Larry Eyler

Larry Eyler

September 29, 1984 mugshot
Born December 21, 1952
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Died March 6, 1994 (aged 41)
Pontiac, Illinois
Cause of death
 complications from AIDS
Other names The Highway Killer
The Interstate Killer
The Highway Murderer
Criminal penalty
 Death
Conviction(s) Murder,
Aggravated Kidnapping
Killings
Victims 21-23
Span of killings
 March 22, 1982–May 7, 1984
Country United States
State(s) Illinois,
Indiana,
Kentucky,
Ohio,
Wisconsin
Date apprehended
 August 21, 1984

Larry Eyler (December 21, 1952 – March 6, 1994) was an American serial killer convicted and sentenced to death for the 1984 murder and dismemberment of 15-year old Daniel Bridges. He confessed to 21 other homicides of young men and boys in five separate states. While awaiting execution, Eyler died of AIDS complications in 1994.

Case history

Eyler was described by some Indianapolis gay community members as a good looking person with a "hot temper", who "projected violence during sex acts". After being charged with murder, Eyler confessed to Indianapolis authorities in a plea bargain. The book Freed to Kill, which mentioned that Eyler was connected to multiple murders, resulted in investigations being reopened.[1]

After Eyler's death, his attorney gave the names of 17 people who were murdered by Eyler and 4 who were murdered by an unidentified accomplice, later revealed to be one of his college professors, Robert David Little.[2] According to Eyler's defense attorney, Kathleen Zellner, the list was apparently made by Eyler around three years before his death, in order to obtain a plea bargain. The prosecutors did not agree to the plea bargain. Later, Eyler allowed his lawyer to release the list.[3]

At least three of Eyler's victims, who were discovered in Newton and Jasper Counties, Indiana, are currently unidentified.[4]

Conviction in the Daniel Bridges case

Daniel Bridges was a 15-year-old boy whose dismembered body was discovered on Aug. 21, 1984 in a garbage dumpster in the Rogers Park neighborhood on Chicago's far North Side.[5] Eyler was found guilty of murdering Bridges in July 1986.[6]

At the time of Eyler's death, an appeal disputing the conviction was pending in the Illinois Supreme Court. The appeal maintained that one of Eyler's trial lawyers, David Shippers, had a conflict of interest as he received $16,875 from a prosecution witness, Robert David Little. Eyler had claimed Little killed Bridges. After Eyler's death, Zellner confirmed that she would proceed with filing the appeal to clarify various legal issues.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Call helped link Eyler to slayings, Chicago Tribune (pre-1997 Fulltext) - Chicago, Ill, City Edition, Author: John O'Brien, Date: 16th Dec 1990, retrieved on 30th May 2010
  2. ↑ "A MUGSHOT OF DR. ROBERT DAVID LITTLE". 29 November 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  3. ↑ THE EYLER LEGACY: 21 DEATHS MURDERER ADMITTED GRISLY 2-STATE SPREE, NORTH SPORTS FINAL Edition,Chicago Tribune (pre-1997 Fulltext) - Chicago, Ill, Author: John O'Brien, Tribune Staff Writer, Date: 9th March, 1994, retrieved on 30th May 2010
  4. ↑ "Case File: 999UMIN". doenetwork.org. The Doe Network. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Myers, Linnet (1986-07-02). "Grisly Find Made Sister `Hysterical`". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  6. ↑ Eyler guilty in teen boy's murder, Sports Final, C Edition, Chicago Tribune (pre-1997 Fulltext) - Chicago, Ill, Author: Linnet Myers, Date: 10th July, 1986, retrieved on 30th May, 2010
  7. ↑ EYLER DIES IN PRISON; HAD AIDS LAWYER TO TALK ON CONFESSIONS, NORTH SPORTS FINAL Edition, Chicago Tribune (pre-1997 Fulltext) - Chicago, Ill, Author: Sarah Talalay, Tribune Staff Writer, Date: 7th March 1994, retrieved on 30th May 2010

External links