Jack Owen Spillman

Overview

Jack Owen Spillman III, born on August 30, 1969, in Spokane, Washington, is a notorious American rapist and serial killer, infamously dubbed the "Werewolf Butcher." His heinous crimes and the disturbing details surrounding them have made him one of the most reviled figures in the annals of true crime.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Jack Owen Spillman III
• Date of Birth: August 30, 1969 (Age 55)
• Place of Birth: Spokane, Washington, U.S.
• Other Names: The Werewolf Butcher
• Criminal Status: Incarcerated
• Conviction: Aggravated first-degree murder (3 counts)
• Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment without parole
• Victims: 3 confirmed
• Span of Crimes: 1994–1995
• Country: United States
• State: Washington
• Date Apprehended: April 19, 1995
• Imprisoned At: Washington State Penitentiary

The Crimes

Double Murder

Spillman's most heinous acts came to light in April 1995 when he was convicted of the brutal rape and murder of Rita Huffman, 48, and her daughter Mandy, 14. The scene was horrifying: both victims had been bludgeoned, stabbed, and subjected to grotesque mutilation. Mandy's body showed signs of unspeakable violation, including a baseball bat being forced into her vagina, with the skin from that area removed and placed grotesquely on her face. Meanwhile, Rita suffered a gruesome fate; she was stabbed 31 times, and her breasts severed. Perhaps most disturbingly, her genital area was excised and stuffed into her own mouth, a detail that adds a macabre layer to the already horrific crime. Both bodies were discovered in their home in East Wenatchee, Washington, posed in sexually provocative positions, which hinted at Spillman's twisted psyche.

Investigators quickly honed in on Spillman when they noted that his black pickup truck matched the description of a vehicle seen near the victims' home on the night of the murders. Just hours after the killings, Spillman was stopped by an East Wenatchee police officer in the parking lot of a nearby VFW hall. It was here that a chilling piece of evidence was uncovered: a 12-inch knife covered in blood, which bore a striking resemblance to a knife set found in the victims' home. Spillman was kept under surveillance for a week as forensic laboratory tests were conducted, solidifying the case against him.

Additional Victim

Under the looming threat of the death penalty, Spillman confessed to the murder of another victim, 9-year-old Penny Davis, who had disappeared in September 1994. Her body was discovered six months later in a shallow grave about twelve miles from her home. Disturbingly, like the Huffmans, Davis's body had been posed in a provocative manner. Further investigation revealed that Spillman had exhumed her body after death for necrophilic acts before reburying her—a revelation that further underscores the depths of his depravity.

To evade a potential death sentence, Spillman pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in 1996 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is currently serving his sentence at the Washington State Penitentiary.

Criminal History

Spillman's criminal history paints a picture of a deeply disturbed individual. According to court documents, he expressed a desire to be "the world’s greatest serial killer" to his cellmate, Mark Miller. At the time of his guilty plea, Spillman was facing additional charges, including first-degree rape, robbery, and burglary. Notably, he and a friend were arrested for rape in 1993, but those charges were ultimately dropped.

What’s chilling is Spillman's own admission of how he stalked his victims, viewing himself as a werewolf—a predator lurking in the dark. He described his fantasies as him "stalking his prey," a disturbing insight into his mindset and the motivations behind his heinous acts.

In the Media

Spillman's crimes have not gone unnoticed by the media. His case was featured in two episodes of Investigation Discovery shows, which helped to further the public's understanding of his horrific actions:

• Most Evil (2015): Analyzed his crimes in an episode titled "Predators," where he was ranked at level 22, the highest possible on their scale of evil.
• Evil Lives Here (2020): Spillman's two sisters, April Steele and May Sullivan, shared their experiences about "Roy," providing a chilling glimpse into the life of the man behind the infamous moniker.

Conclusion

Jack Owen Spillman remains a figure of fascination and horror within the true crime community. His brutal methods, combined with the psychological aspects of his crimes, offer a disturbing glimpse into the mind of a serial killer. As he serves his life sentence, the legacy of his monstrous actions continues to haunt the memories of his victims and their families.

Sources

• "An escalating evil: Seeds of deviancy planted in childhood, experts say" . 24 April 2005.
• "Double Killing suspect arrested". Tri-City Herald. April 20, 1995. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
• Wardell, Carol A. (1 July 1996). "Report of the Trial Judge" (PDF). Retrieved 17 August 2012.
• "Spillman Pleads Guilty To Killing Mother, Daughter Former Spokane Man Also Confesses To Murder Of Okanogan County Girl". Spokesman.com. 1996-05-01. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
• "Suspect Seen Near Site Where Knife Was Found Police Encountered Spillman Two Hours After Double Murders". Spokesman.com. 1995-04-21. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
• Ramsland, Katherine M.; McGrain, Patrick Norman (2010). Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-313-37960-4.
• Ramsland, Katherine; McGrain, Patrick Norman (2009). Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators. ABC-CLIO. p. 33. ISBN 9780313379611.
• Brandt, Aviva L. (21 April 1995). "Suspect Seen Near Site Where Knife Was Found Police Encountered Spillman Two Hours After Double Murders". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press.
• "Spillman Pleads Guilty to Killing Mother, Daughter Former Spokane Man Also Confesses To Murder Of Okanogan County Girl". The Spokesman-Review. 1 May 1996. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
• "Man Pleads Guilty to Mutilation Slayings". The Seattle Times. 30 April 1996. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
• Geberth's Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives, pg 445.
• "Watch Most Evil Season 3 | Prime Video". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
• Sarkar, Deepra (2021-01-23). "Where is Jack Owen Spillman Today?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
• Katherine Ramsland. "The Werewolf Syndrome: Compulsive Bestial Slaughterers". truTV Crime Library. Retrieved 9 May 2012.

For more details, visit the original Wikipedia article: Jack Owen Spillman.