Joseph Medley
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Washington, D.C.
TIME PERIOD
1944-1945
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
The case involves Joseph Dunbar Medley, an American serial killer who committed three murders during robberies across Louisiana, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. between 1944 and 1945. Medley, who had previously escaped from prison in Michigan, was apprehended on March 18, 1945, after the murder of Nancy Boyer in D.C. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, with the strongest evidence stemming from the Boyer case. Medley was executed by electrocution on December 20, 1946, following a brief escape from prison. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and forensic links to the victims, all of whom were noted for having red hair.
Joseph Medley was believed to have targeted women with red hair, which has led to speculation about a potential psychological motive linked to his victims' appearance. Some theorize that his crimes were not only driven by robbery but also by a deeper, possibly personal vendetta or obsession. Additionally, there is speculation about whether his criminal behavior escalated due to his experiences in prison and the influence of his earlier gang activities.
The Sinister Tale of Joseph Medley
The Birth of a Criminal Mind
Joseph Dunbar Medley entered the world on July 22, 1901, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His early years hinted at a stormy future, one that would see him evolve into a notorious American serial killer. Medley's life, marked by a series of criminal enterprises, included the murders of three women during robberies in Louisiana, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. between 1944 and 1945. These heinous acts unfolded after he absconded from a Michigan prison, where he was serving time for armed robbery.
Medley's journey into infamy began when he moved to Chicago, securing employment as a purchasing agent. His personal life was complicated; he married, only to see the union dissolve in divorce. His penchant for deceit was evident early on when he served 20 months in an Arkansas prison for obtaining money under false pretenses. A subsequent job with the General Motors Acceptance Corporation ended in termination after just four months due to his criminal record. This setback marked the last time Medley would hold legitimate employment.
In 1933, Medley embraced a life of crime wholeheartedly. As the leader of a gang in Michigan, he orchestrated numerous robberies. His most audacious crime came in October 1933, when he and his gang abducted and robbed Louis E. Brooks, a wealthy manufacturer. They made off with $45,000 in bonds and jewelry, but law enforcement closed in quickly. After an extensive manhunt, Medley was captured in March 1934. He pled guilty to armed robbery and received a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison.
The Prison Break and Murderous Rampage
Medley's criminal escapades took a dramatic turn on November 27, 1944. Having gained the trust of prison officials by working as a clerk for the warden, he seized an opportunity to escape. Medley absconded with $775 raised in war bonds by fellow inmates, heading to New Orleans. There, he checked into the De Soto Hotel, where he would soon claim his first victim.
On December 22, 1944, Medley brutally ended the life of Laura Fischer, a 28-year-old Austrian woman. He drowned her in the bathtub of her hotel room, subsequently stealing her money and jewelry. His flight continued to Chicago, where he checked into the Atlantic Hotel. On December 17, 1945, Medley struck again, this time murdering Blanche Zimmerman with a lethal concoction of benzedrine and alcohol. From her, he stole a fur coat and two ruby rings.
Medley's final known crime occurred on March 5, 1945, in Washington, D.C. Under the alias Larry Fischer, he attended an all-night poker party at the apartment of 50-year-old Nancy Boyer. After the other guests departed, Medley shot Boyer three times, making off with her fur coat, an emerald ring, and several hundred dollars. Despite his efforts to cover his tracks, Medley was positively identified and reported seen at a hotel in St. Louis.
Capture and Trial
The law caught up with Medley on March 18, 1945, when he was arrested after entering a hotel room with another woman. Authorities deemed the evidence against him in Nancy Boyer's murder the most compelling, leading to his extradition to Washington, D.C. for trial. On June 9, 1945, the court found Medley guilty of first-degree murder, sentencing him to death.
A Daring Escape and Final Hours
Not content to await his fate passively, Medley attempted one final escape. On April 3, 1946, he and fellow death row inmate Earl McFarland, a World War II veteran condemned for the rape and murder of 18-year-old Dorothy Berrum, executed a bold jailbreak from the D.C. Jail. They manipulated the trust of guards Hubert Davis and Oscar Sanderlin, who allowed them to play cards in their quarters. During the game, Sanderlin feigned illness and went to lie down in Medley's cell. Seizing the moment, Medley or McFarland locked Sanderlin in the cell, overpowered Davis, and secured the guards' uniforms and keys. The pair then pried open a ventilator, descended 60 feet to the ground via a makeshift rope of bedsheets, and vanished into the night.
