Timothy Krajcir
Serial Killer Investigation
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
West Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania
TIME PERIOD
1977-1982
VICTIMS
9 confirmed
Timothy Wayne Krajcir, a convicted serial killer, is responsible for the murders of nine women across multiple states, including Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, between 1977 and 1982. He was apprehended on August 29, 2007, and is currently serving 13 consecutive life sentences in Missouri and an additional 80 years in Illinois for his crimes, which include five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of murder, seven counts of rape, and one count of robbery. Krajcir's criminal history dates back to his youth, with early offenses including theft and sexual deviance, culminating in a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Navy for sexual assault. Significant evidence leading to his convictions included DNA analysis and confessions, which have linked him to the series of homicides.
Timothy Krajcir is believed to have targeted vulnerable women, often using methods of deception to gain their trust before committing his crimes. Some speculate that his early exposure to criminal behavior and a troubled childhood contributed to his violent tendencies. Additionally, there are theories about potential undiscovered victims, as Krajcir's confession to nine murders may not encompass the full extent of his criminal activity.
The Chilling Crimes of Timothy Krajcir
The Early Years: A Troubled Beginning
Born Timothy Wayne McBride on November 28, 1944, in West Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania, Timothy Krajcir's life was marked by early turmoil. His father, Charles McBride, abandoned the family when Timothy was just a year old, leaving his mother, Fern Yost, to raise him alone. In the late 1940s, Fern married Bernie Krajcir, and by 1953, Bernie legally adopted Timothy, changing his surname to Krajcir.
The seeds of Krajcir's future criminal behavior were sown early. At the tender age of six, he was charged with petty theft for stealing a bicycle in Harrisburg. By 13, he had progressed to voyeurism and exhibitionism. At 15, he faced another petty theft charge in New Milford, Pennsylvania. Disturbingly, Krajcir developed an unhealthy obsession with his mother, Fern, a fixation that would shadow him throughout his life.
Education and Military Service
Despite his troubled youth, Krajcir pursued higher education, enrolling at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. There, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in the administration of justice, with a minor in psychology. But his academic pursuits were interrupted by a brief stint in the U.S. Navy. Enlisting at 17, Krajcir underwent basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois, but his military career was cut short. After just 14 months, he received a dishonorable discharge following a sexual assault charge.
The Path of Crime
Timothy Krajcir's criminal career began in earnest in 1963 when he entered the Illinois prison system on a rape conviction. This incarceration marked the beginning of a lifetime spent largely behind bars for sex crimes. However, a brief period of freedom in the late 1970s and early 1980s provided him with the opportunity to commit a series of heinous acts.
In 1983, Krajcir was arrested in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for violating his parole by possessing a pistol. A failed prison escape attempt that year left him with a broken leg, and he was subsequently tried and convicted of indecent assault, robbery, and criminal trespassing. He served a five-year sentence in Graterford State Prison in Pennsylvania. Upon completing that sentence in 1988, he was transferred to Big Muddy River Correctional Center in Illinois, where he chose to remain incarcerated, claiming he did not wish to harm anyone.
The Serial Murders
During his brief period of liberty, Krajcir embarked on a chilling murder spree across multiple states. He would travel to towns with which he had no connection, stalk his victims, and then break into their homes to await their arrival. His victims were found in various conditions—some tied up in their beds, others kidnapped and transported across state lines. Many were raped and forced to perform sexual acts before being killed. The methods of murder varied; some victims were shot, others stabbed or asphyxiated.
Despite the brutality of his crimes, investigators struggled to connect the dots. The lack of forensic and DNA technology at the time, coupled with Krajcir's varied methods, made it difficult to link these crimes to a single perpetrator.
Known Victims
- Brenda Parsh, 27, and Mary Parsh, 58, both murdered on August 12, 1977, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
- Sheila Cole, 21, killed on November 17, 1977, in McClure, Illinois.
- Virginia Lee Witte, 51, murdered on May 12, 1978, in Marion, Illinois.
- Joyce Tharp, 29, killed on March 23, 1979, in Paducah, Kentucky.
