Roy Melanson
Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Cañon City, Colorado
TIME PERIOD
1974-2020
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Roy Allan Melanson, an American serial killer and rapist, was conclusively linked to three murders and numerous rapes across California, Colorado, and Louisiana between 1974 and 1988. Notably, he was convicted for the 1974 murders of Anita Andrews and Michele Wallace, receiving two life sentences before his death on May 22, 2020, at the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City, Colorado. Melanson, a drifter with a criminal history of burglaries and rapes, was apprehended for the final time in January 1992, and remains the prime suspect in at least two additional murders. Significant evidence from the Andrews case included a cigarette butt and a partial bloody fingerprint, which ultimately led to the resolution of the case decades later.
Roy Melanson is believed to be connected to a series of unsolved murders beyond the three he was convicted of, with some theories suggesting he may have been involved in as many as five or more killings across multiple states. Investigators speculate that his history as a drifter and con artist contributed to his ability to evade capture and commit crimes in different locations. Additionally, there are suspicions regarding his potential involvement in the murder of a fellow inmate while in prison, indicating a violent pattern that may have extended throughout his life.
The Sinister Legacy of Roy Melanson
The Early Life of a Drifter
Roy Allan Melanson's life began on February 13, 1937, in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. From those humble beginnings, his path would twist into a dark tale of crime and violence. Melanson led a transient life, drifting from town to town, always leaving a trail of chaos in his wake. His early criminal activities, which included burglaries and rapes in Orange and Jefferson County, Texas, landed him a 12-year prison sentence. Remarkably, he served only half of that sentence and was rumored to have killed an inmate while incarcerated—a dark prelude to the horrors that would follow.
In 1975, Melanson was extradited for a rape trial, resulting in a life sentence. Yet, his sentence was reduced, and by March 1988, he walked free, mere months before the murder of one of his suspected victims. His time on the outside, however, would be marked by a series of heinous acts that would ultimately seal his fate.
The Murders
The Tragic End of Anita Andrews
Anita Andrews was once a county fair beauty queen and, by 1974, a hardworking single mother balancing two jobs: one at the Napa State Hospital and the other at her family bar, Fagiani's Cocktail Lounge. On July 10, 1974, as the night drew to a close, a stranger lingered in the bar. The next morning, Anita's sister, Muriel, stumbled upon a horrific scene. Anita's lifeless body lay in a pool of blood, brutally raped, her clothes torn, stabbed 13 times with a screwdriver, and her throat savagely slashed. Her Cadillac Eldorado was missing, and the killer left behind a cigarette butt, a partial bloody fingerprint, and smudged fingerprints on a bottle and the cash register. Despite these clues, the case would remain unsolved for decades.
The Disappearance of Michele Wallace
In August 1974, Melanson appeared in Gunnison County, Colorado, posing as an experienced sheepherder. A local rancher hired him to protect his flock from predators. One day, at Timbers Bar, Melanson met Charles Matthews and requested a ride. Matthews' car broke down, fortuitously coinciding with the arrival of Michele Wallace, who was returning from a backpacking trip. She offered them a lift, but after dropping off Matthews, she and Melanson continued alone. Michele vanished without a trace. Her disappearance baffled investigators until the early 1990s when a determined sheriff reopened the cold case. Michele's remains were eventually discovered off a remote mountain road, but the cause of death remained elusive.
The Unsolved Fate of Pauline Klumpp
Pauline Klumpp, another suspected victim, vanished in 1988. She rented a home in Port Acres, Port Arthur, Texas, to Melanson, his ex-wife, and her new boyfriend. One day, Pauline asked Melanson for help with her air conditioner and to pick up a TV. The pair were last seen together, but Pauline never returned. Her husband, returning from a job in Galveston, found a pot of gumbo cooking for days. Four days after her disappearance, Pauline's car was discovered abandoned behind a grocery store, the TV still inside. From the start, Detective Scott Gaspard considered Melanson the prime suspect, yet the case remained unresolved.
The Brutal Murder of Charlotte Sauerwin
In August 1988, Melanson was in Walker, Louisiana. At a laundromat, he encountered 24-year-old Charlotte Sauerwin, who was lamenting her fiancé's slow progress in saving money for their future home. Melanson presented himself as a land developer with an enticing offer. When others left the laundromat, Melanson attacked Charlotte, raping, torturing, and finally strangling her before slashing her throat. He dragged her body to a shed, leaving a chilling reminder of his cruelty.
