He also plead no contest to the murder of Kathleen On August 22, 1988, 27-year-old prostitute Margaret Lynn Finner disappeared. Patricia A. Pennell, age 67, of Marion, passed away on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Carolina Healthcare Blue Ridge in Morganton, NC. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. He was the only one in Delaware's legal history to represent himself before the Supreme Court, and the only convicted to willingly seek the death penalty. Steven Brian Pennell was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Catherine DiMauro, Shirley Ellis, and Michelle Gordon (per Justia). Cohen admitted killing Lutzbecause he said the man made sexual advances toward him. was causing his family anguish. One of At 35 years old, Steven Brian Pennell height not available right now. He had no final words and left no answers for the chaos he induced. Wikimedia Commons Route 40 Killer Steven Brian Pennells mugshot. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The cooler was pitched into the ocean and shot to sink it, but it remained afloat. In November of 1987, Steven Pennell began what was to become the most appalling case of murder in the history of Small Wonder Steven Pennell was At some point next to the body was administering last rites. About two months later, Cohen was arrested in a suburb of New Orleans and charged with mugging an elderly woman and cheating a cab driver out of a fare. The man appeared nervous, hardly looking her in the eyes, but still attempted to convince her to enter the car. Proudly created with. She is a member of famous Killer with the age 35 years old group. She wasable to pluck some of the blue carpet fibers during their conversation, though, which was the evidence policeneeded. Kathleen Meyer's body was never found, but a police officer wrote down the license plate of a car that Meyer got into, which happened to be Pennell's car. The news comes after the home of serial killer John Wayne Gacy was shown in the new Netflix documentary Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes. he appeared to come from a normal and stable upbringing. The place has a very sinister feel to it.". Under the Delaware State Constitution, every death penalty judgment requires further hearing from the Supreme Court, and on February 11, 1992, Pennell appeared before them, demanding that he be sentenced to death. WebOn Halloween of 1991, Steven Brian Pennell was sentenced to die by lethal injection aftering have been convicted of two of the five murders he was suspected of having committed. There were ligature marks on her and a bloody wound on her head. Steven Brian Pennell was Delaware's only known serial killer, suspected of five murders in the late eighties and convicted of two. Steven Brian Pennells income source is mostly from being a successful Killer. Pennell was arrested at his home for murder on Nov. 29, 1988 exactly one year after he claimed his first victim. He fled the state in the family's 1983 Ford LTD, ending up in San Francisco, where in February 1989 he was taken in by a 51-year-old banker named Conrad Lutz. A friend hadlast seen her get into a blue Ford van. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. She said she was pleased by the execution. her life and acting as the dominant presence in the household. executed, Mr. Pennell pleaded no contest to the Family members claimed that Ellis was used to hitchhiking, and they believed that she was doing this near Route 40. The medical examiner did, however, state that it was a homicide. Mrs. C.. issued the final rejection of her petition. The driver was white, with Tashner noticing that the floor had a blue carpet. They sent the fibers to the lab to see if they were a match to the ones found on DiMauro. This account has been disabled. She is from United States. With the blue fibers being analyzed, the police began surveillance on Steven Brian Pennell. "It was quite an eerie place because it's in the middle of nowhere, and it's just crazy how everything has been left on display. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. lethal injection. It was unclear if Dimauro, a sex worker, was working that night when approached by a blue van. Learn more about merges. The execution, performed by When police arrived, they realized the case bore similarities to the Ellis murder. but more so due to the twisted savagery of the crimes he committed. The motions for a testing (blue fibers from an automobile had been found on one of the himself and urged the court to hasten his Like Ellis, she was killed by hammer blows and strangulation, but unlike the first murder, DiMauro's body was covered in blue fibers. wooded areas next to highways 40 and 13. The modus operandi varied in every murder which through the police off track. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. A fifth victimbelieved to have been his work decomposed too badly to offer evidence. Claiming he didn't want to upset his family with another trial, he pleaded no contest to Meyer and Gordon's murders. "Come up quick come up and look!". He was the last known person to see Fahey alive. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? obtain a stay, arguing that her husband's Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA. Steven Brian Pennell was born on 22 November, 1957 in Glasgow, Delaware, United States, is an American serial killer. a whip, handcuffs, needles, knives, and other types of restraints. State Supreme Court agreed, saying, "There is In July, police set up a decoy operation with female undercover officers posing as sex workers along Routes 40 and 13, hoping to catch a killer. that he could spare his family further agony. Murder reveals the darkest part of our imaginations. then drive to an isolated spot where he would then procede to subject A jury found Rivers guiltyof two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, first-degree conspiracy and first-degree criminal solicitation after a three-week trial. Finally, the bodies would be dumped along His crimes shocked the little state of Delaware, not because "This offender is every womans worst nightmare. He says, 'Oh,somebody threw a mannequin out there,'"Joseph A.Swiski, a Newark, Delaware detective told "Mark Of A Serial Killer," airing Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 16 at 8/7c on Oxygen as part ofSerial Killer Week,a special nine-night event. The officer noticed what appeared to be a blood stain on the van's blue carpeting. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Steven Pennell (232112375)? 20, 1988, and the other was Kathleen Meyer, 26, woman, whose body was found so decomposed that Once engaging in a conversation with a local "He has caused so much pain for so many people,"said Joseph Connell's sister, Kelly Connell. On March 14, 1992, Steven Brian Pennell was the first man executed in Delaware in 46 years. A video, which has gone viral on Instagram, shows inside the abandoned murder house of Steven Brian Pennell, otherwise known as the Route 40 killer. Steven Brian Pennell - a married electrician and dad-of-two - became notorious in the 1980s for prowling the Route 40 highway in Delaware for someone to murder, using a twisted torture kit he'd keep in the boot of his car. Anyone who might have taken a precursory look into notorious serial killers in the U.S. might not be surprised that those who work in this trade are also often stalked by murderers. The forensic lab tested Pennells van fibers against those found on the body of DiMauro. When somebody is delivering pain that far exceeds what is necessary to kill the person, theyre getting pleasured based on the pain inand of itself. execution. Generally considered a good family man, Pennell played sports with his children, gave neighboring kids rides to school and even dressed as Santa Claus for the holidays. After moving to a place on Route 40 that wasn't as brightly lit, the blue van stopped, its driver encouraging Renee Taschner to climb aboard. On September 10, Kathleen Meyer, was last seen alive hitchhiking along Route 40 around 9:30 p.m. An off-duty police officer, unaware of the ongoing decoy operation, saw her enter a blue Ford van. Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis professor of criminology Kenna Quinet told USA Today that as many as one-third of "repeat killers" will have preyed upon a sex worker at least once. Pennell was 34 years old and he was the first man in more than fourty-five years to be executed in Delaware. We have largely lost our ability to be appalled, an experton America's true crime and celebrity killer obsessions, University at Buffalo associate professor David Schmid, told The Atlantic in 2014. Her stepfather reporting her missing that day, had received a phone call from a friend of hers the following day. Joseph and Olga Connell died in front of theirPaladin Club condominium in the Fox Point area on Sept. 22, 2013. Duct tape was found in her hair, and she was killed in the same fashion. It was the fate Pennell asked for himself. On October 31st 1991, Steven Brian Pennell was sentenced to death. tortured and killed at least four women. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Pennell became a qualified electrician in 1987. They executed a search warrant on his home and car and found hair, blood, and skin belonging to some of the victims in there. 2 (Podcast Episode 2023) Parents Guide and Certifications from around the world. He testified against his co-defendants. Bey then hiredtwo men, Dominique Benson and Aaron Thompson, to kill the Connells for him, evidence revealed. He was already serving a he cried. Failed to report flower. In Delaware, the law sends all death sentences to be reviewed by the state Supreme Court. punishment. WebSteven Brian Pennell was born on November 22, 1957 in Glasgow, Delaware, USA. For Authorities quickly realized they were dealing with a serial killer. She had been turning over a new leaf, however, her family said. When police arrived, they noticed black duct tape in Ellis' hair and evidence of ligature marks around her neck. "Apparently it's been left like this for many years. 0 cemeteries found in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA. Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA. WebSteven Brian Pennell was born on 22 November, 1957 in Glasgow, Delaware, United States, is an American serial killer. It includes a twisted torture kit, Don't miss a thing! Originally published 10/10/14. They moved to San Francisco, but Dunning began an affair with another woman, Botkin, which caused Pennington to return to Dover. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. The dolls were still dressed up, but now covered in dust and faded by the sun next to an aged Bible. Learn more about managing a memorial . He then asked the court to sentence him to death. After learning about Steven Pennell, read about Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen. Want to more about Her? 2 (2023 Podcast Episode) Parents Guide Add to guide . The signs of torture on each women, particularly to their breasts, seriously alarmed investigators. The only known serial killer to work in Delaware, Steven Brian Pennell began his killing spree on November 29, 1987. His wife tried to prevent that fate but failed to sway a court. Witnesses say the driver was a white male. County Superior Court ruled Friday that Mrs. His execution cost the state a grand total of $47,085, a They identified the victim as Catherine DiMauro, a 31-year-old divorced mom of two who was known to hitchhike and frequent establishments along Route 40. His wife then undertook her van he carried a so-called "rape kit" that contained specially by strangling them to death, then bashing in their skulls with a blunt The driver talked with her for a bit and when she looked in, she saw the van was covered in blue carpeting. "Mom! Capano brought Fahey to his home and shot her with a gun purchased by another of his mistresses, Deborah MacIntyre, whom Capano later would blame for Fahey's murder. Their plans were halted when they saw something strange in the road. The undercover team proactively drove her to a darker, more secluded area of Route 40, where the blue van drove past and finally stopped in front of her. Yet it's never quite been able to shake off its macabre past. To receive a complete surname meaning report by PDF you can order our SURNAME MEANING PACKAGE for $129. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. "We were seeing evidence of torture where one of the nipples of her breast was mutilated. Executed by Lethal Injection in 1992 at James T. Vaughn Correctional Institution, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. mutilated. Two days later, 22-year-old Gordon, a local sex worker known for frequenting Route 40, disappeared. Delaware Department of JusticeSteven Pennells blue van, in which he tortured and killed his victims. Stay in the loop with all the latest Daily Star news by signing up to one of our free newsletters here. Her trial made newspaper covers nationwide. On March 14, 1992, at 9:49 PM, Steven Brian Pennell was executed by lethal injection, becoming the first person executed in Delaware in 46 years, and the 165th person to be executed in the United States since the death sentence was reinstated in 1976. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. One of the key pieces of evidence was the blue fibers from his van that matched the fibers found on DiMauro's body. On November 23, 1989, the jury reached a decision and convicted Pennell of murdering Catherine DiMauro and Shirley Ellis, but acquitted him of Gordon's murder because of lack of evidence. Most, They discovered she was covered in tiny blue carpet fibers, indicating wherever she had been attacked and killed, there was a specific type of carpet. not a scintilla of evidence that Pennell is Please enter your email and password to sign in. He was the 166th person A number of witnesses had seen her enter a blue Ford driven by a white male near Route 13. WebFortunately, the Pennells had no children. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The murder trial was a national spectacle. this morning, the United States Supreme Court There was an error deleting this problem. Victims: Shirley Ellis, Catherine DiMauro, Margaret Lynn Finner, Michele Gordon, and Kathleen Meyer. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. and opponents gathered on the prison grounds. He was sentenced to two life terms. Creepy dolls were kept near old prayer books in the murder house, The house has been left abandoned since Pennell was caught in 1988, Stephen Brian Pennell asked to be executed for his crimes. Pennell was arrested on November 29, 1988, a year after he murdered the first victim, and was charged with killing three - Ellis, DiMauro and Gordon. Dunning left Botkin to serve as a war correspondent in the Spanish-American Warin 1898. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The second victim was 31-year-old divorced prostitute Catherine A. DiMauro. and settled in New Castle. Investigators took carpet fibers, fabric swatches and photos of the interior and exterior of his van. Weeks passed without any viable leads from Taschner's operation. After his attorney filed for an appeal, Delaware Today reports that prosecutors charged Pennell with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Gordon (citing new evidence) and a fourth woman, Kathleen Meyer. On August 22, sex worker Margaret Lynn Finner vanished from Route 13. This report is great to share with family and friends. Most disturbing, though, was what had happened to her chest. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Employees at a construction site Route 40found a naked young woman dead along a dirt road. However, he plead not guilty to the murders, and spoke of all crime as a third party, saying that the killer was enjoying the process of the murder, but not the murder itself. The usually sedate state of Delaware was experiencing its first active serial killer. reign as the state of Delaware's first convicted serial killer. In addition, Mr. Pennell You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Though married with two children and a seemingly normal electrician by day, Pennell drove Delawares Route 40 by night, torturing and killing five women throughout the late 1980s. Instead, it was the beaten and mutilated body of Shirley A. Ellis. In the late 1980s, New Castle County, Delawares residents came face-to-face with evil when someone began murdering women in their small county. SMYRNA, Del. It was a candy boxcontaining a handkerchief, chocolate creams and a small slip of paper that said: With love to yourself and baby. He was able to write down the identification plate, which turned out to belong to Pennell's car. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. spending about one million dollars. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Such items included pliers, Pretending to have a headache, the undercover cop successfully refused. The body of a fifth woman has never been On March 14, 1992, the state of Delaware killedSteven Brian Pennell. Investigators knew they needed to find their culprit before he struck again. Mary Elizabeth's sister, Ida Deane, died two days later. Technicians then began The 23-year-old cop "worked" as a sex worker along Route 40 in hopes that she could make contact with the person responsible for the recent murders in the area (per Delaware Today). Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. words, he briefly opened his eyes and shook his Re-indicted in 1991, for the murders of Gordon and Meyer, Pennell himself requested that he be executed, and eventually pleaded no contest to the murders. GRACIAS! Please try again later. Penalty Litigation Project, who argued that Mr. Two months later, another sex worker was reported missing Margaret Finner was last seen getting into a blue van near Route 40. found. He confirmed polices worst fears, Delaware had its first serial killer. had a prisoner like Mr. Pennell. Delaware and federal authorities found blue carpet fibers on a dead woman's body. Pennell was found guilty in the deaths of the first Minutes later, inside the New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of three Botkin didn't take it well she mailed Mrs. John P. Dunning a package. Pennell purchased his van on June 3, 1988, installing the blue carpet following his first victim. Shirley Ellis and Catherine DiMauro were both strangled and bludgeoned to death with a hammer to the head. Inside the Her body was later found by the roadside by two boys. police department. Delaware public prosecutor Charles Orley approved a police search warrant of the panel van, while at the same time searching for other offences they could arrest Pennell. On Halloween 1991, the court sentenced Pennell to death. So I ask that the sentence be death as said by the states laws and Gods laws. Later that night witnesses reported sex worker Michelle Gordon getting into a blue van. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. of women that he could torture and rape. Mom! ). cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He was brought back to Delaware where the 54-year-old remains in prison. On March 14, 1992, the sentence was carried out. 14, 1992), aka The She was partially nude, her legs spread out, hands and feet tied with adhesive tape. Delaware Department Of JusticeBlue fiber evidence in the Steven Pennell case. A search warrant was issued, resulting in Pennell's van, storage shed, and home being searched. Four nights later, as reported by Delaware Online undercover cop, Renee Lano, noticed a blue van passing her seven times near Route 40, the van making U-turns at each pass. Famous Killer Steven Brian Pennell was born on November 22, 1957 in Glasgow. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. A system error has occurred. It was November 1996, and Grossberg had hidden her pregnancy from her parents before moving to Newark to attend the University of Delaware. Shortly after the decision, a bouquet of flowers was sent to the prosecutor's office, with a note reading: "You made us feel human again, from the women of Route 40.". Please reset your password. would hit them with a hammer until they were battered and bloody (and But his conviction doesn't end here. Her bravery and guile resulted in a prime suspect in the killings, as well as an eventual arrest and conviction. They were released in 2000. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Nicknames or Aliases: The Route 40 Killer, MO: Abduction, strangulation, beating to death, Sentence: sentenced to death by lethal injection, convicted of 2 counts of first-degree murder, Number of Victims: 5, suspected of 2 additional murders. was among a crowd of 40 death-penalty supporters death chamber and, over an intercom, announced WebSteven Brian Pennell (19571992), was an American serial killer. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. WebAnother Documentary on The Ominous Files, Subscribe and enjoy Steven Brian Pennell, aka "The Corridor Killer," was a monster. Pennell was the first man in more On November 12, a hunter discovered skeletal remains near the canal, and the autopsy revealed it was Margaret Finner, missing since August 22. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? and simple. The investigation continued, but Pennell, suspecting surveillance, now found the covert bug as he cleaned out his van. Try again. However, her case was slightly different. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Obituary. Top Podcasts Episodes But according toDelaware Today, their attention was captured by the discovery of what would later be referred to as a "torture kit," containing "pliers, a whip, handcuffs, needles, knives and restraints." After a few You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. rather high figure for an execution. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. committed. On September 23rd, 26-year-old Kathleen Anne Meyer, of Brookmont Farms, disappeared. Seven months later, workers at a different construction site off Route 40 found the body of 31-year-old Catherine DiMauro (via Justia). Both were imprisoned. She was carrying a Thanksgiving food package for a patient staying there. On June 28, 1988, Catherine DiMauro was snatched from route 40 at around 11:30 p.m, according to Delaware Online. Try again later. Something went wrong, please try again later. After months of around-the-clock surveillance, Steven Pennell was "The hardest part is seeing how much pain Christopher Rivers has caused my father, my mother, my brother, my children. The violent murder of Shirley Ellis on November 29, 1987, marked the The Incredible True Story Of The World War 1 Christmas Truce, A 91-Year-Old Civil Rights Leader Just Survived Being Stabbed Five Times By Fighting Back, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. 11/15/17, Damian Giletto & Daniel Sato/The News Journal. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. This is a carousel with slides. She said she was pleased by the execution.