James Edward Daniels
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Queens, New York
TIME PERIOD
1984
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
James Edward Daniels, an American serial killer, was originally sentenced to 50-years-to-life for a murder committed in 1963 in New York. After being paroled in 1976, he relocated to Portland, Oregon, where he lived a seemingly normal life until he committed a double homicide and the murder of a New Jersey state trooper between March and May 1984. On May 7, 1984, while fleeing the scene of his final crime, Daniels and an accomplice died in a car crash on Route 33 in New Jersey. He was never apprehended for the later murders, and the case remains unresolved as he died before any legal action could be taken against him. Significant evidence includes witness accounts of the homicides and the circumstances surrounding his fatal crash.
James Edward Daniels is believed to have committed multiple murders after being paroled, with speculation that his violent tendencies escalated due to his time in prison and subsequent release. Some theorize that his criminal behavior was influenced by a combination of environmental factors and psychological issues stemming from his early life experiences. Additionally, there are beliefs that his final crimes were part of a larger pattern of violence that went unaddressed until his death in a car crash while fleeing the scene of his last homicide.
The Tumultuous Life of James Edward Daniels
The Early Years and First Murder
The story of James Edward Daniels begins in 1940, nestled in the bustling borough of Brooklyn, New York City. Little is known about his childhood, but his descent into crime became evident early on. In 1960, he faced his first arrest for assaulting a man in Queens with a zip gun, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. Upon release, Daniels quickly found himself entangled in more serious crime. In March 1963, he and five associates were charged with the second-degree murder of Calvin Dean, who ran a craps game in Ozone Park. Convicted for his role in this crime, Daniels received a 50-years-to-life sentence and was confined within the walls of Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York.
Despite the grim circumstances, Daniels sought to improve himself while incarcerated. He participated in vocational training to become a barber, joined the prison's football team, and enrolled in courses on black studies and political science. During this period, he connected with students from SUNY New Paltz, several of whom hailed from Oregon, who volunteered at the prison.
A New Beginning and Legal Troubles in Oregon
Daniels's fate took an unexpected turn when, after serving 13 years of his sentence, he was paroled on February 8, 1976, due to reforms in the state's penal laws regarding mandatory minimum sentencing. Seeking a fresh start, Daniels relocated to Portland, Oregon, in September 1977. There, he married, became a father to a daughter, and found employment as an aide at an alcohol detoxification facility, which failed to conduct a background check on him.
However, rumors of theft began to swirl around Daniels. Accusations arose that he was pilfering money from clients at the facility. In response, sheriff's deputies went undercover as drunks to catch him in the act. On August 11, 1978, Daniels was arrested for allegedly stealing $91 from one of these deputies. He maintained his innocence, and after two trials—one ending in a hung jury and the other a mistrial—the charges were dismissed on the condition that Daniels voluntarily return to New York.
Despite his parole not being revoked, Daniels soon absconded from New York without permission, prompting an arrest warrant. Friends and his brother speculated that Daniels had become embittered towards the authorities, vowing never to return to prison.
The Double Murder and a Fugitive on the Run
The early hours of March 19, 1984, marked the beginning of the end for Daniels. In Queens, police responded to a tip-off and discovered the lifeless body of 29-year-old Ira Adams inside a stolen U-Haul truck. A known criminal with a history of burglary and grand larceny, Adams had been shot to death. A note with an address led officers to a nearby location, where they found Adams's girlfriend, 21-year-old Karen Jefferson, also shot dead.
Within a week, both state and federal authorities issued an arrest warrant for Daniels, identified by a witness as the prime suspect. Detectives believed that a dispute over money with Adams, a fellow member of a burglary ring, had led to the murders. Daniels allegedly killed Jefferson to eliminate any witnesses. As a fugitive, he managed to evade capture, hiding out in an old van and briefly seeking refuge in Durham, North Carolina, before returning to Queens.
The Fatal Encounter with Trooper Carlos Negron
On May 7, 1984, Daniels's life reached a violent crescendo. Alongside his 40-year-old friend, Bezilel (or Lenel) Hutchinson, Daniels stopped along the New Jersey Turnpike near East Windsor. State Trooper Carlos Negron, believing they had car trouble, approached to assist. As Negron neared the van, Daniels opened fire, fatally wounding the trooper with multiple gunshots.
In the chaos that followed, Daniels and Hutchinson fled into nearby woods, firing at the fallen officer. They soon reached a service center in Hightstown, where they held employees at gunpoint, tied them up, and stole a company van. A high-speed chase ensued along State Route 33, involving Trooper Thomas Suscewicz and other law enforcement vehicles. The pursuit ended when the van crashed into a utility pole, flipped down an embankment, and overturned.
