Paul John Knowles
Encyclopedia
Paul John Knowles also known as The Casanova Killer, was an American serial killer
tied to the deaths of 18 people in 1974, though he claimed to have taken 35 lives.
, his father gave him up to live in foster homes and reformatories after he was convicted of a petty crime. Knowles himself was first incarcerated at the age of 19, and in the years following he spent more time in prison
. In early 1974, Knowles was serving time at Raiford Prison in Florida (now known as Florida State Prison
) when he began corresponding with a divorcee in San Francisco named Angela Covic, who made a trip to the prison to visit Knowles. Upon her arrival, Knowles proposed to Covic. After she accepted his proposal, she became instrumental in getting Knowles released from prison by paying for his legal counsel. Upon his release, Knowles flew directly to California to be with her. After a psychic
warned her of the entry of a new dangerous man in her life, Covic ended the relationship and called off the wedding.
Although this has never been verified, Knowles claimed to have murdered three people on the streets of San Francisco the night that Covic broke off their relationship. Devastated by the rejection, Knowles returned to Jacksonville, Florida. He was soon arrested after stabbing a bartender during a fight, but he picked a lock in his detention cell and escaped on July 26, 1974.
Knowles also stole her Dodge Dart
, but decided to dump it less than a week later upon realizing that police had connected him to the crime and were advertising him as a wanted fugitive. On the street where he intended to abandon the car, he recognized family acquaintances Lillian and Mylette Anderson. Lillian was eleven years old and her sister Mylette was only seven. In fear that they would identify him as the man who dumped the car, he kidnapped them both, strangled them, and buried their bodies in a nearby swamp. Their bodies were not recovered until five months later, in January, after Knowles had confessed to the crime.
The day after the Anderson sisters disappeared, August 2, 1974, Knowles met Marjorie Howie, 49, in Atlantic Beach, Florida
. She either invited him or was forced by him to go to her apartment, where he strangled her with a nylon stocking. It is alleged that he stole her television set, which he later gave to a former girlfriend.
Soon after this, Knowles claimed to have picked up a teenage girl who was hitchhiking and killed her just for sport, but her identity remains unknown.
Near the end of August, Knowles showed up in Musella, Georgia
, and forced his way into the home of Kathie Sue Pierce, who was there with her three-year-old son. Knowles used a cut telephone cord to strangle her in her bathroom, but left her child physically unharmed.
On September 3, 1974, Knowles entered Scott's Inn, a roadside pub near Lima, Ohio
and met William Bates, a 32-year-old account executive for Ohio Power Company. The bartender, who knew Bates, recalled that Bates and a young redheaded man had several drinks that evening and left together. Bates' wife then reported him missing, and the police realized that his car was missing as well. Near the bar, police found an abandoned Dodge Dart that was subsequently traced back to Alice Curtis. In October, Bates' nude body was found. He had been strangled and dumped in the woods.
Now driving Bates' car, he moved on to a campground in Ely, Nevada
, where on September 18, 1974 he bound and shot two elderly campers, Emmett and Lois Johnson. Because it was a seemingly random murder, there were no leads until Knowles later confessed to the crime, though he did use their credit cards for a short period to pay his expenses.
On September 21, 1974, Bates' killing spree continued, this time in Seguin, Texas
. There, he came upon stranded motorcyclist Charlynn Hicks, whom he abducted and raped before strangling her with her own pantyhose and dragging her body through a barbed-wire fence. Her body was found four days later.
Traveling then to Birmingham, Alabama
, Knowles met beautician Ann Dawson on September 23, 1974. It is unclear as to whether or not he abducted her or if she traveled with him willingly, but she paid the bills while they traveled together until he killed her on September 29, 1974. Knowles claims to have dumped her body into the Mississippi River, but it was never recovered.
Knowles arrived in Marlborough, Connecticut
in the middle of October, 1974, where he continued his vicious killing spree. He entered the home of Karen Wine and her 16-year-old daughter Dawn on October 16, where he bound and raped them, before killing them with a nylon stocking. The only thing found missing from their home was a tape recorder.
By October 19, Knowles had made his way to Woodford, Virginia
, where he broke into the home of 53-year-old Doris Hovey and shot her to death with her husband's rifle
, then wiped his prints from the gun and placed it beside her body. Afterward, police would find no signs of robbery to offer them a motive in the case.
Still driving William Bates' stolen car, Knowles picked up two hitchhikers in Key West, Florida
with the intention of killing them both, but his plan went awry when a policeman stopped him for a traffic violation. Unaware of who he was dealing with, the officer let Knowles go with a warning. Shaken by the experience, Knowles had mercy on his victims and dropped them off in Miami, Florida
and contacted his lawyer shortly thereafter. He rejected his lawyer's suggestion of surrender, but arranged a meeting with him that lasted only long enough to hand over a taped confession. He slipped out of town before police were informed of his presence.
On November 6, in Milledgeville, Georgia
, Knowles befriended Carswell Carr and was invited back to Carr's house to spend the night. Over drinks, he stabbed Carr to death and then strangled Carr's 15-year-old daughter. After murdering the girl, Knowles attempted to engage in necrophilia
with her corpse, but his attempts were unsuccessful. In the wake of his flight from Macon, Knowles was also suspected in the November 2 murder of hitchhiker Edward Hilliard, found in some nearby woods, and his companion Debbie Griffin, whose body has never been recovered.
While bar-hopping in Atlanta on November 8, Knowles met British journalist Sandy Fawkes, impressing her with his "gaunt good looks." They spent the night together, but, according to Fawkes, he was repeatedly unable to perform when they attempted to have sex over the next few days, suggesting possible impotence with a willing companion. They parted ways on November 10, but the next day Knowles picked up an acquaintance of Fawkes, Susan MacKenzie, and demanded sex from her at gunpoint. She escaped and notified police, but when patrolmen tried to stop him, Knowles brandished a sawed-off shotgun and made his escape.
Days later, in West Palm Beach, Florida
, he invaded the home of invalid Beverly Mabee, where he abducted her sister and stole their car. From there, he traveled to Fort Pierce, Florida
, arriving the following night. For reasons unknown, he dropped off his hostage without harm or incident.
On the morning of November 17, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Charles Eugene Campbell recognized the stolen car near Perry, Florida
and attempted to make an arrest, but after he was pulled over, Knowles was able to wrestle the officer's pistol away from him. Taking Campbell hostage, he drove away in his patrol car, later using its siren to stop motorist James Meyer in order to ditch the Highway Patrol vehicle and continue in a less conspicuous automobile. Now burdened with two prisoners, Knowles took the two men into a remote, wooded area in Pulaski County, Georgia
and handcuffed them to a tree before shooting each of them in the head at close range. Shortly thereafter, Knowles attempted to crash through a police roadblock, but he lost control of the vehicle and smashed into a tree. He escaped the vehicle on foot and fired shots at the pursuing officers. A chaotic footrace ensued, with Knowles pursued by dogs and helicopters. He was finally cornered by an armed civilian with a shotgun, who escorted Knowles to a nearby residence where a call to the police was made. The maniacal crime spree of John Paul Knowles had come to an end.
Once in custody, Knowles claimed to be responsible for 35 murders, but only 18 were ever corroborated.
where Knowles had dumped a handgun he had taken from Florida State Trooper Charles Eugene Campbell, later killing him with the same weapon. There was no security screen in the car, and Knowles had a concealed paperclip on his person that he used to pick the lock on his handcuffs. Once free, Knowles grabbed Lee's handgun, discharging it through the holster in the process. While Lee was struggling with Knowles and attempting to keep control of the vehicle, Angel fired three shots into Knowles' chest, killing him instantly. Ronnie Angel has refused to speak publicly about the incident since it occurred.
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...
tied to the deaths of 18 people in 1974, though he claimed to have taken 35 lives.
Early life
Born in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, his father gave him up to live in foster homes and reformatories after he was convicted of a petty crime. Knowles himself was first incarcerated at the age of 19, and in the years following he spent more time in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. In early 1974, Knowles was serving time at Raiford Prison in Florida (now known as Florida State Prison
Florida State Prison
Florida State Prison , formerly known as the Union Correctional Institution—East Unit, is a correctional institution located in unincorporated Bradford County, Florida. It is located on Florida State Road 16 right across the border from Union County. The institution opened in 1961, even though...
) when he began corresponding with a divorcee in San Francisco named Angela Covic, who made a trip to the prison to visit Knowles. Upon her arrival, Knowles proposed to Covic. After she accepted his proposal, she became instrumental in getting Knowles released from prison by paying for his legal counsel. Upon his release, Knowles flew directly to California to be with her. After a psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
warned her of the entry of a new dangerous man in her life, Covic ended the relationship and called off the wedding.
