- Paul John Knowles
Paul John Knowles (
April 17 ,1946 –November 18 ,1974 ) was an Americanspree killer (also known as thecasanova killer) tied to the deaths of 18 people in 1974, though he claimed to have taken 35 lives.Early life
Born in
Florida , he was first convicted at the age of 19, and in the years following he spent more time inprison . In 1974, he was grantedparole and sought to marry Mrs. Angela Covic, with whom he had corresponded from prison. Allegedly because of something apsychic told her, she ended the relationship.Murders
After this rejection, Knowles went on a murderous spree across northern Florida. He was eventually caught in Georgia. And was then sent back to Florida.
Death
While riding in the back of a car going to find the location of his murder weapon he used to kill the highway patrolmen and the businessman he used a hidden paperclip to free his hanadcuffs. There was no screen in the car. Knowles grapped the sheriffs handgun and fired a round through his holster. The detective in the car drew his gun and shot Knowles dead in the back seat. Some say the incident was revenge for the killing of a fellow state trooper, but this has never been confirmed.
Victims
*Alice Curtis was a 65-year-old resident of
Jacksonville, Florida . Knowles gagged her onJuly 26 ,1974 , while stealing her belongings. She choked to death on her gag.
*Lillian and Mylette Anderson, aged 11 and 7 respectively, were strangled early August 1974 and subsequently dumped in a nearbyswamp .
*Marjorie Howe lived inAtlantic Beach, Florida . She was strangled with a nylon stocking. The motive, apparently, was that Knowles stole hertelevision .
*Victim #5 remains unnamed. She was a hitchhiker whom Knowlesrape d and strangled.
*Kathy Pierce was strangled with the cord of hertelephone onAugust 23 ,1974 . Her three-year-old son, who was also present, remained unharmed.
*William Bates was murdered on September 3, after having shared some drinks with Knowles inLima, Ohio . His body was not discovered until October. His car, money andcredit card s were all taken by Knowles.
*Emmett and Lois Johnson were out camping inEly, Nevada , where Knowles murdered both on September 18.
*Charlynn Hicks was killed on September 21. Her motorcycle broke down inSeguin, Texas . Knowles raped her before strangling her and dragging her body through some barbed wire.
*Ann Dawson, fromBirmingham, Alabama , met Knowles on September 23. They traveled together for a while, until Knowles killed her on September 29. Her body was never found.
*Karen Wine and her 16 year old daughter, were killed on October 16. They were bound, raped, and strangled with a nylon stocking. They were discovered by Wine's older daughter Cheryl. A tape recorder was missing from their home.
*Doris Hovey was 53 years old and lived inWoodford ,Virginia . She was shot to death by Knowles with her husband'srifle on the October 19.
*Carswell Carr and his daughter met Knowles on November 6 inMacon, Georgia , and invited him over to his house. Subsequently, Knowles stabbed Carr, who had a heart attack before Knowles strangled his daughter. He attempted to engage innecrophilia with her body, but failed.
*Edward Hilliard and Debbie Griffin were hitchhiking nearMilledgeville, Georgia , on November 2. Hilliard's body was found in nearby woods, but Griffin's remains were never discovered. Knowles was not proven to have murdered them, but he was under strong suspicion.
* [http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=2710 Trooper Charles Eugene Campbell] was abducted while on patrol and shot by Knowles inPulaski County, Georgia .
*James Meyer was a businessman who Knowles took hostage along with Campbell. Knowles handcuffed them to a tree and shot them with the trooper's gun.References
*J.H.H. Gaute and Robin Odell, "The New Murderer's Who's Who", 1996, Harrap Books, London
*Sandy Fawkes, "Killing Time", 1977, London
*Georgina Lloyd, "One was not enough", 1976, Londonee also
Torture murder External links
* [http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/john_paul_knowles/12.html More information from crimelibrary.com]
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