The Long Arm of Justice
In January 1992, authorities apprehended Melanson in Kentucky for unrelated burglary charges. With Michele Wallace's remains found, he was extradited to Colorado and stood trial for her murder. Evidence linked him to her death, including possession of her car and personal items, such as a camera with a photo of Melanson posing with an unidentified teenager. In September 1993, a jury convicted him, sentencing him to life imprisonment based on hair evidence.
In 2000, a new federal law required Melanson to submit his DNA, providing authorities with the opportunity to solve other murders. In 2010, DNA evidence connected him to the murders of Anita Andrews and Charlotte Sauerwin. Although he was only tried for Andrews' murder in 2011, he received another life sentence. Law enforcement agencies across the country began re-examining cold cases, hopeful of linking Melanson to more crimes. Yet, Melanson remained uncooperative and repeatedly sought parole, which was consistently denied by the Colorado Supreme Court.
The End of a Dark Chapter
On May 22, 2020, Roy Melanson died while serving his sentence at the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City, Colorado. His death, however, went unannounced until 2021 when the Napa District Attorney's Office inquired about his status. Though Melanson's life ended behind bars, the full extent of his crimes may never be known. His sinister legacy continues to haunt those who seek closure for the unsolved mysteries he left behind.
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Murder of Anita Andrews
Anita Andrews is found murdered in her bar, having been raped and stabbed multiple times.
Disappearance of Michele Wallace
Michele Wallace disappears after giving Roy Melanson a ride; her case becomes a cold case.
Murder of Charlotte Sauerwin
Charlotte Sauerwin is raped and murdered by Melanson in Louisiana.
Arrest in Kentucky
Roy Melanson is arrested in Kentucky on unrelated burglary charges.
Trial for Michele Wallace's Murder
Melanson is transported to Colorado to stand trial for Michele Wallace's murder after her remains are found.
Conviction for Michele Wallace's Murder
Melanson is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Michele Wallace.
DNA Links to Other Murders
DNA evidence connects Melanson to the murders of Anita Andrews and Charlotte Sauerwin.
Conviction for Anita Andrews' Murder
Melanson is tried and convicted for the murder of Anita Andrews, receiving another life sentence.
Death in Prison
Roy Melanson dies in prison while serving his life sentences.
Roy Allan Melanson, an American serial killer and rapist, was conclusively linked to three murders and numerous rapes across California, Colorado, and Louisiana between 1974 and 1988. Notably, he was convicted for the 1974 murders of Anita Andrews and Michele Wallace, receiving two life sentences before his death on May 22, 2020, at the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City, Colorado. Melanson, a drifter with a criminal history of burglaries and rapes, was apprehended for the final time in January 1992, and remains the prime suspect in at least two additional murders. Significant evidence from the Andrews case included a cigarette butt and a partial bloody fingerprint, which ultimately led to the resolution of the case decades later.
Roy Melanson is believed to be connected to a series of unsolved murders beyond the three he was convicted of, with some theories suggesting he may have been involved in as many as five or more killings across multiple states. Investigators speculate that his history as a drifter and con artist contributed to his ability to evade capture and commit crimes in different locations. Additionally, there are suspicions regarding his potential involvement in the murder of a fellow inmate while in prison, indicating a violent pattern that may have extended throughout his life.
The Sinister Legacy of Roy Melanson
The Early Life of a Drifter
Roy Allan Melanson's life began on February 13, 1937, in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. From those humble beginnings, his path would twist into a dark tale of crime and violence. Melanson led a transient life, drifting from town to town, always leaving a trail of chaos in his wake. His early criminal activities, which included burglaries and rapes in Orange and Jefferson County, Texas, landed him a 12-year prison sentence. Remarkably, he served only half of that sentence and was rumored to have killed an inmate while incarcerated—a dark prelude to the horrors that would follow.
In 1975, Melanson was extradited for a rape trial, resulting in a life sentence. Yet, his sentence was reduced, and by March 1988, he walked free, mere months before the murder of one of his suspected victims. His time on the outside, however, would be marked by a series of heinous acts that would ultimately seal his fate.
