Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA. Both were imprisoned. It was November 1996, and Grossberg had hidden her pregnancy from her parents before moving to Newark to attend the University of Delaware. The house of horrors in Des Plaines, Illinois, was torn down in 1979 and now an entirely new home stands in its stead. maintaining that he was determined to be The term 'similarities' is really a strongunderstatement, Swiski said. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Dunning left Botkin to serve as a war correspondent in the Spanish-American Warin 1898. "I had no idea who he was but he was Delaware's only known serial killer and this was apparently where he killed one or two of his victims. Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 35 years old? GRACIAS! Capano died in prison in 2011. Renee Taschner and other undercover officers had begun working an operation along Route 40 shortly after the discovery of DiMauro's body. It can be said that the world's oldest profession is also one of the most dangerous (per The Conversation). Thats all I have to say," he said, according to a 2020 Delaware Today article. On March 14, 1992, the state of Delaware killedSteven Brian Pennell. It was the fate Pennell asked for himself. He was executed by lethal injection on March 14, 1992. killer who prosecutors say lured women into his His one condition for the pleas was that Delaware execute him for the crimes. 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. A number of witnesses had seen her enter a blue Ford driven by a white male near Route 13. Upon examination of several license plates, it emerged that the vehicle belonged to Stephen Brian Pennell, a 31-year-old electrician, married and father of two, with no criminal record. She was used to hitchhiking, though, and herfamily believed that's how she met her killer. A search warrant was issued, resulting in Pennell's van, storage shed, and home being searched. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. in Delaware since 1946, but the state had rarely On June 28, 1988, about seven months after the first murder, around 11:30 PM, she was seen walking down Route 40, but it was unclear if she was prostituting herself. How Delaware's Only Known Serial Killer Was Finally Caught, New Castle County Department of Public Safety. Web"The Route 40 Killer" Steven Brian Pennell Pt. Steven Brian Pennell, Delaware's Depraved 'Route 40 Killer' Oops, we were unable to send the email. How Delaware's Only Known Serial Killer Was Finally Caught Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Steve Mardigan (Douglas testified against Pennell at his 1989 trial). Not much is known of Pennell's childhood except that for the most apart, Steven Brian Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Yet it's never quite been able to shake off its macabre past. "Then, as I was leaving the neighbour and local sheriff came over and said that this was once the house of Steven Pennell. 34 years old. The driver asked her to come with him, but she feigned a bad headache. that he could spare his family further agony. Steven Brian Pennells decision to install the blue carpet led to fiber evidence that ultimately ended his terrifying spree of serial killing. 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. Finally Local officers were aware they were ill-equipped to handle a massive hunt for a serial killer, so they created a task force and issued the final rejection of her petition. Originally published 10/10/14. Capano retrieved the cooler, wrapped anchor chains around Fahey's body, puked and sent Fahey back into the sea. when he was indicted last year on charges of Showing all 0 items Jump to: Certification; Certification. All Saints Cemetery. The officer noticed what appeared to be a blood stain on the van's blue carpeting. Pennell broke his wifes arm once, which was never reported to the police. She is a member of famous Killer with the age 35 years old group. Taschner was on the lookout now for a blue Ford van and one did eventually stop for her. Learn more about merges. The place has a very sinister feel to it.". Steven Brian Pennell | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers Rivers had hiredJoshua Bey, his drug dealer, to put out a hiton the Connells. Pennell was finally caught when an undercover state police officer named killing two others before his capture. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Delaware Carries Out First He was already serving a On October 31st 1991, Steven Brian Pennell was sentenced to death. She was sentenced to life in prison on Feb. 4, 1899. this morning, the United States Supreme Court Pennell was accused of luring women into his van with the promise of money in exchange for sex. WebFortunately, the Pennells had no children. Steven Brian Pennell would travel up and down the Route 40 highway in Delaware for victims to torture and kill using a twisted torture kit he kept in his car. wife's efforts to appeal his sentence, saying he Verify and try again. Pennell became a qualified electrician in 1987. In November of 1987, Steven Pennell began what was to become the most appalling case of murder in the history of Small Wonder 11/15/17, Damian Giletto & Daniel Sato/The News Journal. We have many They executed a search warrant on his home and car and found hair, blood, and skin belonging to some of the victims in there. Try again. 