Lorenzo Gilyard
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Jerome Gilyard, Jr. (born May 24, 1950) is an American serial killer
. A former trash company supervisor, Gilyard is considered to have rape
d and murdered 13 women and girls from 1977 to 1993. He was convicted of six counts of murder on March 16, 2007.
in 1989 and sentenced to life without parole
, and his sister, Patricia D. Dixon (born July 20, 1958), a prostitute
, was convicted of the murder of a customer in 1983 and served a 10-year sentence. In his teen years, Gilyard was known to bully and sometimes beat women.
. Most had cloth or paper towels stuffed into their mouths and ligature marks around their necks.
Gilyard was a convicted child molester
, having raped the 13-year-old daughter of a friend. Probation
records show that from 1969 to 1974 he was suspected of five rapes, but was never convicted. Gilyard became a suspect in 1987 in the murder of Sheila Ingold. A crime lab
later linked all 13 victims to one killer using DNA testing. A blood sample
Gilyard provided in the 1987 investigation led to the murder charges.
Of his known victims, 12 were murdered between 1977 and 1989. After living with Jackie Harris for a short time in Missouri
and Los Angeles
, they were married in Las Vegas, Nevada
, on May 29, 1991, after which he and his wife returned to Los Angeles for over a year. Shortly after his return to Missouri, he murdered his 13th known victim. As of yet, there have been no attempts to tie him to any killings in the Los Angeles area during his various stays between 1987 and 1992, and it is assumed, but not proven, that he stopped killing in 1993.
evidence that criminal forensics experts shows he had sex with the victims around the time they were killed. "All the victims have several things in common: All were found dead during the same one and a half year period, all were left in secluded or obstructed locations, all were strangled, all showed signs that they were involved in a struggle, all were missing their shoes and all but one showed distinct signs of sexual intercourse
," Prosecution Attorney Jim Kanatzar said in opening statements to the court.
Gilyard was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
He was acquitted
of the murder of Angela Mayhew, 19, due to insufficient evidence.
Other victims not brought to trial were identified as:
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
. A former trash company supervisor, Gilyard is considered to have rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d and murdered 13 women and girls from 1977 to 1993. He was convicted of six counts of murder on March 16, 2007.
Early life
Gilyard's background was dysfunctional; his father, Lorenzo Gilyard (February 24, 1927-October 24, 1999) was convicted of rape in 1970, his brother Darryl E. (also Daryle E.) (born February 12, 1953) was convicted of a drug-related murderDrug-Related Crime
In the United States, Illegal drugs are related to crime in multiple ways. Most directly, it is a crime to use, possess, manufacture, or distribute drugs classified as having a potential for abuse...
in 1989 and sentenced to life without parole
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
, and his sister, Patricia D. Dixon (born July 20, 1958), a prostitute
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, was convicted of the murder of a customer in 1983 and served a 10-year sentence. In his teen years, Gilyard was known to bully and sometimes beat women.
Murders
Most, if not all, of Gilyard's victims were prostitutes. All were found shoeless and dumped in secluded spots around Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. Most had cloth or paper towels stuffed into their mouths and ligature marks around their necks.
Gilyard was a convicted child molester
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
, having raped the 13-year-old daughter of a friend. Probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
records show that from 1969 to 1974 he was suspected of five rapes, but was never convicted. Gilyard became a suspect in 1987 in the murder of Sheila Ingold. A crime lab
Crime Lab
A crime laboratory - often shortened to crime lab - is a scientific laboratory, using primarily forensic science for the purpose of examining evidence from criminal cases.- Lab personnel :A typical crime lab has two sets of personnel:...
later linked all 13 victims to one killer using DNA testing. A blood sample
Venipuncture
In medicine, venepuncture, venopuncture or venipuncture is the process of obtaining intravenous access for the purpose of intravenous therapy or for blood sampling of venous blood. This procedure is performed by medical laboratory scientists, medical practitioners, some EMTs, paramedics,...
Gilyard provided in the 1987 investigation led to the murder charges.
Of his known victims, 12 were murdered between 1977 and 1989. After living with Jackie Harris for a short time in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, they were married in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, on May 29, 1991, after which he and his wife returned to Los Angeles for over a year. Shortly after his return to Missouri, he murdered his 13th known victim. As of yet, there have been no attempts to tie him to any killings in the Los Angeles area during his various stays between 1987 and 1992, and it is assumed, but not proven, that he stopped killing in 1993.
The trial
Gilyard was tried on seven first-degree murder charges. The prosecution focused mainly on DNADNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
evidence that criminal forensics experts shows he had sex with the victims around the time they were killed. "All the victims have several things in common: All were found dead during the same one and a half year period, all were left in secluded or obstructed locations, all were strangled, all showed signs that they were involved in a struggle, all were missing their shoes and all but one showed distinct signs of sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
," Prosecution Attorney Jim Kanatzar said in opening statements to the court.
Gilyard was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Victims
Gilyard was convicted in the murders of:- Catherine M. Barry, 34
- Naomi Kelly, 23
- Ann Barnes, 36
- Kellie A. Ford, 20
- Sheila Ingold, 36
- Carmeline Hibbs, 30.
He was acquitted
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
of the murder of Angela Mayhew, 19, due to insufficient evidence.
Other victims not brought to trial were identified as:
- Stacie L. Swofford, 17
- Gwendolyn Kizine, 15
- Margaret J. Miller, 17
- Debbie Blevins, 32
- Helga Kruger, 26
- Connie Luther, 29.
- Paula Beverly Davis, 21