Alfred J. Gaynor

Serial Killer

Alfred J. Gaynor: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Overview

Alfred J. Gaynor is an American serial killer and rapist who terrorized Springfield, Massachusetts, between 1995 and 1998. His heinous acts led to the deaths of at least eight women, making him one of the most notorious criminals in the state's history. Gaynor's modus operandi typically involved sexual assault, robbery, and brutal strangulation of his victims.

Victims

• Vera E. Hallums
  • Age: 45
  • Date of Murder: April 1995
  • Details: Gaynor attacked Hallums in her Springfield apartment, binding her with electrical cords, beating, and strangling her. He then raped her corpse and robbed her residence. Her body was discovered on April 20, 1995.
• Amy Smith
  • Age: 20
  • Date of Murder: June 1996
  • Details: Initially, Gaynor's nephew, Paul Fickling, was wrongfully convicted for Smith's murder. In 2010, Gaynor confessed to the crime, leading to Fickling's exoneration.
• Jill Ann Ermellini
  • Age: 34
  • Date of Murder: June 15, 1997
  • Details: Gaynor lured Ermellini to a parking lot under the pretense of selling drugs. He then attacked, strangled, and robbed her before hiding her body in a truck.
• Robin M. Atkins
  • Age: 29
  • Date of Murder: October 24, 1997
  • Details: After consuming cocaine together, Gaynor beat, raped, and strangled Atkins. He then stole money and valuables from her.
• JoAnn C. Thomas
  • Age: 38
  • Date of Murder: October 31, 1997
  • Details: In Thomas's apartment, Gaynor sodomized and strangled her, leaving behind fingerprints and semen.
• Yvette Torres
  • Age: 33
  • Date of Murder: November 14, 1997
  • Details: While with his longtime girlfriend, Torres, Gaynor attacked and strangled her after they consumed drugs and alcohol together. He then stole items from her house to sell.
• Loretta Daniels
  • Age: 38
  • Date of Murder: February 1, 1998
  • Details: Gaynor met Daniels at a crack house and agreed to exchange drugs for sex. He later strangled her in an alley and sodomized her corpse. Her body was found the next day.
• Rosemary Downs
  • Age: 42
  • Date of Murder: February 10, 1998
  • Details: After using crack cocaine together at Downs's apartment, Gaynor raped, tied up, and gagged her, leading to her death from suffocation.
• Joyce Dickerson-Peay
  • Age: 37
  • Date of Murder: February 18, 1998
  • Details: Witnesses last saw Dickerson-Peay with Gaynor before her disappearance. Her body was found on March 11, 1998, with biological traces linking Gaynor to the crime.

Investigation and Arrest

Gaynor's arrest on April 10, 1998, followed a series of investigations linking him to multiple murders through DNA evidence and witness testimonies. Notably, during a court hearing on April 30, 1998, he was attacked by Eric Downs, the son of victim Rosemary Downs, resulting in physical injuries. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (10)

Vera E. Hallums Age: (45), Date of Death: 1995-04-20

    ...View 9 additional victims

Alfred Gaynor - Wikipedia

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