Michael Sumpter

Overview

Michael Eugene Sumpter (September 26, 1947 – August 10, 2001) was a notorious American serial killer known for a chilling spree of violence that unfolded in the Greater Boston area from 1969 to 1973. His heinous acts included the rape and strangulation of three women, leaving a community in terror and confusion. Here's what's really fascinating: Sumpter managed to evade justice in life, dying before DNA evidence could conclusively link him to his brutal crimes.

Quick Facts

• Born: September 26, 1947, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Died: August 10, 2001 (aged 53), Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Correctional Unit, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Criminal Penalty: 21–30 years imprisonment
• Convictions:
  • Rape (2 counts)
  • Assault
  • Battery
• Victims: 3
• Span of Crimes: 1969–1973
• Date Apprehended: For the final time on December 19, 1973

Early Criminal Activity

Sumpter's criminal journey began at the tender age of 19, when he was arrested for a purse snatching on November 27, 1965, on Washington Street in Boston. His punishment consisted of a brief prison stint at MCI-Concord, but this was just the beginning of his violent trajectory. Upon his release, Sumpter's criminal behavior escalated rapidly, veering into the realms of sexual violence and murder.

The Victims

Jane Britton

Sumpter’s first known victim was 23-year-old Jane Britton, a brilliant Harvard University graduate student. On January 7, 1969, she was brutally raped and murdered in her Cambridge apartment. The daughter of an administrator at Radcliffe College, Jane was last seen with her friend, James Humphries. When she failed to attend classes the next day, concern grew, leading neighbors and Humphries to check on her.

What they discovered was nothing short of horrifying: Jane was found lying facedown on her blood-soaked mattress, clad only in her nightgown. The forensic autopsy revealed that she had been raped and killed with a sharp instrument, but the exact murder weapon was never identified. Investigators speculated that Sumpter likely accessed her apartment via the fire escape, slipping in through an open window to commit the unimaginable act. The case captured media attention, especially due to its similarities with the infamous Boston Strangler murders, yet no suspects emerged at the time.

Ellen Faith Rutchick

Fast forward to January 5, 1972, and Sumpter's next victim was 24-year-old Ellen Faith Rutchick, a secretary at the Colonnade Hotel. On that fateful night, he entered her Back Bay apartment and attacked her, using a stereo speaker cord to strangle her. After removing some of her clothing, he left her lifeless body on the sofa, dressed only in a housecoat and a torn bra.

In a tragic turn of events, concerned co-workers discovered the door slightly ajar and found Ellen dead. Just months later, in June 1972, Sumpter was convicted of assault and battery, earning himself a 6–10 year sentence at MCI-Norfolk. However, his burgeoning criminal profile remained deeply troubling.

Mary Lee McClain

While on furlough from prison, Sumpter committed yet another crime. On December 12, 1973, he entered the apartment of 24-year-old Mary Lee McClain, a secretary with two roommates and a male friend present. Despite the apparent safety in numbers, Sumpter's violent tendencies prevailed. The next morning, Mary Lee was found asphyxiated in her bed, wearing only a nightgown. A neighbor reported hearing muffled screams and what sounded like someone escaping down the fire escape just moments after.

Eight days later, Sumpter was apprehended after being caught with a stolen purse near Marsh Chapel, leading to a series of additional charges, including assaulting an arresting officer. He was remanded to MCI-Walpole but later transferred back to MCI-Norfolk.

Final Arrest and Convictions

On August 2, 1975, Sumpter was granted a work release, ostensibly for a job at Quincy Home Furnishings. However, the store closed early on Saturdays, giving him the perfect opportunity to hunt for another victim. He encountered a 19-year-old college student, posing as the "new neighbor," and was invited into her apartment.

Once inside, he attacked her while wearing rubber surgical gloves, binding her hands and gagging her. After forcing her to perform a sexual act, he raped her and fled the scene. Fortunately, the victim reported the crime, and after identifying Sumpter from a lineup of 250 police photos, he was arrested once again. This led to a conviction that resulted in a 15–20 year sentence, to be served consecutively with his previous sentences.

Death, Investigation, and Posthumous Exposures

Sumpter's life came to an end on August 10, 2001, when he succumbed to cancer at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Correctional Unit. After his death, authorities uploaded his DNA to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in hopes of linking him to unsolved cold cases. The results were shocking: in 2005, Sumpter's DNA was matched to a 1985 rape in Back Bay. Investigators continued to probe his connections, leading to significant revelations.

On February 28, 2010, Boston police announced that they had linked Sumpter to Ellen Rutchick's murder. Then, on October 19, 2012, another match was made, this time with Mary Lee McClain's 1973 murder. The most astonishing breakthrough came in 2018 when Sumpter was linked to Jane Britton's murder after his brother provided a DNA sample. This analysis excluded over 99.92 percent of the male population as potential suspects, dispelling previous theories that Jane's killer was someone she knew.

Conclusion

Michael Sumpter's life is a haunting reminder of how the justice system can sometimes fail to catch the worst offenders until it’s too late. His story remains a chilling chapter in the annals of American true crime, illustrating the devastating impact of serial violence on victims and their communities.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Michael Sumpter
• Christine Willmsen (November 20, 2018). "Killer Identified by DNA In Unsolved 1969 Cambridge Murder, DA Says". WBUR-FM.
• Todd Wallack (November 21, 2018). "Killer identified in 1969 murder of Harvard student in Cambridge". The Boston Globe.
• "2 Youths Get Prison Terms In Bag Thefts". The Boston Globe. December 13, 1965.
• Jerome Sullivan (January 21, 1969). "Still No Clue to Britton Slaying". The Boston Globe.
• Anne De Saint Phalle (January 8, 1969). "Grad Student Killed". The Harvard Crimson.
• "Coed Slain at Harvard". The Scranton Times-Tribune. January 8, 1969.
• "Police seek strangler of Back Bay secretary". The Boston Globe. January 7, 1972.
• "Crime Roundup". The Boston Globe. November 21, 1973.
• Alan Sheehan (November 28, 1975). "Convict gets 15-20 years in rape case". The Boston Globe.
• David Abel (February 18, 2010). "DNA links convict to '72 killing of woman". The Boston Globe.
• Melissa M. Werthmann (October 19, 2012). "Suspect identified in 1973 slaying, sex assault case". The Boston Globe.