Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Photos and Memories (0) With a lifelong dream of becoming a police officer, he applied to the Wilmington Police cadet program but failed the physical testing. Sorry for her loss (I know it was over 30 years ago but still). He was already serving a lifetime prison term for the murder of two women when he was indicted last year on charges of killing two others before his capture. On September 20th, her body was found on the rocks in the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal. 1.2K votes, 88 comments. Steven Brian Pennell (November 22, 1957 - March 14, 1992), aka The Route 40 Killer, was Delaware's only known serial killer, convicted of the murders of two Ne Once inside, they were bound with tape, tortured and mutilated. Like Ellis, she was killed by hammer blows and strangulation, but unlike the first murder, DiMauro's body was covered in blue fibers. We are now looking for artists, writers and interviewers to take part in the world famous Serial Killer Magazine. In childhood, Pennell seemed a good, shy and timid kid, always helpful toward neighbors. The driver talked with her for a bit and when she looked in, she saw the van was covered in blue carpeting. Steven Brian Pennell (November 22, 1957 - March 14, 1992), aka The Route 40 Killer, was Delaware's only known serial killer, convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of killing three others. Learning more about the killer. He was the only serial killer in the US to ever ask to be executed for his crimes. Thats well over 30 ebooks in one package. 592K subscribers in the serialkillers community. This site contains affiliate links. The man appeared nervous, hardly looking her in the eyes, but still attempted to convince her to enter the car. They identified the victim as Catherine DiMauro, a 31-year-old divorced mom of two who was known to hitchhike and frequent establishments along Route 40. 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His execution was scheduled for March 14, 1992. If you are interested in joining our team, contact us at In 1989, Pennell was found guilty of murdering Ellis and DiMauro. Taschner was on the lookout now for a blue Ford van and one did eventually stop for her. Thats all I have to say," he said, according to a 2020 Delaware Today article. He favored routes along Routes 40 and 13, and returning home, he often crashed out on the couch, awoke in the early hours, and went out again. Steven Brian Pennell (November 22, 1957 March 14, 1992), aka The Route 40 Killer, was Delaware's only known serial killer, convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of killing three others. Pennell was found guilty of two murders, with the jury unable to find guilt for the third, and received two life sentences. On trial for three serial murders according to court records Pennell was convicted though his victims DNA blood and hair found inside his van, blue carpet fiber matches, and witness testimony. Ellis had been strangled and suffered repeated hammer blows to her head but had not been sexually assaulted. In a surprising move, he announced that he wished to receive the death penalty. For the next eleven months, Pennell cruised Interstate 40 and 13 in search of women that he could torture and rape. Steven Brian Pennell was born on Nov. 22, 1957, in Wilmington, Delaware. Steven Brian Pennells decision to install the blue carpet led to fiber evidence that ultimately ended his terrifying spree of serial killing. After further discussions and excuses from Lano, the van driver left. When police arrived, they realized the case bore similarities to the Ellis murder. He was seemingly nice to everyone ". Glasgow Pines by chance? On September 20, her body was found on the rocks in the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal. She was partially nude, her legs spread out, hands and feet tied with adhesive tape. On Halloween of 1991, Steven Brian Pennell was sentenced to die by lethal injection aftering have been convicted of two of the five murders he committed. The explorer, who posts as @places_forgotten said: "I do a lot of photography of abandoned houses in the States. The jury decided not to recommend the death penalty, but two life sentences. So, how much is Steven Brian Pennell worth at the age of 35 years old? He seemed fascinated by police work, often quizzing one of his police neighbors about his work when he arrived home in his cruiser. . There were no signs of sexual assault, but she had been seriously abused, with her killer tying a string around her neck and hitting her head with a hammer before she died. On September 23rd, 26-year-old Kathleen Anne Meyer, of Brookmont Farms, disappeared. She is from United States. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? In the last two days, Mr. Pennell's wife, Kathy, made desperate efforts to obtain a stay, arguing that her husband's outlook proved that he was mentally incompetent. I don't live in Delaware anymore but it's crazy this was literally so close to home for me. Steven Brian Pennell (1957 or 1958 March 14, 1992), aka The U.S. 40 Killer, was convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of three more. Tragically, yet another victimthen turned up in the meantime. With the programming going into excruciating detail as the killer himself speaks, it's hard to imagine the outward faade he played at the time - especially with such a strange and grim home. She said she was pleased by the execution. He says, 'Oh,somebody threw a mannequin out there,'"Joseph A.Swiski, a Newark, Delaware detective told "Mark Of A Serial Killer," airing Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 16 at 8/7c on Oxygen as part ofSerial Killer Week,a special nine-night event. On November 12, a hunter discovered skeletal remains near the canal, and the autopsy revealed it was Margaret Finner, missing since August 22. Steven Brian Pennell is considered to be the first serial killer in Delaware. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Steven Brian Pennell (1957 or 1958 March 14, 1992), aka The Corridor Killer, was convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of three more. Press J to jump to the feed. Once engaging in a conversation with a local hooker, Pennell would coerce the unsuspecting woman into his van and then drive to an isolated spot where he would then procede to subject his new captive to unspeakable amounts of torture and rape. Pennell was 34 years old. , money, salary, income, and assets. Shortly after the decision, a bouquet of flowers was sent to the prosecutor's office, with a note reading: "You made us feel human again, from the women of Route 40.". Stay in the loop with all the latest Daily Star news by signing up to one of our free newsletters here. At the start of the trial, a panel of defense attorneys claimed that the initial fiber taken by Officer Taschner was obtained illegally because it was taken from his car. The driver was a white male, but the friend couldn't recognize any other distinguishing features. Such items included pliers, a whip, handcuffs, needles, knives, and other types of restraints. Delaware Carries Out First Execution Since '46. James Allen Red Dog Executed on: March 3, 1993 Now married with two sons and a daughter from his wifes previous marriage, they lived in a Glasgow trailer home near Route 40. His execution cost the state a grand total of $47,085, a rather high figure for an execution. Steven Brian Pennell Executed on: March 14, 1992 Age (at time of execution): 34 Race: White Gender: Male Offense: Murder 1st (2 Counts) Method of Execution: Lethal Injection Convicted Serial Killer was sentenced to death following a murder conviction of two (2) New Castle County women. Steven Brian Pennell (November 22, 1957 - March 14, 1992), aka The Route 40 Killer, was Delaware's only known serial killer, convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of killing three others. Includes Address (12) Phone (7) Email (2) See Results. He was acquitted of murdering Gordon which investigators told "Mark of a Serial Killer" was likely because her murder was different from the others. It is chock full of artwork, rare documents, FBI files and in depth articles regarding serial murder. Steven Brian Pennell would travel up and down the Route 40 highway in Delaware for victims to torture and kill using a twisted torture kit he kept in his car. On August 22, sex worker Margaret Lynn Finner vanished from Route 13. Also said he was a weird guy in school and that his poor wife didn't have a clue. When somebody is delivering pain that far exceeds what is necessary to kill the person, theyre getting pleasured based on the pain inand of itself. Her naked body was found the next morning on a construction site, bearing the same torture marks as Ellis. His execution cost the state a grand total of $47,085, a rather high figure for an execution. Weeks passed without any viable leads from Taschner's operation. Most of his victims were abducted from U.S. Route 40, near Bear. The yorkshire ripper was very christian and targeted prostitutes too. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Died March 14, 1992, Delaware, United States Date apprehended November 29, 1988 Criminal penalty Capital punishment Steven Brian Pennell(November 22, 1957 - March 14, 1992), aka The Route 40 Killer, was Delaware's only known serial killer, convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of killing three others. He turned down every request. MADHATTERDESIGN@GMAIL.COM, FORBIDDEN PHOTOS OF A LADY ABOVE SUSPICION, MIKADROID: ROBOKILL BENEATH DISCO CLUB LAYLA, MOH - INCIDENT ON AND OFF A MOUNTAIN ROAD, ARTICLE "THE ICEMAN" RICHARD LEONARD KUKLINSKI, Like old school VHS Covers? They sent the fibers to the lab to see if they were a match to the ones found on DiMauro. Steven Brian Pennell was both a sadistic killer and an enigma. We dont have much information about Shes past relationship and any previous engaged. Steven Brian Pennell was Delaware's only known serial killer, suspected of five murders in the late eighties and convicted of two. She had been known to hitchhike along Route 40, just like the other victims. He was the only defendant in Delaware's legal history to represent himself before the Supreme Court, and the only man convicted to willingly seek the death penalty. On Sept. 20, a 22-year-old named Michelle Gordon, who had been reported missing by her family a few days earlier, was found dead in a canal. The man appeared nervous, hardly looking her in the eyes, but still attempted to convince her to enter the car. My sister used to go to speech therapy with his son, he would drive the two of them to it, my mom always said he was kinda weird cause he was a little too Christian my sister said he never acted weird but I guess she was like 4 and not a hooker on rt 40. State and county police collaborated with the FBI to identify and hunt down their suspect, forming a task force of over 100 officers and spending about one million dollars. "We noticed there was mutilation in the breastarea partial nipple removal.". Wikimedia CommonsRoute 40 entering Glasgow, Delaware. The couple called 911 and police arrived on the scene. Then I read "Dangerous Mind" (page 76), Jeff Mordock's chilling reexamination of the inexplicable late-'80s exploits of Delaware serial killer Steven Brian Pennell. A "torture kit" was also found, which included pliers, whips, handcuffs, needles, knives and restraints. He argued that the entire constitution began with a verse from the Hebrew Bible, and as soon as the court found two witnesses who could testify to his guilt, he deserved the death penalty under the Bible's laws. According to our Database, She has no children. "The boyfriend was driving. 