Ivan Page
Michigan Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Flint, Michigan
TIME PERIOD
1998-2001
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Ivan Lee Page, an American serial killer, was responsible for the strangulation deaths of three prostitutes in Flint, Michigan, between 1998 and 2001. The victims included Patricia "Tresa" Peeler, found on May 13, 1998; Lisa Marie Price, discovered on October 8, 1999; and Deena Brown, whose body was located on January 20, 2001. Page was arrested in August 2007 after DNA evidence linked him to all three murders while he was incarcerated for unrelated charges. He was convicted of the murder of Deena Brown in December 2008 and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. Significant evidence included DNA found at the crime scenes and testimony from former cellmates regarding Page's admissions of guilt.
Investigators and the public theorized that the murders of the three prostitutes were the work of a serial killer, particularly after the similarities in the victims' profiles and the circumstances of their deaths. There is speculation that Page may have been involved in more crimes than those he was convicted of, given the nature of his offenses and the timeline of the murders. Additionally, some believe that the initial misclassification of the first victim's death as an overdose delayed the investigation into a potential serial killer.
The Sinister Shadow of Ivan Page
A Killer's Genesis
Ivan Lee Page, born on April 7, 1969, in Michigan, would eventually become a name synonymous with terror and tragedy. By the time he was 56, he had already cemented his place in the annals of American crime history as a serial killer who preyed on vulnerable women in Flint, Michigan, between 1998 and 2001. It took nearly a decade for his heinous deeds to come to light, thanks to the power of modern forensic science.
The Murders
The chilling saga began on May 13, 1998, when the lifeless body of 34-year-old Patricia "Tresa" Peeler was discovered near Avenue A in Flint. Initially, the police, noting her involvement in prostitution, suspected that a cocaine overdose had claimed her life. However, Dr. Ljubisa Dragovic, upon further examination, declared that Peeler was likely smothered to death. At the crime scene, DNA evidence from a male was unearthed, hinting at a more sinister plot.
Fast forward to October 8, 1999, the body of another victim, 31-year-old Lisa Marie Price, a sex worker from Canton, Ohio, was uncovered. She lay lifeless in a yard on Susan Street near W. Mott Avenue. An autopsy revealed that she had been strangled. The police, now connecting the dots, began to suspect a serial killer might be at work, especially after discovering male DNA on Price's body, similar to the evidence found with Peeler.
Then, on January 20, 2001, the grim discovery of 34-year-old Deena Brown's body outside Northridge Academy added another layer to this dark narrative. A mother of three, Brown had been strangled with a sweatshirt found near her body. Once again, DNA evidence was recovered, and the pattern of violence was undeniable.
The Arrest and Convictions
It wasn't until March 2006 that Ivan Page would find himself on the wrong side of the law, albeit for unrelated charges of cocaine possession and weapons violations. While serving time at a state prison camp, Page had to provide a DNA sample for the FBI's Combined DNA Index System. By August 2007, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place when his DNA matched the samples found on all three murder victims. The net had finally closed around him, leading to charges for the murders.
In the days following his arrest, stories of his dark boasts emerged. His former cellmate, Jerome Currie, recounted how Page would often brag about "choking hos" and "killing those hos." Another man, Lee Plum, detailed a chilling account of the night before Deena Brown was found dead. Plum and Page had taken turns with Brown, but an enraged Page had taken her into a room, only to emerge shortly after, alone and muttering ominously about the police.
In 2008, Page faced trial for the murder of Deena Brown. His defense centered on the argument that the DNA evidence merely indicated he had been intimate with Brown, not that he had killed her. However, the jury was unconvinced. By December, he was found guilty, and in January of the following year, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Despite the strong DNA evidence linking him to the other two murders, legal complexities, including the risk of contradictory witness statements, meant that Page would not stand trial for the deaths of Peeler and Price. His life sentence for Brown's murder made further trials redundant in the eyes of the justice system.
A Legacy of Fear
Ivan Page's name now resides in the grim ledger of American serial killers, a testament to the horrors he inflicted upon Flint, Michigan. Though justice was served for Deena Brown, the full extent of his crimes will forever haunt the memories of those affected.
Sources
- Ivan L. Page sentenced to life in prison in slaying of Deena Brown, Shannon Murphy, Michigan Live, January 15, 2009.
- "We can have some peace:" Families relieved by arrest in slayings, Kim Crawford, Michigan Live, August 3, 2007.
- PEOPLE OF MI V IVAN LEE PAGE, Justia, October 5, 2010.
- Ivan Page convicted of murdering Flint prostitute, Marjory Raymer, Michigan Live, December 11, 2008.
- Convict faces murder charges, Paul Janczewski, The Flint Journal, September 14, 2007.
- Prosecutors face difficult call on convicts' trials, Bryn Mickle, Michigan Live, January 19, 2009.
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First Body Found
Patricia 'Tresa' Peeler's body discovered, initially thought to be an overdose.
Second Body Discovered
Lisa Marie Price found dead, autopsy reveals she was strangled.
Third Murder Victim
Deena Brown's body found, evidence links her murder to previous cases.
Page Convicted
Ivan Page convicted of cocaine possession and weapons charges.
DNA Match
Page's DNA matches evidence from the three murder victims.
Guilty Verdict
Page found guilty of the murder of Deena Brown.
