The similarities between Clays phone call and the New Orleans murders of the early 1990s were listed as follows . By August 1995, word had leaked to the press that Gant was a suspect in the murders of Sharon Robinson and Karen Ivester, and possibly as many as 22 other murders in the area. They didn't catch him? It doesnt mean they are bad officer.. Below is the infamous phone call to the Howard Stern Show. I say, lowbrow, not in an attempt to throw shade. Photo Credit: Myotus / Wikimedia Commons. Allegedly the day after this aired on B97 during the station's brief stint as a "Hot Talk" radio format, the FBIshowed up at Stern's studios and collected the audio as evidence. On January 16, he was stopped by traffic cops for speeding and was scheduled to appear in court, but failed to appear on time and was subsequently arrested for contempt of court. [5] Like the previous victims, Lewis was an impoverished mother of four and known prostitute with several arrests, and had been strangled to death. Victor Gant has been associated with that group.". I'll look it up later. 13 Reasons Why season 2 ended with a monumental cliffhanger that had many viewers wondering about Clay's (Dylan Minnette) fate moving forward. Ellwood himself denied knowing any of the victims or committing any murders, although he could not provide an alibi. "Clay" The Serial Killer. The treads on her shoes definitively matched a shoeprint found next to a dead body that had been discovered only three hours earlier and only a mile awayand the victim had been Sharons best friend. Stern then launches into a flurry of questions, asking Clay why he kills women, how he kills them, if he has sex with them, and more. But instead, he hesitated possibly debating in his own mind whether he should divulge more details before finally admitting he used a hammer. While prisoners in the United States do retain some telephone privileges, it is highly unlikely that Ellwood would have been able to call the Howard Stern Show from prison and remain on the line for that long. This caller, who identified himself as "Clay," claimed to be an unidentified serial killer from the New Orleans area. [2] She remains unidentified, as is referred to as "Jane Doe No. Getting word from the call screener there was a listener on hold named Ed who claims to kill prostitutes, Stern immediately puts him on air. In time, Ellwood also became a suspect in the killing of Delores Mack, a transgender woman whose body was found a day after Lewis and in the same swamp. [2] The results were inconclusive and no charges were filed against Gant, who was dismissed from the force in August 1996.[2]. Assuming this wasnt some radio prank, how else would Clay know that some of his victims were never found, unless he took special notice of their identities and the locations where he left their bodies so that he could scour media reports for their discovery later? [1] [2] Murders [ edit] Back in the day, The Howard Stern Show routinely received tons of insane calls from people claiming many wild things. In August of 1997, "Clay the Serial Killer", a self-proclaimed serial murderer in New Orleans, Louisiana, called The Howard Stern Show and casually confessed to over 12 murders live on-air. For more information, please see our When confronted by reporters from Huffington Post in 2016 regarding their hiring of a suspect in a series of serial killings as an officer assigned to protect college students, Carver College Police Chief R.J. Collins tried denying Gant had ever worked theredespite Gant appearing in full uniform on the Police Departments website and in photos shared on Facebook. [6] He became a police officer in February 1980, and while on patrol, Gant would spend a lot of time in red-light districts, where in later years he acquired many acquaintances among pimps, prostitutes and street informants. The details are given below, whether Russel was the culprit or not. On August 13, 1997, The Howard Stern Show received a call from a man who identified himself as "Clay". The phone call starts out a bit rocky as Stern goes to the phone call and asks "Is this Ed? When Clay answers in the affirmative, this now gives investigators motivation for look for biological evidence that might link a series of cold cases together, in this instance, semen or body hairs left behind by the killer. Despite raising a lot of suspicions early on, this call quickly faded into relative obscurity after it happened, before being brought back to the attention of internet sleuths in 2019. During his disturbing call-in to the Howard Stern show, "Clay" provides numerous unreleased details about the murders that supposedly only the killer could have known. 5" and "John Doe No. "Clay" goes into graphic detail about some of his alleged kills, and gives details about cases not publicly known. [2] Most of them were strangled to death, while a number of others were beaten and drowned in canals and rivers, and then dumped in swamps, rivers or canals near highways bordering the western shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Well it wasn't a fake call because after the show the F.B.I. Antoinette Rainey, who worked as a drug dealer in New Orleans, also appeared as a witness for the prosecution, testifying that Ellwood was a regular customer. The next day Howard says they were contacted by the FBI. 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show. Where have we heard this before? While the remains were determined to be female, authorities were unable to identify the victim, and she is listed as "Jane Doe No. But then, just as he is answering, Clay suddenly leads the conversation by volunteering a piece of information that had not been previously discussed the fact that he knows some of his victims have not been found yet. Many people believe that Russell Ellwood is "Clay the Serial Killer," the man who contacted The Howard Stern Show in 1997 and confessed to killing women in a call that was broadcast on the show. In 1997, 'Clay' called into the show to tell Stern and Quivers he had killed 12 sex workers. This clue became one of the most significant in this entire saga. There was no mistaking his evil as his nickname was short for 'Bind, Torture, Kill'. Russell Ellwoods preferred MO was drugging his victims to the point of overdose and then dumping them in shallow bodies of water to drown. [4], On September 3, the body of 21-year-old Tyra Tassin was found. The dramatic arrest in 2018 of Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. was all the more astounding because of how detectives said they caught . The Serial Killers Who Invented America. Despite the fact that his attorneys said he was in Ohio at the time of both killings, Ellwood was detained and charged with two counts of second-degree murder. [10] Diane Gilliam, a former prostitute, told the court that she had known Ellwood since the early 1990s and had dated him periodically. Here, Clay makes reference to Jimmy Swaggart, the famous Pentecostal Televangelist. Russell Ellwood was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, probation, or a sentence suspension on August 17, 1999. His explanation for stopping was to apparently change the oil and repair the brake pads of his car, and willingly allowed his vehicle to be searched. None of the dozens of New Orleans prostitute victims in question were killed in this manner. He boasted to other prisoners about his murders in Louisiana during this period. So, whatever became of "Clay the Serial Killer"? The guy said that he was put on medication in prison and he was having nightmares and hearing all kinds of things. But as soon as he arrived in the state, Ellwood was taken into custody on traffic-related charges. they rattled off to him. If Clay was just some random radio troll calling in for attention with very little thought put into his story, he might have simply gone along with Sterns suggestion of strangulation. Even if Clay the Serial Killer was not, in fact, Russell Ellwood, there is still a strong possibility that this caller was telling the truth. [2] The cause of her death was also declared as strangulation. One month later, in June 1995, investigators obtained a warrant asking for hair and saliva samples from Victor Gant. Ellwood was taken into custody on August 4, 1997, just a few days after the completion of the interrogations, for allegedly purchasing cocaine from an undercover police officer at his house near Sebring. Russell Ellwood is the man many believe to be "Clay the Serial Killer", the man who called The Howard Stern Show in 1997 and confessed to killing 12 women. "No. She was later identified as 28-year-old Stephanie Brown, who had no prior criminal record. [2], According to investigators, the crimes began in the summer of 1991, after a young black woman informed police about an attempt on her life. Macdonald, who proposed in a 1963 American Journal of Psychiatry article that future serial violence and even murder can often be predicted in children who simultaneous engage in chronic bedwetting, compulsive arson, and cruelty toward animals. Listen to ""Clay the Serial Killer"" on Spreaker. While they were somewhat skeptical that this caller was indeed the Zodiac Killer, the San Francisco Police were eager to set up this unconventional television broadcast in the hopes that a call could be traced to rule out or confirm this individual as a legitimate suspect, as the Zodiac had struck in their city only two weeks prior, murdering cab driver Paul Stine in cold blood before fleeing into the night. A few more bodies were found, but these victims were all determined to have been killed years prior to their discovery. The entire call is unnerving, but there are parts of the call that are absolutely terrifyingand this guy was stalking and killing people right down I-10 only a couple of hours away. Most were forcibly drowned or strangled. When questioned by investigators, Ellwood claimed he was changing the oil on his taxi and had chosen the remote location to dump the used oil without being seen. Well, thats exactly what happened on the morning of Wednesday, August 13, 1997, during a live broadcast of WXRKs landmark radio program, The Howard Stern Show. [2] Due to the isolated locations of the dumping sites, the victims' bodies were left in water spanning from several weeks to several years, resulting in extreme decomposition and destruction of incriminating evidence. I think I just do it for the sense of power." Ultimately found guiltyof the murder of Cheryl Lewis, Ellwood was thought to be responsible for as many as 15 murders in the New Orleans area, and many believe responsible for many more. The Son of Sal Salvatore Perrone Department of Corrections On February 22nd, Delores Mack was located (possibly; strangled; the charges were dropped). She had been strangled. The Zodiac vanished into quiet oblivion sometime in the mid-1970s and Weill committed suicide in 2006. On October 21, 1992, Unsolved Mysteries aired a profile of the unidentified New Orleans serial murders while the killeror killerswere still active. At the time, Swaggarts ministries were located in Baton Rouge, Louisianaa city whose population is still today over 50% black. A death record for Weill notes that he was the son of a man named Sam Weillyoull recall Sam as being the name Eric asked to be called while masquerading as the Zodiac on Jim Dunbars television show. When Colonel Walter T. Gorman and other members of the task force met Ellwood in Sebring, Florida, they said he was friendly and willing to help. But as the conversation progressed, it became clear to Stern and listeners that this one sounded deadly serious. While on probation, Ellwood relocated to Canton, Ohio, where he started working for his brother. Ellwood was questioned regarding the murders and later booked as a suspect. Her cause of death was later determined to be homicidal drowning. [10] Gilliam stated that she woke up to find herself in a pool of blood in an unfamiliar, wooded area, where a passing