David Penton. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Metroplex, MI. February 19, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.

David Elliott Penton

Classification: Child serial killer

Characteristics: Kidnapping - Child molester

Number of victims: 5 - 50+

Date of murders: 1984 - 1988

Date of birth: February 9, 1958

Victims profile: His 2-month-old son / Christi Lynn Meeks, 5 / Christie Diane Proctor, 9 / Nydra Ross, 9 / Roxann Hope Reyes, 3

Method of murder: Strangulation

Location: Ohio/Texas, USA

Status: Sentenced to life in prison in Ohio, 1992 / Sentenced to life in prison in Texas, 2005

David Elliott Penton, born on February 9, 1958, in Columbus, Ohio, is a convicted American child molester and serial killer. His criminal history includes the manslaughter of his own infant son and multiple murders of young girls. He is considered one of the most notorious child killers in American history.

Early Life and Military Service

Penton was raised by his mother after his father abandoned them. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1977, where he served as a track vehicle mechanic until 1984. During his military service, he demonstrated skills as an expert marksman but faced disciplinary issues, including charges related to alcohol and dishonesty regarding his marital status.

While stationed in Korea, Penton engaged in soliciting prostitutes and abusing drugs. His admission about being with underage prostitutes indicates troubling behavior that foreshadowed his later crimes.

Criminal Activities

Penton’s criminal activities began with the tragic death of his two-month-old son, Michael James Penton, whom he violently shook to death during a fit of rage on November 23, 1984. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a five-year prison sentence but fled while appealing the case.

Following this incident, Penton was linked to the abduction and murder of several young girls in Texas during the mid-1980s:

• Christi Lynn Meeks, age 5: Abducted on January 19, 1985; her body was found on April 3, 1985.

• Tiffany Ibarra, age 10: Abducted on February 12, 1986; she provided a description that led to identifying Penton.

• Christie Diane Proctor, age 9: Reported missing on February 15, 1986; her remains were discovered in April 1988.

• Roxann Hope Reyes, age 4: Abducted on November 3, 1987; her body was found on May 19, 1988.

Penton was extradited to Texas in 2003 and charged with these murders. In January 2005, he signed a plea agreement admitting guilt to all three cases involving the Texas girls to avoid the death penalty.

Current Status

As of now, David Elliott Penton is serving time at the Ohio State Penitentiary for his crimes against children. He is eligible for parole in Ohio by the year 2027 but will then serve three consecutive life sentences for the murders committed in Texas.

The investigations into his potential involvement with other unsolved cases continue across various states due to suspicions that he may be responsible for many more child murders than those confirmed.

Conclusion

David Elliott Penton’s life story reflects a disturbing trajectory from military service to becoming one of America’s most infamous child killers. His actions have left lasting impacts on families and communities affected by his heinous crimes.

VIDEO: David Elliott Penton: The Chilling Crimes of a Serial Predator | True Crime Documentary | https://youtu.be/7buXUoCM8uw

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