Both Daniels and Hutchinson were pulled from the wreck and rushed to Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro Township. Their lives ended that morning, coincidentally at the same facility where Trooper Negron was pronounced dead.
The Aftermath and Lingering Mysteries
In the wake of the crash, authorities searched Daniels's van and discovered ammunition, survival manuals, and a letter addressed to "Dahruba." The letter's mention of "Assata" led to speculation about a connection to Assata Shakur, a notorious fugitive and Black Liberation Army member. However, the FBI's assistant deputy director, Kenneth Walton, dismissed the theory, suggesting the letter belonged to Daniels's former cellmate, Anatye Dahruba, also a Black Liberation Army member serving a life sentence.
Five days after his death, Trooper Negron was laid to rest with full honors. His death spurred discussions among legislators about increasing patrol sizes to prevent similar tragedies.
In the end, the life of James Edward Daniels was a turbulent journey marked by crime, brief redemption, and a return to violence that ended in a tragic collision on a New Jersey highway.
Sources
- Robert Hanley, "SLAYER OF JERSEY TROOPER FEARED RETURN TO PRISON," The New York Times, May 19, 1984
- Robert Hanley, "SUSPECT IN TROOPER'S DEATH HAD MURDER TERM CUT," The New York Times, May 9, 1984
- Kristen Kelch, "Queens Slaying Suspect Dies After Killing Trooper," Newsday, May 8, 1984
- Bernard Rabin and Robert Carroll, "Woman, boyfriend shot dead," New York Daily News, March 20, 1984
- David Hardy, Vincent Lee and Paul Meskil, "Cop slain, killers die in crash," New York Daily News, May 8, 1984
- Murray Weiss, "Probe killer's links to Joanne," New York Daily News, May 10, 1984
- Kathleen Bird, "Slain trooper called hero," The Journal News, May 12, 1984
- "Trooper's Murder Leads To Study of Patrol Size," Newsday, May 14, 1984
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First Murder Committed
James Edward Daniels involved in the murder of Calvin Dean during a craps game.
Paroled from Prison
Daniels is paroled after serving 13 years of a 50-years-to-life sentence.
Double Murder in Queens
Daniels murders Ira Adams and Karen Jefferson, leading to a manhunt.
Trooper Murdered
Daniels kills state trooper Carlos Negron during a confrontation.
Fatal Car Crash
Daniels and accomplice Hutchinson die in a car crash while fleeing.
James Edward Daniels, an American serial killer, was originally sentenced to 50-years-to-life for a murder committed in 1963 in New York. After being paroled in 1976, he relocated to Portland, Oregon, where he lived a seemingly normal life until he committed a double homicide and the murder of a New Jersey state trooper between March and May 1984. On May 7, 1984, while fleeing the scene of his final crime, Daniels and an accomplice died in a car crash on Route 33 in New Jersey. He was never apprehended for the later murders, and the case remains unresolved as he died before any legal action could be taken against him. Significant evidence includes witness accounts of the homicides and the circumstances surrounding his fatal crash.
James Edward Daniels is believed to have committed multiple murders after being paroled, with speculation that his violent tendencies escalated due to his time in prison and subsequent release. Some theorize that his criminal behavior was influenced by a combination of environmental factors and psychological issues stemming from his early life experiences. Additionally, there are beliefs that his final crimes were part of a larger pattern of violence that went unaddressed until his death in a car crash while fleeing the scene of his last homicide.
The Tumultuous Life of James Edward Daniels
The Early Years and First Murder
The story of James Edward Daniels begins in 1940, nestled in the bustling borough of Brooklyn, New York City. Little is known about his childhood, but his descent into crime became evident early on. In 1960, he faced his first arrest for assaulting a man in Queens with a zip gun, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. Upon release, Daniels quickly found himself entangled in more serious crime. In March 1963, he and five associates were charged with the second-degree murder of Calvin Dean, who ran a craps game in Ozone Park. Convicted for his role in this crime, Daniels received a 50-years-to-life sentence and was confined within the walls of Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York.
Despite the grim circumstances, Daniels sought to improve himself while incarcerated. He participated in vocational training to become a barber, joined the prison's football team, and enrolled in courses on black studies and political science. During this period, he connected with students from SUNY New Paltz, several of whom hailed from Oregon, who volunteered at the prison.
A New Beginning and Legal Troubles in Oregon
Daniels's fate took an unexpected turn when, after serving 13 years of his sentence, he was paroled on February 8, 1976, due to reforms in the state's penal laws regarding mandatory minimum sentencing. Seeking a fresh start, Daniels relocated to Portland, Oregon, in September 1977. There, he married, became a father to a daughter, and found employment as an aide at an alcohol detoxification facility, which failed to conduct a background check on him.
