Miami Strangler
Unidentified Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Miami, Florida
TIME PERIOD
1964-1970
VICTIMS
9 confirmed
The Miami Strangler is an unidentified serial killer responsible for the murders of at least nine women in Miami, Florida, between 1964 and 1970. The victims were often found posed in a manner suggesting sexual motivation, despite not being directly sexually assaulted, and the case remains unsolved as the perpetrator has never been apprehended. Investigators had one suspect, a felon, but he was never charged in connection with the crimes.
Theories surrounding the Miami Strangler suggest that the murders, while not all involving strangulation, were sexually motivated due to the way the victims were posed post-mortem. Some community speculation points to the possibility of a connection between the murders and a suspect who was a known felon, although he was never charged. The unusual nature of the killings, including the specific methods and the lack of sexual assault, has led to various interpretations about the killer's motives and psychological profile.
Miami Strangler
Overview
The Miami Strangler is an ominous moniker attributed to an unidentified serial killer who terrorized Miami, Florida, between 1964 and 1970, claiming the lives of at least nine women. While the name suggests a focus on strangulation, the reality was more complex: not all victims succumbed to strangulation; some were bludgeoned or smothered. Intriguingly, none of the victims were directly sexually assaulted, but the nature of the murders, particularly the way the bodies were posed post-mortem, hints at underlying sexual motivations. Despite extensive investigations, only one suspect—a known felon—was ever considered, but he was never formally charged.
Quick Facts
- Victims: 9–11
- Span of Crimes: 1964–1970
- Country: United States
- State: Florida
- Date Apprehended: Never apprehended
The Murders
1964: The First Victim
The horror began on August 17, 1964, when Mary E. McGreevy, a 64-year-old woman, was found smothered to death in her home. A pillow was used as the murder weapon, marking the start of a chilling pattern that would unfold over the coming years.
1965: Sylvia Valdez
Fast forward six months to March 8, 1965, when Sylvia Valdez, 38, left work around 9:00 PM. She encountered a flat tire in the parking lot, and a parking lot attendant later recounted seeing her conversing with two Cuban men before he left her alone. The next morning, Valdez was discovered dead in her car, with a black silk scarf wrapped around her neck and her skirt pulled over her head. Disturbingly, she had been shot twice behind the right ear with a .22 caliber pistol. Although her purse, shoes, and car keys were stolen, the killer left her diamond ring untouched—a detail that deepens the mystery of motive. Notably, there was no evidence of sexual assault.
1966: Bernadita Gonzalez
The case took a sinister turn in February 1966, when Bernadita Gonzalez, 44, was last seen alive in a Miami beauty salon. Eight weeks later, her decomposing body was discovered floating face down in Levitz Lake. The medical examiner revealed she had died from blunt-force trauma to the skull, possibly inflicted by a hatchet. In a perplexing twist, the perpetrator took her underwear but left her jewelry behind.
1969: Sherivon Dolores Wooten
On August 16, 1969, 21-year-old Sherivon Dolores Wooten became the next victim. Her lifeless body was found on a dirt road between two homes. Like Gonzalez, Wooten had been strangled, and her clothes were hiked over her breasts. Notably, fingernail marks were found on her neck, indicating a struggle. She had been last seen leaving her house the night before her body was discovered.
1970: A Series of Gruesome Discoveries
The year 1970 would become notorious for the escalating brutality of the murders. On May 5, Mary Louise Clark Danford, 64, was found strangled in her home by concerned friends who had come to check on her. She was discovered on her bed, her sweater pushed up, and her underwear missing. The killer had entered through a small window.
Just weeks later, on June 2, Ruth Boehner, also 64, was found in her apartment with blunt-force trauma to the head, neck, and jaw. The circumstances were eerily similar; her hyoid bone had been broken from strangulation, and her clothing was disheveled, with no signs of forced entry.
The horrifying pattern continued on August 5, when Mattie Ophelia Harris, an 84-year-old woman, was strangled with a necktie in her kitchen. Her house was found ransacked, adding another layer of terror to the already chilling case.
