Altemio Sanchez: The Bike Path Killer
Overview
Altemio C. Sanchez, born on January 19, 1958, in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, was a serial killer and rapist who terrorized the Buffalo, New York area for over three decades. Known as the "Bike Path Killer" or "Bike Path Rapist," Sanchez was convicted of murdering at least three women and is suspected of raping numerous others between 1975 and 2006. His monikers stem from his tendency to target victims near secluded bike paths.
Early Life
Sanchez's early life was marred by instability and abuse. After his mother discovered his father's infidelity, she relocated with young Altemio to the United States, initially settling in Miami before moving to New York. During his childhood, Sanchez suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of his mother's boyfriends. Despite these hardships, he was described as a shy yet happy child, actively participating in sports during his high school years. However, he struggled with interactions with the opposite sex, reportedly fearing conversations with girls. During his junior year, he began experiencing blackouts, after which he couldn't recall his actions. These episodes preceded the onset of his criminal behavior.
Criminal Activities
Sanchez's criminal activities spanned over 31 years, during which he committed numerous rapes and murders. His known victims include:
- April 14, 1981: Raped a 21-year-old woman.
- November 19, 1983: Raped a 21-year-old woman.
- December 19, 1983: Committed an unspecified rape.
- December 22, 1983: Raped a 28-year-old woman.
- 1984: Raped a 21-year-old woman.
- April 3, 1984: Raped a 22-year-old woman.
- June 12, 1986: Raped a 44-year-old woman.
- July 14, 1986: Raped a 17-year-old girl.
- June 10, 1988: Raped a 16-year-old girl.
- May 1, 1989: Raped a 15-year-old girl.
- August 24, 1989: Raped a 14-year-old girl.
- May 31, 1990: Raped a 32-year-old woman.
- September 29, 1990: Raped and murdered 22-year-old Linda Yalem along the Ellicott Creek Bike Path while she was training for the New York City Marathon. Her body was discovered the following day.
- October 30, 1992: Raped and murdered 32-year-old Majane Mazur, a mother and known prostitute. Her partially clothed body was found in a deserted field on Exchange Street in Buffalo.
- October 19, 1994: Raped a 14-year-old girl behind a junkyard.
- September 29, 2006: Murdered 45-year-old Joan Diver on the Clarence Bike Path. Diver, a nurse and mother of four, was strangled but not raped. Her body was found on October 1, 2006.
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