Although this has never been verified, Knowles claimed to have murdered three people on the streets of San Francisco the night that Covic broke off their relationship. Devastated by the rejection, Knowles returned to Jacksonville, Florida. He was soon arrested after stabbing a bartender during a fight, but he picked a lock in his detention cell and escaped on July 26, 1974.
Murders
Upon his escape from prison, Knowles went on a murderous spree across the country, beginning in Jacksonville on the very same night of his escape. Knowles broke into the home of 65-year-old Alice Curtis. He tied her up and gagged her, then proceeded to search her home for money or other goods he could use or sell. Curtis later choked to death on her own dentures, though whether or not her death occurred while Knowles was there or after he left the residence is unknown.Knowles also stole her Dodge Dart
Dodge Dart
The Dodge Dart is an automobile built by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1960-1976 in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets. The Dart was introduced as a lower-priced, shorter wheelbase, full-size Dodge in 1960 and 1961, became a...
, but decided to dump it less than a week later upon realizing that police had connected him to the crime and were advertising him as a wanted fugitive. On the street where he intended to abandon the car, he recognized family acquaintances Lillian and Mylette Anderson. Lillian was eleven years old and her sister Mylette was only seven. In fear that they would identify him as the man who dumped the car, he kidnapped them both, strangled them, and buried their bodies in a nearby swamp. Their bodies were not recovered until five months later, in January, after Knowles had confessed to the crime.
The day after the Anderson sisters disappeared, August 2, 1974, Knowles met Marjorie Howie, 49, in Atlantic Beach, Florida
Atlantic Beach, Florida
Atlantic Beach, a city in Duval County, Florida, is the northernmost of the Jacksonville Beaches communities. When the majority of communities in Duval County consolidated with Jacksonville, Florida in 1968, Atlantic Beach, along with Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Baldwin, Florida,...
. She either invited him or was forced by him to go to her apartment, where he strangled her with a nylon stocking. It is alleged that he stole her television set, which he later gave to a former girlfriend.
Soon after this, Knowles claimed to have picked up a teenage girl who was hitchhiking and killed her just for sport, but her identity remains unknown.
Near the end of August, Knowles showed up in Musella, Georgia
Musella, Georgia
Mussella is a small unincorporated town in Crawford County, Georgia, United States, about 32 miles from Macon. It lies at an elevation of 627 feet .Musella is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and forced his way into the home of Kathie Sue Pierce, who was there with her three-year-old son. Knowles used a cut telephone cord to strangle her in her bathroom, but left her child physically unharmed.
On September 3, 1974, Knowles entered Scott's Inn, a roadside pub near Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
and met William Bates, a 32-year-old account executive for Ohio Power Company. The bartender, who knew Bates, recalled that Bates and a young redheaded man had several drinks that evening and left together. Bates' wife then reported him missing, and the police realized that his car was missing as well. Near the bar, police found an abandoned Dodge Dart that was subsequently traced back to Alice Curtis. In October, Bates' nude body was found. He had been strangled and dumped in the woods.
Now driving Bates' car, he moved on to a campground in Ely, Nevada
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
, where on September 18, 1974 he bound and shot two elderly campers, Emmett and Lois Johnson. Because it was a seemingly random murder, there were no leads until Knowles later confessed to the crime, though he did use their credit cards for a short period to pay his expenses.
On September 21, 1974, Bates' killing spree continued, this time in Seguin, Texas
Seguin, Texas
Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
. There, he came upon stranded motorcyclist Charlynn Hicks, whom he abducted and raped before strangling her with her own pantyhose and dragging her body through a barbed-wire fence. Her body was found four days later.
Traveling then to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Knowles met beautician Ann Dawson on September 23, 1974. It is unclear as to whether or not he abducted her or if she traveled with him willingly, but she paid the bills while they traveled together until he killed her on September 29, 1974. Knowles claims to have dumped her body into the Mississippi River, but it was never recovered.
Knowles arrived in Marlborough, Connecticut
Marlborough, Connecticut
Marlborough is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the census-designated place of Terramuggus. The population was 5,709 at the 2000 census. Marlborough is a suburban/rural upper middle class bedroom community of Hartford...
in the middle of October, 1974, where he continued his vicious killing spree. He entered the home of Karen Wine and her 16-year-old daughter Dawn on October 16, where he bound and raped them, before killing them with a nylon stocking. The only thing found missing from their home was a tape recorder.
By October 19, Knowles had made his way to Woodford, Virginia
Woodford, Virginia
Woodford is an unincorporated community in Caroline County, in the U.S. state of Virginia....
, where he broke into the home of 53-year-old Doris Hovey and shot her to death with her husband's rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
, then wiped his prints from the gun and placed it beside her body. Afterward, police would find no signs of robbery to offer them a motive in the case.
Still driving William Bates' stolen car, Knowles picked up two hitchhikers in Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
with the intention of killing them both, but his plan went awry when a policeman stopped him for a traffic violation. Unaware of who he was dealing with, the officer let Knowles go with a warning. Shaken by the experience, Knowles had mercy on his victims and dropped them off in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and contacted his lawyer shortly thereafter. He rejected his lawyer's suggestion of surrender, but arranged a meeting with him that lasted only long enough to hand over a taped confession. He slipped out of town before police were informed of his presence.
On November 6, in Milledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
, Knowles befriended Carswell Carr and was invited back to Carr's house to spend the night. Over drinks, he stabbed Carr to death and then strangled Carr's 15-year-old daughter. After murdering the girl, Knowles attempted to engage in necrophilia
Necrophilia
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia or necrolagnia, is the sexual attraction to corpses,It is classified as a paraphilia by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The word is artificially derived from the ancient Greek words: νεκρός and φιλία...
with her corpse, but his attempts were unsuccessful. In the wake of his flight from Macon, Knowles was also suspected in the November 2 murder of hitchhiker Edward Hilliard, found in some nearby woods, and his companion Debbie Griffin, whose body has never been recovered.
While bar-hopping in Atlanta on November 8, Knowles met British journalist Sandy Fawkes, impressing her with his "gaunt good looks." They spent the night together, but, according to Fawkes, he was repeatedly unable to perform when they attempted to have sex over the next few days, suggesting possible impotence with a willing companion. They parted ways on November 10, but the next day Knowles picked up an acquaintance of Fawkes, Susan MacKenzie, and demanded sex from her at gunpoint. She escaped and notified police, but when patrolmen tried to stop him, Knowles brandished a sawed-off shotgun and made his escape.
Days later, in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, he invaded the home of invalid Beverly Mabee, where he abducted her sister and stole their car. From there, he traveled to Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
, arriving the following night. For reasons unknown, he dropped off his hostage without harm or incident.
On the morning of November 17, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Charles Eugene Campbell recognized the stolen car near Perry, Florida
Perry, Florida
Perry is a city in Taylor County, Florida, United States. The population was 7,017 at the 2010 census. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 7,017....
and attempted to make an arrest, but after he was pulled over, Knowles was able to wrestle the officer's pistol away from him. Taking Campbell hostage, he drove away in his patrol car, later using its siren to stop motorist James Meyer in order to ditch the Highway Patrol vehicle and continue in a less conspicuous automobile. Now burdened with two prisoners, Knowles took the two men into a remote, wooded area in Pulaski County, Georgia
Pulaski County, Georgia
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 9,588. The 2010 U.S. Census reports the population at 12,010, with a growth rate of 25.3% from 2000 to 2010, while surpassing Georgia's change of 18.3%., making it one of Georgia's fastest growing...
and handcuffed them to a tree before shooting each of them in the head at close range. Shortly thereafter, Knowles attempted to crash through a police roadblock, but he lost control of the vehicle and smashed into a tree. He escaped the vehicle on foot and fired shots at the pursuing officers. A chaotic footrace ensued, with Knowles pursued by dogs and helicopters. He was finally cornered by an armed civilian with a shotgun, who escorted Knowles to a nearby residence where a call to the police was made. The maniacal crime spree of John Paul Knowles had come to an end.
Once in custody, Knowles claimed to be responsible for 35 murders, but only 18 were ever corroborated.
