James Samuel Walraven: The Bathtub Strangler
Overview
James Samuel Walraven, also known as "The Bathtub Strangler," was an American murderer and suspected serial killer. Born in 1949 in Decatur, Georgia, Walraven was convicted of one murder and suspected in two others, all occurring in 1981. His crimes were characterized by strangulation and the use of bathtubs as the crime scene.
Crimes
Walraven's known and suspected crimes took place in Georgia, targeting young women in their apartments. Below are the details of the victims:
- Louise DalSanto: Found strangled on April 15, 1981, at Woodcreek Apartments in Clarkston. She was discovered lying face down in her bathtub.
- Giselle Yvonne Clardy: Murdered on May 29, 1981, at Cherry Hill Apartments in Brookhaven, where she worked as an assistant manager. Her body was found in her bathtub.
- Patricia Berry: Discovered on June 15, 1981, at Windermere Apartments in Fulton County. She was strangled with her own hair ribbon and left in her bathtub.
Investigation and Arrest
Law enforcement connected the murders through their similarities and began investigating reports of suspicious activity in the area. Two incidents stood out:
- On March 3, 1981, Margaret Finnerty reported being strangled by a man posing as a maintenance worker at Windermere Apartments. She survived the attack.
- On March 16, 1981, Constance Harold described an attempted break-in by a man dressed as a floral deliveryman. She managed to escape and alert the police.
These reports, along with witness accounts, led to the identification and arrest of James Samuel Walraven on July 14, 1981. He was convicted of the murder of Giselle Clardy and sentenced to death, though his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Walraven died by suicide in prison in 2004.
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