motorist found her by chance and sheltered her at the motel he was staying at. He revealed he had sex with his victims beforehand, then killed them primarily with a hammer and strangled one. He gave details that were similar to how Cheryl Lewis' body was dumped. [2], The perpetrator(s) mainly targeted girls and women of African-American descent, aged between 17 and 42, as victims. One Suspect Is A Cop", "Police Officer Is Suspect In New Orleans Killing Spree", "Dial 911 and speak to the prime suspect", "Murder case moves to Lafayette for trial", "Investigator denies destroying evidence", "One charge against Ellwood will be dropped", "Investigation of 26 killings concludes with one sentencing", "Appeals court upholds deputy's dismissal", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Storyville_Slayer&oldid=1152510708, Violence against women in the United States, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 17:38. After doing drugs together, Ellwood beat her, but she managed to flee. It is currently unknown whether Gant is still employed by any law enforcement agency, but investigators within the New Orleans Police Department are hopeful that future advancements in DNA technology will bring conclusive answers regarding his possible involvement in the slayings of these young women. He then dumped her dead next to Louisiana's Highway LA 3160 in Hahnville. She said that she did not report the incident, due to being a prostitute with a criminal record. Cheryl Lewis' mother, in turn, admitted that her daughter was a drug addict and a prostitute, but said that she had never seen Ellwood with her daughter before. 1. .zklaml-k63hep{font-weight:bold;color:undefined;}Russell Ellwood.zklaml-1p7ut1l{color:undefined;} was thought to be a serial killer. During the conversation with host Howard Stern, which was broadcast live, "Clay" described details for more than 12 murders and gave some details about his background, indicating that he was a white resident of New Orleans. Scan this QR code to download the app now. The next day, Stern said on the show that the FBI came to the studio asking for a tape of the call. [6] It was revealed that during this time, he met Sharon Robinson, who soon became his roommate. Shortly after 7 AM, the man claiming to be Zodiac called in, and asked to called Sam., The mans threat was a clear reference to Zodiacs letter sent to the San Francisco Chronicle on October 13, 1969less than two days after his murder of Paul Stinein which he writes, School children make nice targets, I think I shall wipe out a school bus some morning. But as the conversation progressed, it became clear to Stern and listeners that this one sounded deadly serious. Ellwood is still considered a suspect in several of the homicides, although he has not been charged in connection with any of them. [2] Gant denied the accusation, stating that he had pushed her during an argument, with Robinson hitting her nose on a chair - this was contradicted by her children, who said that they had witnessed him beating their mother. [2], On January 4, 1992, the body of 29-year-old Lydia Madison, who had several arrests on charges of prostitution and drug possession, was found in a ditch under a highway overpass. Obviously,one of the biggest questions here iscould this actually be real, or is "Clay" playing some sort of very sick joke? Stern started asking more specific questions about Clay's' killing process and where he kills his victims. He was one of the two main suspects in a series of murders of women in New Orleans, Louisiana. was usually a hammer strike to the head, but one time via strangulation. On one hand, Clays hesitation before correcting Stern seems to hint at him telling the truth. He immediately asks if Clay has sex with his victims before killing them. [8] No recording of this confession was taken, and Ellwood later denied ever confessing to such a murder to Camden. This image shows a police sketch released to the media in 1992, after one woman survived an attack and provided a description to police of the man she said choked her and left her for dead. Weill had also photographed The Beatles final live performance before a paying audiencetheir famous August 1966 Candlestick Park concertand was now apparently obsessed with the Zodiac Killer, along with lawyer to the stars, attorney Melvin Belli, who was working with the Rolling Stones at the time. Will Clay Jensen get arrested at the start of 13 Reasons Why season 3 for his involvement with Tyler's deadly plan? (1:00 mark in audio) You might notice a pattern emerging here. Discretion is advised. Gant also had a violent history of abusing Sharon, sometimes beating her so bad that she required hospitalization. [2] In a 2016 interview with HuffPost, Major C.J. [2] On the following day, the body of 39-year-old Sandra Warner was found in St. John the Baptist Parish. She had been beaten and strangled. His unemotional attitude while describing how he kills these girls with a hammer in parking garages & swamps. The video, posted by true911calls, replays the call between host Howard Stern, co-host Robin Quivers, and the caller, so-called 'Clay.'. Discretion is advised. Three months later, in November 1996, Gant was arrested for battery after choking and threatening his new girlfriend, Karen Thibodeaux, inside her home. Ellwood worked for a while as a freelance photographer in New Orleans and eventually worked as a cab driver. Just shoot out the front tire & then pick off the kiddies as they come bouncing out, However, two months later, police officials traced a series of phone calls made to Melvin Bellis home by the supposed Zodiac. The case against Victor Gant was now at a virtual standstill. His m.o. List of serial killers in the United States, "Police officer suspected in New Orleans killings", "Exclusive: Detective Tries To Solve 25-Year-Old Serial Killer Cold Case.
Specialized Swat Bladder,
Raoul Trujillo Related To Robert Trujillo,
How Does Jeremy Come Back To Life After Silas,
Articles C
