Danny
Rolling, also known as The Gainesville Ripper had a total victim count
of 8 in a span of one year. His crimes includes rape, necrophilia and
mutilation. His method of killing is through stabbing, with a U.S Marine
Corps-style KBAR knife - which is sharp enough to chip and slash bones.
In his younger days, Rolling's father abused him and the rest of his family. Rolling was subjected to the most abuse and was constantly told that he was an unwanted child. During his teenage years, Rolling committed minor crimes such as robberies.
After years of being subjected to abuse, Rolling finally broke it in May 1990. He attempted to murder his father, but failed. However, his father lost an eye and ear as a result of the attack.
The urge to kill apparently did not end there.
Rolling particularly targeted brunette, female college students.
On August 24, 1990. Rolling broke into the apartment of of 17 year old university freshmen Sonja Larson and Christina Powell. He stabbed, mutilated and raped both teenagers - one after she was dead.
The following day, Rolling killed Christa Hoyt, 18 years old. This killing in particular, is quite interesting as he posed her body in a manner where she was propped up, sitting on her bed and bent over at the waist. Rolling had also raped her, sliced off her nipples, sliced open her torso from her chest to her pubic bone and had her severed head perched on a shelf across the room.
(Some killers are known to pose the bodies of their victims in a certain manner to send a certain message across or to simply shock the person who is to chance upon the scene.)
On August 27, 1990, Rolling committed his last killings. He killed Manuel Taboada, 23, and Tracy Paules, 23. They were stabbed repeatedly and Paules was raped.
Rolling remained free until September 8, 1990. He was apprehended after a botched robbery.
During the course of investigation, police found audio diaries alluding to the murders. He also became a prime suspect for an unsolved triple homicide of the Grissom family in Shreveport as the methods of killings were very similar to the ones in the Gainesville murders. It turns out that Rolling DID commit the triple homicide of the Grissom family. On November 4, 1989, He attacked the family during their dinner time, killing William Grissom, 55, Julie Grissom, 24 and Sean Grissom, 8.
Danny Rolling pleaded guilty to all 8 counts of the murders and was sentenced to death via lethal injection on each count. He was executed by lethal injection on October 25, 2006.
Christa Hoyt's mother, however, was unhappy about the method of execution. She says, "I'm a nurse, and I've seen my patients die. And they died a much more horrific death than what his man suffered through, that's for sure. He relaxed, went to sleep, did not feel anything".
Fun fact:
Rolling's last meal: Lobster tail, shrimp, baked potato, strawberry cheese cake and sweet tea.
Rolling's final words: He sang a song, repeating the line, "None greater than thee, oh Lord."
In his younger days, Rolling's father abused him and the rest of his family. Rolling was subjected to the most abuse and was constantly told that he was an unwanted child. During his teenage years, Rolling committed minor crimes such as robberies.
After years of being subjected to abuse, Rolling finally broke it in May 1990. He attempted to murder his father, but failed. However, his father lost an eye and ear as a result of the attack.
The urge to kill apparently did not end there.
Rolling particularly targeted brunette, female college students.
On August 24, 1990. Rolling broke into the apartment of of 17 year old university freshmen Sonja Larson and Christina Powell. He stabbed, mutilated and raped both teenagers - one after she was dead.
The following day, Rolling killed Christa Hoyt, 18 years old. This killing in particular, is quite interesting as he posed her body in a manner where she was propped up, sitting on her bed and bent over at the waist. Rolling had also raped her, sliced off her nipples, sliced open her torso from her chest to her pubic bone and had her severed head perched on a shelf across the room.
(Some killers are known to pose the bodies of their victims in a certain manner to send a certain message across or to simply shock the person who is to chance upon the scene.)
On August 27, 1990, Rolling committed his last killings. He killed Manuel Taboada, 23, and Tracy Paules, 23. They were stabbed repeatedly and Paules was raped.
Rolling remained free until September 8, 1990. He was apprehended after a botched robbery.
During the course of investigation, police found audio diaries alluding to the murders. He also became a prime suspect for an unsolved triple homicide of the Grissom family in Shreveport as the methods of killings were very similar to the ones in the Gainesville murders. It turns out that Rolling DID commit the triple homicide of the Grissom family. On November 4, 1989, He attacked the family during their dinner time, killing William Grissom, 55, Julie Grissom, 24 and Sean Grissom, 8.
Danny Rolling pleaded guilty to all 8 counts of the murders and was sentenced to death via lethal injection on each count. He was executed by lethal injection on October 25, 2006.
Christa Hoyt's mother, however, was unhappy about the method of execution. She says, "I'm a nurse, and I've seen my patients die. And they died a much more horrific death than what his man suffered through, that's for sure. He relaxed, went to sleep, did not feel anything".
Fun fact:
Rolling's last meal: Lobster tail, shrimp, baked potato, strawberry cheese cake and sweet tea.
Rolling's final words: He sang a song, repeating the line, "None greater than thee, oh Lord."
