LORENZO JEROME GILYARD, JR | The “Kansas City Strangler” | Believed To Have Raped And Murdered At Least 13 Women And Girls From 1977 To 1993 | Convicted Of Six Counts Of Murder | LWOP | Autographed Letter, Signed

Lorenzo J. Gilyard. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Baronial 5 bar (4.125 × 5.5 Soft yellow envelope). Kansas City, MO. Pmk: May, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

Lorenzo Jerome Gilyard, Jr. (born May 24, 1950), known as the Kansas City Strangler, is an American serial killer. A former trash-company supervisor, Gilyard is believed to have raped and murdered at least 13 women and girls from 1977 to 1993. He was convicted of six counts of murder on March 16, 2007.

His early life was marked by aggressive behavior and criminal activity. He dropped out of school after the 10th grade and began a pattern of deviant sexual behavior and crime. Despite multiple arrests for sexual assault and rape, Gilyard often avoided conviction due to victims retracting charges or lack of evidence.

Lorenzo Jerome Gilyard, Jr.'s crimes were particularly heinous and spanned over a period of 16 years. Here are some details about his criminal activities:

• Span of Crimes: Gilyard is believed to have raped and murdered at least 13 women and girls from 1977 to 1993.

• Victims: Most of his victims were sex workers. They were found shoeless and dumped in secluded spots around Kansas City. Many had cloth or paper towels stuffed into their mouths and ligature marks around their necks.

• Method of Murder: The primary method of murder was strangulation.

• Early Criminal Activity: Before the murders, Gilyard had a history of deviant sexual behavior and assaults. He was suspected of multiple rapes between 1969 and 1974 but was never convicted due to various reasons, including victims retracting charges.

• DNA Evidence: Advanced forensic technology and DNA testing were crucial in linking Gilyard to the murders, leading to his eventual trial and sentencing.

Lorenzo Gilyard's victims were predominantly sex workers between the ages of 15 and 36. They were all found in rural areas of Kansas City with paper towels stuffed in their mouths, strangulation marks around their necks, and without their shoes. Here are some details about the victims he was convicted of murdering:

1. Catherine M. Barry, 34: Catherine Barry gave up hope, but she never gave up faith. After slipping into mental illness, which family members believed was hereditary, following the birth of her third child, Barry descended into life on Kansas City's downtown streets². She spent nights in a homeless shelter. It was learned that Ms. Barry was not a prostitute, but was mentally ill and would walk the streets. She would walk the streets and accept rides from strangers. Barry's body was discovered March 14, 1986, at an abandoned public works building with a nylon stocking around her neck, covered with leaves near 30th and Central streets.

2. Naomi Kelly, 23

3. Ann Barnes, 36

4. Kellie A. Ford, 20

5. Sheila Ingold, 36

6. Carmeline Hibbs, 30

He was acquitted of the murder of Angela Mayhew, 19, due to insufficient evidence. Eight other victims, including one unnamed female, were not brought to trial. It's believed that Gilyard killed up to 13 women between 1977 and 1993.

The case of Lorenzo Gilyard is a grim reminder of the importance of forensic science in solving crimes and the tragic impact of such violent acts on communities and families. Gilyard was ultimately convicted of six counts of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

VIDEO: Piers Morgan grills the Kansas City Strangler | Interview with a Serial Killer (2/4) | https://youtu.be/CFlKCuXnFCE

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