Medley's freedom was short-lived. Eight hours later, authorities apprehended him hiding in a sewer near the Anacostia River. His accomplice, McFarland, eluded capture until April 11, when he was found in Tennessee after a nationwide manhunt. Reflecting on his failed escape, Medley nonchalantly remarked, "You can't blame a guy for trying and I'm going to try again. I'm glad nobody was hurt." The escape prompted the suspension of the two guards and heightened security measures at the jail.
McFarland met his end on July 19, 1946. His execution was preceded by a meal of ham, eggs, toast, and coffee, and his final words were a profession of innocence: "I want to express my thanks and deep appreciation to everyone who has helped me. I still say I am not guilty of these crimes."
Joseph Medley's life concluded on December 20, 1946, when he was executed by electrocution. Sharing his execution date were William Copeland and Julius Fisher, both convicted of unrelated murders. Copeland had killed his sister-in-law, while Fisher had beaten a librarian, Catherine Reardon, to death after a dispute over his cleaning. The condemned men shared a chicken dinner as their last meal.
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Medley Escapes Prison
Joseph Medley absconds from prison in Michigan after gaining trust as a clerk.
First Murder Committed
Medley drowns Laura Fischer in her bathtub and steals her valuables.
Second Murder Committed
Medley murders Blanche Zimmerman with an overdose of drugs and alcohol.
Third Murder Committed
Medley shoots Nancy Boyer in Washington, D.C., stealing her belongings.
Medley Arrested
Medley is apprehended in St. Louis after being identified as a suspect.
Convicted of Murder
Medley is found guilty of first degree murder for the killing of Nancy Boyer.
Prison Escape Attempt
Medley escapes from D.C. Jail with another inmate but is recaptured shortly after.
Medley Executed
Joseph Medley is executed by electrocution in D.C. Jail.
The case involves Joseph Dunbar Medley, an American serial killer who committed three murders during robberies across Louisiana, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. between 1944 and 1945. Medley, who had previously escaped from prison in Michigan, was apprehended on March 18, 1945, after the murder of Nancy Boyer in D.C. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, with the strongest evidence stemming from the Boyer case. Medley was executed by electrocution on December 20, 1946, following a brief escape from prison. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and forensic links to the victims, all of whom were noted for having red hair.
Joseph Medley was believed to have targeted women with red hair, which has led to speculation about a potential psychological motive linked to his victims' appearance. Some theorize that his crimes were not only driven by robbery but also by a deeper, possibly personal vendetta or obsession. Additionally, there is speculation about whether his criminal behavior escalated due to his experiences in prison and the influence of his earlier gang activities.
The Sinister Tale of Joseph Medley
The Birth of a Criminal Mind
Joseph Dunbar Medley entered the world on July 22, 1901, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His early years hinted at a stormy future, one that would see him evolve into a notorious American serial killer. Medley's life, marked by a series of criminal enterprises, included the murders of three women during robberies in Louisiana, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. between 1944 and 1945. These heinous acts unfolded after he absconded from a Michigan prison, where he was serving time for armed robbery.
Medley's journey into infamy began when he moved to Chicago, securing employment as a purchasing agent. His personal life was complicated; he married, only to see the union dissolve in divorce. His penchant for deceit was evident early on when he served 20 months in an Arkansas prison for obtaining money under false pretenses. A subsequent job with the General Motors Acceptance Corporation ended in termination after just four months due to his criminal record. This setback marked the last time Medley would hold legitimate employment.
In 1933, Medley embraced a life of crime wholeheartedly. As the leader of a gang in Michigan, he orchestrated numerous robberies. His most audacious crime came in October 1933, when he and his gang abducted and robbed Louis E. Brooks, a wealthy manufacturer. They made off with $45,000 in bonds and jewelry, but law enforcement closed in quickly. After an extensive manhunt, Medley was captured in March 1934. He pled guilty to armed robbery and received a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison.