- Myrtle Rupp, 51, murdered on April 17, 1979, in Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania.
- Ida White, 72, survived an attack on September 7, 1981, in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
- Margie Call, 57, killed on January 27, 1982, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
- Deborah Sheppard, 23, murdered on April 8, 1982, in Carbondale, Illinois.
- Mildred Wallace, 65, killed on June 21, 1982, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The Breakthrough: DNA Evidence
In August 2007, advancements in DNA technology finally linked Krajcir to the 1982 murder of Deborah Sheppard, a student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. This breakthrough led to his arrest and subsequent confessions to additional murders. On December 10, 2007, Krajcir was sentenced to 40 years for Sheppard's murder and faced further charges for crimes in the Cape Girardeau area.
In January 2008, Krajcir pleaded guilty to the 1978 murder of Virginia Lee Witte, receiving another 40-year sentence. By April 2008, he admitted to the murders of five women in Cape Girardeau, along with multiple sexual assaults and a robbery, resulting in an additional 13 consecutive life terms. The plea bargain, agreed upon by victims' families, spared him the death penalty. During sentencing, Krajcir expressed gratitude to the victims' families for sparing his life.
Current Status
Today, Timothy Krajcir resides in the Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Illinois, serving his sentences for the lives he took and the trauma he caused. His case remains a chilling reminder of the shadows that can lurk behind seemingly ordinary lives.
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First Murders
Timothy Krajcir kills Brenda and Mary Parsh in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Third Murder
Krajcir murders Sheila Cole in McClure, Illinois.
Fourth Murder
Virginia Lee Witte is murdered by Krajcir in Marion, Illinois.
Fifth Murder
Joyce Tharp is killed in Paducah, Kentucky.
Sixth Murder
Margie Call is murdered in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Seventh Murder
Deborah Sheppard is killed in Carbondale, Illinois.
Arrest
Timothy Krajcir is apprehended due to DNA evidence linking him to the murders.
First Sentencing
Krajcir is sentenced to 40 years for the murder of Deborah Sheppard.
Final Sentencing
Krajcir pleads guilty to multiple murders and receives 13 life terms.
Timothy Wayne Krajcir, a convicted serial killer, is responsible for the murders of nine women across multiple states, including Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, between 1977 and 1982. He was apprehended on August 29, 2007, and is currently serving 13 consecutive life sentences in Missouri and an additional 80 years in Illinois for his crimes, which include five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of murder, seven counts of rape, and one count of robbery. Krajcir's criminal history dates back to his youth, with early offenses including theft and sexual deviance, culminating in a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Navy for sexual assault. Significant evidence leading to his convictions included DNA analysis and confessions, which have linked him to the series of homicides.
Timothy Krajcir is believed to have targeted vulnerable women, often using methods of deception to gain their trust before committing his crimes. Some speculate that his early exposure to criminal behavior and a troubled childhood contributed to his violent tendencies. Additionally, there are theories about potential undiscovered victims, as Krajcir's confession to nine murders may not encompass the full extent of his criminal activity.
The Chilling Crimes of Timothy Krajcir
The Early Years: A Troubled Beginning
Born Timothy Wayne McBride on November 28, 1944, in West Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania, Timothy Krajcir's life was marked by early turmoil. His father, Charles McBride, abandoned the family when Timothy was just a year old, leaving his mother, Fern Yost, to raise him alone. In the late 1940s, Fern married Bernie Krajcir, and by 1953, Bernie legally adopted Timothy, changing his surname to Krajcir.
The seeds of Krajcir's future criminal behavior were sown early. At the tender age of six, he was charged with petty theft for stealing a bicycle in Harrisburg. By 13, he had progressed to voyeurism and exhibitionism. At 15, he faced another petty theft charge in New Milford, Pennsylvania. Disturbingly, Krajcir developed an unhealthy obsession with his mother, Fern, a fixation that would shadow him throughout his life.
Education and Military Service
Despite his troubled youth, Krajcir pursued higher education, enrolling at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. There, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in the administration of justice, with a minor in psychology. But his academic pursuits were interrupted by a brief stint in the U.S. Navy. Enlisting at 17, Krajcir underwent basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois, but his military career was cut short. After just 14 months, he received a dishonorable discharge following a sexual assault charge.
