Timothy Wilson Spencer
The Southside Strangler
Active for 4 years
(1984-1987) in United States
5
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
5
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 13 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 14 Books Written About Timothy Wilson Spencer
- 10 External References
- Internal References
Timothy Wilson Spencer an American serial killer and burglar known as The Southside Strangler, The Southside Slayer and The Southside rapist . Spencer raped and murdered four women in Virginia from 1987 to 1988, with one murder in 1984. Spencer was the first person in the United States to be convicted of a capital crime through DNA testing. David Vasquez who was wrongfully convicted of Spencer's 1984 victim, became the first to be exonerated following conviction through DNA testing. In 1994, Timothy Wilson Spencer was executed in the electric chair at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia.
Timothy Wilson Spencer Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer Timothy Wilson Spencer (aka) The Southside Strangler, was active for 4 years between 1984-1987, known to have ( 5 confirmed / 5 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States
Timothy Wilson Spencer was born on March 17th 1962 He had at least one brother, Travis Spencer. His father, a man who Timothy had been told was dead when in fact he was still alive.
He never married. He had no children mentioned.
Prior to his spree he had killed, commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He was known to abuse alcohol and drugs.
In 1984 (Age 21/22) Timothy Wilson Spencer started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, strangle, rape, and murder his victims. He was known to kill at the home of the victim. At least one victim was tied, bound, or otherwise restrained during the crime. At the time of his crimes he was living with himself, alone at a South Richmond halfway house.
He was arrested on January 20th 1988 (Age 25), convicted on September 8th 1988 (Age 26), sentenced to death by electrocution at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime. Timothy Wilson Spencer was executed on April 27th 1994 (Age 32).
Timothy Wilson Spencer died on April 27th 1994 (Age 32), cause of death: capital punishment, executed by electrocution via electric chair at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US.
Profile Completeness: 84%
serial killers by profile completenessTimothy Wilson Spencer has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 4 years ago.
Timothy Wilson Spencer 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.
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
Timothy Wilson Spencer
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2020-03-06 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Timothy Wilson Spencer |
| Nickname: | The Southside Strangler |
| Victims: | 5 - 5 |
| Years Active: | 1984 - 1987 |
| Ages Active: | 21/22 - 24/25 |
| Active Countries: | United States |
| Convicted Of: | murder |
| Life Span: | 1962 - 1994 |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Ethnic Group: | African American |
| Gender: | Male |
| Sexual Preference: | heterosexual |
| Astrological Sign: | ♓ Pisces Feb 18 - Mar 20 |
| Birth Month: | March |
| Marital Status: | never married |
| Children: | no children mentioned |
| Living With: | himself, alone at a South Richmond halfway house |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Mar 17, 1962 |
| Given Name: | Timothy |
| Birth Location: | N/A |
| Birth Order: | N/A |
| Siblings: | at least one brother, Travis Spencer |
| Raised By: | N/A |
| Birth Category: | N/A |
| Mother: | N/A |
| Father: | a man who Timothy had been told was dead when in fact he was still alive |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | N/A |
| Highest School: | N/A |
| Highest Degree: | |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | Jan 20, 1988 (Age 25) |
| Convicted: | Sep 8, 1988 (Age 26) |
| Sentence: | death by electrocution |
| Prison Location: | Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US |
| Executed: | Apr 27, 1994 (Age 32) |
| Previous Crimes: | TRUE |
| Previous Jail: | TRUE |
| Previous Prison: | TRUE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | Apr 27, 1994 (Age 32) |
| Manner of Death: | capital punishment |
| Cause of Death: | executed by electrocution via electric chair |
| Death Location: | Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US |
| Killed In Prison: | FALSE |
| Suicide: | FALSE |
13 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Timothy Wilson Spencer
The 13 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Mar 17 1962 | birth of Timothy Wilson Spencer #19620317 |
| Mar 17 1982 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| 1984 (Age 21/22) | Timothy Wilson Spencer started his serial killing spree. #1984 |
| 1987 (Age 24/25) | Timothy Wilson Spencer ended his serial killing spree. #1987 |
| Jan 20 1988 (Age 25) | Timothy Wilson Spencer arrested. #19880120 |
| Jul 11 1988 (Age 26) | murder trial started #19880711 Location: a court in Arlington, Virginia, US Timothy Wilson Spencer went on trial for the rape, burglary and murder of Susan Tucker. |
| Jul 16 1988 (Age 26) | found guilty of capital murder #19880716 Location: a court in Arlington, Virginia, US Timothy Wilson Spencer was found guilty of the capital murder of Susan Tucker. This was the first case in the country in which a person was found guilty of a capital murder and received the death penalty… based on DNA evidence. |
| Sep 08 1988 (Age 26) | Timothy Wilson Spencer was convictedand sentenced to death by electrocution at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US. #19880908 |
| Sep 22 1988 (Age 26) | found guilty of capital murder #19880922 Location: Richmond, Virginia, US Timothy Wilson Spencer was found guilty of the capital murder of Debbie Dudley Davis. |
