Nicholas Lee Wiley: The Syracuse Serial Killer
Early Life and Criminal History
Nicholas Lee Wiley, born on July 17, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, had a criminal record dating back to 1979. His early offenses included:
- **1979**: Convicted of sexually assaulting and stabbing a 25-year-old woman; served four years in prison.
- **1983**: Struck a 67-year-old woman in the head with a claw hammer during a robbery; received a reduced sentence upon appeal.
- **1991**: Convicted of beating and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl; sentenced to twelve years, later reduced on appeal.
Despite his violent history, Wiley was released from prison on January 22, 2004, and registered as a Level 3 sex offender, indicating a high risk of reoffending.
The 2004 Murders
Shortly after his release, Syracuse experienced a series of brutal crimes:
- **April 11, 2004**: Tammy Passineau, 17, disappeared near the 100 block of West Water Street. Her body was never found, but blood matching her DNA was later discovered on a box cutter in Wiley's possession.
- **May 31, 2004**: Lottie Thompson, 31, was found stabbed to death in her apartment on West Onondaga Street, the same building where Wiley resided and worked as a handyman.
- **June 1, 2004**: Hannah Finnerty, 22, was discovered in a dumpster outside the same apartment building, having suffered multiple stab wounds.
Investigation and Arrest
Wiley became a prime suspect due to his proximity to the crime scenes and his criminal background. Upon arrest, he confessed to seven murders, though only three could be substantiated. Investigators found blood evidence linking him to Passineau's disappearance, leading to charges in her case.
...Read More
Account
