Did a notorious-a possibly uncaught-serial killer call the most popular radio show in America? was thought to be a serial killer. He later. As we heard, Clay made reference to killing a black transvestite during his call. On August 13, 1997, The Howard Stern Show received a call from a man who identified himself as "Clay". Copyright 2023 washingtonindependent.com. At this point, nothing has been disclosed of Gant's fate afterward; whether or not there was a DNA match to the two aforementioned murders and/or the other 22 victims of the serial killer is unknown. Here we see Stern seemingly referencing the Macdonald Triad, named after psychiatrist J.M. Louisiana Serial Killer Confesses Live on The Howard Stern Show - 97.3 [4] Her body had been covered with garbage, and an autopsy determined that she had been beaten and strangled. In 1993 he reportedly began killing "claiming the life of his first confirmed victim, Cheryl Lewis, by drugging her and then drowning her in a canal on February 1-3 of 93" according to criminalminds.fandom.com. Howard asked Lee what he used to cut the head off. He was locked up for 85 days after being arrested on August 4, 1997, on drug charges. The trial began on June 8, 1999, in Lafayette. Allegedly the day after this aired on B97 during the station's brief stint as a "Hot Talk" radio format, the FBIshowed up at Stern's studios and collected the audio as evidence. While on probation, Ellwood relocated to Canton, Ohio, where he started working for his brother. His mother, Yvonne, who worked for a TV station, raised Sean with her. Serial murder is distinguished from mass murder, in which several victims are . Robinson's boyfriend was a police officer called Victor Grant, who has denied any wrongdoing. - During the call, Clay claimed he was white, and that the only suspect at the time was a black cop who was romantically involved with one of the victims. When the task force talked to him again, he admitted to dumping the body of a black woman in the water next to a country road. In the end, Ellwood was found guilty of the murder of Cheryl Lewis. It is unclear where she was employed, but nothing indicated that she engaged in prostitution or used drugs. Before hanging up, the self-professed Zodiac said he would settle for Melvin Belli if Bailey could not be reached. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/humaninterests Join the Mailing List: https://www.humaninterests.co.uk/newsletter Why serial killing rose in the 70s and fel. He indicated that he had "dreamed" of the moment that he was questioned by a task force looking into serial killers. When Colonel Walter T. Gorman and other members of the task force met Ellwood in Sebring, Florida, they said he was friendly and willing to help. On August 13, 1997, The Howard Stern Show received a call from a man who identified himself as "Clay". [2], On November 21, the body of 37-year-old Regina Oko was discovered. He was one of the two main suspects in a series of murders of women in New Orleans, Louisiana. .zklaml-1whqzut{display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;line-height:100%;top:2px;position:relative;}.zklaml-1whqzut svg{fill:#000;}.zklaml-1mmyqhz{padding:0 8px;top:4px;position:relative;}.zklaml-1mmyqhz svg{fill:#626262;}.zklaml-pr0334{font-family:adobe-garamond-pro,serif;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant-numeric:lining-nums;line-height:1.45;overflow-wrap:break-word;color:black;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline-block;cursor:pointer;font-variant:all-small-caps;color:#626262;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:16px;}.zklaml-pr0334:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.zklaml-pr0334:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;color:#000;}OthersSociety. Policemen later interviewed her friends and acquaintances, who stated that she had been cohabiting with a white male who vanished shortly after Porter went missing. 6". 13 Reasons Why season 2 ended with a monumental cliffhanger that had many viewers wondering about Clay's (Dylan Minnette) fate moving forward. Although this definition is widely accepted, the crime is not formally recognized in any legal code, including that of the United States. Discretion is advised. "No. - The majority of known victims were sex workers. According tocriminalminds.fandom.com Ellwood would live in his car from time to time when he couldn't afford to live anywhere else. Between 1991 and 1995, a suspected serial killer claimed the lives of multiple people in the New Orleans area. #crime #crimetok #true911calls #911calls #911dispatcher. Of course, this also leaves the door open for the possibility of Clay taking a few moments to craft the next portion of his fake story, but lets listen more before we jump to any further conclusions. Almost immediately, the FBI became aware of a dirty open secret within the New Orleans Police Departmentseveral officers were involved with or straight-up leading prostitution rings while on duty. Victor Gant, however, did not stop himself from getting into trouble. [6] In order to determine whether he was guilty or not, Gant was ordered to submit DNA for testing to see whether they could match it to the perpetrator's saliva, which was found on a piece of chewing tobacco found near Ivester's body. She said that she did not report the incident, due to being a prostitute with a criminal record. 