Gerald Ross Pizzuto

Serial Killer

Gerald Ross Pizzuto: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Background

Gerald Ross Pizzuto Jr., born on January 11, 1956, in Orland, California, is an American serial killer convicted of four murders committed across Idaho and Washington in 1985. Prior to these offenses, he had been convicted of rape in Michigan. Pizzuto's criminal activities spanned several states, culminating in a series of brutal murders that led to his incarceration on death row in Idaho.

Crimes

Between March and July 1985, Pizzuto committed four murders in Washington and Idaho. His victims and the circumstances of their deaths are detailed below:

• Rita Drury, 51 - March 16 or 17, 1985, Seattle, Washington: Pizzuto and accomplice John Rodewald entered Drury's home, where she was babysitting her granddaughter. They robbed her of $200 and strangled her to death before fleeing.
• John Roy Jones, 31 - March 30, 1985, Seattle, Washington: Pizzuto entered Jones's trailer, and during an argument over cocaine, he shot Jones to death. Pizzuto later claimed the shooting was accidental, a statement disputed by the prosecution.
• Alberta "Berta" Herndon, 58 - July 25, 1985, near McCall, Idaho: Pizzuto, along with accomplices William Odom and James Rice, held Alberta and her nephew Delbert at gunpoint in their cabin. They tied their wrists and legs before robbing them. Pizzuto then bludgeoned Alberta to death with a hammer.
• Delbert "Del" Herndon, 37 - July 25, 1985, near McCall, Idaho: After being tied up and robbed alongside his aunt Alberta, Delbert was bludgeoned by Pizzuto. When the hammer blows failed to kill him immediately, Rice used Pizzuto's rifle to shoot Delbert in the head. The accomplices then buried the bodies and fled with the stolen money.

Arrest and Trials

Following the murders of the Herndons, a manhunt ensued, leading to Pizzuto's arrest on July 29, 1985, at his sister's house in Montana. Initially using the alias "Jerry Gilbertson," his true identity was soon uncovered. Pizzuto faced charges in both Idaho and Washington for his crimes. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Rita Drury Age: (51), Date of Death: 1985-03-16

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Gerald Pizzuto - Wikipedia

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