Walter Earl Ellis

Serial Killer

Walter E. Ellis: The Milwaukee North Side Strangler

Early Life

Walter Earl Ellis was born on June 24, 1960, in Holmes County, Mississippi. He was one of six children to LeRoy and Mattie Ellis. In the mid-1960s, the family relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From an early age, Ellis exhibited antisocial behavior, often acting impulsively and aggressively towards his peers. He dropped out of school in the eighth grade in 1974, leading to a life marked by criminal activities.

Criminal Activities

Ellis's criminal record included arrests for sexual assault and drug-related offenses. Between 1986 and 2007, he committed a series of heinous crimes, primarily targeting vulnerable women involved in sex work or struggling with addiction. His modus operandi involved raping and strangling his victims, leaving a trail of fear and devastation in Milwaukee's North Side.

Victims

Ellis's confirmed victims include:

• Deborah L. Harris, 31 – Found on October 10, 1986.
• Tanya L. Miller, 19 – Discovered on October 11, 1986.
• Irene Smith, 25 – Found on November 28, 1992.
• Florence McCormick, 28 – Discovered on April 24, 1995.
• Sheila Farrior, 37 – Found on June 27, 1995.
• Joyce Mims, 41 – Discovered on June 20, 1997.
• Ouithreaun C. Stokes, 28 – Found on April 27, 2007.

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Confirmed Victims: (7)

Deborah L. Harris Age: (31), Date of Death: 1986-10-10

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Walter E. Ellis - Wikipedia

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