| Nov 04 1988 (Age 26) | sentenced to second death sentence #19881104 Location: a court in Richmond, Virginia, US Timothy Wilson Spencer was sentenced to death by electrocution for the capital murder of Debbie Dudley Davis. |
| Jan 17 1989 (Age 26) | convicted of capital murder #19890117 Location: Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Manchester Courthouse, Richmond, Virginia, US Timothy Wilson Spencer was convicted of the capital murder of Dr. Susan Hellams. |
| Mar 17 1992 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| Apr 27 1994 (Age 32) | Timothy Wilson Spencerwas executed.cause of death:capital punishment,executed by electrocution via electric chairat Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US. #19940427 |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Timothy Wilson Spencer (1984-1987).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 32 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| drug abuse | TRUE | 226 | ||
| alcohol abuse | TRUE | 226 | ||
| previous crimes | TRUE | 367 | ||
| previous jail | TRUE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | TRUE | 336 | ||
| previous killed | TRUE | 208 | ||
| kill at victims home | TRUE | 323 | ||
| rape | TRUE | 453 | ||
| bound | TRUE | 406 | ||
| strangle | TRUE | 443 | ||
| robbed | TRUE | 418 | ||
| suicide | FALSE | 225 | ||
| killed in prison | FALSE | 218 | ||
| xyy | FALSE | 81 | ||
| physically defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| head injury | FALSE | 299 | ||
| psychologist | FALSE | 258 | ||
| forensic hospital | FALSE | 257 | ||
| kill at killers home | FALSE | 320 | ||
| used weapon | FALSE | 453 | ||
| used gun | FALSE | 451 | ||
| torture | FALSE | 426 | ||
| stalk | FALSE | 418 | ||
| blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
| sex with body | FALSE | 430 | ||
| mutilated | FALSE | 447 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem body part | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem personal item | FALSE | 354 | ||
Books that Mention Timothy Wilson Spencer
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Patricia Cornwell
Postmortem
John E. Douglas
Journey Into Darkness
Jason Moss
The Last Victim
Robert D. Keppel
Signature Killers
Paul Mones
Stalking Justice
Henry C. Lee
Blood Evidence
14 Books that mention Serial Killer
Timothy Wilson Spencer
| 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 |
| 1439187517 | Postmortem | Patricia Cornwell | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 1 |
| 1439107815 | Journey Into Darkness | John E. Douglas | 3 Total Including Cleophus Prince | 3 |
| 0759528306 | The Last Victim | Jason Moss | 25 Total Including John Wayne Gacy | 25 |
| 0671001302 | Signature Killers | Robert D. Keppel | 6 Total Including Arthur Shawcross | 6 |
| 0671002015 | Stalking Justice | Paul Mones | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 1 |
| 0738206024 | Blood Evidence | Henry C. Lee | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 1 |
| 1576071944 | Forensic Science | 3 Total Including William J. Tilstone | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 2 |
| 1438132131 | Evidence | Colin Evans | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 1 |
| 0761804501 | Good Murders and Bad Murd... | Wayne Wilson | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 1 |
| 0788188836 | Postconviction DNA Testin... | Ronald Reinstein | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 1 |
| 0788143514 | Financial Investigations | Don Vogel | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 1 |
| 1523916311 | Southside Strangler | Natalie Marshall | Timothy Wilson Spencer | 1 |
Timothy Wilson Spencer (March 17, 1962 – April 27, 1994), also known as the "Southside Strangler", was a serial killer who committed three rapes and murders in Richmond, Virginia and one in Arlington, Virginia in the fall of 1987. In addition, he is believed to have committed at least one previous murder, in 1984, for which a different man, David Vasquez, was wrongfully convicted. He was known to police as a prolific home burglar.
External References
- Q7807614 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Dec 11, 2018.
- Timothy Wilson Spencer on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Timothy Wilson SPENCER on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
- Peter Baker, In grim distinction, Va. killer is first to die based on DNA testing on www.washingtonpost.com, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
- Murderer Put to Death In Virginia on www.nytimes.com, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
- Spencer v. Virginia, 385 S.E.2d 850, Vol. 238 on scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
- SPENCER v. MURRAY, 1993, 5 F.3d 758 on law.resource.org, Retrieved on Mar 6, 2020.
- Laurie McClellan, The Arlington Serial Killer Who Changed History on www.arlingtonmagazine.com, Retrieved on Mar 6, 2020.
- Spencer v. Murray, 5 F.3d 758 (4th Cir. 1993) on law.justia.com, Retrieved on Mar 6, 2020.
- Dana Priest, RAPIST-SLAYER IN VIRGINIA GIVEN 2ND DEATH SENTENCE on www.washingtonpost.com, Retrieved on Mar 6, 2020.
Internal References
Timothy Wilson Spencer is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #29 of 38[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in March
- #29 of 40[ Page 2 ] of Pisces Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #156 of 250[ Page 11 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #182 of 327[ Page 13 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
- #190 of 651[ Page 13 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #192 of 307[ Page 13 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #321 of 651[ Page 22 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #382 of 651[ Page 26 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #562 of 651[ Page 38 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts Timothy Wilson Spencer 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, Sexual Preference, Mannor of Death, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: