Maury Travis
Serial Killer Investigation
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
St. Louis, Missouri
TIME PERIOD
2000-2002
VICTIMS
12 confirmed
Maury Troy Travis, an American serial killer, was apprehended on June 7, 2002, in St. Louis County, Missouri, and is linked to the murders of at least two women, Alysia Greenwade and Betty James, between 2000 and 2002. Authorities suspect he may have been responsible for the deaths of up to 20 victims, with evidence including videotapes of his crimes discovered at his residence. The case remains officially unsolved due to Travis's suicide in custody on June 10, 2002, which precluded further investigation or prosecution.
Theories surrounding Maury Travis suggest that he may have killed between 12 to 20 women, with some authorities expressing skepticism about his claim of murdering 17. Additionally, speculation arises from the discovery of a videotape showing him murdering or torturing victims, raising questions about the extent of his crimes and the potential existence of more victims. The anonymous letter he sent to a newspaper, which included a map linked to a bondage website, adds another layer of intrigue to his case and suggests he may have sought attention or validation through his actions.
Maury Travis
Overview
Maury Troy Travis (October 25, 1965 – June 10, 2002) was an American serial killer whose heinous crimes shocked the community of St. Louis, Missouri. At the time of his arrest, he was working as a hotel waiter and was on parole for a robbery committed in 1989. Travis's chilling claims in a letter suggested that he had murdered 17 women, but law enforcement officials expressed skepticism about the total number, with some estimating the figure could be as high as 20. His life came to a tragic end when he committed suicide by hanging while in custody at the St. Louis County Jail.
Quick Facts
- Born: October 25, 1965, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
- Died: June 10, 2002 (aged 36), St. Louis County Jail, Clayton, Missouri, U.S.
- Cause of Death: Suicide by hanging
- Other Names: The Streetwalker Strangler, The Bi-State Strangler
- Victims: 12–17+
- Span of Crimes: 2000–2002
- Country: United States
- State: Missouri
- Date Apprehended: June 7, 2002
Known Victims
Travis's grim legacy includes at least two confirmed victims: Alysia Greenwade, whose body was discovered on April 1, 2001, in Illinois after she was last seen in Missouri, and Betty James, whose remains were found about two months later in Missouri after she was last spotted in Illinois. Disturbingly, investigators uncovered at least one videotape showing Travis torturing and murdering some of his victims during a search of his home in Ferguson, Missouri—a suburb of St. Louis.
The Investigation
The investigation into Travis's gruesome activities escalated from May to October 2001, during which four other women were tortured and strangled: Teresa Wilson, Verona Thompson, Yvonne Crues, and Brenda Beasley. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch featured a profile on Wilson, which prompted an unexpected response from Travis. He sent an anonymous letter along with a computer-generated map, claiming to know the whereabouts of more victims. The return address on the letter led to a bondage website named "I THRALLDOM," but investigators were able to trace the map back to Travis through Expedia.com.
What investigators uncovered next will blow your mind. In his letter to the newspaper, Travis ominously wrote, "I'll tell you where many others are," and added, "To prove I'm real, here's directions to number seventeen." This taunting message ultimately led to his arrest on a federal criminal complaint. While in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, Travis was held at a St. Louis County jail facility in Clayton, where the investigation took a chilling turn.
In a search of his residence, authorities discovered a horror show: a torture chamber equipped with various instruments, a stun gun, newspaper clippings of his crimes, and those infamous videotapes of him killing or abusing victims. In total, Travis was linked to 12 murders, including the deaths of Mary Shields and Cassandra Walker, who were killed in 2000 and 2001, respectively. There were also four unidentified female victims in 2002.
Death
Travis’s life came to a tragic conclusion before he could stand trial for his crimes. On June 10, 2002, he hanged himself in his jail cell. Remarkably, he had been placed on suicide watch, with guards checking on him every 15 minutes. However, two consecutive checks were missed, granting him just enough time to take his own life.
In the Media
The story of Maury Travis captivated audiences and was covered in various media formats. Forensic Files explored his crime spree in the episode "X Marks the Spot," while Cold Case Files featured him in "A Map to Murder." The series Evil also took a deep dive into his disturbing story in the episode "Hell's Basement."
Interestingly, after the Cold Case Files episode aired, the current tenant of Travis's former residence discovered its dark history. It turned out that her landlord—who refused to return her money or break her lease—was none other than Travis's mother. After being approached by the local housing authority, she ultimately agreed to rescind the lease.
Travis's chilling killings have also been discussed on the popular podcast Last Podcast on the Left in Episode 91, titled "Black Serial Killers Part 1: Call Me God," and can be seen on Unknown Serial Killers of America, Season 1, Episode 5.
See Also
- List of serial killers in the United States
- List of serial killers by number of victims
Sources
- "Internet Used to Find Man Charged in 2 of 10 Killings." The New York Times. 11 June 2002.
- Suhr, Jim (11 June 2002). "Man charged with deaths of prostitutes." Southeast Missourian. Associated Press.
- Simon, Stephanie (17 June 2002). "Virtual Trail Led to Serial Killer Suspect." Los Angeles Times.
- "Serial killer's home movies." ABC Primetime. ABC News.
- Ramsland, Katherine. "Murder Cop: A Profile of Vernon J. Geberth." truTV Crime Library.
- Suhr, Jim (12 June 2002). "Inmate's Suicide Won't Stall Probe." Southeast Missourian. Associated Press.
- Held, Kevin. "The map that led St. Louis police to 'The Videotape Killer'." KTVI. June 7, 2023.
- Nagus, Chris (9 July 2014). "Catrina McGhaw: St. Louis woman finds out on TV she's renting serial killer Maury Travis' home." KMOV.
- "Woman found serial killer lived home watching TV." ABC Primetime. ABC News.
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First Victim Found
Alysia Greenwade's body discovered in Illinois.
Murders Escalate
Four women tortured and strangled between May and October.
Second Victim Found
Betty James' body discovered in Missouri.
Crimes Linked
Travis linked to at least 12 murders, including several unidentified victims.
Arrest of Maury Travis
Travis arrested after sending a letter with a map to police.
Travis Commits Suicide
Maury Travis hangs himself in jail before trial.
Maury Troy Travis, an American serial killer, was apprehended on June 7, 2002, in St. Louis County, Missouri, and is linked to the murders of at least two women, Alysia Greenwade and Betty James, between 2000 and 2002. Authorities suspect he may have been responsible for the deaths of up to 20 victims, with evidence including videotapes of his crimes discovered at his residence. The case remains officially unsolved due to Travis's suicide in custody on June 10, 2002, which precluded further investigation or prosecution.
Theories surrounding Maury Travis suggest that he may have killed between 12 to 20 women, with some authorities expressing skepticism about his claim of murdering 17. Additionally, speculation arises from the discovery of a videotape showing him murdering or torturing victims, raising questions about the extent of his crimes and the potential existence of more victims. The anonymous letter he sent to a newspaper, which included a map linked to a bondage website, adds another layer of intrigue to his case and suggests he may have sought attention or validation through his actions.
Maury Travis
Overview
Maury Troy Travis (October 25, 1965 – June 10, 2002) was an American serial killer whose heinous crimes shocked the community of St. Louis, Missouri. At the time of his arrest, he was working as a hotel waiter and was on parole for a robbery committed in 1989. Travis's chilling claims in a letter suggested that he had murdered 17 women, but law enforcement officials expressed skepticism about the total number, with some estimating the figure could be as high as 20. His life came to a tragic end when he committed suicide by hanging while in custody at the St. Louis County Jail.
Quick Facts
- Born: October 25, 1965, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
- Died: June 10, 2002 (aged 36), St. Louis County Jail, Clayton, Missouri, U.S.
- Cause of Death: Suicide by hanging
- Other Names: The Streetwalker Strangler, The Bi-State Strangler
- Victims: 12–17+
- Span of Crimes: 2000–2002
- Country: United States
- State: Missouri
- Date Apprehended: June 7, 2002
Known Victims
Travis's grim legacy includes at least two confirmed victims: Alysia Greenwade, whose body was discovered on April 1, 2001, in Illinois after she was last seen in Missouri, and Betty James, whose remains were found about two months later in Missouri after she was last spotted in Illinois. Disturbingly, investigators uncovered at least one videotape showing Travis torturing and murdering some of his victims during a search of his home in Ferguson, Missouri—a suburb of St. Louis.
