Carlton Michael Gary

Serial Killer

Carlton Michael Gary and the Columbus "Stocking Strangler" Murders

Carlton Michael Gary was an American convicted murderer most closely associated with the series of attacks known as the "Stocking Strangler" murders in Columbus, Georgia. Between September 1977 and April 1978, elderly women living primarily in the historic Wynnton area of Columbus were attacked inside their homes. Seven women were killed, while at least two other women survived related attacks. The crimes created widespread fear because the victims were generally women living alone, the attacks occurred in or around their own bedrooms, and the killer repeatedly used ligatures such as stockings, pantyhose, a scarf, or a window-blind cord to strangle his victims. Gary was ultimately tried and convicted for three of the murders: those of Florence Scheible, Martha Thurmond, and Kathleen Woodruff. Prosecutors also introduced evidence concerning the other attacks to argue that they demonstrated a distinctive pattern and were committed by the same person. Gary was not formally convicted of the remaining four Columbus murders, an important distinction when describing the case. Nevertheless, authorities maintained that he was responsible for the complete series, and later DNA testing connected him to evidence in the Jean Dimenstein case.

Pattern of the Crimes

The Columbus attacks followed a remarkably similar pattern. The assailant entered the homes of older women, usually during the night, and burglarized the residences. The women were sexually assaulted and subjected to ligature strangulation. Stockings or pantyhose were used in several cases, giving rise to the "Stocking Strangler" name used by the press. Other ligatures included Kathleen Woodruff's scarf and a Venetian-blind cord used against Mildred Borom. Another recurring feature was the manner in which the deceased victims were found. Their bodies had generally been partially or completely covered with bedding, sheets, blankets, pillows, or other material after the attacks. Most of the crimes occurred within the Wynnton section of Columbus, causing residents to become increasingly frightened as the number of similar attacks grew. Janet Cofer, the final homicide victim in the recognized series, lived outside Wynnton on Steam Mill Road, although she had attended choir practice in Wynnton on the evening associated with her murder.

Victims and Verified Dates

The following dates are based on the dates recorded in court and official case accounts. In cases where the surviving records identify when a body was discovered rather than establishing a separate precise time of death, that distinction is noted.

• Mary "Ferne" Jackson September 16, 1977 2505 17th Street, Columbus, Georgia. Jackson was found dead in her Wynnton-area home on September 16. She had been sexually assaulted and beaten before being strangled with a stocking and a sash from a dressing gown. Her body had been covered after the attack. Some later accounts have referred to September 15 in describing when the killing may have occurred, but official court summaries record the discovery of her body on September 16.
• Jean Dimenstein September 24, 1977 3027 21st Street, Columbus, Georgia. Dimenstein was attacked inside her home and was sexually assaulted and strangled with a stocking. Sheets and a pillow covered her body. Her death became especially significant decades later when post-conviction DNA testing produced evidence that authorities said matched Gary to the Dimenstein case, even though her murder was not one of the three for which he had originally been convicted.
• Florence Scheible October 21, 1977 1941 Dimon Street, Columbus, Georgia. Scheible, who was 89 years old, legally blind, and dependent on a walker, was sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled with a stocking. Her son and daughter-in-law discovered her covered body on October 21. Scheible's murder was one of the three killings for which Gary was formally prosecuted and convicted.
• Martha Thurmond October 25, 1977 2614 Marion Street, Columbus, Georgia. Thurmond was found dead in her home on October 25. She had been sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled with a stocking. Her body had been covered with a pillow, sheets, and blankets. Thurmond's death was another of the three murders included in Gary's indictment and eventual conviction.
• Kathleen Woodruff December 28, 1977 1811 Buena Vista Road, Columbus, Georgia. Woodruff was discovered partially covered on her bed on December 28. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, but in this case the ligature was a scarf rather than a stocking. Woodruff was the third woman whose murder formed the basis of Gary's 1986 murder convictions.
• Mildred Borom February 12, 1978 1612 Forest Avenue, Columbus, Georgia. Borom was found in the hallway of her home on February 12 after her son became concerned when he could not contact her. Contemporary reporting indicated that the killing probably occurred late on February 11 or early on February 12. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled with a cord taken from a Venetian blind. Her face had been covered after her death. Her home was only a short distance from that of surviving attack victim Ruth Schwob.
• Janet Cofer April 19, 1978 Steam Mill Road, Columbus, Georgia. Court records state that Cofer's body was discovered in her home on April 19 after she failed to report for work. She was found in bed, covered with linens and with a pillow over her face. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled with a stocking. Cofer lived outside the Wynnton neighborhood, unlike the other principal victims, but she had attended choir practice at Wynnton Methodist Church on the evening connected with the crime. Some later summaries have used April 20 when referring to the case, while the controlling court accounts place the discovery on April 19.

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Confirmed Victims: (6)

Marion Brewer Age: (62), Date of Death: 1970-02-12

Carlton Gary - Wikipedia