Earle Leonard Nelson (born Earle Leonard Ferral) an American serial killer rapist and necrophile known as the Gorilla Killer and the Dark Strangler and at least once used the alias Virgil Wilson. He targeted and strangled landladies throughout the West Coast during 1926. Nelson often carried a bible to gain trust with his victims. Nelson's defense at his six-day trial was insanity. Records were presented to show that Nelson had been confined in an insane asylum in Napa, California, during various periods between 1921 and 1925. In 1928, Earle Leonard Nelson was executed by hanging at the Vaughan Street Jail in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Serial Killer Earle Leonard Nelson (aka) Gorilla Killer, the Dark Strangler, was active for 2 years between 1926-1927, known to have ( 22 confirmed / 29 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States
Earle Leonard Nelson was born on May 12th 1897 in San Francisco, California, US. He was raised by his grandmother and aunt. Nelson was raised as a only child and had no siblings. His father, James Ferral, died of syphilis, Earle (Age 1). His mother, Frances Nelson, died of syphilis, Earle (Age 1). He had a head injury or brain defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems including being teased or picked on.
Nelson a heterosexual male citizen of the United States of America. Nelson completed 10 years of school, no degree received. Nelson married Mary Martin, divorced. He had no children.
Prior to his spree he had commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He saw a psychologist and spent time in a Forensic Hospital.
In 1926 (Age 28/29) Earle Leonard Nelson started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to commit acts of necrophilia, strangle, rape, mutilate, and murder his victims. He was known to kill at both his home and the home of the victim. At the time of his crimes he was living with alone, where Nelson was known to work as a serial killer.
He was arrested on June 16th 1927 (Age 30), convicted on November 5th 1927 (Age 30), sentenced to death, execution by hanging at Vaughan Street Jail in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Nelson was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime. Earle Leonard Nelson was executed on January 13th 1928 (Age 30).
Earle Leonard Nelson died on January 13th 1928 (Age 30), cause of death: capital punishment, executed by hanging at Vaughan Street Jail in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Earle Leonard Nelson has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
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.
Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.
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).
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
General Information | |
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Name: | Earle Nelson |
Nickname: | Gorilla Killer, the Dark Strangler |
Victims: | 22 - 29 |
Years Active: | 1926 - 1927 |
Ages Active: | 28/29 - 29/30 |
Active Countries: | United States |
Convicted Of: | murder |
Life Span: | 1897 - 1928 |
Characteristics | |
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Gender: | Male |
Citizenship: | United States of America |
Sexual Preference: | heterosexual |
Astrological Sign: | ♉ Taurus Apr 20 - May 21 |
Birth Month: | May |
Marital Status: | married Mary Martin, divorced |
Children: | no children |
Living With: | alone |
Occupation: | serial killer |
Childhood Information | |
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D.O.B.: | May 12, 1897 |
Family Name: | Nelson |
Given Name: | Earle |
Birth Location: | San Francisco, California, US |
Birth Order: | 1st of 1 |
Siblings: | no siblings |
Raised By: | his grandmother and aunt |
Birth Category: | only child |
Mother: | Frances Nelson, died of syphilis, Earle (Age 1) |
Father: | James Ferral, died of syphilis, Earle (Age 1) |
Cognitive Ability | |
---|---|
IQ: | N/A |
Highest School: | 10 years of school |
Highest Degree: | no degree received |
Incarceration | |
---|---|
Arrested: | Jun 16, 1927 (Age 30) |
Convicted: | Nov 5, 1927 (Age 30) |
Sentence: | death, execution by hanging |
Prison Location: | Vaughan Street Jail in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
Executed: | Jan 13, 1928 (Age 30) |
Previous Crimes: | TRUE |
Previous Jail: | TRUE |
Previous Prison: | TRUE |
Death Information | |
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Death Date: | Jan 13, 1928 (Age 30) |
Manner of Death: | capital punishment |
Cause of Death: | executed by hanging |
Death Location: | Vaughan Street Jail in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
Killed In Prison: | FALSE |
Suicide: | FALSE |
The 8 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Earle Leonard Nelson. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
Date | Event Description |
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May 12 1897 | Earle Leonard Nelson was born in San Francisco, California, US. #18970512 |
May 12 1917 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
1926 (Age 28/29) | Earle Leonard Nelson started his serial killing spree. #1926 |
1927 (Age 29/30) | Earle Leonard Nelson ended his serial killing spree. #1927 |
May 12 1927 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
Jun 16 1927 (Age 30) | Earle Leonard Nelson arrested. #19270616 |
Nov 05 1927 (Age 30) | Earle Leonard Nelson was convictedand sentenced to death, execution by hanging at Vaughan Street Jail in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. #19271105 |
Jan 13 1928 (Age 30) | Earle Leonard Nelsonwas executed.cause of death:capital punishment,executed by hangingat Vaughan Street Jail in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. #19280113 |
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Earle Leonard Nelson (1926-1927).
40 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
teased in school | TRUE | 218 | ||
head injury | TRUE | 299 | ||
psychologist | TRUE | 258 | ||
forensic hospital | TRUE | 257 | ||
previous crimes | TRUE | 367 | ||
previous jail | TRUE | 352 | ||
previous prision | TRUE | 336 | ||
kill at killers home | TRUE | 320 | ||
kill at victims home | TRUE | 323 | ||
rape | TRUE | 453 | ||
strangle | TRUE | 443 | ||
sex with body | TRUE | 430 | ||
mutilated | TRUE | 447 | ||
living with children | FALSE | 268 | ||
suicide | FALSE | 225 | ||
killed in prison | FALSE | 218 | ||
father drug abuse | FALSE | 192 | ||
mother drug abuse | FALSE | 195 | ||
xyy | FALSE | 81 | ||
problems in school | FALSE | 221 | ||
physically defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
physically abused | FALSE | 231 | ||
psychologically abused | FALSE | 224 | ||
sexually abused | FALSE | 226 | ||
drug abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
alcohol abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
previous killed | FALSE | 208 | ||
used weapon | FALSE | 453 | ||
used gun | FALSE | 451 | ||
torture | FALSE | 426 | ||
stalk | FALSE | 418 | ||
blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
bound | FALSE | 406 | ||
ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
totem body part | FALSE | 365 | ||
totem personal item | FALSE | 354 | ||
robbed | FALSE | 418 |
Earle Leonard Nelson (née Ferral; May 12, 1897 – January 13, 1928), also known in the media as the "Gorilla Man," the "Gorilla Killer," and the "Dark Strangler," was an American serial killer, rapist, and necrophile. He was the first known American serial sex murderer of the twentieth century.
Earle Leonard Nelson is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database