The Investigation
The investigation into Travis's gruesome activities escalated from May to October 2001, during which four other women were tortured and strangled: Teresa Wilson, Verona Thompson, Yvonne Crues, and Brenda Beasley. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch featured a profile on Wilson, which prompted an unexpected response from Travis. He sent an anonymous letter along with a computer-generated map, claiming to know the whereabouts of more victims. The return address on the letter led to a bondage website named "I THRALLDOM," but investigators were able to trace the map back to Travis through Expedia.com.
What investigators uncovered next will blow your mind. In his letter to the newspaper, Travis ominously wrote, "I'll tell you where many others are," and added, "To prove I'm real, here's directions to number seventeen." This taunting message ultimately led to his arrest on a federal criminal complaint. While in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, Travis was held at a St. Louis County jail facility in Clayton, where the investigation took a chilling turn.
In a search of his residence, authorities discovered a horror show: a torture chamber equipped with various instruments, a stun gun, newspaper clippings of his crimes, and those infamous videotapes of him killing or abusing victims. In total, Travis was linked to 12 murders, including the deaths of Mary Shields and Cassandra Walker, who were killed in 2000 and 2001, respectively. There were also four unidentified female victims in 2002.
Death
Travis’s life came to a tragic conclusion before he could stand trial for his crimes. On June 10, 2002, he hanged himself in his jail cell. Remarkably, he had been placed on suicide watch, with guards checking on him every 15 minutes. However, two consecutive checks were missed, granting him just enough time to take his own life.
In the Media
The story of Maury Travis captivated audiences and was covered in various media formats. Forensic Files explored his crime spree in the episode "X Marks the Spot," while Cold Case Files featured him in "A Map to Murder." The series Evil also took a deep dive into his disturbing story in the episode "Hell's Basement."
Interestingly, after the Cold Case Files episode aired, the current tenant of Travis's former residence discovered its dark history. It turned out that her landlord—who refused to return her money or break her lease—was none other than Travis's mother. After being approached by the local housing authority, she ultimately agreed to rescind the lease.
Travis's chilling killings have also been discussed on the popular podcast Last Podcast on the Left in Episode 91, titled "Black Serial Killers Part 1: Call Me God," and can be seen on Unknown Serial Killers of America, Season 1, Episode 5.
See Also
- List of serial killers in the United States
- List of serial killers by number of victims
Sources
- "Internet Used to Find Man Charged in 2 of 10 Killings." The New York Times. 11 June 2002.
- Suhr, Jim (11 June 2002). "Man charged with deaths of prostitutes." Southeast Missourian. Associated Press.
- Simon, Stephanie (17 June 2002). "Virtual Trail Led to Serial Killer Suspect." Los Angeles Times.
- "Serial killer's home movies." ABC Primetime. ABC News.
- Ramsland, Katherine. "Murder Cop: A Profile of Vernon J. Geberth." truTV Crime Library.
- Suhr, Jim (12 June 2002). "Inmate's Suicide Won't Stall Probe." Southeast Missourian. Associated Press.
- Held, Kevin. "The map that led St. Louis police to 'The Videotape Killer'." KTVI. June 7, 2023.
- Nagus, Chris (9 July 2014). "Catrina McGhaw: St. Louis woman finds out on TV she's renting serial killer Maury Travis' home." KMOV.
- "Woman found serial killer lived home watching TV." ABC Primetime. ABC News.
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 Victim Found
Alysia Greenwade's body discovered in Illinois.
Murders Escalate
Four women tortured and strangled between May and October.
Second Victim Found
Betty James' body discovered in Missouri.
Crimes Linked
Travis linked to at least 12 murders, including several unidentified victims.
Arrest of Maury Travis
Travis arrested after sending a letter with a map to police.
Travis Commits Suicide
Maury Travis hangs himself in jail before trial.