William Johansen
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
New York, New York
TIME PERIOD
1933-1940
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
William Johansen, also known as Harry W. Gordon, was a Danish-American serial killer responsible for the murders of three women, including his first wife, between 1933 and 1940 in New York and California. His first victim, Florence Gordon, was killed on October 20, 1933, after an argument, and her death was initially ruled a suicide. Following this, Johansen murdered Lena Betty Coffin on April 6, 1935, in San Francisco, where he strangled and stabbed her in a motel room. He was apprehended on July 9, 1940, and subsequently convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. Johansen was executed by gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on September 5, 1941. Significant evidence included the forensic analysis of the crime scenes and Johansen's own confessions, which ultimately led to his conviction.
William Johansen is believed to have developed his violent tendencies while working in a hospital morgue, where he reportedly began having urges to cut people and even slept with corpses. Some speculate that his alcoholism exacerbated these urges, leading to his brutal murders of three women, including his first wife. There is also a theory that his unstable marriage and subsequent separation may have contributed to his violent behavior.
The Sinister Tale of William Johansen: A Serial Killer's Journey
The Early Years and Descent into Darkness
William L. Johansen was born on February 24, 1905, in Denmark, a beginning that belied the sinister path his life would eventually take. As a child, he moved to Beverly, Massachusetts, where he completed eighth grade before briefly serving in the Army. Later, he settled in New York City, working various jobs at theaters and restaurants. However, his life took a nosedive when he was placed on probation for three years after embezzling funds from a restaurant. It was during his time working in a hospital morgue that he began to experience disturbing urges, particularly when whiskey clouded his judgment. He even admitted to sleeping with corpses, a behavior that foreshadowed the violent acts he would later commit.
Johansen's personal life seemed stable at first; he married Florence, and the couple had two children. Unfortunately, their marriage deteriorated, leading to a separation that set the stage for a tragic turn of events.
The Murders Begin
Johansen's homicidal spree began in New York on October 20, 1933. After a heated argument, he strangled his wife, Florence, in a fit of rage. Driven by a gruesome curiosity, he cut open her abdomen with a boning knife to confirm her claims of pregnancy. The scene was so peculiar that investigators initially ruled her death a suicide, mistaking it for a ritualistic seppuku. With his wife's death ruled as such, Johansen adopted the alias Harry W. Gordon and fled New York, starting a new life as a sea merchant. His travels eventually brought him to San Francisco.
In San Francisco, on the night of April 6, 1935, Johansen met Lena Betty Coffin, a 35-year-old prostitute, on Market Street. They checked into a motel under assumed names, "Mr. and Mrs. H. Meyers." Within an hour, Johansen strangled her into semiconsciousness, taped her mouth shut, and stabbed her to death. He meticulously cleaned the room, removing any trace of his presence, before returning to his sea merchant job.
His travels took him to Portland, the Gulf of Mexico, and Texas, but he eventually returned to California, where he remarried. His new wife, Lydia Gordon, owned a flower shop in Long Beach, seemingly oblivious to her husband's dark past.
Another Victim and a Trail of Suspicion
On June 24, 1940, Johansen crossed paths with his final victim, Irene McCarthy, at a beer hall on Fifth Street. Both heavily intoxicated, they retired to a nearby hotel room, registered as "Mr. and Mrs. J. Wilkins of Los Angeles." When McCarthy fell asleep, Johansen attempted to wake her, and when she did not respond, he strangled her with her girdle. He then mutilated her body, cutting off a portion of her torso and placing it beside her. After hiding the bloody evidence by flipping the mattress, he cleaned himself and left for Los Angeles.
The grotesque nature of Johansen's crimes led investigators to suspect his involvement in other unsolved murders, including those attributed to the Cleveland Torso Murderer, an unidentified serial killer active in Ohio between 1934 and 1938. Despite these suspicions and connections to killings in San Diego, Johansen was never charged for these additional crimes.
Capture, Trial, and Execution
Following McCarthy's murder, detectives scoured local bars and found a witness who recognized Johansen's alias. On July 9, 1940, police apprehended him in Los Angeles as he exited a meeting. Hotel employees identified him as the man last seen with McCarthy, and Johansen confessed to the murders of both Coffin and McCarthy. He revealed his true identity and recounted the murder of his first wife, Florence.
Charged with the two murders in California, Johansen expressed a desire to plead guilty. However, his public defender insisted otherwise, leading Johansen to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. He openly admitted his homicidal inclinations, telling the judge, "I'll kill some other woman if you free me. I'll do it again, sure!" Despite his claims of insanity, Johansen was found legally sane in October 1940 and automatically convicted. He received the death sentence with a chilling indifference, remarking to the judge, "it doesn't make any difference."
On September 5, 1941, William Johansen faced his fate in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison. Before his execution, he told reporters, "I don't give a damn if I go to the gas house. Not much doubt I'm a menace. I've killed three women and I'd probably do it again unless they get me out of the way. I expect the worst, and the sooner it comes, the better."
Sources
For more details on the case, you can visit the original Wikipedia article: William Johansen on Wikipedia
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First Murder: Florence Gordon
William Johansen murders his first wife, Florence, after an argument, initially ruling it a suicide.
Second Murder: Lena Betty Coffin
Johansen strangles and stabs prostitute Lena Betty Coffin in a motel room in San Francisco.
Third Murder: Irene McCarthy
Johansen murders Irene McCarthy in a hotel room, dismembering her body afterward.
Arrest of William Johansen
Johansen is arrested in Los Angeles after detectives identify him as the last person seen with McCarthy.
Trial Begins
Johansen's trial begins; he initially pleads innocent but later changes to not guilty by reason of insanity.
Conviction
Johansen is found legally sane and convicted of the murders of Coffin and McCarthy.
