Steven Brian Pennell: The Route 40 Killer
Background
Steven Brian Pennell, also known as "The Route 40 Killer," was Delaware's only known serial killer in modern history. Born on November 22, 1957, in Glasgow, Delaware, Pennell was an electrician by trade and a seemingly normal family man. However, between 1987 and 1988, he committed a series of brutal murders that shocked the community.
Crimes
Pennell's crimes were characterized by extreme violence and sadistic torture. He primarily targeted women, abducting them from U.S. Route 40 and subjecting them to horrific abuse before killing them.
Victims
- Shirley Ellis: On November 29, 1987, 23-year-old Shirley Anna Ellis was found partially nude by the roadside. She had been severely abused, with her hands and feet tied with adhesive tape, and had been hit on the head with a hammer.
- Catherine DiMauro: On June 28, 1988, 31-year-old Catherine DiMauro was found naked at a construction site. She had been killed by hammer blows and strangulation, and her body was covered in blue fibers.
- Margaret Lynn Finner: On August 22, 1988, 27-year-old Margaret Lynn Finner disappeared. Her body was found three months later near the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal, showing signs of torture.
- Michele Gordon: On September 20, 1988, 22-year-old Michele Gordon's body was found on the rocks in the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal. She had been drugged with cocaine before being tortured.
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Account
