South Florida Serial Murders

Serial Killer

South Florida Serial Murders

Overview

The term "South Florida Serial Murders" encompasses a series of unsolved killings that occurred in South Florida, particularly in the Miami and Broward County areas, during the 1970s. Several patterns of homicides during this period have been attributed to unidentified serial killers, with victims primarily being young women found in or near canals, often showing signs of strangulation or blunt force trauma.

Flat-Tire Murders (1975–1976)

One notable series during this period is the "Flat-Tire Murders," named due to the perpetrator's tactic of deflating victims' car tires to facilitate abduction. Between February 1975 and January 1976, at least twelve young women and girls were murdered under similar circumstances. The victims were often found in canals, leading investigators to believe they were linked.

• Judith Ann "Judy" Oesterling
  • Date: February 1, 1975
  • Age: 19
  • Location: Dade County, Florida
  • Details: Oesterling disappeared after leaving her job at a massage parlor. Her body was discovered two days later in a canal bordering Broward and Dade Counties.
• Barbara Davis Stephens
  • Date: February 12, 1975
  • Age: 23
  • Location: Miami, Florida
  • Details: Stephens went missing en route to visit a friend. Her car was found in a Miami parking lot, and her body was later discovered in a wooded area, showing multiple stab wounds.
• Arietta Marie "Renie" Tinker
  • Date: April 9, 1975
  • Age: 17
  • Location: Hollywood Beach, Florida
  • Details: Tinker was last seen at the Hippopotamus Lounge. Her body was found three days later floating in the Snake Creek Canal.
• Nancy Lee Fox
  • Date: June 13, 1975
  • Age: 19
  • Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Details: Fox disappeared while walking to a laundromat. Her body was found two days later in a canal parallel to Highway 27, showing signs of blunt force trauma and choking.
• Barbara Susan "Barbie" Schreiber and Belinda Darlene Zetterower
  • Date: June 18, 1975
  • Age: Both 14
  • Location: Hollywood, Florida
  • Details: The girls were last seen leaving Schreiber's home to visit a friend. Their bodies were found the next day along a canal near Highway 27, both shot to death.
• Robin Leslie Losch
  • Date: July 10, 1975
  • Age: 14
  • Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Details: Losch was reported missing after failing to return from summer classes. Her body was found floating in a canal near Highway 27.
• Ronnie Sue Gorlin
  • Date: July 22, 1975
  • Age: 27
  • Location: Miami Beach, Florida
  • Details: Gorlin disappeared after leaving her apartment to visit her mother. Her body was found the next day in the Graham Canal, showing signs of sexual assault and stabbing. Her car had a slashed tire.
• Elyse Rapp
  • Date: July 30, 1975
  • Age: 21
  • Location: Hollywood, Florida
  • Details: Rapp was last seen at a shopping mall. Her car was found with a deflated tire, and her body was discovered the next day in the same canal as Gorlin's, showing signs of drowning and sexual assault.
• Mary Coppolla and Marlene Annabelli
  • Date: October 17, 1975
  • Age: 15 and 27, respectively
  • Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Details: The two women arrived from Pennsylvania and were staying at the Lauderdale Beach Club. Their bodies were found nine days later in a dump outside the city, both strangled with a rope.
• Michelle Winters
  • Date: January 11, 1976
  • Age: 17
  • Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida
  • Details: Winters was last seen in early January in Fort Lauderdale. Her body was found floating in Snapper Creek, showing signs of drowning.

Investigation and Suspect

Investigators believed the perpetrator was a white male, aged between 20 and 25, well-dressed, physically athletic, and intelligent. He was thought to use his charm to lure victims to his car. A reward of $1,000 was announced for information leading to his capture. It was postulated that the perpetr ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (12)

Judith Ann Oesterling Age: (19), Date of Death: 1975-02-01

    ...View 11 additional victims

South Florida serial murders - Wikipedia

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