David Gail Meirhofer: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Introduction
David Gail Meirhofer was an American serial killer who committed four murders in rural Montana between 1967 and 1974. He was the first serial killer to be actively investigated using the FBI's offender profiling technique. Meirhofer's crimes were particularly heinous, involving the kidnapping and murder of children and young adults.
Early Life
David Meirhofer was born on June 8, 1949, in Bozeman, Montana. He grew up in the small town of Manhattan, Montana, where he was considered an outcast due to his introverted nature. After graduating from high school in 1967, Meirhofer joined the Marine Corps and served in the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1973 and returned to Manhattan, where he worked as a handyman and carpenter.
Crimes
Meirhofer's criminal activities spanned from 1967 to 1974, during which he committed four murders. His victims included three children and one young woman. The details of his crimes are as follows:
- Susan Jaeger: On June 25, 1973, seven-year-old Susan Jaeger was kidnapped from a tent while camping with her family in Missouri Headwaters State Park. Meirhofer later confessed to her murder.
- Sandra Smallegan: In February 1974, nineteen-year-old Sandra Smallegan was kidnapped from her home in Manhattan, Montana. Meirhofer had previously dated Smallegan, and he confessed to her murder in September 1974.
- Bernard Poelman: Thirteen-year-old Bernard Poelman was murdered by Meirhofer in 1967. Details of his abduction and murder remain unclear.
- Michael Raney: Twelve-year-old Michael Raney was another victim of Meirhofer, murdered in 1968. Like Poelman, the specifics of his abduction and murder are not well-documented.
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Account