However, rumors of theft began to swirl around Daniels. Accusations arose that he was pilfering money from clients at the facility. In response, sheriff's deputies went undercover as drunks to catch him in the act. On August 11, 1978, Daniels was arrested for allegedly stealing $91 from one of these deputies. He maintained his innocence, and after two trials—one ending in a hung jury and the other a mistrial—the charges were dismissed on the condition that Daniels voluntarily return to New York.
Despite his parole not being revoked, Daniels soon absconded from New York without permission, prompting an arrest warrant. Friends and his brother speculated that Daniels had become embittered towards the authorities, vowing never to return to prison.
The Double Murder and a Fugitive on the Run
The early hours of March 19, 1984, marked the beginning of the end for Daniels. In Queens, police responded to a tip-off and discovered the lifeless body of 29-year-old Ira Adams inside a stolen U-Haul truck. A known criminal with a history of burglary and grand larceny, Adams had been shot to death. A note with an address led officers to a nearby location, where they found Adams's girlfriend, 21-year-old Karen Jefferson, also shot dead.
Within a week, both state and federal authorities issued an arrest warrant for Daniels, identified by a witness as the prime suspect. Detectives believed that a dispute over money with Adams, a fellow member of a burglary ring, had led to the murders. Daniels allegedly killed Jefferson to eliminate any witnesses. As a fugitive, he managed to evade capture, hiding out in an old van and briefly seeking refuge in Durham, North Carolina, before returning to Queens.
The Fatal Encounter with Trooper Carlos Negron
On May 7, 1984, Daniels's life reached a violent crescendo. Alongside his 40-year-old friend, Bezilel (or Lenel) Hutchinson, Daniels stopped along the New Jersey Turnpike near East Windsor. State Trooper Carlos Negron, believing they had car trouble, approached to assist. As Negron neared the van, Daniels opened fire, fatally wounding the trooper with multiple gunshots.
In the chaos that followed, Daniels and Hutchinson fled into nearby woods, firing at the fallen officer. They soon reached a service center in Hightstown, where they held employees at gunpoint, tied them up, and stole a company van. A high-speed chase ensued along State Route 33, involving Trooper Thomas Suscewicz and other law enforcement vehicles. The pursuit ended when the van crashed into a utility pole, flipped down an embankment, and overturned.
Both Daniels and Hutchinson were pulled from the wreck and rushed to Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro Township. Their lives ended that morning, coincidentally at the same facility where Trooper Negron was pronounced dead.
The Aftermath and Lingering Mysteries
In the wake of the crash, authorities searched Daniels's van and discovered ammunition, survival manuals, and a letter addressed to "Dahruba." The letter's mention of "Assata" led to speculation about a connection to Assata Shakur, a notorious fugitive and Black Liberation Army member. However, the FBI's assistant deputy director, Kenneth Walton, dismissed the theory, suggesting the letter belonged to Daniels's former cellmate, Anatye Dahruba, also a Black Liberation Army member serving a life sentence.
Five days after his death, Trooper Negron was laid to rest with full honors. His death spurred discussions among legislators about increasing patrol sizes to prevent similar tragedies.
In the end, the life of James Edward Daniels was a turbulent journey marked by crime, brief redemption, and a return to violence that ended in a tragic collision on a New Jersey highway.
Sources
- Robert Hanley, "SLAYER OF JERSEY TROOPER FEARED RETURN TO PRISON," The New York Times, May 19, 1984
- Robert Hanley, "SUSPECT IN TROOPER'S DEATH HAD MURDER TERM CUT," The New York Times, May 9, 1984
- Kristen Kelch, "Queens Slaying Suspect Dies After Killing Trooper," Newsday, May 8, 1984
- Bernard Rabin and Robert Carroll, "Woman, boyfriend shot dead," New York Daily News, March 20, 1984
- David Hardy, Vincent Lee and Paul Meskil, "Cop slain, killers die in crash," New York Daily News, May 8, 1984
- Murray Weiss, "Probe killer's links to Joanne," New York Daily News, May 10, 1984
- Kathleen Bird, "Slain trooper called hero," The Journal News, May 12, 1984
- "Trooper's Murder Leads To Study of Patrol Size," Newsday, May 14, 1984
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
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First Murder Committed
James Edward Daniels involved in the murder of Calvin Dean during a craps game.
Paroled from Prison
Daniels is paroled after serving 13 years of a 50-years-to-life sentence.
Double Murder in Queens
Daniels murders Ira Adams and Karen Jefferson, leading to a manhunt.
Trooper Murdered
Daniels kills state trooper Carlos Negron during a confrontation.
Fatal Car Crash
Daniels and accomplice Hutchinson die in a car crash while fleeing.