Inside the mind of arthur shawcross, the 300pound genesee. The shawcross letters by john paul fay and brian whitney. The book flip flops between the story of fays life and the letters he receives from shawcross. This case has an eerie similarity to stephen kings book it. Aug 29, 2018 he says he began corresponding with the convicted serial killer, arthur shawcross also known as the genesee river killer, after he came to the murderers attention around the year 2000, after selling some of the shawcrosss prison artwork online. Arthur shawcross was arrested for the murders of 11 prostitutes in and around rochester, new york.
Beginnings of a serial killer arthur shawcross world. Arthur john shawcross, handwritten account, 1990 arthur shawcross was a pedophile and a necrophile, yet the convicted murderer managed to charm a release out of a state parole board. The judge then sentenced him to 250 years in prison. In 1987, convicted murderer arthur shawcross was released on parole from.
So, although teeth marks were found on some of his victims, was the genesee river killer. Arthur shawcross was born on june 6th 1945 in kittery, town in maine. True crime magazines behind the tape photobook features 6 more neverbeforeseen graphic shots following the bloody footsteps of arthur shawcross, as well as over a hundred more crime scenes. The childhood of arthur shawcross is very onesided. Trust me, with this book, the scene is gruesome indeed. Arthur shawcross project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
Born in kittery, maine, and raised in watertown, n. Michael benson is the author of a dozen true crime books, including the devil at genesee junction. The book chronicles the relationship between famed serial killer, arthur shawcross, and fay himself, partially told through letters between the two, and it was cowritten by brian whitney. Phil admitting his own psychopathic urges, selfharm, harm towards others and a desire to collect human body parts, and this memoir of his reads less like a true crime analysis of a serial killer and more like a love. Arthur john shawcross, also known as the genesee river killer, was an american serial killer active in rochester, new york. In 1992, true crime author joel norris wrote a book about the case. Most books are now available in ebook, pdf and audible formats. This book focused on the more outlandish claims that shawcross made about his victims, including his claims of. Tried for 10 counts of murder in november 1990, shawcross pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury found him sane and guilty. Arthur john shawcross, also known as the genesee river killer, is responsible for a brutal wave of slayings discovered between 1988 and 1990 in our downtown area. Shawcross is returned to jefferson county after pleading guilty on first degree manslaughter in the deaths of two children, aged 8 and 10, in watertown, n.
Mar 22, 2015 tried for 10 counts of murder in november 1990, shawcross pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury found him sane and guilty. Arthur shawcross is like pennywise the clown, stalking little kids down by. This drew some criticism that norris was sensationalizing the case. Curiously for a serial killer and selfproclaimed cannibal, arthur shawcr.
The genesee river killer, pinnacle books, isbn 1558175784 crime library article on arthur shawcross wgbh. Fay is far from being a sympathetic character in this twisted saga. Arthur shawcross the genesee river killer true crime garage. Shawcross was born on june 6, 1945, in kittery, maine. Arthur john shawcross june 7, 1945 november 10, 2008 was an american serial killer, also known as the genesee river killer in rochester, new york. Cloud used for the purpose of documenting facts about serial killers listed in our database.
Naval hospital in kittery, maine 1 month premature weighed 5 pounds spent 20 days in the hospital mother bessie was 18, father arthur roy was 21 born with xyy was first of four children. Shawcross was earlier convicted, in watertown new york, of killing an eight year old girl. Arthur shawcross had murdered a ten year old boy jack blake in 1972. Stone, professor of psychiatry at columbia university and an authority. He had a penchant for securing their bodies by way of a. The genesee river killer true crime shorts book ebook. From february 1988 until his capture nearly two years later, convic. The grisly true crime account of the rochester prostitute murders. Arthur john shawcross the genesee river killer serial killers. Arthur shawcross, the genesee river killer by joel. He was dubbed the genesee river killer because he dumped a. Mar 21, 2018 trust me, with this book, the scene is gruesome indeed.
The shawcross letters gives an inside look at one of. Arthur shawcross unlikely spiritual redemption, by the ny. Shawcross was sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in attica state correctional facility. The 160 page book was published by magpie in 2011 with an isbn 10 of 1780333455. Arthur shawcross was known as a vicious killer for the senseless mutilations he visited upon the corpses as well as the capital crimes he committed. The book is about the author, john paul fay, who corresponds with arthur shawcross, a renowned serial killer. Several of letters of shawcross are printed in the book but without commentary or information about his crimes. The paperback came with a tape that contained the live confessions of arthur shawcross and his hideous crimes. His stories changed frequently as he spoke with different people and almost everyone who interviewed him thought that he was exaggerating some of the time. My journey into the mind of evil, arthur shawcross. Top 10 disturbing true crime books you wont want to read.
Mar 22, 2018 arthur shawcross, also known as the genesee river strangler, was a 300pound serial killer who ruthlessly murdered 14 people. If you like true crime books, this one will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. This serial killer was active in the following countries. Read the full, horrific story of arthur shawcross, plus 11 more serial killer cases in american monsters volume 4. Mar 14, 20 arthur john shawcross june 6, 1945 november 10, 2008 was an american serial killer, also known as the genesee river killer in rochester, new york. A true crime book that will horrify, enlighten, and keep you up at night. Arthur shawcross was born on june 6, 1945, in kittery, maine. The first of four children, arthur shawcross was born in kittery, maine to arthur roy shawcross and elizabeth yerakes shawcross. Shawcross, a serial killer serving a 250year sentence for strangling, suffocating or beating to death 11 women in the rochester area in the late 1980s, died on monday. My relationship with to arthur shawcross was the closest to a wholesome relationship ive yet had.