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show. There was one that rang in to radio a while back, I think it was the 'Weepy Voiced Killer' and he confessed. But as soon as he arrived in the state, Ellwood was taken into custody on traffic-related charges. Check out today's terrifying new video that reveals the mistakes. I'll kill you too." A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. Except this time, no police trace reveals the caller to be a hoaxer in a mental institution. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee told the press in 1998 that the New Orleans task force never considered the serial killings to be the work of one man. [2] In a 2016 interview with HuffPost, Major C.J. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. In 1991, a serial killer began claiming numerous victims in the Algiers and Treme neighborhoods of New Orleans, eventually credited with 24 murders throughout the 1990s. During his murdering rampage, Rader would taunt police by sending letters with details about his killings. Ellwood himself denied knowing any of the victims or committing any murders, although he could not provide an alibi. Two days later, the skeletal remains of another young girl were found, whose identity was never ascertained. Due to extreme decomposition, neither could be identified, and are referred to as "Jane Doe No. The case against Victor Gant was now at a virtual standstill. Once the call ended, the saga of Clay the Serial Killer faded into relative obscurity. Powered by RedCircle. 3". After his release, Ellwood returned to Canton to live with his brother, who offered him a high-paying job. Internal investigations were launched, and Gant was taken off his patrol beat and place on desk duty. Clayface in Batman turns his fist into a hammer. He gave details that were similar to how Cheryl Lewis' body was dumped. [8] Ellwood's attorneys then filed a motion for a polygraph test to be performed on Sue Rushing, then-head of the task force, which was granted. Robinson was almost immediately identified due to her body being found still wearing Sharons Hurrahs Hotel & Casino uniform, complete with her identification badge. How A Serial Killer Was Caught By A Plumber's Gruesome - YouTube Chilling phone call from 'serial killer' to Howard Stern show - indy100 [2] She remains unidentified, as is referred to as "Jane Doe No. [8] No recording of this confession was taken, and Ellwood later denied ever confessing to such a murder to Camden. He was born on June 24, 1962, in Baton Rouge, Louisianna. The entire call is unnerving, but there are parts of the call that are absolutely terrifyingand this guy was stalking and killing people right down I-10 only a couple of hours away. Unfortunately, to me, this call seems like it may actually be real. This caller, who identified himself as "Clay," claimed to be an unidentified serial killer from the New Orleans area. [2], The perpetrator(s) mainly targeted girls and women of African-American descent, aged between 17 and 42, as victims. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. Stern started asking more specific questions about Clay's' killing process and where he kills his victims. [6] In the early 1990s, Gant gained a reputation for being corrupt after a number of informants reported that he, along with a few others, were running racketeering operations against pimps and other criminals. [10] Diane Gilliam, a former prostitute, told the court that she had known Ellwood since the early 1990s and had dated him periodically. Britton had dropped out of school shortly before her death, and was last seen in a New Orleans bar next to an unknown man. Weinweir Henry, Lewis' cousin, stated that she last saw her at a hotel in Avondale with a man, whom she identified as Ellwood. Before we go any further, I want to be crystal clear about the details discussed, and the contents of the audio in this story. Additionally, an associate of Ellwood's from a Florida prison gave investigators confirmation that Ellwood had once told him he liked having s*x with intoxicated people who were utterly powerless over their bodies due to the medications' side effects. While reviewing Nemards record as an officerincluding his arrest recordCollins wrote to officials at the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, stating, It is my belief that Mr. Nemard is a man of strong moral character and has a deep faith in God. Ellwood remains a suspect in several of the killings, but no charges have been filed against him. [2], On May 6, the body of 39-year-old Sandra Williams, who had been strangled, was found on a boulevard in New Orleans. [6] On December 9, 1994, Robinson went to the police to report him for beating her, and according to her statement, Gant punched her in the face and broke her nose. Ellwood first came under police scrutiny in 1994, after he was allegedly found masturbating in his car by police, which had been parked by the road, near where Cheryl Lewis and Delores Mack's bodies were found. To me, that's definitely a red flag as to what kind of guy we're talking about here. Ellwood was taken into custody on August 4, 1997, just a few days after the completion of the interrogations, for allegedly purchasing cocaine from an undercover police officer at his house near Sebring. This was refuted by Ellwood's receipts, which show a puzzling two-week break in February. When confronted by reporters from Huffington Post in 2016 regarding their hiring of a suspect in a series of serial killings as an officer assigned to protect college students, Carver College Police Chief R.J. Collins tried denying Gant had ever worked theredespite Gant appearing in full uniform on the Police Departments website and in photos shared on Facebook. Instead of firing Turner, Collins allowed him to quietly resign. I think I just do it for the sense of power." She had been strangled. The charges were only dropped after a series of behind-closed-doors meetings with lawyers. [2] On October 19, the skeletal remains of a woman were found in a wooded area near a highway within the limits of Bridge City. As a direct consequence of this, he was found guilty of the crime and given a prison term of eighty-five days in the county jail. It was revealed that these phone calls were coming from Napa State Hospital and had been made by a young man named Eric Philips Weill. Ultimately found guiltyof the murder of Cheryl Lewis, Ellwood was thought to be responsible for as many as 15 murders in the New Orleans area, and many believe responsible for many more. Shortly after 7 AM, the man claiming to be Zodiac called in, and asked to called Sam., The mans threat was a clear reference to Zodiacs letter sent to the San Francisco Chronicle on October 13, 1969less than two days after his murder of Paul Stinein which he writes, School children make nice targets, I think I shall wipe out a school bus some morning. Serial murder | Definition, Characteristics, Types, & Facts Russel Ellwood was a suspected serial killer who killed prostitutes (women) by drugging them and strangling them to death. A look at eight of Philadelphia's most notorious murder cases [8] Based on Hill's testimony, the task force tracked him down and re-interviewed in the presence of Ron Camden, a 27-year veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department's Homicide Unit. None of the dozens of New Orleans prostitute victims in question were killed in this manner. Sometime in the early 2000s, Gant left Louisiana and moved to Georgia. -The caller knew a black police officer was a suspect in the murders of two women in New Orleans (the FBI requested the recordings & got involved because of that statement due to it matching things not publicly known) & the officer remained a suspect even after Ellwood was linked to the string of murders because police believe the killings to be This further shows a pattern of narcissism inherent in many serial killers like the Zodiac obsessively following your own press. The Serial Killers Who Invented America. New Orleans Serial Killer | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | Fandom Howard Stern then asks Clay how many prostitutes he's killed. He was also ordered to perform forced labor. [2], On January 22, 1995, the body of 29-year-old impoverished mother of three Wanda Ford was found in a swamp near the I-55. Due to extreme decompisition, she too remains unidentified, and is named "Jane Doe No. I mean, he's a multi-millionaire and arguably the most recognized name in broadcasting, so clearly he's kind of good at his job. Was it real, or was this just another one of Stern'slowbrow stunts that he's famous for? He claimed he's killed 12 prostitutes in the New Orleans area. In early 1995, a disciplinary panel and hearing to determine Gant's punishment began. His explanation for stopping was to apparently change the oil and repair the brake pads of his car, and willingly allowed his vehicle to be searched. [10] According to the testimony of Denise Sanders, who was Lewis' best friend, she had seen her with Ellwood three days prior, who was out driving his cab. [8] Ultimately, the murder charge for Delores Mack was dropped,[11] but on the basis of very circumstantial evidence and unreliable testimony, Ellwood was found guilty of killing Cheryl Lewis and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on August 17, 1999. I'm willing to confess to two cases and give you all the details when I return to Louisiana. The second witness, Antoinette Holmes, who lived near Lewis, testified to seeing her at the Time Saver restaurant in Bridge City two weeks before she was reported missing, standing between two parked cars and talking to a cab driver. [2] On April 2, two sets of skeletal remains were found in the canals, later determined to be of a young woman and a young man. Cheryl Lewis on February 1, 2, and 3, 1993 (drowned; found on February 21; it is unknown if the charges against Ellwood were dropped). While incarcerated, authorities charged him with the murders of Lewis and Mack on March 4, 1998.[5]. The caller then goes on to say "You can call me Clay". Stokes stated Ellwood bought her lunch and treated her nicely before driving her to his home, where he suggested that they use cocaine. [2] On December 14, skeletal remains were found in a ditch near a highway. Ellwood worked for a while as a freelance photographer in New Orleans and eventually worked as a cab driver. In addition to Gant, another resident of New Orleans, Russell Ellwood, soon came under police suspicion. Listen to ""Clay the Serial Killer"" on Spreaker. 2021-08-16. This sort of bizarre call was not out of the ordinary for the show, where Stern often hoax calls from people with crazy stories. Suddenly, you hear a man call in and calmly explain to the host over the course of several minutes that he is an un-apprehended serial killer. For more information, please see our Between the years of 1974 and 1991, serial killer Dennis "BTK Killer" Rader was at large. While they were somewhat skeptical that this caller was indeed the Zodiac Killer, the San Francisco Police were eager to set up this unconventional television broadcast in the hopes that a call could be traced to rule out or confirm this individual as a legitimate suspect, as the Zodiac had struck in their city only two weeks prior, murdering cab driver Paul Stine in cold blood before fleeing into the night. Or was something even stranger going on? Despite raising a lot of suspicions early on, this call quickly faded into relative obscurity after it happened, before being brought back to the attention of internet sleuths in 2019. Could Baton Rouge be the Jimmy Swaggart Town mentioned by Clay? In 1997, 'Clay' called into the show to tell Stern and Quivers he had killed 12 sex workers. Where Did All The Serial Killers Go? - YouTube According to reports, after that, the status of Ellwood's conviction on the remaining murder charge is unknown. There was no mistaking his evil as his nickname was short for 'Bind, Torture, Kill'. The treads on her shoes definitively matched a shoeprint found next to a dead body that had been discovered only three hours earlier and only a mile awayand the victim had been Sharons best friend. Will Clay Jensen get arrested at the start of 13 Reasons Why season 3 for his involvement with Tyler's deadly plan? [2] Eighteen days later, the body of 28-year-old Charlene Price was found in a New Orleans park, just one mile from where Britton was found. Well, thats exactly what happened on the morning of Wednesday, August 13, 1997, during a live broadcast of WXRKs landmark radio program, The Howard Stern Show. A lot happens right here. According to the investigators, Gant had killed both her and her friend, Karen Ivester, in order to get rid of them. According to some online reports, the FBI paid Stern a visit at his studio the following day to obtain copies of the recorded call, and Stern never publicly mentioned the incident again. Clay hesitates for a few seconds before saying he actually used a hammer during most of his murders. "Clay" The Serial Killer Calls Into The Howard Stern Show, Deeply https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBRAY3N3FXw. Redhead Murderer, or the Bible Belt Strangler Where: Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee Actually nothing like that. According to her, Lewis had told Henry that she and Ellwood were on their way to a suburb of New Orleans, where her body was later found. Despite the fact that his attorneys said he was in Ohio at the time of both killings, Ellwood was detained and charged with two counts of second-degree murder. The link to a police officer was made last April when Sharon Robinson, a casino coin-changer, and her friend, Karen Iverster, were murdered. A Serial Killer calls into the Howard Stern Show and admits to - Reddit It doesnt mean they are bad officer.. 2". Three other sheriffs from the now-disbanded task force told the same reporter that at least four other suspects were on their radar. To some, these questions might seem like the kinds of things all of us might ask if given the opportunity to interview a serial killer, but Stern makes some key maneuvers less than a minute into this conversation. Obviously,one of the biggest questions here iscould this actually be real, or is "Clay" playing some sort of very sick joke? The video, posted by true911calls, replays the call between host Howard Stern, co-host Robin Quivers, and the caller, so-called 'Clay.'. [2] Like Williams, Filson was transsexual and worked at a nightclub under the name 'Brenda Bewitch'. [5] A partially undressed Ellwood was forced out of his car and told to show his driver's license. [2] The results were inconclusive and no charges were filed against Gant, who was dismissed from the force in August 1996.[2]. Stern goes on to ask questions about Clay's motives behind why he kills, his methods of murder and even asks if he has any tattoos, but the caller was very cunning and careful to not incriminate himself. Delores Mack was also murdered; she was first drugged and then strangled to death. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Was the FBI able to get enough information from The Howard Stern Show phone call to make an arrest? Russell Ellwoodis the man many believe to be "Clay the Serial Killer", the man who called The Howard Stern Show in 1997 and confessed to killing 12 women. "Clay The Serial Killer"? Howard Stern Show Serial Killer [8] For the next 30 years, Ellwood lived in squalor because of his drug addiction, had no permanent residence, never married and changed professions often, mostly sticking to photography and cab driving. Again, the Macdonald triad rears its head. 34K 2.1M views 9 months ago How did some of the worst serial killers that have ever lived end up getting caught by the police? No further information about him is available. Do you think "Clay the Serial Killer" is Russell Ellwood? Stern and Quivers asked him questions related about why he did it. His father, Norman, left the family not long after the birth of Sean. The chilling moment an apparent serial killer called intoThe Howard Stern Show is going viral again on TikTok, and the clip still leaves us with more questions than answers. Self-Professed New Orleans Serial Killer Once Confessed 12 Murders to Howard Stern. His m.o. This image shows a police sketch released to the media in 1992, after one woman survived an attack and provided a description to police of the man she said choked her and left her for dead. During the test, Rushing was unable to answer a series of questions regarding the missing receipts, but the result was inconclusive, casting doubt on Ellwood's guilt. Here, Clay makes reference to Jimmy Swaggart, the famous Pentecostal Televangelist. Unresolved: "Clay the Serial Killer" on Apple Podcasts His unemotional attitude while describing how he kills these girls with a hammer in parking garages & swamps. He said it was a knife from what he was told. He first rendered his victims unconscious by giving them drugs, and then he killed them in a number of ways, most commonly by strangling or suffocation. On August 4, 1997, just days after the interrogations were completed, Ellwood was arrested for buying cocaine from an undercover police officer at his home in Sebring. may be disturbing to some readers. Below is the infamous phone call to the Howard Stern Show. When Clay answers in the affirmative, this now gives investigators motivation for look for biological evidence that might link a series of cold cases together, in this instance, semen or body hairs left behind by the killer. The Macdonald Triad has been criticized in recent years as an urban legend, as the three key factors cited in Macdonalds theory are more often linked to childhood abuse and neglect rather than some serial killer crystal ball, but nonetheless, but the time of this late-90s radio broadcast, the triad had become cemented as a key element of serial killer culture. "Clay" goes into graphic detail about some of his alleged kills, and gives details about cases not publicly known. The witness, like Gilliam, did not report the incident because she was a drug addict. The dramatic arrest in 2018 of Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. was all the more astounding because of how detectives said they caught . This was backed up by the emergency room doctor, who testified that the woman's injuries were the result of a beating. On December 14, a fourth victim, as yet unidentified, was found near Behrman Highway, not far from where Danielle was found. Getting word from the call screener there was a listener on hold named Ed who claims to kill prostitutes, Stern immediately puts him on air. Eleven months after the final body was found, police discovered additional skeletal remains on April 8, 1996. On September 21, the remains of 29-year-old Regiter Martin were discovered in the waters of another canal near a highway. Zodiac was able to consistently lead the police of wild goose chases with his many letters, cryptograms, and phone calls due to his compulsion for following every detail about the police investigation into his crimes and potential identity printed about him in the press. [6] It was revealed that during this time, he met Sharon Robinson, who soon became his roommate. A death record for Weill notes that he was the son of a man named Sam Weillyoull recall Sam as being the name Eric asked to be called while masquerading as the Zodiac on Jim Dunbars television show. While this propelled the case to a national audience, the case remained unsolved. Where have we heard this before? On May 4, 1995, less than a week after the formation of this task force, Gant was formally called in for questioning at the New Orleans Sheriffs Office. Every Serial Killer Caught In The Past 10 Years - Grunge Like the previous victims, Williams was a drug addict and had been arrested for robbery and drug possession. Did your mom spank you? During her testimony, "Brenda" gave a description of her attacker, from which an identikit was created. Acting fast, the police arranged for Jim Dunbar, the host of KGO-TVs, AM San Francisco, to have Melvin Belli join him on the air that morning, as Bailey was 3,000 miles away in Boston at the time. "Clay the Serial Killer" Unresolved Camden later testified that Ellwood also confessed to him that he had killed a black girl, whose corpse he had dumped in the canal. Another item found on Sharons bodyher shoesled to another shocking revelation. He revealed he had sex with his victims beforehand, then killed them primarily with a hammer and strangled one. Russell Ellwood is the man many believe to be "Clay the Serial Killer", the man who called The Howard Stern Show in 1997 and confessed to killing 12 women. "Yesterday a guy called in and said that he had killed 12 prostitutes. A native of Massillon, Ohio, Ellwood moved to New Orleans in 1968 after graduating high school. But what if that wasnt the case? 30-year-old Karen Ivester had been strangled and her nude body was left in a swamp under I-55. [4], On September 3, the body of 21-year-old Tyra Tassin was found. Of course, Clay never explicitly mentions Baton Rouge as being Jimmy Swaggart town, but this is an issue worth questioning. Luckily, neither Eric Weill nor the Zodiac ever made good on their shared threat to murder school children. Rainey was able to escape, but did not report the attack due to her criminal lifestyle. Serial Killer Howard Stern serial killer interview??? - Lipstick Alley An autopsy determined that she had been strangled. Collins brushed off criticism of his hiring practices during a 2017 interview by stating, Ill give people a second chance sometimes. Dead End Baton Rouge Serial Killer | True Crime - Medium With no confession or hard evidence to charge him with, detectives had no choice but to let Gant go. This guy is either the dumbest serial killer or this was just a jokester with a really bad sense of humor seeking attention. A few more bodies were found, but these victims were all determined to have been killed years prior to their discovery. Shortly after 2 AM on the morning of October 22, 1969, a man claiming to be the Zodiac Killer called the Oakland, California Police Department, demanding to speak with famed attorney F. Lee Bailey. [6] He became a police officer in February 1980, and while on patrol, Gant would spend a lot of time in red-light districts, where in later years he acquired many acquaintances among pimps, prostitutes and street informants. So, whatever became of "Clay the Serial Killer"? [3], On August 4, 1991, the body of 17-year-old Danielle Britton was found in a ditch not far from where "Brenda" had been abducted. Reading comments online and on this video, it looks like I'm not alone. If youll recall from earlier in this episode, Clay the Serial Killer called into Sterns show on August 13, 1997over one week after Ellwood was jailed. The bodies of Lewis and Mack were discovered on February 21 and 22, 1993 respectively.