December 3, 1995 Starke, Bradford County, Florida Suspected serial killer Gerard John Schaefer is killed by fellow inmate Vincent Rivera Schaefer, a former sheriff’s deputy, was serving a life term for the 1972 murders of Susan Place (17) and Georgia Jessup (16). During Schaefer’s trial, the prosecutor explained the girls had been tied to a… Continue reading Suspected serial killer Gerard John Schaefer killed by fellow inmate
Category: Florida
The murder of Grady “Lobster Boy” Stiles
November 29, 1992 Gibsonton, Florida Circus performer Grady “Lobster Boy” Stiles, Jr. is killed by a 17-year-old hitman hired by his wife and stepson Stiles was born with ectrodactyly, a generic condition which fuses fingers and/or toes into a claw-like shape. Because of this, he joined his father, who also had ectrodactyly, and toured with… Continue reading The murder of Grady “Lobster Boy” Stiles
Man kills 4 after Thanksgiving dinner
November 26, 2009 Jupiter, Florida Paul Michael Merhige shoots several members of his family at Thanksgiving, killing four Merhige visited the his cousin’s home for Thanksgiving. He spent three hours eating, chatting, and singing with his extended family before killing his twin sisters (one of whom was pregnant), his aunt, and his cousin’s 6-year-old daughter,… Continue reading Man kills 4 after Thanksgiving dinner
Teen bludgeons, stabs 9-year-old neighbor, keeps body under his bed
November 3, 1998 Jacksonville, Florida 14-year-old Joshua Phillips beats and stabs his 8-year-old neighbor Maddie Clifton and hides her under his waterbed mattress After his arrest, Phillips stated he accidentally hit Maddie in the eye with a baseball bat as the children played. He claimed that in a state of panic, fearing he would get… Continue reading Teen bludgeons, stabs 9-year-old neighbor, keeps body under his bed
Woman dies of tuberculosis, her body eventually stolen by a man obsessed with her
October 25, 1931 Key West, Florida Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos dies of tuberculosis; her body is later stolen and preserved by the x-ray technician who attempted to treat her Hoyos was 22 when she died of tuberculosis, despite the efforts of hospital employee, Carl Tanzler von Cosel, made to save her life. Tanzler believed… Continue reading Woman dies of tuberculosis, her body eventually stolen by a man obsessed with her
