Larry M. Ralston

Serial Killer

Larry M. Ralston: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Background

Larry M. Ralston, born on July 5, 1949, in Norwood, Ohio, is an American serial killer and rapist. His criminal activities spanned from 1975 to 1977, during which he targeted young women in Ohio. Prior to his arrest, Ralston lived with his parents and was unemployed. He had previously served in the Army, having left Norwood High School at 17 to enlist, and completed his high school education while in service. Upon returning, he struggled to find stable employment and eventually resided with his parents.

Crimes

Ralston's known victims include:

• Linda Kay Harmon: 17-year-old from Mount Washington, disappeared on September 3, 1975. Her skeletal remains were discovered on October 5, 1975, along Braun Road. She had been strangled to death.
• Mary Ruth Hopkins: 21-year-old from the East End, found deceased on June 30, 1976, in a lover's lane near Five Mile Road in Anderson Township. Her face was badly bruised, some of her hair had been torn out, and a tank top was wrapped around her neck.
• Nancy Grigsby: 22-year-old from Withamsville, last seen on May 4, 1976. Her decomposed body was discovered on November 16, 1976, in a wooded area off Bucktown Road.
• Elaina Bear: 15-year-old from Northside, disappeared on January 15, 1977. Her nude body was found face-down in a Clifton County creek bed. She was determined to have been strangled to death.
• Diane Sue McCrobie: 16-year-old from Springfield Township, went missing on July 17, 1977. Her skeletal remains were found on October 22, 1977, in a bushy area near East Fork Reservoir.

Arrest and Trial

On September 24, 1977, three teenage girls reported being abducted and raped by a man in a rural area near where one of the victims' bodies had been found. This led authorities to suspect a local perpetrator. On November 15, 1977, Ralston was arrested after the girls identified him as their attacker. Further investigation revealed his name in Diane McCrobie's address book, linking him to the murders. He pleaded innocent during his arraignment. Ralston's trial for the murder of Elaina Bear began in April 1978. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was ultimately swayed by Ralston's confession. On May 4, 1978, after more than seven hours of deliberation, the jury found Ralston guilty of killing Elaina Bear. He was sentenced to death, with a scheduled execution date set for October 31, 1978. However, his original death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Ohio's death penalty was unconstitutional. Subsequently, Ralston was convicted of killing Linda Harmon, Mary Ruth Hopkins, and Diane McCrobie, receiving life sentences for each. His conviction for the murder of Nancy Grigsby was overturned due to insufficient evidence establishing the cause of death. Additionally, Ralston pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, resulting in two concurrent 7-to-25-year terms. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Lisa Harmon Age: (17), Date of Death: 1975-09-03

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Larry Ralston - Wikipedia

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