Execution
William Johansen is executed by gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison.
William Johansen, also known as Harry W. Gordon, was a Danish-American serial killer responsible for the murders of three women, including his first wife, between 1933 and 1940 in New York and California. His first victim, Florence Gordon, was killed on October 20, 1933, after an argument, and her death was initially ruled a suicide. Following this, Johansen murdered Lena Betty Coffin on April 6, 1935, in San Francisco, where he strangled and stabbed her in a motel room. He was apprehended on July 9, 1940, and subsequently convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. Johansen was executed by gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on September 5, 1941. Significant evidence included the forensic analysis of the crime scenes and Johansen's own confessions, which ultimately led to his conviction.
William Johansen is believed to have developed his violent tendencies while working in a hospital morgue, where he reportedly began having urges to cut people and even slept with corpses. Some speculate that his alcoholism exacerbated these urges, leading to his brutal murders of three women, including his first wife. There is also a theory that his unstable marriage and subsequent separation may have contributed to his violent behavior.
The Sinister Tale of William Johansen: A Serial Killer's Journey
The Early Years and Descent into Darkness
William L. Johansen was born on February 24, 1905, in Denmark, a beginning that belied the sinister path his life would eventually take. As a child, he moved to Beverly, Massachusetts, where he completed eighth grade before briefly serving in the Army. Later, he settled in New York City, working various jobs at theaters and restaurants. However, his life took a nosedive when he was placed on probation for three years after embezzling funds from a restaurant. It was during his time working in a hospital morgue that he began to experience disturbing urges, particularly when whiskey clouded his judgment. He even admitted to sleeping with corpses, a behavior that foreshadowed the violent acts he would later commit.
Johansen's personal life seemed stable at first; he married Florence, and the couple had two children. Unfortunately, their marriage deteriorated, leading to a separation that set the stage for a tragic turn of events.
The Murders Begin
Johansen's homicidal spree began in New York on October 20, 1933. After a heated argument, he strangled his wife, Florence, in a fit of rage. Driven by a gruesome curiosity, he cut open her abdomen with a boning knife to confirm her claims of pregnancy. The scene was so peculiar that investigators initially ruled her death a suicide, mistaking it for a ritualistic seppuku. With his wife's death ruled as such, Johansen adopted the alias Harry W. Gordon and fled New York, starting a new life as a sea merchant. His travels eventually brought him to San Francisco.
In San Francisco, on the night of April 6, 1935, Johansen met Lena Betty Coffin, a 35-year-old prostitute, on Market Street. They checked into a motel under assumed names, "Mr. and Mrs. H. Meyers." Within an hour, Johansen strangled her into semiconsciousness, taped her mouth shut, and stabbed her to death. He meticulously cleaned the room, removing any trace of his presence, before returning to his sea merchant job.
His travels took him to Portland, the Gulf of Mexico, and Texas, but he eventually returned to California, where he remarried. His new wife, Lydia Gordon, owned a flower shop in Long Beach, seemingly oblivious to her husband's dark past.
Another Victim and a Trail of Suspicion
On June 24, 1940, Johansen crossed paths with his final victim, Irene McCarthy, at a beer hall on Fifth Street. Both heavily intoxicated, they retired to a nearby hotel room, registered as "Mr. and Mrs. J. Wilkins of Los Angeles." When McCarthy fell asleep, Johansen attempted to wake her, and when she did not respond, he strangled her with her girdle. He then mutilated her body, cutting off a portion of her torso and placing it beside her. After hiding the bloody evidence by flipping the mattress, he cleaned himself and left for Los Angeles.
The grotesque nature of Johansen's crimes led investigators to suspect his involvement in other unsolved murders, including those attributed to the Cleveland Torso Murderer, an unidentified serial killer active in Ohio between 1934 and 1938. Despite these suspicions and connections to killings in San Diego, Johansen was never charged for these additional crimes.
Capture, Trial, and Execution
Following McCarthy's murder, detectives scoured local bars and found a witness who recognized Johansen's alias. On July 9, 1940, police apprehended him in Los Angeles as he exited a meeting. Hotel employees identified him as the man last seen with McCarthy, and Johansen confessed to the murders of both Coffin and McCarthy. He revealed his true identity and recounted the murder of his first wife, Florence.
Charged with the two murders in California, Johansen expressed a desire to plead guilty. However, his public defender insisted otherwise, leading Johansen to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. He openly admitted his homicidal inclinations, telling the judge, "I'll kill some other woman if you free me. I'll do it again, sure!" Despite his claims of insanity, Johansen was found legally sane in October 1940 and automatically convicted. He received the death sentence with a chilling indifference, remarking to the judge, "it doesn't make any difference."
On September 5, 1941, William Johansen faced his fate in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison. Before his execution, he told reporters, "I don't give a damn if I go to the gas house. Not much doubt I'm a menace. I've killed three women and I'd probably do it again unless they get me out of the way. I expect the worst, and the sooner it comes, the better."
Sources
For more details on the case, you can visit the original Wikipedia article: William Johansen on Wikipedia
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 Murder: Florence Gordon
William Johansen murders his first wife, Florence, after an argument, initially ruling it a suicide.
Second Murder: Lena Betty Coffin
Johansen strangles and stabs prostitute Lena Betty Coffin in a motel room in San Francisco.
Third Murder: Irene McCarthy
Johansen murders Irene McCarthy in a hotel room, dismembering her body afterward.
Arrest of William Johansen
Johansen is arrested in Los Angeles after detectives identify him as the last person seen with McCarthy.
Trial Begins
Johansen's trial begins; he initially pleads innocent but later changes to not guilty by reason of insanity.
Conviction
Johansen is found legally sane and convicted of the murders of Coffin and McCarthy.
Execution
William Johansen is executed by gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison.