DELAWARE, USA Steven Brian Pennell, known as the Route 40 Killer, was Delaware’s only confirmed serial killer. He preyed on women, mainly sex workers, along Route 40 in the late 1980s. Although he led a seemingly normal life as a married electrician with children, his crimes revealed a disturbing darkness.
Victims and M.O.
The first known victim, Shirley Anna Ellis, was a 23-year-old nurse and part-time sex worker. Her body was found in November 1987 near Route 40, showing signs of torture, including bruises, cuts, and burns. She had been restrained and strangled, and there was no evidence of sexual assault, suggesting Pennell’s sadistic motivations went beyond sexual gratification.
Catherine DiMauro, 31, was found dead in June 1988, also near Route 40. Her body was naked and bore evidence of similar torture as Ellis’s. The lack of sexual assault signs pointed to Pennell’s focus on inflicting pain rather than pursuing sexual motives.
Michelle Gordon, 22, was found near the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in September 1988. A drug overdose from cocaine occurred before Pennell began the torture. Her body showed injuries consistent with the other victims, but due to the water exposure, the exact cause of death could not be determined.
Kathleen Meyer, 26, disappeared in September 1988 after being seen getting into a blue van linked to Pennell. Unlike the other victims, her body was never recovered, leaving the details of her fate largely unknown.
Margaret Finner was found dead near the Summit Bridge. Though no direct evidence linked Pennell to her death, her family believed she was one of his victims.
During the police investigation, his blue van, which he used during his killing sprees, was seized. Traces of the victims’ blood and hair were found inside.
Pennell was apprehended after undercover officers obtained fibers from his van matching evidence from the crime scenes. His trial marked a legal milestone as one of the first cases to rely heavily on DNA forensic evidence. He was convicted of murdering Ellis and DiMauro and later confessed to the murders of Gordon and Meyer, requesting the death penalty, which was carried out in 1992.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Brian_Pennell