Case #4: The Ypsilanti Ripper
Introduction:
July 23rd, 1969. Six young women have been murdered and dumped in remote spots around Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan. Before too long, 18-year-old Karen Sue Beineman accepted a ride from a man on a motorcycle. She would be the final victim of the Ypsilanti Ripper. Three days later, Beineman's body turned up. It was almost exactly two years after the discovery of the first victim.
The Victims:
 |
| The Victims of the Ypsilanti Ripper |
The first victim was 19-year-old Mary Fleszar, a sophomore at Eastern Michigan University. On July 8, 1967, Fleszar went out for a walk alone. Two teenage boys discovered her body on August 7. She was so badly decomposed that apparently, it was hard to tell if she was even human at first. Her face was gone. Her feet, one hand, and her fingers had all been cut off. She was identified through dental records. A year would go by before another victim turned up. This second victim was 20-year-old Eastern Michigan University student Joan Schell. Her body was found by a construction team working near Ann Arbor, Michigan. She had been stabbed 25 times. The third victim was 23-year-old Jane Mixer. She had been shot twice in the head. The next victim was 16-year-old Maralynn Skelton. The fifth victim was 13-year-old Dawn Basom. The sixth victim was 21-year-old Alice Kalom, a graduate student at the University of Michigan. Now, let's circle back to Karen Sue Beinemen, the Ripper's seventh and final victim. Beinemen's body was found by a couple of teenagers in a gully near Ann Arbor. An autopsy showed that Beinemen suffered stab wounds to the heart, head, and neck, and had been raped. A comment made by Beinemen seemed to be what led to the discovery of the Ypsilanti ripper. Beinemen said she had "done two foolish things in her life, buy a wig, and accept a ride on a motorcycle with a stranger."
John Collins:
 |
| John Norman Collins, believed to be the Ypsilanti Ripper |
John Collins was a senior at Eastern Michigan University. He grew up in Canada, and was seemingly brought up in a troubled home. His mother went through two short, bad marriages. After the second divorce, Collins moved with his mother and two siblings to Detroit. Reportedly, Collins appeared on the surface to be a perfect All-American type; smart, athletic, and good-looking. However, by all accounts, those closest to him also said they knew he had a dark side. Collins also reportedly had a history of violence, theft, and arson.
Collins' Arrest:
Collins was seemingly arrested to a strange coincidence. His uncle was a Michigan State Trooper named David Leik, and he happened to live in Ypsilanti. Leik had gone on vacation with his family, and asked John to look after his dog. When he returned, he found that things were different. Collins had painted the basement floor black. Leik went ahead and alerted superiors. Technicians found blood splatter and fingerprints belonging to Collins. Blood and hair samples that belonged to Beinemen were also found in Collins' car.
The Trial:
Collins was only tried for the murder of Karen Sue Beinemen. The evidence didn't appear to be strong enough to tie him to other murders. Collins was also indicted for a murder in California, but wasn't tried for that murder. Collins received a life sentence in 1970.
Further Notes:
As genetic evidence improved, a man named Gary Leiterman was eventually convicted for Jane Mixer's murder in 2005. When Collins was sentenced, he claimed to have never known nor killed Karen Sue Beinemen. He still maintains his innocence. However, after his arrest, the murders stopped.
Some Interesting Links:
While some of the evidence may be circumstantial, it is still pretty interesting to note. For example, Collins lived across the street to Joan Schell. Mary Fleszar was last seen being cut off by a man in car that was registered to Collins' mother. Fleszar also apparently worked across the hall from Collins, who had a student job at the university. Collins had friends who lived in an apartment building near the home of the youngest victim, Dawn Basom. Not long after the murder of Alice Kalom, Collins and his friends took a road trip to Salinas, California. During the time-frame Collins was there, 17-year-old Roxie Phillips was picked up by a man in a car with Michigan plates. A few days later, Roxie was found beaten and strangled.
Final Notes:
While John Collins was only implicated in one murder definitively, it really does seem as though Collins had a hand in almost all of the others.
Sources:
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/michigan-murders-50-years-ago-terror-in-ypsilanti-ends
Comments
Post a Comment