Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the disturbing life and crimes of Arthur Shawcross, a man whose brutal legacy earned him the titles of the "Rochester Strangler" and the "Genesee River Killer". We trace Shawcross’s timeline of violence, beginning with the murders of two children in his hometown of Watertown, New York, in 1972. Listeners will learn how a controversial plea bargain allowed Shawcross to plead guilty to manslaughter rather than murder, resulting in a prison sentence from which he was paroled after serving only 14 years.

We analyze the catastrophic failure of the justice and mental health systems in 1987, when inexperienced staff deemed Shawcross "no longer dangerous" and released him, disregarding psychiatric assessments that labeled him a "schizoid psychopath". This decision has been cited by experts as "one of the most egregious examples of the unwarranted release of a prisoner".

The episode details his subsequent 1988–1989 reign of terror in Rochester, where he murdered 11 women, primarily targeting sex workers while driving his girlfriend's car. We also examine the bizarre psychological profile presented at his trial, including his fabrication of Vietnam combat trauma and his defense team’s claim that he possessed an alternate personality named "Bessie". Finally, we cover his conviction, his sentence of 250 years, and his eventual death in prison in 2008.