Death
On December 18, 1974, Sheriff Earl Lee and F.B.I. Agent Ronnie Angel were traveling down I-20 with Knowles, who was handcuffed in the back seat. Their destination was Henry County, GeorgiaHenry County, Georgia
Henry County is a growing suburban county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 119,341. As of 2010, the county's population swelled to 203,922, up 70.9% from the previous census and becoming Georgia's 8th most populous county and the 10th fastest growing...
where Knowles had dumped a handgun he had taken from Florida State Trooper Charles Eugene Campbell, later killing him with the same weapon. There was no security screen in the car, and Knowles had a concealed paperclip on his person that he used to pick the lock on his handcuffs. Once free, Knowles grabbed Lee's handgun, discharging it through the holster in the process. While Lee was struggling with Knowles and attempting to keep control of the vehicle, Angel fired three shots into Knowles' chest, killing him instantly. Ronnie Angel has refused to speak publicly about the incident since it occurred.
Victims
- Alice Curtis was a 65-year-old resident of Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. Knowles gagged her on July 26, 1974, while stealing her belongings. She choked to death on her gag. - Lillian and Mylette Anderson, aged 11 and 7 respectively, were strangled early August 1974 and subsequently dumped in a nearby swampSwampA swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
. - Marjorie Howe lived in Atlantic Beach, FloridaAtlantic Beach, FloridaAtlantic Beach, a city in Duval County, Florida, is the northernmost of the Jacksonville Beaches communities. When the majority of communities in Duval County consolidated with Jacksonville, Florida in 1968, Atlantic Beach, along with Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Baldwin, Florida,...
. She was strangled with a nylon stocking. The motive, apparently, was that Knowles stole her televisionTelevisionTelevision is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. - Victim #5 remains unnamed. She was a hitchhiker whom Knowles rapeRapeRape 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 strangled. - Kathy Pierce was strangled with the cord of her telephoneTelephoneThe telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
on August 23, 1974. Her three-year-old son, who was also present, remained unharmed. - William Bates was murdered on September 3, after having shared some drinks with Knowles in Lima, OhioLima, OhioLima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
. His body was not discovered until October. His car, money and credit cardCredit cardA credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
s were all taken by Knowles. - Emmett and Lois Johnson were out camping in Ely, NevadaEly, NevadaEly is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
, where Knowles murdered both on September 18. - Charlynn Hicks was killed on September 21. Her motorcycle broke down in Seguin, TexasSeguin, TexasSeguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
. Knowles raped her before strangling her and dragging her body through some barbed wire. - Ann Dawson, from Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, AlabamaBirmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, met Knowles on September 23. They traveled together for a while, until Knowles killed her on September 29. Her body was never found. - Karen Wine and her 16 year old daughter, were killed on October 16. They were bound, raped, and strangled with a nylon stocking. They were discovered by Wine's older daughter Cheryl. A tape recorder was missing from their home.
- Doris Hovey was 53 years old and lived in WoodfordWoodford, VirginiaWoodford is an unincorporated community in Caroline County, in the U.S. state of Virginia....
, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. She was shot to death by Knowles with her husband's rifleRifleA rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
on October 19. - Carswell Carr and his daughter met Knowles on November 6 in Milledgeville, GeorgiaMilledgeville, GeorgiaMilledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
, and invited him over to his house. Subsequently, Knowles stabbed Carr, who had a heart attack before Knowles strangled his daughter. He attempted to engage in necrophiliaNecrophiliaNecrophilia, also called thanatophilia or necrolagnia, is the sexual attraction to corpses,It is classified as a paraphilia by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The word is artificially derived from the ancient Greek words: νεκρός and φιλία...
with her body, but failed. - Edward Hilliard and Debbie Griffin were hitchhiking near Milledgeville, GeorgiaMilledgeville, GeorgiaMilledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
, on November 2. Hilliard's body was found in nearby woods, but Griffin's remains were never discovered. Knowles was not proven to have murdered them, but he was under strong suspicion. - Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Charles Eugene Campbell was abducted while on patrol in Perry, FloridaPerry, FloridaPerry is a city in Taylor County, Florida, United States. The population was 7,017 at the 2010 census. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 7,017....
and shot by Knowles in Pulaski County, GeorgiaPulaski County, GeorgiaPulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 9,588. The 2010 U.S. Census reports the population at 12,010, with a growth rate of 25.3% from 2000 to 2010, while surpassing Georgia's change of 18.3%., making it one of Georgia's fastest growing...
. - James Meyer was a businessman whom Knowles took hostage along with Campbell. Knowles handcuffed them to a tree and shot them with the trooper's gun.