Under the terms of a plea bargain, shawcross was allowed to plead. When he was young his family moved to watertown, new york whereaccording to shawcross he had a difficult childhood. The genesee river killer or the rochester strangler, was an american serial rapist, and pedophilic serial arsonist and robberturnedserial killer, and even an alleged cannibal infamous for claiming the lives of several prostitutes in 1989 after being paroled early for the murders of two children in 1972. The family relocated to watertown, new york, a few years later. The book was only written about the murders of the prostitute victims in gory detail. A man who wrote a book detailing his friendship with serial killer arthur shawcross says he was basically my closest friend for a while. See more ideas about serial killers, famous serial killers and true crime.
The 308 page book was published by in 1992 with an isbn 10 of 1558175784. The books that came to mind when i read the shawcross letters wasnt other well known true crime books, but the works of peter sotos and of mikita. It happened a long time ago and all, but he couldve sworn the guy was a young arthur shawcross. The shawcross letters is true crime, but reveals more about author john paul fay than it reveals about arthur shawcross himself.
Author on friendship with convicted serial killer arthur. Arthur shawcross was written by and chloe castleden. He preyed primarily upon prostitutes from lyell ave, raping and mutilating his victims before and after dumping their bodies in out of the way locations throughout the city. Arthur shawcross confessed to killing and mutilating 11 women in rochester, n. Curiously for a serial killer and selfproclaimed cannibal, arthur shawcross s confessional accounts of his crimes were only partially believed. Arthur shawcross was born on june 6,1945 and has earned the nickname the genesee river killer. The two created a business relationship, with fay shopping the drawings of shawcross and working with him on a book of his life. This book focused on the more outlandish claims that shawcross made about his victims, including his claims of cannibalism. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter. Arthur john shawcross the genesee river killer serial.
He claimed most of his victims after being paroled early following a conviction in the manslaughter of two children, which led to criticism of the justice system. By the time arthur shawcross claimed his earliest victims, he had already led a troubled life. Arthur shawcross, also known as the genesee river killer, was in prison after being convicted of murdering numerous women, he officially has killed 14 people in all. Arthur john shawcross june 6, 1945 november 10, 2008, also known as the genesee. Arthur shawcross, also known as the genesee river strangler, was a 300pound serial killer who ruthlessly murdered 14 people. If the book is older andor out of print book try to locate a copy on. Defense witness assails lawyers in rochester serial murder. Beginnings of a serial killer arthur shawcross world history. His first known murders were in 1972 when he killed a young boy and a girl in his hometown of watertown, new york. Arthur john shawcross june 6, 1945 november 10, 2008, also known as the genesee river killer, was an american serial killer active in rochester, new york. Serial killer arthur shawcross aka genesee river killer, genesee river strangler, was active for 18 years between 19721989, known to have 14 confirmed 14 possible victims.
Twentytwo neverbeforepublished historical photos, revisiting the murder scenes of arthur shawcross. The two created a business relationship, with fay shopping the drawings of shawcross and working with him on a book. At that point, arthur shawcross simply may not have been prepared to be caught. The book has more about the authors twisted life than shawcross. Jul 17, 2019 arthur john shawcross june 6, 1945 november 10, 2008, also known as the genesee river killer, was an american serial killer active in rochester, new york. Interview with a serial killer arthur shawcross full. But shawcross assented to interviews that led to further confessional details of his crimes. Arthur shawcross serial killer documentary youtube. Arthur john shawcross, a serial killer who terrorized the rochester, n. Release, arrest, trial of arthur shawcross world history. The murders of kathy bernhart and georgeann formicola. From rape to mutilation, he terrified the rochester area for over 17 years. Under the terms of a plea bargain, shawcross was allowed to plead guilty to one charge of manslaughter, for which he. From early on, shawcross was socially challenged and spent much of his time alone.
He has shown signs of compulsive lying disorder and has some quirky ways of slaughtering his victims. Initially, he was sent by the state parole board to live in binghamton, n. The strength of this book semifinalist for a 1994 edgar award comes first from the quality of the materialsincluding firstperson interviews with the killers wives, girlfriends, coworkers, police officers, therapists, and even a prostitute who played dead for shawcross and second, from olsens ability to weave the information into a. Arthur shawcross, the genesee river killer was written by and joel norris. The shawcross letters gives an inside look at one of america.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Revisiting the murder scenes of arthur shawcross true crime. A serial killer and his victims the true story of arthur j. Shawcross would later allocute to eleven murders but was suspected of possibly more. The genesee river killer was published in 1992 by joel norris who had written many true crime stories before. Jul 09, 2018 the shawcross letters is fays attempt to wrestle with his relationship with shawcross. From february 1988 until his capture nearly two years later, convicted child killer shawcross terrorized the city of rochester, new york, with his. Arthur john shawcross june 6, 1945 november 10, 2008, also known as the genesee river killer, was an american serial killer active in rochester, new york his first known murders were in 1972 when he killed a young boy and a girl in his hometown of watertown, new york.
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