The Prison Break and Murderous Rampage
Medley's criminal escapades took a dramatic turn on November 27, 1944. Having gained the trust of prison officials by working as a clerk for the warden, he seized an opportunity to escape. Medley absconded with $775 raised in war bonds by fellow inmates, heading to New Orleans. There, he checked into the De Soto Hotel, where he would soon claim his first victim.
On December 22, 1944, Medley brutally ended the life of Laura Fischer, a 28-year-old Austrian woman. He drowned her in the bathtub of her hotel room, subsequently stealing her money and jewelry. His flight continued to Chicago, where he checked into the Atlantic Hotel. On December 17, 1945, Medley struck again, this time murdering Blanche Zimmerman with a lethal concoction of benzedrine and alcohol. From her, he stole a fur coat and two ruby rings.
Medley's final known crime occurred on March 5, 1945, in Washington, D.C. Under the alias Larry Fischer, he attended an all-night poker party at the apartment of 50-year-old Nancy Boyer. After the other guests departed, Medley shot Boyer three times, making off with her fur coat, an emerald ring, and several hundred dollars. Despite his efforts to cover his tracks, Medley was positively identified and reported seen at a hotel in St. Louis.
Capture and Trial
The law caught up with Medley on March 18, 1945, when he was arrested after entering a hotel room with another woman. Authorities deemed the evidence against him in Nancy Boyer's murder the most compelling, leading to his extradition to Washington, D.C. for trial. On June 9, 1945, the court found Medley guilty of first-degree murder, sentencing him to death.
A Daring Escape and Final Hours
Not content to await his fate passively, Medley attempted one final escape. On April 3, 1946, he and fellow death row inmate Earl McFarland, a World War II veteran condemned for the rape and murder of 18-year-old Dorothy Berrum, executed a bold jailbreak from the D.C. Jail. They manipulated the trust of guards Hubert Davis and Oscar Sanderlin, who allowed them to play cards in their quarters. During the game, Sanderlin feigned illness and went to lie down in Medley's cell. Seizing the moment, Medley or McFarland locked Sanderlin in the cell, overpowered Davis, and secured the guards' uniforms and keys. The pair then pried open a ventilator, descended 60 feet to the ground via a makeshift rope of bedsheets, and vanished into the night.
Medley's freedom was short-lived. Eight hours later, authorities apprehended him hiding in a sewer near the Anacostia River. His accomplice, McFarland, eluded capture until April 11, when he was found in Tennessee after a nationwide manhunt. Reflecting on his failed escape, Medley nonchalantly remarked, "You can't blame a guy for trying and I'm going to try again. I'm glad nobody was hurt." The escape prompted the suspension of the two guards and heightened security measures at the jail.
McFarland met his end on July 19, 1946. His execution was preceded by a meal of ham, eggs, toast, and coffee, and his final words were a profession of innocence: "I want to express my thanks and deep appreciation to everyone who has helped me. I still say I am not guilty of these crimes."
Joseph Medley's life concluded on December 20, 1946, when he was executed by electrocution. Sharing his execution date were William Copeland and Julius Fisher, both convicted of unrelated murders. Copeland had killed his sister-in-law, while Fisher had beaten a librarian, Catherine Reardon, to death after a dispute over his cleaning. The condemned men shared a chicken dinner as their last meal.
Sources
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...
Medley Escapes Prison
Joseph Medley absconds from prison in Michigan after gaining trust as a clerk.
First Murder Committed
Medley drowns Laura Fischer in her bathtub and steals her valuables.
Second Murder Committed
Medley murders Blanche Zimmerman with an overdose of drugs and alcohol.
Third Murder Committed
Medley shoots Nancy Boyer in Washington, D.C., stealing her belongings.
Medley Arrested
Medley is apprehended in St. Louis after being identified as a suspect.
Convicted of Murder
Medley is found guilty of first degree murder for the killing of Nancy Boyer.
Prison Escape Attempt
Medley escapes from D.C. Jail with another inmate but is recaptured shortly after.
Medley Executed
Joseph Medley is executed by electrocution in D.C. Jail.