William J. Guatney

Serial Killer

William J. Guatney: The "Freight Train" Killer

Early Life

William J. Guatney, born on February 14, 1922, in Pekin, Illinois, had a troubled childhood. His birth mother abandoned him shortly after his birth, and he was adopted by Bert and Ruby Guatney. Guatney spent his childhood in small, rural communities in Kansas, where his father worked in the coal mines. After his father's death in 1935, Guatney's life took a downward spiral, leading him to a life of petty theft and alcohol abuse.

Criminal Activities

Guatney's criminal activities spanned from 1969 to 1981, during which he was suspected of killing 15 boys in four states. He confessed to three murders after his arrest but was deemed unfit to stand trial and was detained at a mental institution until his death.

Victims

• Jon Simpson, 13, abducted from the state fair at Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1975.
• Jacob Surber, 12, abducted from the state fair at Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1975.
• Jack Hanrahan, 12, disappeared from his Topeka neighborhood on May 20, 1979.
• Mark Helmig, 9, murdered at Pekin, Illinois, in 1976.
• Marty Lancaster, 14, killed at Normal, Illinois, in 1978.

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Confirmed Victims: (0)
Suspected Victims:

Jacob Surber Age: (12), Date of Death: August 30, 1975

Jon Simpson Age: (13), Date of Death: August 30, 1975

Mark Helmig Age: (9), Date of Death: August 1976

Marty Lancaster Age: (14), Date of Death: June 1978

John Hanrahan Jr. Age: (12), Date of Death: May 10, 1979

William Guatney - Wikipedia

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