Christopher Peterson (serial killer)

Christopher Peterson (later changed his name to Obadyah Ben-Yisrayl), dubbed the "Shotgun Killer" is an American serial killer who confessed to shooting seven people with a shotgun, in a killing spree spanning from October 30, 1990 to December 18, 1990 in Indiana. Peterson was convicted to two death sentences because of his confession. Today he recants the confession, saying authorities forced him to say he was the killer. Peterson was granted post-conviction relief and removed from death row in 2004.^[1]

Murders

• October 30, 1990: Insurance agent Lawrence Mills was shot to death in his car in front of the American Legion Post 66 in Griffith. No eyewitnesses.
• October 30, 1990: Two and a half hours later, Rhonda L. Hammersley, who worked at a gas station in Cedar Lake, was shot in the parking lot. An eyewitness described the perpetrator as a young white man with long, stringy hair.
• December 13, 1990: Harchand Singh Dhaliwal (54) was shot while working at a gas station. $327.55 was missing from the cash register.
• December 15, 1990: Marie Meitzler was shot while working at a motel reception desk. $467 was stolen.
• December 15, 1990: Six minutes later, Ora L. Wildermuth was shot in front of an automated teller machine.
• December 15, 1990: One hour later, Robert S. Kotso was shot in a highway toll booth. He survived.
• December 18, 1990: Brothers Eli and George Balovski were shot in an adjoining building to their tailor shop in the late afternoon. They were the last victims.

False confession

Peterson maintains his innocence despite confessing to the murders. He claims he did so under duress. Peterson was granted post-conviction relief and re-sentenced to 120 years in prison December 12, 2004.

Peterson's claims have some credibility, as eyewitness testimonies suggested that the assailant was white rather than black.

Song

American death metal/grindcore band Macabre have made a song about him, titled "Shotgun Peterson". It features on their Sinister Slaughter album.^[2]

References