Sentenced to Life
Ivan Page sentenced to life in prison for Deena Brown's murder.
Ivan Lee Page, an American serial killer, was responsible for the strangulation deaths of three prostitutes in Flint, Michigan, between 1998 and 2001. The victims included Patricia "Tresa" Peeler, found on May 13, 1998; Lisa Marie Price, discovered on October 8, 1999; and Deena Brown, whose body was located on January 20, 2001. Page was arrested in August 2007 after DNA evidence linked him to all three murders while he was incarcerated for unrelated charges. He was convicted of the murder of Deena Brown in December 2008 and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. Significant evidence included DNA found at the crime scenes and testimony from former cellmates regarding Page's admissions of guilt.
Investigators and the public theorized that the murders of the three prostitutes were the work of a serial killer, particularly after the similarities in the victims' profiles and the circumstances of their deaths. There is speculation that Page may have been involved in more crimes than those he was convicted of, given the nature of his offenses and the timeline of the murders. Additionally, some believe that the initial misclassification of the first victim's death as an overdose delayed the investigation into a potential serial killer.
The Sinister Shadow of Ivan Page
A Killer's Genesis
Ivan Lee Page, born on April 7, 1969, in Michigan, would eventually become a name synonymous with terror and tragedy. By the time he was 56, he had already cemented his place in the annals of American crime history as a serial killer who preyed on vulnerable women in Flint, Michigan, between 1998 and 2001. It took nearly a decade for his heinous deeds to come to light, thanks to the power of modern forensic science.
The Murders
The chilling saga began on May 13, 1998, when the lifeless body of 34-year-old Patricia "Tresa" Peeler was discovered near Avenue A in Flint. Initially, the police, noting her involvement in prostitution, suspected that a cocaine overdose had claimed her life. However, Dr. Ljubisa Dragovic, upon further examination, declared that Peeler was likely smothered to death. At the crime scene, DNA evidence from a male was unearthed, hinting at a more sinister plot.
Fast forward to October 8, 1999, the body of another victim, 31-year-old Lisa Marie Price, a sex worker from Canton, Ohio, was uncovered. She lay lifeless in a yard on Susan Street near W. Mott Avenue. An autopsy revealed that she had been strangled. The police, now connecting the dots, began to suspect a serial killer might be at work, especially after discovering male DNA on Price's body, similar to the evidence found with Peeler.
Then, on January 20, 2001, the grim discovery of 34-year-old Deena Brown's body outside Northridge Academy added another layer to this dark narrative. A mother of three, Brown had been strangled with a sweatshirt found near her body. Once again, DNA evidence was recovered, and the pattern of violence was undeniable.
The Arrest and Convictions
It wasn't until March 2006 that Ivan Page would find himself on the wrong side of the law, albeit for unrelated charges of cocaine possession and weapons violations. While serving time at a state prison camp, Page had to provide a DNA sample for the FBI's Combined DNA Index System. By August 2007, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place when his DNA matched the samples found on all three murder victims. The net had finally closed around him, leading to charges for the murders.
In the days following his arrest, stories of his dark boasts emerged. His former cellmate, Jerome Currie, recounted how Page would often brag about "choking hos" and "killing those hos." Another man, Lee Plum, detailed a chilling account of the night before Deena Brown was found dead. Plum and Page had taken turns with Brown, but an enraged Page had taken her into a room, only to emerge shortly after, alone and muttering ominously about the police.
In 2008, Page faced trial for the murder of Deena Brown. His defense centered on the argument that the DNA evidence merely indicated he had been intimate with Brown, not that he had killed her. However, the jury was unconvinced. By December, he was found guilty, and in January of the following year, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Despite the strong DNA evidence linking him to the other two murders, legal complexities, including the risk of contradictory witness statements, meant that Page would not stand trial for the deaths of Peeler and Price. His life sentence for Brown's murder made further trials redundant in the eyes of the justice system.
A Legacy of Fear
Ivan Page's name now resides in the grim ledger of American serial killers, a testament to the horrors he inflicted upon Flint, Michigan. Though justice was served for Deena Brown, the full extent of his crimes will forever haunt the memories of those affected.
Sources
- Ivan L. Page sentenced to life in prison in slaying of Deena Brown, Shannon Murphy, Michigan Live, January 15, 2009.
- "We can have some peace:" Families relieved by arrest in slayings, Kim Crawford, Michigan Live, August 3, 2007.
- PEOPLE OF MI V IVAN LEE PAGE, Justia, October 5, 2010.
- Ivan Page convicted of murdering Flint prostitute, Marjory Raymer, Michigan Live, December 11, 2008.
- Convict faces murder charges, Paul Janczewski, The Flint Journal, September 14, 2007.
- Prosecutors face difficult call on convicts' trials, Bryn Mickle, Michigan Live, January 19, 2009.
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 Body Found
Patricia 'Tresa' Peeler's body discovered, initially thought to be an overdose.
Second Body Discovered
Lisa Marie Price found dead, autopsy reveals she was strangled.
Third Murder Victim
Deena Brown's body found, evidence links her murder to previous cases.
Page Convicted
Ivan Page convicted of cocaine possession and weapons charges.
DNA Match
Page's DNA matches evidence from the three murder victims.
Guilty Verdict
Page found guilty of the murder of Deena Brown.
Sentenced to Life
Ivan Page sentenced to life in prison for Deena Brown's murder.