William Mcgriff

Serial Killer

William "Will" McGriff: The Georgia Killer Who Claimed Eleven Lives

Overview

William "Will" McGriff was an early twentieth-century American murderer whose reputation as a serial killer rests on three documented killings in Georgia and a series of additional confessions that were never conclusively verified. He was convicted of murdering William S. Washington and was also held responsible for killing Sylvester Phinney and Dan Showers during the same violent episode on July 11, 1911. While awaiting execution, McGriff reportedly claimed that he had killed at least eleven people across several Southern states. Historical accounts describe McGriff as a fugitive who moved through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. His movements and the limited investigative resources available during the period made it difficult for authorities to confirm or disprove many of his statements. Some reports credited him with ten murders, while others stated that he confessed to eleven. Because most of the supposed victims were never publicly identified and no surviving court records conclusively tied him to those deaths, his true victim count remains uncertain.

The Triple Killing of July 11, 1911

McGriff's confirmed crimes occurred in Georgia on July 11, 1911. The violence reportedly began after a disagreement connected to his employment or working conditions. McGriff confronted William S. Washington, a 31-year-old white man, and shot him several times. Washington's wounds were fatal. The confrontation did not end with Washington's death. McGriff also opened fire on two Black men identified as Sylvester Phinney and Dan Showers. Phinney was reportedly struck and killed immediately. Showers was shot in the abdomen and died from the wound. The three deaths occurred during the same episode, establishing McGriff as the person responsible for one of the most serious multiple killings recorded in Colquitt County during that era. After the shootings, McGriff fled. His ability to remain at large for an extended period contributed to later speculation about other killings. He reportedly traveled across state lines, stayed in rural communities and used the limited communication between law-enforcement agencies to avoid capture. Police departments and county sheriffs in the early 1900s did not possess modern fingerprint databases, centralized criminal records or rapid methods of sharing information, making it possible for a fugitive to disappear by changing locations. ...

Confirmed Victims: (3)

W. S. Washington , Date of Death: July 11, 1904

Suspected Victims:

Three unnamed men , Date of Death: 1900s-1910s

Two unnamed men , Date of Death: 1900s-1910s

Unnamed man , Date of Death: 1900s-1910s

Unnamed police officer , Date of Death: 1910-1911

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