Alice Henrietta Curtis, a 65-year-old retired school teacher, was tragically murdered on July 26, 1974, in Jacksonville, Florida. Curtis was attacked by Paul John Knowles, a notorious serial killer known as 'The Casanova Killer,' who was responsible for multiple murders across the United States. On the night of her death, Knowles broke into Curtis' home, gagged her, and ransacked her belongings before stealing her car.
Unfortunately, Curtis choked to death due to the gag placed on her.
Knowles' crime spree extended beyond Curtis' murder. He was linked to numerous killings between July and November 1974, claiming at least 18 victims, though he boasted of murdering up to 35 people. His crimes spanned multiple states, including Florida, Ohio, Nevada, Texas, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, and Connecticut. Authorities later discovered audiotaped confessions that Knowles had recorded and mailed to an attorney, though these tapes were never publicly released.
Knowles was eventually apprehended on November 17, 1974. However, his criminal career came to an abrupt end when he was shot and killed on December 18, 1974, while attempting to escape police custody. His death prevented further legal proceedings, but his reign of terror left a lasting impact on the communities affected by his crimes.
Curtis' murder was one of the many senseless acts committed by Knowles during his violent spree. Her death, along with those of his other victims, remains a grim reminder of the dangers posed by serial offenders. Curtis was laid to rest at H. Warren Smith Memorial Cemetery in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