The Murders
The Tragic End of Anita Andrews
Anita Andrews was once a county fair beauty queen and, by 1974, a hardworking single mother balancing two jobs: one at the Napa State Hospital and the other at her family bar, Fagiani's Cocktail Lounge. On July 10, 1974, as the night drew to a close, a stranger lingered in the bar. The next morning, Anita's sister, Muriel, stumbled upon a horrific scene. Anita's lifeless body lay in a pool of blood, brutally raped, her clothes torn, stabbed 13 times with a screwdriver, and her throat savagely slashed. Her Cadillac Eldorado was missing, and the killer left behind a cigarette butt, a partial bloody fingerprint, and smudged fingerprints on a bottle and the cash register. Despite these clues, the case would remain unsolved for decades.
The Disappearance of Michele Wallace
In August 1974, Melanson appeared in Gunnison County, Colorado, posing as an experienced sheepherder. A local rancher hired him to protect his flock from predators. One day, at Timbers Bar, Melanson met Charles Matthews and requested a ride. Matthews' car broke down, fortuitously coinciding with the arrival of Michele Wallace, who was returning from a backpacking trip. She offered them a lift, but after dropping off Matthews, she and Melanson continued alone. Michele vanished without a trace. Her disappearance baffled investigators until the early 1990s when a determined sheriff reopened the cold case. Michele's remains were eventually discovered off a remote mountain road, but the cause of death remained elusive.
The Unsolved Fate of Pauline Klumpp
Pauline Klumpp, another suspected victim, vanished in 1988. She rented a home in Port Acres, Port Arthur, Texas, to Melanson, his ex-wife, and her new boyfriend. One day, Pauline asked Melanson for help with her air conditioner and to pick up a TV. The pair were last seen together, but Pauline never returned. Her husband, returning from a job in Galveston, found a pot of gumbo cooking for days. Four days after her disappearance, Pauline's car was discovered abandoned behind a grocery store, the TV still inside. From the start, Detective Scott Gaspard considered Melanson the prime suspect, yet the case remained unresolved.
The Brutal Murder of Charlotte Sauerwin
In August 1988, Melanson was in Walker, Louisiana. At a laundromat, he encountered 24-year-old Charlotte Sauerwin, who was lamenting her fiancé's slow progress in saving money for their future home. Melanson presented himself as a land developer with an enticing offer. When others left the laundromat, Melanson attacked Charlotte, raping, torturing, and finally strangling her before slashing her throat. He dragged her body to a shed, leaving a chilling reminder of his cruelty.
The Long Arm of Justice
In January 1992, authorities apprehended Melanson in Kentucky for unrelated burglary charges. With Michele Wallace's remains found, he was extradited to Colorado and stood trial for her murder. Evidence linked him to her death, including possession of her car and personal items, such as a camera with a photo of Melanson posing with an unidentified teenager. In September 1993, a jury convicted him, sentencing him to life imprisonment based on hair evidence.
In 2000, a new federal law required Melanson to submit his DNA, providing authorities with the opportunity to solve other murders. In 2010, DNA evidence connected him to the murders of Anita Andrews and Charlotte Sauerwin. Although he was only tried for Andrews' murder in 2011, he received another life sentence. Law enforcement agencies across the country began re-examining cold cases, hopeful of linking Melanson to more crimes. Yet, Melanson remained uncooperative and repeatedly sought parole, which was consistently denied by the Colorado Supreme Court.
The End of a Dark Chapter
On May 22, 2020, Roy Melanson died while serving his sentence at the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City, Colorado. His death, however, went unannounced until 2021 when the Napa District Attorney's Office inquired about his status. Though Melanson's life ended behind bars, the full extent of his crimes may never be known. His sinister legacy continues to haunt those who seek closure for the unsolved mysteries he left behind.
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...
Murder of Anita Andrews
Anita Andrews is found murdered in her bar, having been raped and stabbed multiple times.
Disappearance of Michele Wallace
Michele Wallace disappears after giving Roy Melanson a ride; her case becomes a cold case.
Murder of Charlotte Sauerwin
Charlotte Sauerwin is raped and murdered by Melanson in Louisiana.
Arrest in Kentucky
Roy Melanson is arrested in Kentucky on unrelated burglary charges.
Trial for Michele Wallace's Murder
Melanson is transported to Colorado to stand trial for Michele Wallace's murder after her remains are found.
Conviction for Michele Wallace's Murder
Melanson is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Michele Wallace.
DNA Links to Other Murders
DNA evidence connects Melanson to the murders of Anita Andrews and Charlotte Sauerwin.
Conviction for Anita Andrews' Murder
Melanson is tried and convicted for the murder of Anita Andrews, receiving another life sentence.
Death in Prison
Roy Melanson dies in prison while serving his life sentences.