1923 get yours now before they are gone forever. Requests: start a new article for Yazeed Essa, mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com(2012), start a new article for Kip McFarlin, USA Today (2016), start an article for Murder of Alexandra Flores (2001 kidnapping/murder, front page El Paso Times 21 Nov 2001, rcv'd nat'l coverage) The house of horrors in Des Plaines, Illinois, was torn down in 1979 and now an entirely new home stands in its stead. Address:***** Hill House Farm Ln, Lexington Park, MD. The condemned prisoner was Steven Brian Pennell, 34 years old. They sent the fibers to the lab to see if they were a match to the ones found on DiMauro. Investigators then finally got the break they needed the fibers from Pennell's car were indeed the ones found on DiMaruo. He abducted most of his victims from U.S. Route 40, near Bear. At 6:25 AM, construction workers found her naked body at a construction site. He killed my mother in laws best friend. Through their knowledge and experience with other serial killers, the FBI was able to make an amazingly accurate psychological profile of Delaware's serial killer. The Delaware State Attorney General objected to the death penalty, but the judges sentenced Pennell to death anyway. Steven B. PENNELL, Defendant Below, Appellant, v. STATE of Delaware, Plaintiff Below, Appellee. Most of his victims were abducted from U.S. Route 40, near Bear. Steven Brian Pennell - AKA The Route 40 Killer - was Delaware's only known serial killer Blue fibres found on her skin would match the carpet of Pennell's Ford car, ultimately leading to his capture - a search warrant would also uncover the victim's fingerprints, blood and hair. Prior to the execution, numerous reporters tried to ask Pennell for exclusive interviews, hoping to reveal the location of Meyer's body. On March 14, 1992, at 9:49 a.m, Pennell was executed by lethal injection, becoming the first person executed in Delaware in 46 years, and the 165th person to be executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Lano saw blue carpeting covering the vans interior panels. The usually sedate state of Delaware was experiencing its first active serial killer. There was one key difference between the victims, however: DiMauro was covered head to toe in blue carpet fibers. While searching the vehicle, prints matching the blood and hair of the victims, as well as the same adhesive tape used in the DiMauro killing, were found. After passing several vehicles, she spotted a blue Ford seven times in 20 minutes. On Halloween of 1991, Steven Brian Pennell was sentenced to die by lethal injection after have been convicted of only two of the five murders he committed. I guess its time, Pennell reportedly said to arresting officers. All of our Serial Killer books are massive, 8.5" x 11" perfect bound editions. There were no ligature marks on her body or blows to the head, although she had been tortured. Interesting case. Investigators took carpet fibers, fabric swatches and photos of the interior and exterior of his van. Kathleen M. Jennings and Peter N. Letang, Dept. They executed a search warrant on his home and car and found hair, blood, and skin belonging to some of the victims in there. Steven Brian Pennell (November 22, 1957 - March 14, 1992), aka The Route 40 Killer, was Delaware's only known serial killer, convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of killing three others. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. On November 29, 1987, she left Wilmington Hospital around 6 PM, where she was aiding an AIDS patient, catching a lift on her way home on Route 40. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 November. She had been turning over a new leaf, however, her family said. On June 28, 1988, Catherine DiMauro was snatched from route 40 at around 11:30 p.m, according to Delaware Online. "The medical examiner indicated that the actual acts of violence and torture literally frightened her death," Jennings explained. . Judge Richard Gebelein dismissed these allegations, saying that the carpet was visible to Taschner's eyes as soon as she opened the vehicle, so evidence from these fibers was legal. Steven Pennell We found 42 records for Steven Pennell in NC, PA and 17 other states. His crimes shocked the little state of Delaware, not because it was the first and only case of serial murder in the state's history, but more so due to the twisted savagery of the crimes he committed. At 9 o'clock this morning, the United States Supreme Court issued the final rejection of her petition. Neil Patmore is a former police officer, and private investigator. Steven Pennells blue van, in which he tortured and killed his victims. The motions for a stay were filed for Mrs. Pennell by W. Michael Jacobs of the American Bar Association's Death Penalty Litigation Project, who argued that Mr. Pennell was committing "a foolish suicide" and an "irrational act and one which Mrs. Pennell wishes to do everything in her power to stop. Ellis autopsy revealed she had been bound at the hands and feet and tortured with work tools before death, according to Delaware Today. She went to a more isolated area, and the vehicle stopped next to her. Steven Brian Pennell, also known as the "Route 40Killer," picked women up off the highwaybefore torturing andkilling them. Delaware Carries Out First Execution Since '46. He reopened the curtain, and a Roman Catholic priest standing next to the body was administering last rites. A peek inside a serial killer's house left untouched after the murderer was caught shows creepy dolls lining the walls. The execution, performed by injection, was carried out inside a trailer on the grounds of the Delaware Correctional Center near this town 15 miles north of Dover. A video has emerged showing inside a house of horrors which was once owned by one of the most notorious serial killers in America. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.