Ripper Crew
Chicago Serial Killer Cult
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Illinois, United States
TIME PERIOD
1981-1982
VICTIMS
18 confirmed
The Ripper Crew, an organized crime group operating in Illinois, was responsible for the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of at least 17 women between May 23, 1981, and October 6, 1982. The group, led by Robin Gecht and including Edward Spreitzer and brothers Andrew and Thomas Kokoraleis, committed their first known murder with the abduction and mutilation of 28-year-old Linda Sutton. The crew's criminal activities culminated in their apprehension between October 20 and November 12, 1982. Currently, Gecht and Spreitzer are incarcerated, with Gecht serving 120 years and Spreitzer sentenced to life without parole, while Andrew Kokoraleis was executed in 1999, and Thomas Kokoraleis was released after serving a reduced sentence. Significant evidence includes the victims' remains, which displayed signs of brutal mutilation, and confessions from the suspects that linked them to the crimes.
The Ripper Crew is believed to have committed the murders of 17 women in a series of brutal killings in Illinois during the early 1980s, with theories suggesting that their acts were part of a cult-like ritual involving cannibalism and necrophilia. Investigators speculate that the group's leader, Robin Gecht, had a manipulative and charismatic influence over his associates, contributing to their heinous crimes. Some theories also propose that the crew's activities were part of a larger network of organized crime, potentially involving more victims than those officially attributed to them.
The Ripper Crew: A Tale of Terror in Chicago
In the early 1980s, Chicago was gripped by fear as a sinister group known as the Ripper Crew, or the Chicago Rippers, embarked on a gruesome spree of murder, torture, and mutilation. This organized crime group was comprised of Robin Gecht, Edward Spreitzer, and brothers Andrew and Thomas Kokoraleis. Their heinous acts would leave an indelible mark on the state of Illinois, with the group suspected of murdering 17 women between 1981 and 1982. They were also linked to a seemingly unrelated drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a man. One detective famously remarked that Robin Gecht, the alleged leader, "made Manson look like a Boy Scout."
The Horrifying Murders
The Ripper Crew's reign of terror began on May 23, 1981, with the abduction of 28-year-old Linda Sutton. Her body, discovered ten days later behind the Moonlit Motel, bore the gruesome hallmark of the Rippers: a mutilated corpse with her left breast amputated. Almost a year passed before they struck again.
On May 15, 1982, Lorraine Borowski was kidnapped as she prepared to open the realtor's office where she worked. Her body was found five months later in a Clarendon Hills cemetery. Just two weeks after Borowski's disappearance, the group abducted Shui Mak from Hanover Park. Mak, a recent immigrant from China, was left by her brother on the roadside after an argument, only to be kidnapped by the crew. They taunted her with racial slurs and beat her unconscious. Her body remained undiscovered for four months.
The Ripper Crew's brutality continued. They attacked Angel York, who was left alive to describe her ordeal, though her description led to no immediate arrests. Sandra Delaware's body was found on August 28, 1982, beside the Chicago River, her injuries echoing those of previous victims. Rose Davis similarly met a tragic fate, discovered in an alley on September 8, 1982.
The gang's brutality was not limited to women. On October 6, 1982, in a random act of violence, they shot 28-year-old Rafael Tirado and his friend, 18-year-old Alberto Rosario, in a drive-by shooting. Tirado died from his injuries, making him the gang's only male victim.
Their final crime was committed later that same day. Robin Gecht, acting alone, lured a prostitute, Beverley Washington, into his car. She survived the vicious attack, despite severe injuries, and provided crucial descriptions of both Gecht and his van.
The Investigation and Arrests
The investigation into the Ripper Crew was as complex as their crimes were horrific. Initially, Robin Gecht was arrested after police connected his van to Beverley Washington's attack. However, lacking sufficient evidence, they had to release him. Later, detectives uncovered that Gecht and his associates had rented rooms in a motel in 1981, where they held wild parties, raising suspicions of cult activities.
Gecht was re-arrested on October 20, 1982, and a few days later, police apprehended Edward Spreitzer and the Kokoraleis brothers. Andrew Kokoraleis was detained on November 7, after confessing to up to 17 murders alongside Spreitzer. Thomas Kokoraleis, arrested on November 12, revealed chilling details about their "satanic chapel" where they tortured and mutilated their victims.
