Donald Leroy Evans

Serial Killer

Donald Leroy Evans: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Early Life and Initial Criminal Activities

Donald Leroy Evans was born on July 5, 1957, in Watervliet, Michigan. His early life was marked by instability and behavioral issues. At the age of 16, he attempted suicide by ingesting roach poison and drugs. He later joined the Marine Corps but was discharged due to psychiatric problems. In 1986, Evans was convicted of raping a woman in Galveston, Texas, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison; however, he served only five years before being paroled in 1991. Upon release, he returned to Galveston and briefly worked as a desk clerk at a motel before parole officials objected to his employment in such a setting.

Confirmed Crimes

• Ira Jean Smith (female, 38): On March 7, 1985, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Evans strangled Ira Jean Smith, a sex worker. Her body was discovered in a motel room closet, wrapped in a blanket. Evans's fingerprint was later matched to one found at the crime scene.
• Janet Movich (female, 38): On April 14, 1985, in Daytona, Florida, Evans sexually assaulted and strangled Janet Movich, a homeless woman originally from Pennsylvania. Her nude body was found in a wooded lot. Although Evans confessed to this murder, he was never formally charged for it.
• Beatrice Louise Routh (female, 10): On August 1, 1991, in Gulfport, Mississippi, Evans abducted 10-year-old Beatrice Routh from a park. He raped and strangled her, later dumping her body in a rural area. Arrested four days later in Colorado, Evans confessed to the crime and expressed a desire for the death penalty.

Claims of Additional Murders

While in custody, Evans claimed responsibility for killing more than 70 individuals across 22 states, primarily targeting victims at rest areas and public parks. Authorities were initially skeptical of these confessions, reminiscent of previous false claims by other criminals. However, some of his descriptions matched unsolved cases, lending partial credibility to his assertions. Despite this, he was conclusively linked to only a few murders. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (3)

Ira Jean Smith Age: (38), Date of Death: 1985-03-07

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Donald Leroy Evans - Wikipedia

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