Steven Brian Pennell

Serial Killer

Steven Brian Pennell: The Route 40 Killer

Overview

Steven Brian Pennell was an American serial killer who abducted women from highways in New Castle County, Delaware, during 1987 and 1988. Known as the "Route 40 Killer," Pennell targeted women traveling or working along the commercial highway corridor between Wilmington and Bear. He used a blue Ford Econoline van to approach his victims, offering them transportation before taking them to another location. Pennell was convicted of murdering Shirley Anna Ellis and Catherine Anne DiMauro. He later entered no-contest pleas to the murders of Michelle Gordon and Kathleen Anne Meyer. Investigators also considered him the leading suspect in the death of Margaret Lynn Finner, although prosecutors concluded that the available evidence was insufficient to charge him with her murder. The crimes were connected by their geography, the backgrounds of several victims, the injuries inflicted upon them and microscopic fibers recovered from their bodies. The investigation became one of Delaware's most extensive murder inquiries and included undercover officers, surveillance teams, forensic specialists and assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Background

Steven Brian Pennell was born on November 22, 1957. He lived in Delaware with his wife and children and worked as an electrician. Before the murder investigation, he did not have the kind of serious criminal history that would ordinarily have drawn attention from detectives investigating multiple homicides. Pennell's work provided him with practical knowledge of tools, wiring and mechanical equipment. His van contained carpeting, electrical supplies and numerous implements that initially could have appeared related to his occupation. Investigators later alleged that he transformed the vehicle into a controlled environment in which women could be restrained and abused without being easily seen from outside. The blue Ford van had few side windows and was repeatedly observed traveling along Route 40. The same vehicle eventually became the central link between Pennell, an undercover police operation and the women who disappeared from the highway corridor. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Shirley Ellis Age: (23), Date of Death: 1987-11-29

Steven Brian Pennell - Wikipedia