The Cumminsville Killer

Serial Killer

The Cumminsville Killer: A Reign of Terror in Early 20th Century Cincinnati

Introduction

Between 1904 and 1910, the Cumminsville neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, was terrorized by a series of brutal murders attributed to an unidentified assailant known as the Cumminsville Killer. Also referred to as the Cumminsville Ripper, the Slouch Hat Man, and the Man Gorilla, this elusive figure is believed to have claimed the lives of five women, instilling fear and earning the area the ominous nickname "the murder zone." The killer's modus operandi often involved attacking women near railway lines, reflecting the neighborhood's dense network of transit routes during that era.

Victims

• Mary McDonald
  • Age: 32
  • Date of Death: April 30, 1904
  • Location: Near the Big Four Railroad tracks in Cumminsville
  • Details: Mary McDonald, originally from Saginaw, Michigan, was found severely injured near the Big Four Railroad tracks. She had a bruise on the back of her head, and her left leg was severed up to the knee. Discovered by a freight train engineer, she was transported to the city hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival. Before passing, she managed to utter her name but provided no further information about her assailant.
• Louise Mueller
  • Age: 21
  • Date of Death: October 2, 1904
  • Location: A secluded area in Cumminsville's lovers' lane
  • Details: The body of Louise Mueller was discovered in a clump of weeds in a district known as lovers' lane. She had two deep wounds on her face, and her skull was fractured at the base. The nature of her injuries suggested a violent assault.
• Alma Steinigewig
  • Age: 18
  • Date of Death: November 3, 1904
  • Location: Vacant lot in Cumminsville
  • Details: Alma Steinigewig was found bludgeoned to death, her body discarded in a vacant lot. The severity of her injuries indicated a brutal attack, consistent with the patterns observed in the previous murders.
• Anna Lloyd
  • Age: 36
  • Date of Death: December 31, 1909
  • Location: Cumminsville
  • Details: After a six-year hiatus, the killer struck again. Anna Lloyd was found with severe head injuries and a slashed throat, suggesting a continuation of the killer's violent methods.
• Mary Hackney
  • Age: 26
  • Date of Death: October 26, 1910
  • Location: Her residence in Cumminsville
  • Details: The final known victim, Mary Hackney, was found in her home with her throat slashed and skull fractured. This murder marked the end of the known killing spree attributed to the Cumminsville Killer.

Investigation and Suspects

Despite extensive investigations, the Cumminsville Killer was never apprehended. Several suspects were considered:

• Unnamed Streetcar Conductor: In 1913, private detectives claimed to have identified Anna Lloyd's murderer as a former streetcar conductor who had since been confined to a sanitarium. However, no charges were filed, and no direct link was established between this individual and the other victims.
• "S.D.M.": A series of letters were sent to authorities by someone signing as "S.D.M.," claiming involvement in the murders. These letters were ultimately deemed a hoax, providing no substantial leads.

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Confirmed Victims: (5)

Mary McDonald Age: (32), Date of Death: 1904-04-30

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The Cumminsville Ripper - Spreaker

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