Trials and Sentences
Despite the confessions, Robin Gecht maintained his innocence. In 1983, he was convicted of attempted murder and other charges related to the attack on Beverley Washington, earning him a 120-year prison sentence. Judge Francis J. Mahon described Gecht's acts as those only a "devil" could commit.
Edward Spreitzer pleaded guilty to multiple charges in 1984, hoping for leniency but was sentenced to life without parole. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was commuted to life in 2003 when Illinois abolished the death penalty.
Andrew Kokoraleis faced a similar fate. He was sentenced to life without parole in 1985 for the murder of Rose Davis, and later received the death penalty for the murder of Lorraine Borowski. He was executed by lethal injection on March 17, 1999.
Thomas Kokoraleis's detailed confessions led to a life sentence, later commuted to 70 years. Following a successful appeal, he was released in 2019, after which he proclaimed his innocence.
A Legacy of Horror
The Ripper Crew left a legacy of horror, their crimes echoing in the annals of true crime. Robin Gecht remains incarcerated, with a projected parole date in 2042. Meanwhile, the families of the victims continue to grapple with the unspeakable loss and suffering inflicted by this notorious group.
Sources
For further reading and a comprehensive list of references, please visit the Wikipedia article on the Ripper Crew.
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First Victim Abducted
The Ripper Crew abducts 28-year-old Linda Sutton.
Linda Sutton Found
Linda Sutton's mutilated body is discovered in a field.
Second Victim Abducted
The gang abducts Lorraine Borowski from her workplace.
Drive-By Shooting
The gang shoots Rafael Tirado and Alberto Rosario in a drive-by.
First Arrest
Robin Gecht is arrested after his van is linked to a crime.
Confessions Made
Andrew Kokoraleis and Edward Spreitzer confess to 17 murders.
Gecht Convicted
Robin Gecht is convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 120 years.
Spreitzer Sentenced to Death
Edward Spreitzer is sentenced to death for multiple murders.
Kokoraleis Executed
Andrew Kokoraleis is executed by lethal injection.
Thomas Kokoraleis Released
Thomas Kokoraleis is released from prison after serving time.
The Ripper Crew, an organized crime group operating in Illinois, was responsible for the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of at least 17 women between May 23, 1981, and October 6, 1982. The group, led by Robin Gecht and including Edward Spreitzer and brothers Andrew and Thomas Kokoraleis, committed their first known murder with the abduction and mutilation of 28-year-old Linda Sutton. The crew's criminal activities culminated in their apprehension between October 20 and November 12, 1982. Currently, Gecht and Spreitzer are incarcerated, with Gecht serving 120 years and Spreitzer sentenced to life without parole, while Andrew Kokoraleis was executed in 1999, and Thomas Kokoraleis was released after serving a reduced sentence. Significant evidence includes the victims' remains, which displayed signs of brutal mutilation, and confessions from the suspects that linked them to the crimes.
The Ripper Crew is believed to have committed the murders of 17 women in a series of brutal killings in Illinois during the early 1980s, with theories suggesting that their acts were part of a cult-like ritual involving cannibalism and necrophilia. Investigators speculate that the group's leader, Robin Gecht, had a manipulative and charismatic influence over his associates, contributing to their heinous crimes. Some theories also propose that the crew's activities were part of a larger network of organized crime, potentially involving more victims than those officially attributed to them.
The Ripper Crew: A Tale of Terror in Chicago
In the early 1980s, Chicago was gripped by fear as a sinister group known as the Ripper Crew, or the Chicago Rippers, embarked on a gruesome spree of murder, torture, and mutilation. This organized crime group was comprised of Robin Gecht, Edward Spreitzer, and brothers Andrew and Thomas Kokoraleis. Their heinous acts would leave an indelible mark on the state of Illinois, with the group suspected of murdering 17 women between 1981 and 1982. They were also linked to a seemingly unrelated drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a man. One detective famously remarked that Robin Gecht, the alleged leader, "made Manson look like a Boy Scout."
The Horrifying Murders
The Ripper Crew's reign of terror began on May 23, 1981, with the abduction of 28-year-old Linda Sutton. Her body, discovered ten days later behind the Moonlit Motel, bore the gruesome hallmark of the Rippers: a mutilated corpse with her left breast amputated. Almost a year passed before they struck again.
