Arthur Shawcross “The Genesee River Killer”

Active 1972, 1988-1989

Rochester, New York

Arthur Shawcross was an American serial killer active primarily in Rochester, New York during the late 1980s. He murdered at least 14 known victims, including children and sex workers, after serving time for two child murders and being inexplicably paroled in 1987. His crimes horrified the public not only for their brutality but for the glaring failure of the justice system that had released him early.

Shawcross was born in Maine in 1945. In 1972 he murdered Jack Blake & Karen Hill, both children, in Watertown, NY. In 1987 after serving only 15 years, he was released from prison despite psychiatric warnings. Between 1988-1989, Arthur murdered at least 11 more victims, mainly sex workers, around Rochester, NY. On January 5, 1990, he was arrested after police spotted him revisiting one of the crime scenes. In 1990, he was convicted of 11 murders and sentenced to life without parole. He died in prison of cardiac arrest in 2008.

Known Victims

Jack Owen Blake, age 10. May 7, 1972. Shawcross lured the boy into the woods in Watertown, NY, sexually assaulted him, and murdered him. Blake was a local child; his family was devastated and active in search efforts.

Karen Ann Hill, age 8. September 2, 1972. Lured, raped, and strangled near the Black River in Watertown, NY. A neighbor’s child, her death led to Shawcross’s first conviction.

Dorothy Blackburn, age27. March 18, 1988. First victim after parole. Strangled near the Genesee River in Rochester, NY.

Anna Marie Steffen, age 28. July 9, 1988. A Sex worker who was strangled and body dumped in the Genesee Gorge.

Dorothy Keller, age 59. September 29, 1988. Friend of Shawcross, killed and dumped in Salmon Creek, NY.

Patricia Ives, age 25. October 23, 1988. Sex worker, strangled and dumped near the Genesee River. Little public family information.

Frances Brown, age 22. November 23, 1988, Strangled and body left in a shallow creek.

June Cicero, age 34. December 17, 1988, Murdered and left in snow along the Salmon Creek. Shawcross returned to the scene leading to his eventual capture.

Marie Welch, age 22. January 3, 1989, Strangled and dumped near the Genesee River.

Darlene Trippi, age 32. December 15, 1988, Found strangled and partially frozen in snow near a field.

Kimberly Logan, age 30. November 15, 1988, Sex worker, body found near the river.

Elizabeth Gibson, age 29. November 27, 1989. Found near the Genesee River, strangled.

Felicia Stephens, age 20. December 18, 1989. Last confirmed victim. Found near the Genesee River.