Donald Arthur Piper

Serial Killer

Donald Arthur Piper: Iowa Hotel Killer

Background

Donald Arthur Piper was born on May 11, 1961, in West Des Moines, Iowa. He spent much of his adult life working in hotels, beginning as a maintenance engineer at a Des Moines Hyatt in 1979. He later worked in Denver, Colorado, before returning to central Iowa and taking maintenance positions at several hotels. Piper's employment gave him extensive knowledge of hotel buildings, employee routines, maintenance areas and guest-room security. As a maintenance worker, he could move through hotels without immediately attracting suspicion and could possess keys that opened guest rooms. Those circumstances later became important when investigators examined two murders committed inside Iowa hotels. Although Piper is frequently described as a serial killer, he was convicted of two murders. Authorities also investigated whether he might have been responsible for several additional killings. He was never charged in those other cases, and they remain separate, unsolved investigations.

Allegations Before the Murders

In 1993, a woman who worked with Piper at a Holiday Inn accused him of persistent sexual harassment and threatening conduct. She alleged that Piper followed her, wrote unwanted letters, touched her without permission and once locked her inside a cleaning closet while attempting to pressure her into sex. She also described violent sexual behavior and claimed other employees feared Piper's temper. Piper denied that he had assaulted the woman and maintained that their relationship had been consensual. The civil lawsuit was eventually settled outside court. The allegations became significant after investigators began examining Piper's conduct toward female hotel workers and his ability to enter secured rooms. ...

Confirmed Victims: (2)

Patricia Lange Age: (36), Date of Death: 1993-08-23

Suspected Victims:

Connie Jo Bodensteiner Age: (24), Date of Death: 1995-08-08

Martha Erickson Age: (47), Date of Death: 1995-11-25

Julie Bell Davis Age: (33), Date of Death: 1997-08-28

Mariana Redrovan Age: (15), Date of Death: 1998-01-16

Donald Piper (murderer) - Wikipedia