On May 15, 1982, Lorraine Borowski was kidnapped as she prepared to open the realtor's office where she worked. Her body was found five months later in a Clarendon Hills cemetery. Just two weeks after Borowski's disappearance, the group abducted Shui Mak from Hanover Park. Mak, a recent immigrant from China, was left by her brother on the roadside after an argument, only to be kidnapped by the crew. They taunted her with racial slurs and beat her unconscious. Her body remained undiscovered for four months.
The Ripper Crew's brutality continued. They attacked Angel York, who was left alive to describe her ordeal, though her description led to no immediate arrests. Sandra Delaware's body was found on August 28, 1982, beside the Chicago River, her injuries echoing those of previous victims. Rose Davis similarly met a tragic fate, discovered in an alley on September 8, 1982.
The gang's brutality was not limited to women. On October 6, 1982, in a random act of violence, they shot 28-year-old Rafael Tirado and his friend, 18-year-old Alberto Rosario, in a drive-by shooting. Tirado died from his injuries, making him the gang's only male victim.
Their final crime was committed later that same day. Robin Gecht, acting alone, lured a prostitute, Beverley Washington, into his car. She survived the vicious attack, despite severe injuries, and provided crucial descriptions of both Gecht and his van.
The Investigation and Arrests
The investigation into the Ripper Crew was as complex as their crimes were horrific. Initially, Robin Gecht was arrested after police connected his van to Beverley Washington's attack. However, lacking sufficient evidence, they had to release him. Later, detectives uncovered that Gecht and his associates had rented rooms in a motel in 1981, where they held wild parties, raising suspicions of cult activities.
Gecht was re-arrested on October 20, 1982, and a few days later, police apprehended Edward Spreitzer and the Kokoraleis brothers. Andrew Kokoraleis was detained on November 7, after confessing to up to 17 murders alongside Spreitzer. Thomas Kokoraleis, arrested on November 12, revealed chilling details about their "satanic chapel" where they tortured and mutilated their victims.
Trials and Sentences
Despite the confessions, Robin Gecht maintained his innocence. In 1983, he was convicted of attempted murder and other charges related to the attack on Beverley Washington, earning him a 120-year prison sentence. Judge Francis J. Mahon described Gecht's acts as those only a "devil" could commit.
Edward Spreitzer pleaded guilty to multiple charges in 1984, hoping for leniency but was sentenced to life without parole. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was commuted to life in 2003 when Illinois abolished the death penalty.
Andrew Kokoraleis faced a similar fate. He was sentenced to life without parole in 1985 for the murder of Rose Davis, and later received the death penalty for the murder of Lorraine Borowski. He was executed by lethal injection on March 17, 1999.
Thomas Kokoraleis's detailed confessions led to a life sentence, later commuted to 70 years. Following a successful appeal, he was released in 2019, after which he proclaimed his innocence.
A Legacy of Horror
The Ripper Crew left a legacy of horror, their crimes echoing in the annals of true crime. Robin Gecht remains incarcerated, with a projected parole date in 2042. Meanwhile, the families of the victims continue to grapple with the unspeakable loss and suffering inflicted by this notorious group.
Sources
For further reading and a comprehensive list of references, please visit the Wikipedia article on the Ripper Crew.
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 Abducted
The Ripper Crew abducts 28-year-old Linda Sutton.
Linda Sutton Found
Linda Sutton's mutilated body is discovered in a field.
Second Victim Abducted
The gang abducts Lorraine Borowski from her workplace.
Drive-By Shooting
The gang shoots Rafael Tirado and Alberto Rosario in a drive-by.
First Arrest
Robin Gecht is arrested after his van is linked to a crime.
Confessions Made
Andrew Kokoraleis and Edward Spreitzer confess to 17 murders.
Gecht Convicted
Robin Gecht is convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 120 years.
Spreitzer Sentenced to Death
Edward Spreitzer is sentenced to death for multiple murders.
Kokoraleis Executed
Andrew Kokoraleis is executed by lethal injection.
Thomas Kokoraleis Released
Thomas Kokoraleis is released from prison after serving time.