Bigfoot Killer

Serial Killer

The Bigfoot Killer: Detroit's Unidentified Cass Corridor Serial Killer

The "Bigfoot Killer," also called the "Cass Ripper," was the name given to an unidentified serial killer and sexual predator who terrorized women in Detroit, Michigan, during 1975. The murders were concentrated in and around Detroit's Cass Corridor, an inner-city neighborhood that at the time contained bars, inexpensive hotels, abandoned buildings, and a visible street prostitution trade. The killer deliberately targeted women who were vulnerable and whose disappearances or deaths he may have believed would receive less attention from authorities. At least seven women and girls were ultimately associated with the series, with the accepted murder dates running from February 16 through October 19, 1975. Several women also survived sexual assaults believed to have been committed by the same man. Their descriptions gave investigators one of their most important sources of information about the unidentified offender, including his unusual physical size, his vehicle, and the methods he allegedly used to approach his victims.

The Origin of the "Bigfoot" Name

The nickname did not come from any connection to the legendary creature. Survivors and witnesses described the attacker as an unusually large and powerfully built Black man with exceptionally large hands and feet. Contemporary reports described him as tall and muscular, with facial hair and an Afro hairstyle, and investigators believed he was approximately 30 to 35 years old during the 1975 attacks. Police reportedly considered whether the man's unusually large physical features might have resulted from acromegaly, a medical condition that can cause enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features. His distinctive build became so important to the investigation that he became known simply as "Bigfoot."

How the Killer Approached His Victims

The attacks appeared to follow a recognizable pattern. The offender sought women working in prostitution in the Cass Corridor and was reported to approach them while driving a beige Oldsmobile. Accounts from surviving victims indicated that he would offer approximately $15 for sexual services, giving the encounter the appearance of an ordinary transaction before isolating the woman inside or near his vehicle. Once the victim was under his control, the situation changed violently. Survivors described being threatened with a knife, beaten and sexually assaulted. Several of the murder victims were strangled, although the series was not completely uniform. Naomi Hall was reported to have been beaten to death, while Eoria Dick was stabbed. The sexual violence, victim selection, geographic concentration, and descriptions supplied by survivors led investigators to believe that the crimes were connected. The importance of the surviving victims cannot be overstated. Before investigators had identified the full scope of the murders, women who escaped similar attacks were already describing a large man with highly distinctive physical characteristics. Their accounts allowed police to develop a composite description and provided information about the offender's vehicle and behavior. ...

Confirmed Victims: (8)

Julie Brown Age: (16), Date of Death: 1975-02-16

Bigfoot Killer - Wikipedia