Between 1968 and 1981 a series of murders took place across England. More than 20 women and girls with the same injuries whose killings remain unsolved. Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders, ITV 2022
Wilma McCann is the first confirmed victim of a killer the press name the Yorkshire Ripper. By 1981 the police believe the Ripper has killed thirteen women and attacked seven more … There are many similar cases he was never questioned about. ibid.
More than 20 unsolved murders match the methods of the Yorkshire Ripper. Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders II, caption
West Yorkshire police are hunting for the Yorkshire Ripper. They believe he has killed 9 women. One of the suspects is 32-year-old lorry driver Peter Sutcliffe. They have now interviewed him 4 times. And ruled him out. ibid.
‘Three women within no more than a ten mile radius attacked in exactly the same way within weeks of each other.’ ibid.
‘The same description of this man with black wiry hair, a beard, very soft Yorkshire accent.’ ibid.
‘Completely derailed by the Wearside Jack tapes is one of the strangest things about the investigation. There was not a shred of evidence that Wearside Jack communicated to those senior investigating officers that for me legitimised the direction of that enquiry. ibid. Roy Ramm, rozzer
Andrew Evans served 25 years in prison for the murder of Judith Roberts. ibid. caption
Stephen Downing served 27 years for the murder of Wendy Sewell. He is the longest miscarriage of justice in British legal history. ibid.
Anthony Steel served 23 years for the murder of Carol Wilkinson. He died four years after his release. ibid.
5 new men were drafted in to lead Britain’s ever manhunt following the frenzy of publicity after the Ripper’s 13th killing. World in Action: The Hunt for the Ripper, ITV 1980
SUTTON, CHRISTOPHER & GARRETT KOPP: Homicide: Hours to Kill TV -
A brutal killing. A dark mystery with multiple suspects. Homicide: Hours to Kill, Channel 4 2024
Coral Gables: Safe and usually quiet. But in August 2004 that peace is violently shattered. Inside police discover a blood bath. ibid.
John [Sutton] wakes up from a medically induced coma to find his room filled with detectives looking for answers. ibid.
‘In comes a man with a black hat, black coat, black pants, and the firing started.’ ibid. John
It’s only now detectives can tell John the fate of his wife. ibid.
‘It was an execution. They were targeted.’ ibid. comment
Teddy Montoto: John and Teddy specialised in civil litigation … ‘He [Teddy] and Susan were involved in a romantic relationship and had been for several years.’ ibid.
The disturbing details of his past are enough to make Chris [Sutton, adopted son] a potential suspect. ibid.
‘Teddy’s ultimately ruled out as a suspect.’ ibid. comment
What stands out is the [phone] records of Christopher Sutton … ‘We learned who he spoke to at that particular time was a guy by the name of Garrett Kopp.’ ibid. rozzer
‘It came down to hatred and he [adopted son Christopher] just wanted the money.’ ibid.
SVENSSON, SARA: Crime Stories TV -
January 2004: Police in Sweden search for a masked suspect who gunned down two members of a Christian group at point blank range. The entire country is soon gripped by a bizarre tale of love triangles, religion and murder. Crime Stories s7e5: Terror by Text, Really 2017
Alexandra Fossmo however lies asleep in her upstairs bed … The ‘masked gunman’ that appears has struck at least twice on the same street. ibid.
Sara Svensson … promptly confesses to the crime … She explains that in shooting the two victims she was following orders from God. ibid.
Sara begins to reveal more information about her relationship with her pastor. ibid.
SWANGO, MICHAEL: Very Scary People TV -
Physicians take an oath to do no harm. But Dr Michael Swango did just the opposite. From his earlier days in medical school until the time he was captured, Dr Swango preyed on the most vulnerable. Very Scary People s2e11: Dr Death: A License to Kill, CI 2022
One of the most prolific medical serial killers in the country. ibid.
He was obsessed with violence and death as early as the second grade. ibid. comment
There was always someone dying or coding when he was around. ibid.
