brain damage, and a disorder called "paraphilia," which supposedly drove his compulsive sexual behavior. Testimonies about Geralds' troubled childhood supported this defense, but the prosecution, led by Assistant State's Attorney Nick Ford and Jeanne Bischoff, painted him as a manipulative malingerer and a societal threat.
Despite his defense, on January 9, 1998, Judge Michael P. Toomin sentenced Geralds to death. Geralds, however, maintained that the deaths resulted from drug-related disputes, not premeditated murder.
The Andre Crawford Revelation
The case against Geralds took a dramatic turn on January 28, 2000, when Andre Crawford was arrested for the murders of 11 women in the same neighborhood. Crawford confessed to killing Rhonda King, a murder previously attributed to Geralds. His confession, supported by DNA evidence, led to the vacating of Geralds' conviction for King's murder on February 10, 2000.
Geralds was retried for the remaining five murders and one attempted murder. His defense reiterated claims of mental illness and coerced confessions, but these arguments failed again. Despite the controversies, Geralds remained on death row for the five confirmed murders.
The Vacating of the Death Sentence
In a significant turn of events, Governor George Ryan declared a moratorium on Illinois' capital punishment laws in 2000. Consequently, on January 11, 2003, Ryan commuted the death sentences of 167 prisoners, including Geralds', to life imprisonment without parole. Geralds continues to serve his sentence at Menard Correctional Center under identification number B39967.
Clenshaw Hopes: The Survivor
Clenshaw Hopes, the intended sixth victim, survived to tell her harrowing tale. On the night of April 14, 1995, she and Geralds smoked crack cocaine and marijuana at her apartment in Englewood. They parted ways to procure more drugs when Geralds attacked her, lifting her off the ground and attempting to strangle her. She awoke to find herself being raped in a van but managed to escape by breaking through a wooden barrier.
Hopes identified Geralds as her assailant, though the defense challenged her credibility due to inconsistencies in her account. She explained these variations as attempts to conceal her drug use from her family and avoid legal trouble. Her testimony, however, remained pivotal in sealing Geralds' fate.
Sources
- "Hubert Geralds, Jr. - National Registry of Exonerations"
- "Offender Search"
- Peres, Judy. "Trial Begins for Geralds in Englewood Slayings". Chicago Tribune.
- Possley, Maurice. "JURY CHOOSES DEATH FOR KILLER OF 6 WOMEN". Chicago Tribune.
- Mills, Steve; Wilson, Terry; Osnos, Evan. "STATE SAYS IT CONVICTED THE WRONG SERIAL KILLER". Chicago Tribune.
For more detailed information, visit the Wikipedia page on Hubert Geralds.
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 Committed
Doretha Withers, the first victim, is murdered by Hubert Geralds.
Second Murder Committed
Alonda Tart is murdered, marking the second victim in Geralds' killing spree.
Third Murder Committed
Joyce Wilson becomes the third victim of Hubert Geralds.
Fourth Murder Committed
Millicent 'Peanut' Jones is murdered, adding to Geralds' list of victims.
Fifth Murder Committed
Mary Blackman, the fifth victim, is found dead, leading to Geralds' arrest.
Arrest of Hubert Geralds
Hubert Geralds is arrested following the discovery of Mary Blackman's body.
Conviction and Sentencing
Geralds is convicted of five murders and sentenced to death.
Conviction Vacated
Prosecutors vacate Geralds' conviction for the murder of Rhonda King after new evidence.
Life Sentence Imposed
Geralds is sentenced to life in prison without parole after the death penalty moratorium.