Jack Trawick

Overview

Jack Harrison Trawick (February 18, 1947 – June 11, 2009) was an American serial killer whose heinous crimes shocked Alabama and revealed the dark underbelly of a man whose life spiraled into violence. Convicted of two murders, Trawick's suspected victim count ranges from five to as many as 14, making him a figure of both intrigue and horror in the annals of true crime.

Early Life

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Trawick was the second child in a family that seemed typical on the surface. His father hailed from Egypt, having emigrated to the United States and settled in New Orleans before relocating the family to Birmingham. Growing up in a middle-class neighborhood, Trawick attended Shades Valley High School, where he graduated in 1966. He married his high school sweetheart shortly thereafter, but his life began to take a dark turn.

After a brief and troubled stint at Jefferson State Community College, where he struggled academically, Trawick dropped out to join the Navy. Although he had a reputation for getting along with others as a youth, whispers about his violent temper and troubling behavior towards women began to surface early on.

Criminal History

Trawick's run-ins with the law began long before his notorious murders. His criminal record included charges of burglary, impersonating a police officer, kidnapping, making threatening phone calls, and property destruction. In 1970, he was diagnosed as a "paranoid schizophrenic with homicidal impulses." His tumultuous marriage ended in divorce in 1971, and by the early 80s, he was already notorious for phone harassment, particularly targeting women with alarming claims about their husbands. He was sentenced to two years in prison for his impersonation of law enforcement.

Confirmed Murders

Betty Jo Richards

The chilling saga of Trawick's criminality began on July 16, 1972, when he murdered 17-year-old Betty Jo Richards in Quinton, Alabama. Richards was found brutally stabbed in an alley, with witnesses recounting a frantic scene where she was chased by a white man. Initially, another man was arrested but ultimately released as the investigation went cold for nearly two decades. Trawick later confessed that he encountered Richards in downtown Birmingham, where he devised a sinister plan to attack her. He threatened her with a knife and led her into an alley, where he stabbed her over ten times, sealing her fate.

Aileen Pruitt

Fast forward nearly 20 years to June 17, 1992, when Trawick struck again, this time killing 26-year-old Frances Aileen Pruitt in Birmingham. Pruitt, facing struggles with cocaine addiction, had turned to prostitution. Trawick picked her up from a sidewalk and drove her to a secluded dirt road behind Hill Crest Hospital. In a brutal act of violence, he stabbed her in the throat before inflicting a staggering 57 knife wounds. Pruitt's body was discovered two days later by a security guard, and her husband, initially considered a suspect, was cleared only after Trawick's confession.

Stephanie Gach

Less than four months later, on October 9, 1992, Trawick murdered 21-year-old college student Stephanie Alexis Gach. This crime was particularly harrowing; Trawick stalked Gach from a shopping mall to her apartment, where he confronted her as she walked from her car. Using a toy gun, he forced her into his van, where he bound and gagged her before driving her to a deserted area. There, he bludgeoned her with a hammer, strangled her, and ultimately stabbed her in the heart. After disposing of her body by the roadside, Trawick attempted to erase evidence by cleaning his van. The autopsy confirmed that Gach died from strangulation and a fatal knife wound.

Suspected Additional Victims

Trawick's confessions extended beyond the three confirmed murders. He admitted to the murder of a woman in Alaska in 1978 and claimed responsibility for several other women he encountered in Oregon and Alabama. Notably, he was linked to the unsolved murder of 23-year-old Toni Lim in Alabama and the disappearance of 26-year-old Dr. Michele Saint Romain. His confessions included vague references to victims such as "Dr. Virginia Bryant" and "Michelle Thomas," but many of these claims remain uncorroborated.

Trials and Sentencing

Trawick faced trials for both the murders of Gach and Pruitt between 1994 and 1995. The trial for Gach began on March 21, 1994, and within hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of capital murder. On May 5, 1994, he was sentenced to death. His trial for Pruitt's murder commenced on October 23, 1995, where he pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness. However, his taped confession detailing the murder led to another guilty verdict, resulting in a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Appeals and Execution

Despite numerous attempts to appeal his death sentence, Trawick's pleas were repeatedly denied. His journey through the judicial system culminated in a final rejection from the U.S. Supreme Court on November 17, 2008. After spending 15 years on death row at Holman Correctional Facility, Trawick was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2009. His last meal request was simple: fried chicken, French fries, onion soup, and a roll. The execution was attended by family members of his victims, who had long awaited justice.

Legacy

Jack Trawick's chilling tale of violence and crime serves as a haunting reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of ordinary lives. With a legacy marked by brutality and tragedy, Trawick's story continues to captivate true crime enthusiasts, serving as both a chilling case study and a cautionary tale.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Jack Trawick
• "Killer who taunted victim's mother executed." NBC News. June 11, 2009.
• "Jack Trawick draws killer's self-portrait." Birmingham Post-Herald. October 31, 1992.
• "Alabama Man Says He Killed Women In NW -- Seattle Woman Is Among Reported Victims." The Seattle Times.
• "Trawick police record spans 22-year period." Birmingham Post-Herald. November 16, 1992.
• "Man held in phone harassing." Birmingham Post-Herald. September 20, 1980.
• "Girl stabbed to death is identified." Birmingham Post-Herald. July 18, 1972.
• "Confessed killer describes slaying." Birmingham Post-Herald. October 25, 1995.
• "Court rejects appeals of death row artist." The Tuscaloosa News. March 18, 2008.
• "Alabama: Killer executed." The Daily Herald. June 11, 2009.