Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Early Life and Criminal Beginnings
Donald Henry Gaskins, born on March 13, 1933, in Florence County, South Carolina, was the last in a series of illegitimate children born to Eulea Parrott. Due to his small stature, he earned the nickname "Pee Wee." His upbringing was marred by neglect and abuse, leading to a troubled youth. At age 13, Gaskins was convicted for assaulting a young girl with a hatchet during a burglary, resulting in a sentence to a reform school where he suffered repeated sexual assaults. This period marked the beginning of his extensive criminal record, including charges of assault, burglary, and statutory rape.
Escalation to Murder
Gaskins's criminal activities escalated to murder in the late 1960s. He confessed to killing hitchhikers and others he deemed vulnerable, employing methods such as stabbing, shooting, drowning, and poisoning. His victims were often subjected to prolonged torture before their deaths. Gaskins claimed to have murdered over 100 individuals, but law enforcement confirmed 15 victims.
Notable Victims
- Margaret "Peg" Cuttino: 13-year-old daughter of South Carolina State Senator James Cuttino Jr., murdered in December 1970.
- Janice Kirby: Gaskins's 15-year-old niece, murdered in November 1970.
- Patricia Alsobrook: Friend of Janice Kirby, also 15, murdered in November 1970.
- Doreen Dempsey: 23-year-old mother, murdered along with her 2-year-old daughter, Robin Michelle Dempsey, in 1973.
- Kim Ghelkins: 13-year-old girl, murdered in 1975.
- Martha "Clyde" Dicks: Murdered in 1975.
- Rudolph Tyner: Fellow inmate on death row, murdered in 1982 using a C4 explosive device.
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