Montie Ralph Rissell

Serial Killer

Montie Ralph Rissell: The Alexandria Serial Killer

Overview

Montie Ralph Rissell was an American serial killer and serial rapist responsible for murdering five women in and around Alexandria, Virginia, between August 1976 and May 1977. He was still a teenager during the entire series of killings. His crimes were concentrated near the apartment complexes and wooded areas surrounding North Armistead Street, Holmes Run and other parts of Alexandria and neighboring Fairfax County. Rissell frequently approached women near their homes, in parking lots or while they were driving. He used knives, physical force and threats to gain control of his victims. The women were sexually assaulted before being killed by drowning or repeated stabbing. Several victims lived near Rissell, allowing him to watch their routines and select locations with which he was already familiar.

Early Life and Escalating Violence

Rissell was born on November 28, 1958, in Wellington, Kansas. His father left the family when Rissell was seven, and his childhood was marked by family instability and repeated moves. By adolescence, he was committing thefts and other offenses. At the age of fourteen, he raped and robbed a woman who lived in his apartment building. He was institutionalized in 1973 but was later released. In 1975, Rissell attempted to rob another woman at knifepoint inside an elevator near his home. He received a suspended prison sentence. Despite the seriousness of his behavior, he remained in the community. He left T. C. Williams High School when he was seventeen and continued living in an apartment complex on North Armistead Street in Alexandria. His criminal behavior became increasingly violent. Rissell later admitted to numerous sexual assaults in addition to the five murders. Many of his attacks occurred close to apartment developments where he lived or spent time. He often carried a knife, forced women into isolated areas and attempted to prevent them from identifying or reporting him. ...

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Aura Marina Gabor Age: (26), Date of Death: 1976-08-04

Montie Rissell - Wikipedia