Eric Edgar Cooke
The Night Caller
Active for 5 years
(1959-1963) in Australia
8
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
8
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 8 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 11 Books Written About Eric Edgar Cooke
- 8 External References
- Internal References
Eric Edgar Cooke an Australian serial killer known as the Night Caller. Cooke terrorized the city of Perth assaulting twenty-two people at random with various means, killing eight of them. His behavior was inconsistent and bizarre, Cooke was known to shoot, stab or strangle his victims. Cooke was arrested after authorities waited for him to return and retrieve a rifle he hid in a bush. In 1963, Eric Edgar Cooke was sentenced to death by hanging which was carried out in 1964 at Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Eric Edgar Cooke Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer Eric Edgar Cooke (aka) The Night Caller, was active for 5 years between 1959-1963, known to have ( 8 confirmed / 8 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: Australia
Eric Edgar Cooke was born on February 25th 1931 in Victoria Park, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. He was born 1st of 3 children and raised by both parents. Cooke was raised as a oldest child and had two brothers or sisters. His father, Vivian Thomas Cooke, a native of Australia who worked as a shop-assistant. His mother, Christian Edgar, a native of Scotland. His father abused alcohol and/or drugs. He had a head injury as well as a physically defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems, including being teased or picked on. Eric Edgar Cooke was physically psychologically abused at some point of his life.
Cooke a heterosexual male citizen of Australia. Cooke completed 9 years of school, no degree received. Cooke married, Sarah (Sally) Lavin on October 14th 1953 at the Methodist Church in Cannington, Perth, Western Australia, Eric (Age 22). He had three daughters and four sons.
Prior to his spree he had commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He saw a psychologist.
In 1959 (Age 27/28) Eric Edgar Cooke started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, commit acts of necrophilia, strangle, rape, and murder his victims. Eric Edgar Cooke used a weapon and was in possession of a firearm during his crimes. He was known to kill at the home of the victim. He positioned or posed at least one body after death. At the time of his crimes he was living with his wife and seven children, where Cooke was known to work as a serial killer.
He was arrested on September 1st 1963 (Age 32), convicted on November 28th 1963 (Age 32), sentenced to death by hanging at Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia. Cooke was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime. Eric Edgar Cooke was executed on October 26th 1964 (Age 33).
Eric Edgar Cooke died on October 26th 1964 (Age 33), cause of death: capital punishment, executed by hanging at Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia. He is buried at Fremantle Cemetery,.
Profile Completeness: 99%
serial killers by profile completenessEric Edgar Cooke has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
Eric Edgar Cooke a known:
( 651 killers ) SERIAL KILLER
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.
( 308 killers ) RAPIST
Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.
( 60 killers ) NECROPHILIAC
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia, is a sexual attraction or sexual act involving corpses. Serial Killer Necrophiliacs have been known to have sex with the body of their victim(s).
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
Eric Edgar Cooke
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2019-02-15 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Eric Edgar Cooke |
| Nickname: | The Night Caller |
| Victims: | 8 - 8 |
| Years Active: | 1959 - 1963 |
| Ages Active: | 27/28 - 31/32 |
| Active Countries: | Australia |
| Convicted Of: | murder |
| Life Span: | 1931 - 1964 |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Citizenship: | Australia |
| Sexual Preference: | heterosexual |
| Astrological Sign: | ♓ Pisces Feb 18 - Mar 20 |
| Birth Month: | February |
| Marital Status: | married, Sarah (Sally) Lavin on October 14th 1953 at the Methodist Church in Cannington, Perth, Western Australia, Eric (Age 22) |
| Children: | three daughters and four sons |
| Living With: | his wife and seven children |
| Occupation: | serial killer |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Feb 25, 1931 |
| Family Name: | Cooke |
| Given Name: | Eric |
| Birth Location: | Victoria Park, Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Birth Order: | 1st of 3 |
| Siblings: | two brothers or sisters |
| Raised By: | both parents |
| Birth Category: | oldest child |
| Mother: | Christian Edgar, a native of Scotland |
| Father: | Vivian Thomas Cooke, a native of Australia who worked as a shop-assistant |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | N/A |
| Highest School: | 9 years of school |
| Highest Degree: | no degree received |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | Sep 1, 1963 (Age 32) |
| Convicted: | Nov 28, 1963 (Age 32) |
| Sentence: | death by hanging |
| Prison Location: | Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia |
| Executed: | Oct 26, 1964 (Age 33) |
| Previous Crimes: | TRUE |
| Previous Jail: | TRUE |
| Previous Prison: | TRUE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | Oct 26, 1964 (Age 33) |
| Manner of Death: | capital punishment |
| Cause of Death: | executed by hanging |
| Death Location: | Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia |
| Burial Location: | Fremantle Cemetery, |
| Killed In Prison: | FALSE |
| Suicide: | FALSE |
8 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Eric Edgar Cooke
