Charles Panzram

Serial Killer

Charles "Carl" Panzram: Serial Killer, Rapist and Career Criminal

Early Life and Criminal Development

Charles Panzram, commonly known as Carl Panzram, was born on June 28, 1891, near East Grand Forks, Minnesota. He became one of the most violent and openly unrepentant criminals in American history. During a criminal career extending across several decades and multiple countries, Panzram committed countless burglaries, robberies, assaults, acts of arson and sexual attacks. He eventually claimed responsibility for 21 murders, although only a small number of those killings were conclusively verified. Panzram grew up in a large farming family. His father abandoned the household when Panzram was still a child, and several of his older brothers also left home. By the age of eight, Panzram had already appeared in juvenile court for drunken and disorderly conduct. In 1903, after stealing food and a revolver from a neighbor, he was sent to the Minnesota State Training School in Red Wing. Panzram later claimed that employees at the institution repeatedly beat, tortured and sexually assaulted him. According to his autobiographical writings, the abuse intensified his anger toward authority and society. Although his later crimes cannot be excused by his childhood experiences, the violence he described at the institution became central to the explanation he gave for his lifelong hatred of other people.

Escapes, Burglaries and Attacks

After leaving the training school, Panzram traveled throughout the United States under numerous aliases, including Jefferson Baldwin, John O'Leary, Jeff Davis, John King and Jack Allen. He was repeatedly arrested for burglary, theft, assault and other crimes. He escaped from several correctional institutions and often resumed offending almost immediately. In 1907, Panzram enlisted in the United States Army while intoxicated. He was assigned to the 6th Infantry at Fort William Henry Harrison in Montana. After being convicted of larceny, he served time at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He later wrote that the harsh treatment he experienced there further strengthened his desire for revenge. During the following years, Panzram moved through Montana, Idaho, Oregon, California, Texas, New York, Connecticut and other states. His crimes included safecracking, robbery, arson and sexual violence. He was imprisoned in the Oregon State Penitentiary under the name Jefferson Baldwin, escaped in September 1917, was recaptured and escaped again in May 1918. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Henry McMahon Age: (12), Date of Death: July 18, 1922

Suspected Victims:

John Doe Age: (11-12), Date of Death: 1921

John Doe Age: (?), Date of Death: July-August 1928

Carl Panzram - Wikipedia