Michaiah Shobek

Serial Killer

Michaiah Shobek: The 'Angels of Lucifer' Serial Killer

Early Life and Background

Michaiah Shobek, born James Michael Shoffner in 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, grew up under challenging circumstances. Raised by his mother, Juanita Spencer, a school cleaner, he never knew his father. At the age of two, Shobek contracted a viral disease that resulted in permanent brain damage. As an adult, he worked as a handyman and aspired to become a songwriter. In November 1973, at 17, he moved to the Bahamas, adopting the name Michaiah Shobek.

The Murders

Between December 1973 and January 1974, Shobek committed a series of brutal murders targeting American tourists in the Bahamas. He later claimed that his victims were "angels of Lucifer" and that he was acting on divine orders.

• Paul V. Howell
  • Age: 50
  • Date of Death: December 5, 1973
  • Location: Nassau, Bahamas
  • Details: Howell, an attorney from Massillon, Ohio, was attending a convention in Nassau. On the evening of December 5, 1973, he was in his hotel room when he heard a knock at the door. Upon opening it, he was immediately attacked and stabbed in the chest and throat, resulting in instant death. Authorities suspected he may have surprised burglars.
• Irwin Bernstein
  • Age: 44
  • Date of Death: January 18, 1974
  • Location: Nassau, Bahamas
  • Details: Bernstein, an accountant from Oceanside, New York, arrived in Nassau on January 17, 1974. Shobek offered him a ride from the airport. During the drive, Shobek stopped the car and attempted to assault Bernstein, who tried to escape but was caught and stabbed to death. His body was discovered on Yamacraw Beach the next day, wearing only socks and shoes, with multiple stab wounds. Items belonging to both Bernstein and Shobek were found near the body, linking Shobek to the crime.
• Katie Smith
  • Age: 17
  • Date of Death: January 26, 1974
  • Location: Nassau, Bahamas
  • Details: Smith, a student from Detroit, was visiting the Bahamas with a group of chaperoned students. She was last seen on January 25, 1974, walking with Shobek. The following day, her body was found in a ditch covered by a cardboard box; she had been strangled.

Arrest and Trial

Shobek was arrested on January 30, 1974, following the murder of Katie Smith. During his trial, he pleaded insanity and diminished mental capacity, claiming that he had killed his victims on orders from God, believing them to be "angels of Lucifer." He was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Irwin Bernstein and received a mandatory death sentence. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (3)

Paul V. Howell Age: (50), Date of Death: 1973-12-05

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Michaiah Shobek - Wikipedia

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