The 8 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Feb 25 1931 | Eric Edgar Cooke was born in Victoria Park, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. #19310225 |
| Feb 25 1951 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| 1959 (Age 27/28) | Eric Edgar Cooke started his serial killing spree. #1959 |
| Feb 25 1961 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| 1963 (Age 31/32) | Eric Edgar Cooke ended his serial killing spree. #1963 |
| Sep 01 1963 (Age 32) | Eric Edgar Cooke arrested. #19630901 |
| Nov 28 1963 (Age 32) | Eric Edgar Cooke was convictedand sentenced to death by hanging at Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia. #19631128 |
| Oct 26 1964 (Age 33) | Eric Edgar Cookewas executed.cause of death:capital punishment,executed by hangingat Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.He is buried at Fremantle Cemetery, . #19641026 |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Eric Edgar Cooke (1959-1963).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 40 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| living with children | TRUE | 268 | ||
| father drug abuse | TRUE | 192 | ||
| problems in school | TRUE | 221 | ||
| teased in school | TRUE | 218 | ||
| physically defect | TRUE | 300 | ||
| head injury | TRUE | 299 | ||
| physically abused | TRUE | 231 | ||
| psychologically abused | TRUE | 224 | ||
| psychologist | TRUE | 258 | ||
| previous crimes | TRUE | 367 | ||
| previous jail | TRUE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | TRUE | 336 | ||
| kill at victims home | TRUE | 323 | ||
| used weapon | TRUE | 453 | ||
| used gun | TRUE | 451 | ||
| rape | TRUE | 453 | ||
| strangle | TRUE | 443 | ||
| sex with body | TRUE | 430 | ||
| posed body | TRUE | 365 | ||
| robbed | TRUE | 418 | ||
| suicide | FALSE | 225 | ||
| killed in prison | FALSE | 218 | ||
| mother drug abuse | FALSE | 195 | ||
| xyy | FALSE | 81 | ||
| speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| sexually abused | FALSE | 226 | ||
| drug abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| alcohol abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| forensic hospital | FALSE | 257 | ||
| previous killed | FALSE | 208 | ||
| kill at killers home | FALSE | 320 | ||
| torture | FALSE | 426 | ||
| stalk | FALSE | 418 | ||
| blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
| bound | FALSE | 406 | ||
| mutilated | FALSE | 447 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| totem body part | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem personal item | FALSE | 354 | ||
Books that Mention Eric Edgar Cooke
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Robert Drewe
The Shark Net
Estelle Blackburn
Broken Lives
Jack Rosewood
Eric Edgar Cooke
RJ Parker Ph.D.
Serial Homicide: Australian Serial Killers
Peter Craven
The Best Australian Essays 2003
Catherine Saxelby
Broken Lives
11 Books that mention Serial Killer
Eric Edgar Cooke
| ISBN10 | Book Title | Author | Killers Mentioned | Killers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1733630600 | Serial Killer Stranglers | Kevin Smith | 164 Total Including Juana Barraza | 164 |
| 1733630619 | Serial Killer Rapists | Kevin Smith | 266 Total Including Ramadan Abdel Rehim Mansour | 266 |
| 0143002155 | The Shark Net | Robert Drewe | Eric Edgar Cooke | 1 |
| 174064073x | Broken Lives | Estelle Blackburn | Eric Edgar Cooke | 1 |
| 1523766514 | Eric Edgar Cooke | Jack Rosewood | Eric Edgar Cooke | 1 |
| 1987902211 | Serial Homicide: Australi... | RJ Parker Ph.D. | 4 Total Including Robert Joe Wagner | 4 |
| 1863950699 | The Best Australian Essay... | Peter Craven | Eric Edgar Cooke | 1 |
| 1742734626 | Broken Lives | Catherine Saxelby | Eric Edgar Cooke | 1 |
| 0522869696 | Dangerous to Know Updated... | James Morton | 7 Total Including John Justin Bunting | 7 |
| 1499033613 | May’s Story | Coral Petkovich | Eric Edgar Cooke | 1 |
| 192225312x | The Suburbs of Hell | Randolph Stow | Eric Edgar Cooke | 1 |
Eric Edgar Cooke (25 February 1931 – 26 October 1964), nicknamed the "Night Caller", was an Australian serial killer. From 1959 to 1963, he terrorised the city of Perth, Western Australia, by committing 22 violent crimes, eight of which resulted in deaths.
External References
- Q656808 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Nov 6, 2018.
- Eric Edgar Cooke on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Nov 6, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Eric Edgar COOKE on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Nov 6, 2018.
- Estelle Blackburn, Eric Edgar Cooke on www.cla.asn.au, Retrieved on Nov 6, 2018.
- Paul Genoni, Eric Edgar Cooke on espace.curtin.edu.au, Retrieved on Nov 6, 2018.
- Graham Pidco, Who Killed Rosemary Anderson? on classic.austlii.edu.au, Retrieved on Nov 6, 2018.
- Eric Cooke on www.serienkillers.de, Retrieved on Feb 17, 2019.
- Eric Edgar Cooke on criminalia.es, Retrieved on May 22, 2019.
Internal References
Eric Edgar Cooke is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #3 of 21[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in Australia
- #12 of 651[ Page 1 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #13 of 40[ Page 1 ] of Pisces Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #14 of 38[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in February
- #31 of 60[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #101 of 651[ Page 7 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- #103 of 250[ Page 7 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #121 of 307[ Page 9 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #233 of 651[ Page 16 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #287 of 651[ Page 20 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts Eric Edgar Cooke is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Birth Category, Mannor of Death, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: