Michael H. Kenyon
Encyclopedia
Michael Hubert Kenyon is an American
criminal nicknamed the Enema Bandit. He pleaded guilty to a decade-long series of armed robberies of female victims, some of which involved sexual assault
s where he would give them enema
s. He is also known as the "Champaign Enema Bandit," the "Ski Masked Bandit", and "The Illinois Enema Bandit".
. Kenyon graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
in 1967 and left the state. The attacks thus ended in Champaign but started anew in Manhattan, Kansas
; Norman, Oklahoma
; and Los Angeles, California
.
Kenyon returned to Champaign and the attacks resumed in 1972. In May 1975, Kenyon took a job as an auditor for the Illinois Department of Revenue
in Lincolnwood, Illinois
. He then committed additional attacks, including three Cook County
flight attendants. He also attacked four women in an Urbana
sorority house, one of whom was administered an enema. He was involved in a minor traffic accident later that night, but was not arrested.
Kenyon was eventually apprehended in suburban Chicago a few weeks later in connection with a number of robberies there. During questioning he began to talk about the enema bandit. After his arrest he was judged to be legally sane, and in December 1975, pleaded guilty to six counts of armed robbery. He was sentenced to six to twelve years in prison, for each count. He was parole
d in 1981 after serving six years.
's song "The Illinois Enema Bandit", first released on Zappa in New York
. Jazz composer Henry Threadgill
recorded "Salute to the Enema Bandit" on the 1986 album Air Show No. 1
. He was also the inspiration for the 1976 adult film Water Power starring Jamie Gillis
(later reissued as Enema Bandit). The term "enema bandit" came into wider use following the incidents. In the 1974 novel The Odd Woman by Gail Godwin
, the protagonist Jane Clifford, a professor in a Midwestern university town, fears the Enema Bandit, who represents her fears of losing control of her life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
criminal nicknamed the Enema Bandit. He pleaded guilty to a decade-long series of armed robberies of female victims, some of which involved sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
s where he would give them enema
Enema
An enema is the procedure of introducing liquids into the rectum and colon via the anus. The increasing volume of the liquid causes rapid expansion of the lower intestinal tract, often resulting in very uncomfortable bloating, cramping, powerful peristalsis, a feeling of extreme urgency and...
s. He is also known as the "Champaign Enema Bandit," the "Ski Masked Bandit", and "The Illinois Enema Bandit".
Attacks and conviction
His earliest attacks were on two teenage sisters in March 1966 in Champaign, IllinoisChampaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
. Kenyon graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in 1967 and left the state. The attacks thus ended in Champaign but started anew in Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
; Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
; and Los Angeles, California
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...
.
Kenyon returned to Champaign and the attacks resumed in 1972. In May 1975, Kenyon took a job as an auditor for the Illinois Department of Revenue
Illinois Department of Revenue
The Illinois Department of Revenue is a cabinet-level department of the state government of Illinois. It is headquartered in the state capital of Springfield...
in Lincolnwood, Illinois
Lincolnwood, Illinois
Lincolnwood is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,359 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lincolnwood is located at ....
. He then committed additional attacks, including three Cook County
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
flight attendants. He also attacked four women in an Urbana
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
sorority house, one of whom was administered an enema. He was involved in a minor traffic accident later that night, but was not arrested.
Kenyon was eventually apprehended in suburban Chicago a few weeks later in connection with a number of robberies there. During questioning he began to talk about the enema bandit. After his arrest he was judged to be legally sane, and in December 1975, pleaded guilty to six counts of armed robbery. He was sentenced to six to twelve years in prison, for each count. He was parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
d in 1981 after serving six years.
In popular culture
Kenyon became the subject of Frank ZappaFrank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
's song "The Illinois Enema Bandit", first released on Zappa in New York
Zappa in New York
Zappa in New York is a live double album by Frank Zappa. It was recorded at a series of concerts at New York City's Palladium in December 1976. It was released by Zappa's DiscReet Records label in 1977, then quickly withdrawn. A second version was re-released in 1978 with changes ordered by...
. Jazz composer Henry Threadgill
Henry Threadgill
Henry Threadgill is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. Threadgill came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating a range of non-jazz genres....
recorded "Salute to the Enema Bandit" on the 1986 album Air Show No. 1
Air Show No. 1
Air Show No. 1 is an album recorded for the Italian Black Saint label by the improvisational collective New Air featuring Henry Threadgill, Fred Hopkins and Pheeroan akLaff with Cassandra Wilson providing vocals on three selections.-Reception:...
. He was also the inspiration for the 1976 adult film Water Power starring Jamie Gillis
Jamie Gillis
Jamie Gillis was an American pornographic actor, director and member of the AVN Hall of Fame....
(later reissued as Enema Bandit). The term "enema bandit" came into wider use following the incidents. In the 1974 novel The Odd Woman by Gail Godwin
Gail Godwin
Gail Kathleen Godwin is an American novelist and short story writer. She has published one non-fiction work, two collections of short stories, and eleven novels, three of which have been nominated for the National Book Award and five of which have made the New York Times Bestseller List.Godwin was...
, the protagonist Jane Clifford, a professor in a Midwestern university town, fears the Enema Bandit, who represents her fears of losing control of her life.