The Path of Crime
Timothy Krajcir's criminal career began in earnest in 1963 when he entered the Illinois prison system on a rape conviction. This incarceration marked the beginning of a lifetime spent largely behind bars for sex crimes. However, a brief period of freedom in the late 1970s and early 1980s provided him with the opportunity to commit a series of heinous acts.
In 1983, Krajcir was arrested in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for violating his parole by possessing a pistol. A failed prison escape attempt that year left him with a broken leg, and he was subsequently tried and convicted of indecent assault, robbery, and criminal trespassing. He served a five-year sentence in Graterford State Prison in Pennsylvania. Upon completing that sentence in 1988, he was transferred to Big Muddy River Correctional Center in Illinois, where he chose to remain incarcerated, claiming he did not wish to harm anyone.
The Serial Murders
During his brief period of liberty, Krajcir embarked on a chilling murder spree across multiple states. He would travel to towns with which he had no connection, stalk his victims, and then break into their homes to await their arrival. His victims were found in various conditions—some tied up in their beds, others kidnapped and transported across state lines. Many were raped and forced to perform sexual acts before being killed. The methods of murder varied; some victims were shot, others stabbed or asphyxiated.
Despite the brutality of his crimes, investigators struggled to connect the dots. The lack of forensic and DNA technology at the time, coupled with Krajcir's varied methods, made it difficult to link these crimes to a single perpetrator.
Known Victims
- Brenda Parsh, 27, and Mary Parsh, 58, both murdered on August 12, 1977, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
- Sheila Cole, 21, killed on November 17, 1977, in McClure, Illinois.
- Virginia Lee Witte, 51, murdered on May 12, 1978, in Marion, Illinois.
- Joyce Tharp, 29, killed on March 23, 1979, in Paducah, Kentucky.
- Myrtle Rupp, 51, murdered on April 17, 1979, in Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania.
- Ida White, 72, survived an attack on September 7, 1981, in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
- Margie Call, 57, killed on January 27, 1982, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
- Deborah Sheppard, 23, murdered on April 8, 1982, in Carbondale, Illinois.
- Mildred Wallace, 65, killed on June 21, 1982, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The Breakthrough: DNA Evidence
In August 2007, advancements in DNA technology finally linked Krajcir to the 1982 murder of Deborah Sheppard, a student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. This breakthrough led to his arrest and subsequent confessions to additional murders. On December 10, 2007, Krajcir was sentenced to 40 years for Sheppard's murder and faced further charges for crimes in the Cape Girardeau area.
In January 2008, Krajcir pleaded guilty to the 1978 murder of Virginia Lee Witte, receiving another 40-year sentence. By April 2008, he admitted to the murders of five women in Cape Girardeau, along with multiple sexual assaults and a robbery, resulting in an additional 13 consecutive life terms. The plea bargain, agreed upon by victims' families, spared him the death penalty. During sentencing, Krajcir expressed gratitude to the victims' families for sparing his life.
Current Status
Today, Timothy Krajcir resides in the Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Illinois, serving his sentences for the lives he took and the trauma he caused. His case remains a chilling reminder of the shadows that can lurk behind seemingly ordinary lives.
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...
First Murders
Timothy Krajcir kills Brenda and Mary Parsh in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Third Murder
Krajcir murders Sheila Cole in McClure, Illinois.
Fourth Murder
Virginia Lee Witte is murdered by Krajcir in Marion, Illinois.
Fifth Murder
Joyce Tharp is killed in Paducah, Kentucky.
Sixth Murder
Margie Call is murdered in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Seventh Murder
Deborah Sheppard is killed in Carbondale, Illinois.
Arrest
Timothy Krajcir is apprehended due to DNA evidence linking him to the murders.
First Sentencing
Krajcir is sentenced to 40 years for the murder of Deborah Sheppard.
Final Sentencing
Krajcir pleads guilty to multiple murders and receives 13 life terms.