Ronald James Ward: A Cross-Country Serial Killer
Overview
Ronald James Ward Jr. was an American serial killer whose known crimes unfolded across Arkansas, Montana and California during a violent five-month period in 2000. A transient who frequently traveled between states, Ward preyed on people he encountered at highway rest areas, homeless shelters, temporary lodging and recreational areas. His mobility initially prevented investigators from recognizing that several seemingly unrelated murders were connected.
Ward was convicted of murdering four people: Kristin Laurite, Craig Sheldon Petrich, Jacqueline "Jackie" Travis and Shela Polly. The victims included three women and one man, and the killings involved a combination of stabbing, strangulation, beating and shooting. DNA evidence eventually exposed the connection between Ward and the murders committed in Arkansas and California, transforming what had appeared to be separate local cases into a multistate serial-murder investigation.
Background and Transient Lifestyle
Ronald James Ward Jr. was born on September 28, 1966, in Hood River, Oregon, and was raised in the Eugene and Springfield areas. He left school at a young age and later worked a variety of temporary or physically demanding jobs, including construction, truck driving and commercial fishing. His adult life was marked by unstable employment, substance abuse and frequent relocation.
Ward spent considerable time traveling around the United States. He stayed in shelters, campgrounds, recreational vehicle parks and other temporary residences, often associating with people who were homeless or financially vulnerable. This transient existence allowed him to move quickly between jurisdictions and placed him in contact with strangers whose disappearances might not immediately be connected to him.
During 2000, Ward traveled through several states while using alcohol and illegal drugs. Investigators later concluded that his movements closely followed the locations and dates of the four confirmed murders. Although Ward sometimes blamed intoxication or claimed to have little memory of particular crimes, the physical evidence and his guilty pleas established his responsibility.
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