John Francis Roche

Serial Killer

John Francis Roche: The Devil of Yorkville

Early Life

John Francis "Jack" Roche was born on September 6, 1927, in Port Chester, New York, to Irish immigrant parents. The family relocated to New York City shortly after his birth. Roche's upbringing was marred by instability: his father, Patrick, was an alcoholic prone to violence, and his mother resorted to prostitution to support the family. These tumultuous circumstances led Roche into a life of petty crime from a young age. By 12, he was already on probation for minor offenses, and at 13, he was sent to a reformatory school. His criminal activities escalated over time, culminating in a short prison term for armed robbery in 1951.

Confirmed Crimes

Between 1953 and 1954, Roche committed a series of heinous crimes in New York City's Yorkville district. His known victims include:

• Rosa Chronik: On November 15, 1953, Roche burglarized the apartment of 85-year-old Rosa Chronik. When she interrupted the burglary, he stabbed her to death before fleeing the scene.
• Marion Brown: On April 8, 1954, 17-year-old waitress Marion Brown was attacked by Roche in her apartment complex. He raped and murdered her in a secluded hallway.
• Alexander Jablonka: On April 16, 1954, Roche hailed a taxi driven by 43-year-old Alexander Jablonka. Using the same knife from his previous crime, Roche fatally stabbed Jablonka.
• Dorothy Westwater: On June 2, 1954, 14-year-old Dorothy Westwater was assaulted by Roche as she left for school. He dragged her under a staircase, stabbed her multiple times, raped her, and bludgeoned her with a lead pipe. She was found alive but succumbed to her injuries shortly after.

Investigation and Arrest

The brutal nature of these murders instilled fear throughout Yorkville, leading residents and media to dub the unknown assailant the "Devil of Yorkville." Authorities initially struggled to connect the crimes. Roche's capture occurred on June 5, 1954, when patrolman Gustave Roniger observed him driving erratically on the wrong side of the road. Unable to produce a driver's license, Roche was arrested. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a knife and a blood-stained lead pipe, linking him to Westwater's murder. Under interrogation, Roche confessed to six murders, including those of Edward Bates and Josephine Brown, for which other individuals had been wrongfully convicted. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (0)

John Francis Roche - Wikipedia

    ...View 11 additional sources