His colleagues in the paramedic unit became convinced that Dr Swango was putting potentially lethal doses of antkiller in their food and drink. ibid. narrator
This guy had a chemistry lab in his kitchen. ibid. rozzer
After serving two years, Dr Michael Swango is released. ibid. comment
A dangerous killer obsessed with poison and death. He revelled in human suffering. Dr Swango’s murder spree spanned nearly two decades. Very Scary People s2e12: Dru Death II: You’re Next
‘They went looking for him and he was gone.’ ibid. comment
‘So now we’re going to have to look at what happened in Zimbabwe.’ ibid.
‘This doctor from America was up to no good.’ ibid.
‘As long as he was in a medical facility, he was going to kill people.’ ibid.
SWANSON, MICHAEL: Signs of a Psychopath TV -
A teenage gunman is accused of murdering a clerk in Algona and then heading south to gun down another clerk in Humboldt. Signs of a Psychopath s4e7: Sometimes People Get Shot
Police apprehend 17-year-old Michael Swanson at a fast-food restaurant. ibid.
‘He murdered someone. And he liked the high, he liked the thrill.’ ibid. expert
‘That indifference is just a hallmark of psychopathy.’ ibid.
SWARTZ, LARRY: Kids Who Kill TV -
The Swartz family lived in a quiet suburb of Maryland … Kay and Bob adopted three children … Larry’s numerous foster parents all rejected him. Killer Kids s2e2: Redemption/Salt in the Wounds, LMN 2012
‘He [Larry] stabbed her [mom] thirteen times in the throat … His father was stabbed a serious number of times.’ ibid. family friend
Larry was calm and didn’t appear upset. ibid.
Larry finally broke down and confessed. ibid.
‘Larry got twelve years in prison and only served nine.’ ibid.
Larry began a new life in Florida. ibid.
SWEATT, THOMAS: Very Bad Men TV -
In May 2003 fires blaze across Washington DC … A similar incendiary device at many of the crime scenes. Very Bad Men s3e14: A Deadly Burning Passion
The deranged fantasies of a serial arsonist … Three hundred and fifty-three blazes … Marines and other men in uniform: to him fire was the only means to get their attention. ibid.
Thomas Sweatt was sentenced to life in prison plus 136 years. He has no chance of parole. ibid.
SWEENEY, JASON murder: Killer Kids TV -
Fishtown in Philadelphia is a rough neighbourhood … 16-year-old Jason Sweeney had been accepted into the Valley Forge Military Academy … Killer Kids s2e1: Foul Ball & Framed, LMN 2012
Jason began spending time with a girl he liked: Justina Morley. ibid.
‘Multiple multiple blows from a variety of weapons.’ ibid.
Eddie Batzig, Dominic Coia, Nicholas Coia … ‘We beat him to death’ … ‘They just continued to bludgeon him with these weapons.’ ibid.
Jason’s girlfriend Christina had helped set up the horrific murder. ibid.
SWEENEY, JOHN: The Sketchbook Killer TV - Telegraph online - Crimes that Shook Britain TV - Britain’s Most Evil Killers TV - Hunt for the Canal Murderer: John Sweeney TV - How I Caught the Killer TV - Killer at the Crime Scene TV - Until I Killed You: The Real Story TV - I Survived a Serial Killer: The Delia Balmer Story TV -
A monster even to his own family. He killed in Britain and in Europe, escaping justice for twenty years. Only in 2011 clues contained in his pictures provided the vital evidence. The Sketchbook Killer, Crime Channel 2012 s/a Murder Files Channel 5 2013
Before he was cornered he would kill again. In 1994 John Sweeney, a carpenter from Merseyside, had savagely attacked two women before going on the run. ibid.
In 1992 parts of a dismembered female corpse had been found in this suitcase in a canal in Amsterdam. ibid.
Sweeney was given a whole-life sentence for killing both Melissa and Paula, but police suspect that’s not the full extent of his crimes. ibid.