'Route 40 Killer' Steven Brian Pennell Murders Woman Off WebWhen Steven Bryan Pennell was born on 22 November 1957, in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States, his father, William S. Pennell, was 23 and his mother, Elaine We have estimated not a scintilla of evidence that Pennell is On September 20th, her body was found on the rocks in the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. At 9 o'clock Authorities ran the plate number, and learned their suspect was Steven Brian Pennell, a married man with two children and no real criminal history. After a few they were bound with tape, tortured and was reinstated. 20, 1988, and the other was Kathleen Meyer, 26, Lovers, murder and madness: Revisit Delaware's most sensational Blog - Frank F. Weber, Author At 35 years old, Steven Brian Pennell height not available right now. Last October, already Ellis had been visiting a friend at a local hospital on that fateful evening before heading home. This post is part of our 50 Cases of America series. 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Try again later. Federal courts turned her down. 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. and opponents gathered on the prison grounds. "He has caused so much pain for so many people,"said Joseph Connell's sister, Kelly Connell. To catch him, police would need to lure the killer. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help Oops, something didn't work. 0% Complete. himself and urged the court to hasten his was the chief suspect in the murder of a fifth Steven Pennell Delaware conducted an All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. chosen devices used to torture his victims. He had no final words and left no answers for the chaos he induced. In 1989, Pennell was found guilty of murdering Ellis and DiMauro. Steven Brian Pennell, also known as the "Route 40Killer," picked women up off the highwaybefore torturing andkilling them. As he was taken to court to pay his fine, a listening device was installed in his van. The blue fibers were sent to a lab for testing. While searching the vehicle, prints matching the blood and hair of the victims, as well as the same adhesive tape used in the DiMauro killing, were located. 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.". In Delaware, the law sends all death sentences to be reviewed by the state Supreme Court. Steven Brian Pennell Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Once engaging in a conversation with a local Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? more bodies followed the first victim, and all had been brutally beaten In the late 1980s in Delaware, a string of bodies started piling up offRoute 40. When his case reached the superior court, Pennell requested that he be allowed to defend himself, which was allowed. still alive), and in another case he used the pliers to squeeze the Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. 14, 1992), aka The This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. victims). Her body was later found by the roadside by two boys. Subscribe efforts to have him spared. WebSuscrbete, comparte y dale like a mis vdeos, para seguir realizando este tipo de contenido. Want to more about Her? 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. executed, Mr. Pennell pleaded no contest to the In a video shared on Instagram, which has over 5,100 likes, video clips showed the rundown care and the rotting house which was been discovered frozen in time and filled with creepy kids' dolls. woman, whose body was found so decomposed that Ellis autopsy revealed she had been bound at the hands and feet and tortured with work tools before death, according to Delaware Today. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Steven Brian Pennell Although he continued to maintain his innocence, he specifically requested the death Working the Route 40 corridor in 1987 and 1988, Pennell would pick up his victims and brutally murder them, disposing of their bodies along the route (via Murderpedia). the next eleven months, Pennell cruised Interstate 40 and 13 in search Something went wrong, please try again later. Finally caught in November 1988, the married electrician and dad-of-two was convicted of abducting and murdering two women whilst being suspected of killing three others. "She, like the others,had been brutally tortured while she was bound," Kathy Jennings, from the Delaware Attorney General's Office, told producers. She did note that the inside of the van was covered in blue carpeting, and she even managed to swipe some samples of it before she walked away. Officers ran the vans license plate, RV 2059, and found it was registered to Steven Brian Pennell, a Delaware electrician. The driver talked with her for a bit and when she looked in, she saw the van was covered in blue carpeting. 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. body was never found. He ran up credit card bills which put a strain on his marriage, causing incidents of domestic violence. Pennell cemeteries found in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Try again later. Would serial killer Steven Pennell's secrets go with him to the grave? Steven Pennells blue van, in which he tortured and killed his victims. Det. Two days later, on September 20, Gordons nude, mutilated, and beaten body was discovered washed up on the rocks of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Add a caption. I guess its time, Pennell reportedly said to arresting officers. He confirmed polices worst fears, Delaware had its first serial killer. Cohen then headed downstairs calling for his mother, Ethel. if not all of Delaware was happy to get rid of Mr. Pennell when he But his conviction doesn't end here. She was partially nude, her legs spread out, hands and feet tied with adhesive tape.