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Description
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Michael Bruce Ross: The Connecticut Serial Killer

Introduction

Michael Bruce Ross was a convicted serial killer who murdered eight women in Connecticut and New York between 1981 and 1984. He was sentenced to death and was executed in 2005. Ross preyed on young women, often abducting them before raping and strangling them. His crimes shocked the nation and left a lasting impact on the communities where the murders occurred.

Early Life and Background

Born on July 26, 1959, in Putnam, Connecticut, Ross was raised on a chicken farm. His childhood was reportedly troubled, with allegations of physical and emotional abuse. Despite his troubled past, Ross excelled academically and attended Cornell University, where he studied agricultural economics.

The Murders

Between 1981 and 1984, Ross committed a series of brutal murders. His victims were young women, most of whom he abducted, sexually assaulted, and strangled. Below is a list of his known victims:
  • Dzung Ngoc Tu - A 25-year-old student from New York. She was raped and murdered on May 12, 1981, in Ithaca, New York.
  • Tammy Williams - A 17-year-old from Brooklyn, Connecticut. She disappeared on January 5, 1982, and her body was later discovered.
  • Paula Perrera - A 16-year-old girl from Plainfield, Connecticut, murdered on March 23, 1982.
  • Deborah Taylor - A 23-year-old woman from Griswold, Connecticut, killed in June 1982.
  • Robin Dawn Stavinsky - A 19-year-old from Norwich, Connecticut, murdered in November 1983.
  • April Brunais - A 14-year-old from Griswold, Connecticut, who was abducted and killed in April 1984.
  • Leslie Shelley - A 14-year-old friend of April Brunais, who was also killed in April 1984.
  • Wendy Baribeault - A 17-year-old from Griswold, Connecticut, murdered on June 13, 1984.
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Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (8)
  • Dzung Ngoc Tu Age: (25), Date of Death: 1981-05-12
  •     ...View 7 additional victims
    Links to Additional Sources (6)
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    Killer's Details

    Michael Bruce

    Ross

    July 26, 1959 Putnam, Connecticut, United States

    May 13, 2005 (aged 45) Somers, Connecticut, United States

    Executed by lethal injection

    Male

    White

    The Roadside Strangler, The Egg Man

    Rosss preferred method of killing involved abducting, raping, and strangling his victims. His targets were young women, and he often disposed of their bodies in remote locations. The brutality and sexual nature of his crimes earned him the moniker The Roadside Strangler.

    Death

    8+

    May 12, 1981 - June 13, 1984

    New York, Connecticut, Indiana (possibly)

    June 29, 1984

    Osborn Correctional Institution

    07/03/2025