Posteal Laskey

Serial Killer

The Cincinnati Strangler: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Overview

The Cincinnati Strangler was the moniker given to a serial killer responsible for the deaths of seven women in Cincinnati, Ohio, between December 1965 and December 1966. The victims, aged between 31 and 81, were predominantly poor residents living in various housing complexes across the city. Five of the seven murders involved sexual assault. The killings instilled widespread fear among Cincinnati's populace, leading to increased security measures and a citywide moral panic.

Victims

• Emogene Harrington: 56 years old. Strangled to death on December 2, 1965.
• Lois Dant: 58 years old. Found strangled, raped, and beaten in her ground-floor apartment on April 4, 1966. She was last heard speaking to a friend on the phone before answering a knock at her door.
• Matilda Jeannette Messer: 56 years old. Attacked on June 10, 1966, in one of the city's parks; she was beaten, raped, and strangled. Her dog was found tied to a tree nearby.
• Barbara Bowman: 31 years old. Attacked on August 14, 1966, after leaving a bar and entering a taxi driven by a young black man. She was stabbed in the throat seven times and died shortly after police arrived. Witnesses provided descriptions and the taxi's license plate number. Initially, her case was not linked due to her age and the use of a knife.
• Alice Hochhausler: 51 years old. Killed on October 11, 1966.
• Rose Winstsel: 61 years old. Found beaten and strangled in her apartment on October 20, 1966.
• Lula Kerrick: 81 years old. Attacked on December 9, 1966, in the elevator of her downtown apartment building; she was beaten and strangled with one of her own stockings.

Investigation and Arrest

The series of murders led to a moral panic among Cincinnati residents. The city saw a significant increase in sales of weapons and door locks, and the police launched a special operation to capture the perpetrator. Several bars and nightclubs began closing earlier than usual, and Halloween celebrations were moved to Sunday afternoons for two years. On December 9, 1966, following Kerrick's murder, 22-year-old Sandra Chapas reported to the police that a suspicious black man had attempted to rape her earlier that day. Witnesses noted the license plate number of the car the assailant was driving, leading to the arrest of 29-year-old Posteal Laskey Jr., a laborer and former taxi driver. Laskey had a prior conviction for attacking a woman in 1965 and had worked for the Yellow Cab Company from July to December 1962, during which all cars used identical ignition keys. After his dismissal, Laskey retained an ignition key and other items he was supposed to return. On the night of August 13, 1966, taxi number 186 was reported stolen, and witnesses saw Bowman entering a taxi matching that description. Upon being presented with photos, witnesses identified Laskey as the driver and Bowman's likely murderer. Following Laskey's arrest, additional witnesses came forward. Delle Ernst, 69, reported that Laskey had robbed her on October 4, 1966. Similarly, Virginia Hinners stated that Laskey had robbed her on September 21 of the same year. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (7)

Emogene Harrington Age: (56), Date of Death: 1965-12-02

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Cincinnati Strangler - Wikipedia

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