Grand Rapids Serial Killer

Serial Killer

Grand Rapids Serial Killer: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Introduction

The city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been the backdrop for several serial killings over the years. Notably, the term "Grand Rapids Serial Killer" has been associated with different individuals and cases. This article delves into the crimes of Gwendolyn Graham and Catherine Wood, who were convicted of murdering five elderly women in a nursing home in 1987, and also touches upon other serial killings linked to the Grand Rapids area.

Gwendolyn Graham and Catherine Wood: The Lethal Lovers

In 1987, Gwendolyn Gail Graham and Catherine May Wood, both nurse's aides at the Alpine Manor Nursing Home in Walker, a suburb of Grand Rapids, committed a series of heinous crimes. Their victims were vulnerable elderly women under their care.

• Myrtle Luce: Age 95, murdered in January 1987.
• Edith Cook: Age 97, murdered in January 1987.
• Marguerite Chambers: Age 60, murdered in January 1987.
• Mae Mason: Age 79, murdered in February 1987.
• Belle Burkhard: Age 74, murdered in February 1987.

Graham and Wood's modus operandi involved smothering their victims, making the deaths appear natural. Their crimes went unnoticed until Wood confessed, leading to their arrests in December 1988. Graham received a life sentence without parole, while Wood was sentenced to 20–40 years and was released in 2020.

Other Notable Serial Killers Linked to Grand Rapids

Randy Steven Kraft

Randy Kraft, known for his cross-country killing spree, had ties to Grand Rapids. In December 1982, Kraft was in the city on a business trip when he encountered cousins Dennis Alt and Christopher Schoenborn at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Both men were later found murdered, having been plied with alcohol and Valium before their deaths. Their bodies were discovered on December 9, 1982, in a field near the hotel. Alt, aged 24, died of asphyxiation, while Schoenborn, aged 20, was strangled with his own belt. Kraft recorded this double homicide in his infamous "scorecard" under the entry "GR2".

Billy Mansfield Jr.

Billy Mansfield Jr., another serial killer, had connections to Grand Rapids. In 1977, he pleaded guilty to a sexual misconduct charge against a babysitter in the city, receiving six months' imprisonment and 36 months' probation. After his release, he assaulted two teenagers in a rural area near Grand Rapids, leading to further imprisonment. Mansfield's crimes escalated to murder, and he was eventually convicted of killing five women between 1975 and 1980. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (0)
Suspected Victims:

Linda McHugh , Date of Death: 1993-12-13

Lisa Otberg , Date of Death: 1994-01-01

Robin Scott , Date of Death: 1994-01-18

Shelly Kephart Christian , Date of Death: 1994-11-06

Pam Verile Age: (33), Date of Death: 1995-06-02

Fonda Lockridge , Date of Death: 1995-06-15

Cathleen Dennis Age: (35), Date of Death: 1995-07-07

Gale Cook , Date of Death: 1995-10-04

Dawn Shaver , Date of Death: 1995-11-17

Dawn Phillips , Date of Death: 1996-10-01

Michelle Becker , Date of Death: 1996-04-27

Victoria Moore , Date of Death: 1996-10-27

Cheryl Mason , Date of Death: 1996-10-13

Sherry Stewart Brown , Date of Death: 1998-07-22

Sonyia Campos , Date of Death: 1996-09-04

Stephanie Judson , Date of Death: 1997-07-31

Convicted killer admits to more murders on his death bed

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