Anthony Balaam: The Trenton Strangler
Early Life
Anthony Balaam, born on July 9, 1965, in Trenton, New Jersey, led a life marked by criminal activities and substance abuse. Despite being described by acquaintances as unassuming and polite, Balaam struggled with a severe crack cocaine addiction. He resided at 421 Stuyvesant Avenue with a roommate during the period of his crimes. From July 1995 to January 1996, he temporarily relocated to Detroit, Michigan, before returning to Trenton. Prior to his arrest for the murders, Balaam had multiple run-ins with the law, including arrests for drug offenses and burglary.
Modus Operandi
Balaam's criminal activities spanned from 1994 to 1996, during which he targeted vulnerable women involved in prostitution within a two-mile radius of his residence. In the early morning hours, he would approach these women, offering them crack cocaine in exchange for sexual favors. Once they agreed and moved to a secluded location, Balaam would brandish a knife to intimidate them, proceed to rape them, and ultimately strangle them to death. He disposed of three victims' bodies in vacant lots and left the fourth in a dilapidated hotel.
Victims
The known victims of Anthony Balaam are:
- Karen Denise Patterson (41) – Murdered on October 24, 1994.
- Valentina Cuyler (29) – Murdered on March 19, 1995.
- Connie Hayward (27) – Murdered on April 10, 1995.
- Debora Ann Walker (37) – Murdered on July 29, 1996.
Each of these women was subjected to sexual assault and strangulation. Their bodies were discovered in locations close to Balaam's residence, underscoring his tendency to operate within familiar territory.
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