James Delano Winkles
Overview
James Delano Winkles was a Florida murderer, kidnapper, rapist, and suspected serial killer who was convicted for the murders of Elizabeth Graham and Margo Delimon. He was born on December 18, 1940, in Oakman, Alabama, and later lived in Florida under the name Jimmy Delano Hawk. Winkles became known not only for the two murders that were proven in court, but also for his later claims that he had killed many more women between the late 1960s and early 1980s. Those wider claims were never proven, and authorities were only able to convict him for the murders of Graham and Delimon.
Winkles was already serving a life sentence for a violent kidnapping when he confessed in 1998 to two older unsolved murders in Pinellas County, Florida. His confessions gave investigators details about the abductions, the captivity of the victims, the methods of murder, and the disposal of remains. The crimes showed planning, restraint, deception, and an effort to prevent identification of the victims after death.
Confirmed Victims
- Elizabeth Margaret Graham Graham was 19 years old and worked for a mobile dog grooming business called The Pampered Poodle. She disappeared on September 9, 1980, after being sent to an address connected to a service call. Winkles abducted her in the Largo and Pinellas County area of Florida. Court summaries state that she was killed in September 1980 after being held for several days. Her skull was later found in the Steinhatchee River area on July 3, 1981, and was identified years later through DNA testing.
- Margo Delimon Delimon, also identified in some records as Margaret or Margo Dilemon, was a 39-year-old real estate salesperson. She disappeared on October 3, 1981, after meeting Winkles in connection with real estate property showings in the Pinellas County area. Court records state that she was killed sometime between October 3 and October 21, 1981, after being held captive for several days. Her headless body was found in Citrus County on October 21, 1981, and identified by fingerprints in August 1983. Her skull was found in Hernando County on May 23, 1982.
Elizabeth Graham
Elizabeth Graham was targeted through her work. Winkles had seen a young woman connected to The Pampered Poodle, a mobile grooming service, and called the business to arrange a service appointment at an abandoned house. The woman he originally hoped to lure did not arrive. Instead, Graham was sent to the address. Winkles decided to carry out the abduction anyway.
When Graham arrived, Winkles attacked her, restrained her, and forced her into his vehicle. He punctured a tire on the grooming van to make it look disabled and stole a small amount of money from her purse. He then took Graham away from the scene. According to his confession and later court summaries, he held her captive for several days, sexually assaulted her, and kept her restrained.
Winkles later said he decided to kill Graham because he believed she had learned where she was being held and would be able to identify him. He gave her medication that made her sleep, then shot her in the head. After the murder, he burned clothing and other items and buried her body in Pinellas County. He later returned to the grave, removed the head, took out the teeth and lower jaw, and disposed of the skull in the Steinhatchee River. The skull was found on July 3, 1981, but Graham was not conclusively identified until many years later, after DNA testing became available.
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