On October 10, Regina Bonnanno, a 48-year-old deaf-mute woman, was discovered bound to her bed. The scene was grotesque: her bra and a scarf were tied around her neck, panties stuffed in her mouth, and her head shoved inside a pillowcase.
The final confirmed victim, Patrice Finer Newkirk, aged 36, was found on October 26 in the trunk of her car, bludgeoned to death. The injuries to her skull suggested a violent impact, resembling that of a fall from a great height. Curiously, the killer had torn a piece of her dress and tied it around her neck while also stealing her purse, car keys, shoes, and underwear.
Other Suspected Murders
While the Miami Strangler is linked to nine confirmed murders, there are additional cases that may be connected. Mary Francis Sims, a 31-year-old housewife, was found dead by her husband in March 1971, having been sexually assaulted, strangled, and stabbed in the throat.
Another possible victim is Clara Jane Armaly, who was found strangled in her home on September 12, 1971. Her estranged husband had seen her earlier that day, but she was discovered face down in her bedroom the following morning. There were no signs of forced entry or struggle, and an electrical cord was found nearby, raising questions about its potential use in the crime. Her husband was so traumatized by the discovery that he required sedation at the hospital.
Investigation
As police delved into the case, they began to link the murders through striking similarities. Except for one victim, all were white women, and the crimes took place in downtown Miami. The causes of death—strangulation, smothering, or bludgeoning—painted a disturbing portrait of a serial killer with a potential sexual sadist motive. However, the perpetrator's methods varied, creating a complex and inconsistent profile that baffled investigators.
One suspect emerged during investigations: Calvin Jones Jr., a truck driver recently released from prison after a string of felonies. He had close ties to the victims, having changed Sylvia Valdez's tire and knowing Patrice Newkirk. Nevertheless, despite being questioned extensively, he was never charged.
Conclusion
The Miami Strangler remains an enigmatic figure in the annals of true crime. The chilling nature of the murders, the haunting similarities between the victims, and the lack of resolution continue to captivate and horrify those who delve into this dark chapter of Miami's history. The case remains unsolved, and the identities of the victims deserve to be remembered amidst the shadows of this unspeakable terror.
Sources
- "Public Is Asked To Aid in Solving Series of Slayings." Corpus Christi Times, November 9, 1970. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022.
- Kordburg, Charles (March 10, 1965). "Police Here Seek Leads in 2 Murders." The Miami News. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- "Police Seek Slayer of 9 Women in Dade." The Miami Herald, November 8, 1970, p. 1. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023.
- Burns, Michael (2021). The Flat Tire Murders: Unsolved Crimes of a South Florida Serial Killer. McFarland, pp. 15–22. ISBN 9781476687308.
- "Former Warren Resident Found Strangled." The Park City Daily News, September 15, 1971, p. 1. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022.
- "Cold Cases: 1970-1979." Miami Dade County. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022.
- "Hunt for Strangler Under Way." Associated Press, November 9, 1970. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
For more details, you can check the original article here.
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First Victim Murdered
Mary E. McGreevy, 64, is smothered to death in her home.
Second Victim Found
Sylvia Valdez, 38, is found dead in her car with signs of strangulation and gunshot wounds.
Third Victim Discovered
Bernadita Gonzalez, 44, is found dead in Levitz Lake, having died from blunt-force trauma.
Fourth Victim Found
Sherivon Dolores Wooten, 21, is found strangled on a dirt road.
Fifth Victim Discovered
Mary Louise Clark Danford, 64, is found strangled in her home.
Sixth Victim Found
Ruth Boehner, 64, is discovered dead in her apartment, having suffered blunt-force trauma.
Seventh Victim Murdered
Mattie Ophelia Harris, 84, is strangled to death in her kitchen.
Eighth Victim Found
Regina Bonnanno, 48, is found bound and dead in her apartment.
Ninth Victim Discovered
Patrice Finer Newkirk, 36, is found bludgeoned to death in the trunk of her car.
Suspected Tenth Victim
Mary Francis Sims, 31, is found dead, suspected to be a victim of the Miami Strangler.
The Miami Strangler is an unidentified serial killer responsible for the murders of at least nine women in Miami, Florida, between 1964 and 1970. The victims were often found posed in a manner suggesting sexual motivation, despite not being directly sexually assaulted, and the case remains unsolved as the perpetrator has never been apprehended. Investigators had one suspect, a felon, but he was never charged in connection with the crimes.
Theories surrounding the Miami Strangler suggest that the murders, while not all involving strangulation, were sexually motivated due to the way the victims were posed post-mortem. Some community speculation points to the possibility of a connection between the murders and a suspect who was a known felon, although he was never charged. The unusual nature of the killings, including the specific methods and the lack of sexual assault, has led to various interpretations about the killer's motives and psychological profile.
Miami Strangler
Overview
The Miami Strangler is an ominous moniker attributed to an unidentified serial killer who terrorized Miami, Florida, between 1964 and 1970, claiming the lives of at least nine women. While the name suggests a focus on strangulation, the reality was more complex: not all victims succumbed to strangulation; some were bludgeoned or smothered. Intriguingly, none of the victims were directly sexually assaulted, but the nature of the murders, particularly the way the bodies were posed post-mortem, hints at underlying sexual motivations. Despite extensive investigations, only one suspect—a known felon—was ever considered, but he was never formally charged.
Quick Facts
- Victims: 9–11
- Span of Crimes: 1964–1970
- Country: United States
- State: Florida
- Date Apprehended: Never apprehended
The Murders
1964: The First Victim
The horror began on August 17, 1964, when Mary E. McGreevy, a 64-year-old woman, was found smothered to death in her home. A pillow was used as the murder weapon, marking the start of a chilling pattern that would unfold over the coming years.
1965: Sylvia Valdez
Fast forward six months to March 8, 1965, when Sylvia Valdez, 38, left work around 9:00 PM. She encountered a flat tire in the parking lot, and a parking lot attendant later recounted seeing her conversing with two Cuban men before he left her alone. The next morning, Valdez was discovered dead in her car, with a black silk scarf wrapped around her neck and her skirt pulled over her head. Disturbingly, she had been shot twice behind the right ear with a .22 caliber pistol. Although her purse, shoes, and car keys were stolen, the killer left her diamond ring untouched—a detail that deepens the mystery of motive. Notably, there was no evidence of sexual assault.
1966: Bernadita Gonzalez
The case took a sinister turn in February 1966, when Bernadita Gonzalez, 44, was last seen alive in a Miami beauty salon. Eight weeks later, her decomposing body was discovered floating face down in Levitz Lake. The medical examiner revealed she had died from blunt-force trauma to the skull, possibly inflicted by a hatchet. In a perplexing twist, the perpetrator took her underwear but left her jewelry behind.
1969: Sherivon Dolores Wooten
On August 16, 1969, 21-year-old Sherivon Dolores Wooten became the next victim. Her lifeless body was found on a dirt road between two homes. Like Gonzalez, Wooten had been strangled, and her clothes were hiked over her breasts. Notably, fingernail marks were found on her neck, indicating a struggle. She had been last seen leaving her house the night before her body was discovered.
1970: A Series of Gruesome Discoveries
The year 1970 would become notorious for the escalating brutality of the murders. On May 5, Mary Louise Clark Danford, 64, was found strangled in her home by concerned friends who had come to check on her. She was discovered on her bed, her sweater pushed up, and her underwear missing. The killer had entered through a small window.
Just weeks later, on June 2, Ruth Boehner, also 64, was found in her apartment with blunt-force trauma to the head, neck, and jaw. The circumstances were eerily similar; her hyoid bone had been broken from strangulation, and her clothing was disheveled, with no signs of forced entry.
The horrifying pattern continued on August 5, when Mattie Ophelia Harris, an 84-year-old woman, was strangled with a necktie in her kitchen. Her house was found ransacked, adding another layer of terror to the already chilling case.
On October 10, Regina Bonnanno, a 48-year-old deaf-mute woman, was discovered bound to her bed. The scene was grotesque: her bra and a scarf were tied around her neck, panties stuffed in her mouth, and her head shoved inside a pillowcase.
The final confirmed victim, Patrice Finer Newkirk, aged 36, was found on October 26 in the trunk of her car, bludgeoned to death. The injuries to her skull suggested a violent impact, resembling that of a fall from a great height. Curiously, the killer had torn a piece of her dress and tied it around her neck while also stealing her purse, car keys, shoes, and underwear.
Other Suspected Murders
While the Miami Strangler is linked to nine confirmed murders, there are additional cases that may be connected. Mary Francis Sims, a 31-year-old housewife, was found dead by her husband in March 1971, having been sexually assaulted, strangled, and stabbed in the throat.
Another possible victim is Clara Jane Armaly, who was found strangled in her home on September 12, 1971. Her estranged husband had seen her earlier that day, but she was discovered face down in her bedroom the following morning. There were no signs of forced entry or struggle, and an electrical cord was found nearby, raising questions about its potential use in the crime. Her husband was so traumatized by the discovery that he required sedation at the hospital.
Investigation
As police delved into the case, they began to link the murders through striking similarities. Except for one victim, all were white women, and the crimes took place in downtown Miami. The causes of death—strangulation, smothering, or bludgeoning—painted a disturbing portrait of a serial killer with a potential sexual sadist motive. However, the perpetrator's methods varied, creating a complex and inconsistent profile that baffled investigators.
One suspect emerged during investigations: Calvin Jones Jr., a truck driver recently released from prison after a string of felonies. He had close ties to the victims, having changed Sylvia Valdez's tire and knowing Patrice Newkirk. Nevertheless, despite being questioned extensively, he was never charged.
Conclusion
The Miami Strangler remains an enigmatic figure in the annals of true crime. The chilling nature of the murders, the haunting similarities between the victims, and the lack of resolution continue to captivate and horrify those who delve into this dark chapter of Miami's history. The case remains unsolved, and the identities of the victims deserve to be remembered amidst the shadows of this unspeakable terror.
Sources
- "Public Is Asked To Aid in Solving Series of Slayings." Corpus Christi Times, November 9, 1970. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022.
- Kordburg, Charles (March 10, 1965). "Police Here Seek Leads in 2 Murders." The Miami News. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- "Police Seek Slayer of 9 Women in Dade." The Miami Herald, November 8, 1970, p. 1. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023.
- Burns, Michael (2021). The Flat Tire Murders: Unsolved Crimes of a South Florida Serial Killer. McFarland, pp. 15–22. ISBN 9781476687308.
- "Former Warren Resident Found Strangled." The Park City Daily News, September 15, 1971, p. 1. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022.
- "Cold Cases: 1970-1979." Miami Dade County. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022.
- "Hunt for Strangler Under Way." Associated Press, November 9, 1970. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
For more details, you can check the original article here.
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 Victim Murdered
Mary E. McGreevy, 64, is smothered to death in her home.
Second Victim Found
Sylvia Valdez, 38, is found dead in her car with signs of strangulation and gunshot wounds.
Third Victim Discovered
Bernadita Gonzalez, 44, is found dead in Levitz Lake, having died from blunt-force trauma.
Fourth Victim Found
Sherivon Dolores Wooten, 21, is found strangled on a dirt road.
Fifth Victim Discovered
Mary Louise Clark Danford, 64, is found strangled in her home.
Sixth Victim Found
Ruth Boehner, 64, is discovered dead in her apartment, having suffered blunt-force trauma.
Seventh Victim Murdered
Mattie Ophelia Harris, 84, is strangled to death in her kitchen.
Eighth Victim Found
Regina Bonnanno, 48, is found bound and dead in her apartment.
Ninth Victim Discovered
Patrice Finer Newkirk, 36, is found bludgeoned to death in the trunk of her car.
Suspected Tenth Victim
Mary Francis Sims, 31, is found dead, suspected to be a victim of the Miami Strangler.