Philip Joseph Hughes Jr.: The East Bay Strangler
Background
Philip Joseph Hughes Jr., born on January 29, 1948, in Fresno County, California, is an American serial killer known as "The East Bay Strangler." Alongside his ex-wife, Suzanne Perrin, Hughes committed a series of murders in Contra Costa County during the early 1970s. He is currently serving life imprisonment at the California Correctional Institution.
Crimes
Hughes's criminal activities spanned from 1972 to 1975, during which he targeted young women in the East Bay region of California. His known victims include:
- Maureen Field: On November 14, 1972, 19-year-old Maureen Field was waiting for her father to pick her up after her shift at Kmart when Hughes offered her a ride. Her decomposed body was discovered on February 15, 1973, along Morgan Territory Road.
- Lisa Ann Beery: On January 26, 1974, 15-year-old Lisa Beery was kidnapped at knifepoint by Hughes and Perrin while hitchhiking near her home. She was sexually assaulted and murdered in a house in Oakland. Her body was found five years later in Moraga.
- Letitia Fagot: On March 19, 1975, 25-year-old Letitia Fagot was found nude and strangled in her Walnut Creek home after coworkers requested a welfare check when she failed to show up for work.
Arrest and Trials
In July 1979, Suzanne Perrin, fearing for her safety, disclosed information linking Hughes to the murder of Lisa Beery. This led to a search warrant for Hughes's Pleasanton home on July 13, 1979.
On April 3, 1980, Hughes was convicted of the first-degree murder of Lisa Beery. A jury later confirmed his legal sanity during the crime. He received a life sentence on May 21, 1980.
Six months later, on October 14, 1980, Hughes was found guilty of the first-degree murders of Maureen Field and Letitia Fagot. He was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences on November 25, 1980. Perrin testified against Hughes in both trials, receiving immunity despite her involvement in the crimes.
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