Altemio Sanchez

Serial Killer

Altemio Sanchez: The Bike Path Killer

Overview

Altemio C. Sanchez was an American serial killer and serial rapist who terrorized women in and around Buffalo, New York, for decades. Known as the "Bike Path Rapist" and later the "Bike Path Killer," Sanchez repeatedly targeted women who were jogging, walking, bicycling or traveling alone near parks, recreational trails and other isolated areas. His known crimes extended from at least 1981 through 2006, although investigators believed his pattern of sexual violence may have begun as early as the mid-1970s. Sanchez was convicted of murdering three women: Linda Yalem, Majane Mazur and Joan Diver. He was also conclusively linked by DNA evidence to numerous sexual assaults. Estimates of the number of women and girls he attacked vary, partly because several survivors remained anonymous and because the legal time limit for prosecuting many of the older assaults had expired before he was identified. Authorities believed he may have raped or attempted to rape at least nine to fifteen victims, some of whom were teenagers.

Early Life and Public Image

Sanchez was born on January 19, 1958, in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. He later settled in Western New York and lived in the Buffalo area with his wife and children. He worked steadily, maintained friendships and participated in ordinary community activities. Neighbors reportedly regarded him as friendly and dependable, sometimes referring to him affectionately as "Uncle Al." This outwardly conventional life allowed him to escape suspicion while investigators searched for the unidentified attacker haunting the region's recreational paths. His ability to appear ordinary became one of the most disturbing features of the case. Sanchez held employment, played golf, gardened and interacted comfortably with people in his neighborhood. He was even reported to have registered for a safety run established in memory of Linda Yalem, one of the women he had murdered. For years, those around him had no apparent reason to believe that he was responsible for a long sequence of violent attacks. ...

Confirmed Victims: (3)

Linda Yalem Age: (22), Date of Death: 1990-09-29

Altemio Sanchez - Wikipedia