Roy Lewis Norris

Serial Killer

Roy Lewis Norris: The Serial Killer Behind the Toolbox Murders

Introduction

Roy Lewis Norris was an American serial killer and rapist who, along with his accomplice Lawrence Bittaker, was responsible for the brutal torture, rape, and murder of at least five teenage girls in California in 1979. Their gruesome acts earned them the nickname "The Toolbox Killers" due to the tools they used in their heinous crimes.

Background

Roy Norris was born on February 2, 1948, in Greeley, Colorado. He had a troubled childhood and early run-ins with the law, including sexual offenses against women. By the late 1970s, Norris had met Lawrence Bittaker while both were incarcerated at the California Men’s Colony. After their release, they teamed up to commit some of the most horrific crimes in American history.

Crimes and Victims

Between June and October 1979, Norris and Bittaker cruised Southern California in a van they called "Murder Mac," abducting young women, subjecting them to unspeakable torture, and ultimately killing them. Below is a list of their known victims:

• Lucinda Lynn Schaefer - June 24, 1979: The 16-year-old was abducted in Redondo Beach while walking home. She was bound, raped, and strangled to death before her body was thrown into a canyon.
• Andrea Joy Hall - July 8, 1979: The 18-year-old was hitchhiking along the Pacific Coast Highway when she was lured into the van. She was tortured, photographed, and ultimately strangled to death.
• Jackie Doris Gilliam - September 3, 1979: The 15-year-old, along with her friend Leah Lamp, was abducted from a bus stop in Hermosa Beach. Jackie was raped and tortured with pliers before being killed.
• Jacqueline Leah Lamp - September 3, 1979: The 13-year-old was abducted with Jackie Gilliam. She was tortured and beaten before being murdered.
• Shirley Lynette Ledford - October 31, 1979: The 16-year-old was picked up on Halloween night in Sunland-Tujunga. She was brutally tortured with pliers and other tools, raped, and strangled with a coat hanger. Audio recordings of her torture were found in Norris and Bittaker's possession.

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Confirmed Victims: (5)

Lucinda Lynn Schaefer Age: (16), Date of Death: 1979-06-24

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Survivors:

Robin Robeck , Date of Attack: September 30, 1979

Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris - Wikipedia

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