Jerry Lee Little

Serial Killer

Jerry Lee Little Jr.: The St. Louis Serial Killer

Early Life and Criminal Beginnings

Jerry Lee Little Jr. was born in 1956 in Marks, Mississippi, into a family of six children. Four years after his birth, his family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where his father soon passed away, leaving his mother to raise the children. Little dropped out of school after completing the sixth grade due to chronic absences and poor academic performance, leading him to a life of crime. In 1971, at the age of 15, he was arrested and convicted of rape, resulting in a five-year sentence. Released on parole in 1974, he soon participated in a robbery and gang rape, leading to a 20-year imprisonment at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center. He was paroled again in early 1984 and married a woman he had met during his incarceration. Despite securing employment and housing, his lack of education confined him to low-skilled labor. In 1986, he moved to Kansas City, where he was arrested for marijuana possession, violating his parole, and was returned to prison. He was released once more in August 1987, after which he returned to St. Louis, found work at a car wash, and enrolled in night school for secondary education.

The Murders

Between 1985 and 1988, Little committed a series of brutal murders in St. Louis, targeting women he knew or had interacted with. His victims included:

• Rose Jackson: A 60-year-old assistant prison chaplain and follower of the Baptist Church, Rose was strangled on December 19, 1985. Little knew her from his time in prison and was seen entering her apartment shortly before her murder.
• Patricia Ann Kelly: A 50-year-old Catholic nun, Patricia was raped and strangled on September 27, 1987, in the office of Missouri EnergyCare Inc., a crisis center for the elderly. She lived in the same apartment building as Little and was familiar with him.
• Imogen Jackson: A 28-year-old woman, Imogen was raped and killed on March 10, 1988, in the apartment building where both she and Little resided.
• Doris Orly Hayes: A 48-year-old woman whom Little met through night school classes, Doris was killed on April 10, 1988.

Investigation and Confession

By the end of July 1988, Little was a suspect in the murders of Patricia Ann Kelly and Imogen Jackson, both residents of his apartment building. On August 4, 1988, he was detained for interrogation. During questioning, Little unexpectedly confessed to the murders of Kelly, Jackson, and Hayes, as well as the earlier murder of Rose Jackson. His confessions were recorded on video, leading to formal charges. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Rose Jackson Age: (60), Date of Death: 1985-12-19

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Jerry Little - Wikipedia

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