Russell Smrekar

Serial Killer

Serial Killer Russell Smrekar: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Introduction

Russell Albin Smrekar, originally from Joliet, Illinois, was a student at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, during the mid-1970s. His criminal activities escalated rapidly from theft to multiple murders, leaving a trail of unresolved cases and missing persons.

Crimes and Victims

• Michael David Mansfield
  • Date: December 31, 1975
  • Location: Rolling Meadows, Illinois
  • Details: Michael Mansfield, a 19-year-old honor student at Lincoln College, was scheduled to testify against Smrekar in a burglary case involving stolen records and a guitar. Six days before his court appearance, Mansfield disappeared after leaving his parents' home. His body was never found, but it is believed that Smrekar was responsible for his disappearance.
• Ruth Louise Martin
  • Date: June 2, 1976
  • Location: Lincoln, Illinois
  • Details: Ruth Martin, a 51-year-old realtor, was set to testify against Smrekar in a shoplifting case involving stolen steaks from a local grocery store. She disappeared from her home, with evidence of blood and a spent .22 caliber bullet found in her garage. Her car was later discovered abandoned with a flat tire in Bloomington, Illinois. Despite extensive searches, her remains were never located.
• Jay and Robin Fry
  • Date: October 9, 1976
  • Location: Lincoln, Illinois
  • Details: Jay Fry, the produce manager at a Kroger grocery store, and his pregnant wife, Robin, both 24, were shot and killed in their home. Jay was a key witness in the shoplifting case against Smrekar. Smrekar was convicted of their murders and sentenced to two consecutive terms of 100 to 300 years in prison.

Investigation and Conviction

Smrekar's criminal activities drew significant attention from law enforcement. The disappearance of key witnesses, such as Michael Mansfield and Ruth Martin, hindered the prosecution's efforts in earlier cases. However, the brutal murders of Jay and Robin Fry provided sufficient evidence to convict Smrekar. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 100 to 300 years in prison for their murders. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (2)

Jay Fry , Date of Death: 1977-10-09

    ...View 1 additional victims
Suspected Victims:

Michael Mansfield Age: (19), Date of Death: 1975-12-31

Ruth Martin Age: (51), Date of Death: 1976-06-02

Brewster's book about the Russell Smrekar murders purely fictional ...

    ...View 4 additional sources